There are restaurants where you go because you are hungry. There are restaurants where you go because you want great cocktails. There are restaurants where you go because of the great sunset views. But then there are restaurants where you go because you have seen 2,000 photographs of the place on Instagram and have decided that your own life will not be complete until you have uploaded photos from your own visit.
3 Mermaids Pattaya definitely falls into the final category.
Perched on Pratumnak Hill, between South Pattaya and Jomtien, 3 Mermaids is one of those places that seems to have been designed by somebody who looked at a restaurant, a beach club, a cocktail bar and Instagram and thought: ‘Why choose just one?’
The restaurant is close to some of Pattaya’s other popular scenic restaurants and attractions. You will know you have arrived at 3 Mermaids before you even sit down. The setting is colorful, playful and completely unlike your average restaurant. There are mermaids, unusual seating areas, greenery, dramatic views and enough interesting corners to keep your camera busy for quite some time.
And that is before the food even arrives.
The main attraction is the enormous mermaid sculpture, reclining beside the pool and overlooking the sea. Surrounded by colorful flowers, it creates a wonderfully surreal backdrop and one of 3 Mermaids’ best photo opportunities.
Come for the Views ….
The real star of 3 Mermaids is the location. The restaurant sits high above the coast with expansive views across the sea and Pattaya Bay. On a clear day, the scenery is excellent. Around sunset, it becomes even better.
This is a restaurant where timing matters. Arrive too early and you can enjoy the views in daylight. Arrive at the right time and you can watch the sky change color while enjoying dinner and a cocktail. Arrive too late and you will still have a great evening but may have missed the best part of the show.
Sunset is, unsurprisingly, one of the most popular times to visit. If you want one of the more unusual seating areas or a particularly good spot, booking ahead is a sensible idea, especially during busy periods.
The restaurant’s famous bird’s-nest-style seating is one of its biggest attractions. These large, rounded seating areas give the place a slightly surreal feeling. You are not simply sitting at a table having dinner. You are sitting in what looks like a giant nest, overlooking the sea, while wondering whether this is what birds experience when they have an exceptionally good restaurant budget.
There are also plenty of other seating options, including comfortable areas close to the edge of the deck where you can relax and enjoy the view.
Stay for the Cocktails ….
3 Mermaids is also a great place to come for drinks. You do not necessarily need to plan a full evening meal here. A cocktail, a few snacks and a spectacular view can easily make up an enjoyable visit on their own.
The drinks menu includes cocktails, mocktails, soft drinks and other refreshments. There are plenty of colorful and creatively presented options that fit perfectly with the atmosphere. This is not the kind of place where you order a drink and immediately forget about it. There is a reasonable chance that the cocktail will arrive looking like it has been specifically designed for your camera roll.
Bring Your Camera and Instagram Account ….
If you enjoy taking photographs, 3 Mermaids will look magnificent on your Instagram reel. There are unusual seating areas, mermaid-themed decorations, ocean views, colorful backdrops and plenty of places where you can pose with a cocktail while pretending that this is simply your normal Wednesday afternoon.
The restaurant has become particularly popular with visitors who enjoy creating content for Instagram and other social media platforms. You can photograph the food, the drinks, the setting, the sunset and probably yourself sitting in a giant nest looking considerably more relaxed than you actually feel.
Even if you are not particularly interested in social media, the unusual design gives the restaurant plenty of character. It is a fun place to explore rather than simply somewhere to sit down, eat and leave.
How is the Food at 3 Mermaids?
The menu covers a broad range of Thai, Asian and international dishes, with seafood naturally featuring prominently. You can expect a mixture of Thai favorites, seafood dishes, Western options, snacks, desserts and plenty of dishes designed to be shared.
This is a good place to visit with many friends since ordering several dishes for the table allows you to try a bit of everything. And, let’s be honest, sharing food also gives you more opportunities to take photographs of the meals before somebody eats it.
The food is attractively presented and fits the overall style of the restaurant. The prices are higher than you would find at a simple local Thai restaurant, but you are paying for more than the food. You are also paying for the setting, the views, the atmosphere and the experience.
Is 3 Mermaids Worth Visiting?
Absolutely. 3 Mermaids is not necessarily the restaurant you would visit when you are searching for the cheapest meal in Pattaya. Nor is it trying to be a small, traditional Thai restaurant hidden down a quiet soi. 3 Mermaids is designed around the overall experience of your visit.
Come for the sea views. Stay for the cocktails. Order some food. Take far too many photographs. Watch the sunset. Sit in a giant bird’s nest and briefly wonder whether you have accidentally wandered into a particularly glamorous fairy tale.
Whether you visit for a romantic evening, a meal with friends, a few cocktails or simply to take photographs that will have everyone back home wondering why their own dinner never looks quite as exciting, 3 Mermaids is one of Pattaya’s more memorable dining experiences.
When you are looking for a restaurant where the view, the food and the Instagram opportunities all arrive at the same table, 3 Mermaids is definitely worth adding to your Pattaya itinerary.
Find 3 Mermaids on Google Maps.
How about enjoying a full day adventure in Pattaya? Consider first visiting The Sanctuary of Truth before heading elsewhere in Pattaya and finishing your day at 3 Mermaids?
When searching for accommodation in Pattaya, consider one of the options below. 3 Mermaids is marked for your reference.
Consider reading other posts on Thailand by Two Passports Packed.
(Visited in November 2024)