Somerset Pattaya — Rooftop Infinity Pool + Pirate Water Park, Opposite CentralFestival
If you're coming to Pattaya with the family and want a roomy apartment with a kitchen and built-in fun for the kids, Somerset Pattaya — an Ascott serviced apartment that opened in 2022 — is built exactly for that. This 324-unit tower in Central Pattaya has a level-23 rooftop infinity pool with sea views and a pirate-themed water park on level 24 the kids adore. Many suites come with a kitchen and washer/dryer, and it sits directly opposite CentralFestival, about a 450m walk to Pattaya Beach. From approx. ฿2,400/night on weekdays. Score 9.3 from 2,642 Trip.com reviews.
Somerset Pattaya is a serviced apartment by Ascott under the Somerset brand, opened in 2022 — and the difference from a regular hotel is that it's a place you can actually live in. Most units are larger than standard hotel rooms, starting around 35 sqm and climbing all the way to a 135 sqm three-bedroom with a full kitchen and in-room washer/dryer. The 324-unit tower sits in the heart of Central Pattaya (Nongprue), and it's designed more for families and multi-night stays than for one-night travellers.
Standard rooms run around 35 sqm in a bright, modern palette — each has a private balcony, many with sea views, plus a comfortable bed, work desk and flat-screen TV. A lot of reviews praise how spacious the rooms feel and rate the cleanliness very highly. Studios and up, along with the multi-bedroom suites, add a kitchenette or full kitchen, so you can cook or reheat your own food — handy for families with young kids or anyone who doesn't want to eat out every meal. One recurring note from reviews: some rooms carry a faint damp smell and the bathroom sink/faucet layout isn't the most ergonomic, and a few guests found the AC uneven — front desk can move you or adjust it.
"The kids would not leave the level-24 water park — they played all day. We adults soaked in the level-23 infinity pool with gorgeous sea views. The in-room kitchen was a real plus too."
The standout features are up on the roof — a level-23 infinity pool whose edge melts into the view over Pattaya Bay, the single thing reviews mention most, especially at golden hour. One floor up is the pirate-themed water park on level 24, with a pirate ship, slides and water cannons — a hit with families and the thing that sets this place apart from an ordinary city hotel. There's a children's pool, a gym and a kids' playroom too. Two things to know: the pool and water park close around 8 PM, and a few reviews note that shade and shaded loungers for kids run short in strong midday sun — mornings or late afternoons are easier.
Breakfast is a buffet at the Sea To Serve restaurant, with both Thai and international options — and this is where reviews are mixed. Some praise the variety and the view, but many agree that some mornings the food arrives lukewarm and the rotation isn't wide. Staff, on the other hand, earn consistent praise for being friendly and helpful; plenty of guests mention free room upgrades or being looked after beyond expectations. Overall, service and cleanliness are the two things reviews credit most reliably.
Location is another big reason people choose it. It sits directly opposite CentralFestival — cross the road and you're at the mall — and it's about a 450m walk to Pattaya Beach, so you can walk to eat, catch a film, shop or hit the sand without booking a ride. Restaurants, convenience stores and massage shops are all within walking distance, and there's free parking. The trade-off is that Central Pattaya is busy and traffic backs up in the evening — but because this is a high tower, upper-floor rooms are quieter and get the better views.
Honestly, Somerset Pattaya suits families and multi-night stays best — spacious rooms, a kitchen, a water park for the kids, and a walk-everywhere spot opposite the mall. Rates start around ฿2,400/night on low-season weekdays for a standard room, rising to ฿3,200–4,500+ on weekends and in high season, with multi-bedroom suites higher again. With 9.3 from 2,642 Trip.com reviews and 9.0 on Booking (ranked #5 of 267 hotels in Pattaya), it's a well-judged midrange pick for families — though if you're solo or a couple who don't need the space or the kitchen, there may be better value in the same area.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Directly opposite CentralFestival, a short walk to the beach
- ✓ Level-23 infinity pool with sea views and a pirate-themed water park for kids
- ✓ Spacious, clean rooms — many with a kitchen and washer/dryer
- ✓ Friendly, helpful staff; many guests received free room upgrades
- ! Breakfast sometimes arrives lukewarm with a limited rotation
- ! Some rooms have a faint damp smell and an awkward bathroom sink/faucet layout
- ! Shade and shaded loungers for kids run short in strong sun
- ✓ Serviced-apartment space that suits families and long stays
- ✓ The water park and rooftop pool are a hit with kids and adults alike
- ✓ New, clean and modern, with sea views from many rooms
- ✓ Walk to the mall and beach; free parking
- ! Value is the lowest-scoring category — pricier than ordinary chain hotels
- ! Central Pattaya is busy with evening traffic
- ! Pool and water park close around 8 PM, so no night swims
- 💡If you're solo or a couple who don't need the space or a kitchen — the big-room and kids'-water-park strengths go to waste → look at Wave Hotel Pattaya or Holiday Inn Express in the same area for a lighter price.
- 💡If you expect a polished five-star breakfast — reviews on breakfast are mixed, with some mornings lukewarm and a thin rotation → the mall opposite has plenty of restaurants to choose from.
- 💡If the kids want to swim at night — the pool and water park close around 8 PM → plan their water time for daytime or late afternoon, when the sun is gentler anyway.