My flight is scheduled to arrive at 2 o'clock in the morning from Shanghai China. From the reports I've been reading, the immigration lines are very long coming in at that hour. I am planning on going straight to Pattaya and am considering the cheap Charlie option of the 7 a.m. bus from BKK airport to Pattaya. If I chose that option, is there a restaurant or bar open in the wee hours serving alcoholic beverages to help me kill time?

Yes if you search around the open bars you'll find something open, usually across from beach road, pick up a freelancer here, or going down the soi, soi 7 is good.

There's plenty of places to eat, McDonald's is 24 hours and there's a place beginning of walking street.

Redbus, I didn't explain myself too well. I meant kill time at the Bangkok airport till the first bus for Pattaya leaves at 7 am.

I would really recommend you get a taxi,the journey to pattaya by bus is going to be horrendous, it's going to stop everywhere and take ages to get to your destination and this is after you've got off a plain and waited for a time at the airport.

there is a family mart that sells beer. it is on the departures level and it is land side so you can access it. thailand has laws about selling alcohol during certain times of the day, which includes convenience stores after midnight (not sure when it ends). but my experience is family mart does not follow the law. several times i've forgotten about the law and tried to buy at 7-11. they say no and tell me 'go family, can buy'.

i've also had a beer at a small kiosk style bar that is located on the bottom level across from the airport link train station. that was about midnight (i just missed the train so had a beer before heading on my way). not sure how long they stay open. there are some other shops and restaurants there also.

Hire a car service for US$35 and be done with it. With no traffic you'll be in Pattaya 90 minutes after you walk out of arrivals.

This will be only my third trip to Thailand since 2004. Every prior trip I have taken the taxi service to and from the airport to Pattaya so I know all about that. I was just thinking I might be able to save some baht, considering my late arrival time, by taking the early bus this time. I,ll wait to see how I feel upon arrival before making my decision. I hope to do some exploring in East Pattaya and maybe a trip to Ban Chang.

I didn't say take a taxi, I said hire a car service. Mr T or something similar. It's quite a bit cheaper than a taxi.

I understand the cheap charlie aspect that is Pattaya, but is hanging around the shithole BKK airport for hours at night and then schlepping on a bus for more hours worth saving 25 bucks?