The much-ballyhooed return Pattaya’s Penthouse Hotel go-go bar has come to a crushing end with PenthouseX closed just three months after it was taken over by a Chinese-Singaporean group.
The sparkling PenthouseX closed June 30 after opening where the legendary Kittens go-go operated inside the Soi Pattayaland 2 hotel for decades. The failure came just three months after a the hotel’s Indian ownership leased it to the Singaporeans.
PenthouseX Closed As Many Expected
The not-unexpected failure followed months of turmoil that began immediately after the takeover. PenthouseX was isolated away from Walking Street, Soi Buakhao and Soi 6 and surrounded by gay massage parlors and gay bars. There had to be a good reason to visit this destination club and the Singaporeans never provided one and PenthouseX closed.
Almost the entire original PenthouseX staff departed within days of the Singaporean takeover April 1, leaving only a handful of dancers who remained until PenthouseX closed for good.
Former employees cited the new management’s unwillingness to invest and pay market-standard wages as a primary reason for their departures.
Good Go-Go Bars Not Run on the Cheap
One particularly telling example was the treatment of an electrician from the Penthouse Hotel, which houses PenthouseX.
After being let go by the hotel, he was rehired by the new operators ostensibly for maintenance tasks but was soon required to multitask as bartender, DJ and waiter. This example was repeatedly cited by former staff members as emblematic of the Singaporean management’s frugal measures.
The new management’s first actions upon taking control were equally drastic. They dismissed the 20-year veteran Indian general manager, an experienced Italian bar manager, and the venue’s entire marketing team.
Speculation was PenthouseX would soon cater only to Chinese tour groups, but the groups never came, as Chinese tourism to Thailand plummeted in the first half of the year.
Their rapid elimination of experienced personnel was seen as a critical misstep by former employees, who say the new management vastly underestimated the complexity of running a successful go-go bar in Pattaya and, thus, PenthouseX closed.
PenthouseX Reverts to Indian Control
PenthouseX was leased, not sold, to the Singaporean investors by the Jalwa Group, which owns the Penthouse Hotel. With the closure, operational control reverts to the Indians, although future plans for the space remain uncertain.
Given their track record, Jalwa executives have shown limited patience with ventures not quickly turning a profit. Previously, they swiftly converted Jalwa Indian a-Go-Go, inside their Walking Street nightclub complex, into an after-hours nightclub after only two weeks, signaling their preference for non-go-go business models they view as more profitable.
Step Back for Penthouse Revival
When PenthouseX closed, it marked another significant shift in the landscape of Pattayaland Soi 2.
The Penthouse Hotel, located near Beach Road on Pattayaland Soi 2, originally hosted the popular Kittens go‑go bar and its rooms featured themed rooms with poles, swings and hot tubs.
After closing in 2020, the hotel was purchased by the Jalwa Group who put an estimated US$2 million into the hotel for a two‑year renovation, reviving its vintage‑adult charm with modern features – LED lighting, USB‑equipped sockets and clean, fresh décor.
In late 2024, the hotel launched PenthouseX to replace Kittens, multiple stages, a swimming pool and VIP lounge designed to blend nightclub energy with go‑go flair.
The venue also quickly staged high‑profile events such as its first bikini pool party and techno DJ nights. Despite early excitement, strong bookings and above-average revenue growth, Jalwa Club’s CEO continued to demand 35% month-on-month revenue increases as high season came to end, then pulled the plug when a deal with Chinese operators came about.
Even before PenthouseX closed, it was always going to be a hard sell. The entire Pattayaland area – which preceded Walking Street as Pattaya’s prime naughty boy party spot, has transformed dramatically, becoming predominantly known for gay entertainment venues.
PenthouseX Girls Scattered to the Wind
Now that PenthouseX closed, former dancers and staff have dispersed across Pattaya, with a small group of five now at Jisoo a-Go-Go on Walking Street Soi 15.
Others have found employment at notable venues such as Dragon, Skyfall and Shark, all on Walking Street. Two have joined the recently opened Rum Runner on Soi Buakhao, managed by well-known Pattaya bar figure “Mr. Egg” Phil Ross.
