Watsons
Watsons is the health-and-beauty chain you'll see in just about every Pattaya shopping mall — a bright, air-conditioned drugstore that's equal parts cosmetics counter and pharmacy. Part of the pan-Asian A.S. Watson group, it's the default stop for the everyday toiletries and personal-care bits travellers forget or run out of: shampoo and shower gel, razors and shaving foam, toothpaste, deodorant, sunscreen and after-sun, mosquito repellent, plasters and basic first aid, contact-lens solution, tampons and sanitary products, condoms, and a big wall of skincare and make-up from Thai, Korean, Japanese and Western brands. Most larger branches also have a pharmacy counter for over-the-counter and prescription medicines, staffed by a pharmacist. You'll find Watsons in Central Festival on the beachfront, Terminal 21, Market Place and other malls and shopping strips around town, including this central branch near Beach Road; opening hours generally follow the host mall — broadly late morning to 10 or 11pm — so they're handy for evening top-ups but not a 24-hour option. Prices are fixed and clearly labelled (no haggling), a Watsons membership card earns points and discounts, and frequent promotions and 'buy one get one' deals make it worth checking the shelf tags. For anything beyond basics — real illness, or a specific prescription drug — a dedicated pharmacy like Fascino or a hospital pharmacy may carry a wider range, but for grab-and-go health and beauty, Watsons is the reliable, familiar choice.
