dodgeyas

I have eaten at both "I'm Aroi" restaurants and found the food better at the soi 11 than at soi 7/1. The menu booklets are the same.
There is an open air restaurant on the other side of soi 11 to I'm Aroi which has great food but I dont know the name.
Swan  as mentioned, on soi 4 is another good option.
And also the "shrimp" on corner of soi 11/1 and Suk rd.
Bit pricier but nice is the Thai Kitchen at Soi 7/1 entrance which does Pints for happy hour.
Late night after a few drinks I have eaten at the open air restaurant cnr soi 17 across from McDonalds.
Also the beer garden restaurant down Soi 19 has always been a good visit.
Generally, if I see locals in a restaurant I am compelled to check the menu.

I have eaten at both "I'm Aroi" restaurants and found the food better at the soi 11 than at soi 7/1. The menu booklets are the same.
There is an open air restaurant on the other side of soi 11 to I'm Aroi which has great food but I dont know the name.
Swan  as mentioned, on soi 4 is another good option.
And also the "shrimp" on corner of soi 11/1 and Suk rd.
Bit pricier but nice is the Thai Kitchen at Soi 7/1 entrance which does Pints for happy hour.
Late night after a few drinks I have eaten at the open air restaurant cnr soi 17 across from McDonalds.
Also the beer garden restaurant down Soi 19 has always been a good visit.
Generally, if I see locals in a restaurant I am compelled to check the menu.

The green room in soi 7/1 has a variety of bands so maybe check them when you arrive, they may have "socials" to check.
Pattaya has a lot of live bands on offer.

Glad you found something. 
But I will add here for others the ST hotels I have used:
Happy Inn 1 next to second 7Eleven Soi 4
DI Place in alley beside first 7eleven Soi 4
Atlas Hotel inside on left of Soi 7/1
Ruamchitt Plaza Hotel above Thermae bar near Soi 15
W21 hotel on Asok Montri left side of entrance to Soi Cowboy
PB Hotel on the road connecting Soi 3 and Soi 11, the rooms are like a porn stage set.
Other times the freelancers took me back to their own rooms, so there is always an answer to the room question.
 
 

Glad you found something. 
But I will add here for others the ST hotels I have used:
Happy Inn 1 next to second 7Eleven Soi 4
DI Place in alley beside first 7eleven Soi 4
Atlas Hotel inside on left of Soi 7/1
Ruamchitt Plaza Hotel above Thermae bar near Soi 15
W21 hotel on Asok Montri left side of entrance to Soi Cowboy
PB Hotel on the road connecting Soi 3 and Soi 11, the rooms are like a porn stage set.
Other times the freelancers took me back to their own rooms, so there is always an answer to the room question.
 
 

Thanks for the great info and review of Vesuvio pizza. Definitely on my list.

I have been to the mexican restaurant in Terminal 21, a bit more relaxed than the tex-mex takeaway style.

I had an iphone repair and took it to one of the many iphone repair shops on the second floor of Fortune Town in Rama 9. They said it would take an hour so I went across the street (actually walked under the street) to Central Rama 9 and watched a movie. Picked it up after movie and it was a perfect repair. 
Easy to get to from Sukhumvit MRT just second station along the tracks north and cost 19baht.
Better price and without the hustling you get from MBK. 
 

I was in there as recent as early September. It actually owned by the same people that own JST Group - the building connected to it. Whenever we wrap up meetings there they take us next door

Frank,
Just confirm with your accomodation if you will be able to have a "joiner"/ "guest" in your room. Usually if you have booked a double for two adults it should be ok but double check. The action is between Soi 3 and soi 23 Sukhumvit so check the map on your booking site. If you google joiner friendly hotels a few will come up. Personally I would recommend a swimming pool in the hotel choice. Dont worry about breakfast included, if you have a big night you will wake up late and miss breakfast, but breakfast outside on the street is cheap.
The "bars" will have rooms but you will pay not just for the LB but also the barfine and the room. If you take a LB from a bar to your hotel you will still pay the barfine and whatever the LB charges either Short Time or Long Time.
If you pick up a freelancer on the street they may have a short time hotel for $300 - $450 for 1hr or 2hr or 3hr. 
If you decide to invite a freelancer to your room and your hotel is cool with it then just pay for the LB which may be between 1200 - 3000THB.
Freelancers also have profiles on Thai Friendly. Download the Thai Friendly app and put up your own profile when you get to Thailand.
Also download the Line App, which is WIFI enabled message/audio calls/video calls. 
A lot of chat here on the forum is about the "bars" but it is pricey and many cross-dressers and fem-boys not transexual (boobs/ chicks with dicks).  However security and peace of mind (to a certain degree) is found in the bars.
Try not to get too drunk during your stay, keep your wits about you.