Nightlife in Chiang Mai (Best Bars, Night Markets, and Unique Experiences)

Chiang Mai, considered as Thailand's second most important city, has a wide range of activities to enjoy and choices on offer at night. Its nightlife blends traditional cultural experiences with modern entertainment.

Compared to Bangkok's luxurious urban nightlife, the atmosphere of Chiang Mai's nightlife is more laid-back and artsy, with leisurely walks, impressive markets, and cozy bars to enjoy.

Best Nightlife Areas in Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai's nightlife is mainly distributed in three areas: the Old City, Nimmanhaemin Road, and the Riverside. Each area's nightlife is diverse and you could choose which area to go to based on your preferences.

Old City

The Old City exemplifies the traditional culture and leisurely aspect of Chiang Mai's nightlife, allowing you to feel more comfortable and relaxed.

Admiring ancient ruins illuminated by lights lets you see their serenity and mystery at night. While in narrow lanes, cozy bars and local bands make your night more laid-back.

Nimmanhaemin Road

With MAYA Lifestyle Shopping Center and One Nimman, Nimmanhaemin Road is lively and invigorating. This trendy area of Chiang Mai provides plenty of choices for you at night.

Stores of fashion brands, especially local Thai designers, and distinctive stalls and boutiques abound in and around the area. Upscale cafés and bars as well as gourmet restaurants are available for dining and tasting.

The Riverside

The Riverside area is also an enjoyable place to experience Chiang Mai's nightlife and appreciate stunning views of the river.

Chansom Memorial Bridge, located 250 meters (820 feet) from Warorot Market, could be a nice choice for a riverside night walk. On both sides of the bridge, riverside restaurants and rooftop bars offer expansive nighttime views.

What's more, an evening cruise trip on the Ping River gives you an appealing option for a nighttime activity.

Great Bars and Clubs

After exploring ancient temples and the Lanna culture in the daytime, you may need to relax in bars or clubs at night with drinks and music to enrich your Chiang Mai trip.

From hopping clubs to laid-back bars, Chiang Mai caters to individual preferences.

Zoe In Yellow

Zoe In Yellow is Chiang Mai's hottest nightclub in the Old City for locals and tourists. It is a must for nightlife enthusiasts, and is only 350 meters (1,148 feet) away from the Three Kings Monument.

With vibrant electronic and hip-hop music in the club, it's hard to resist letting go of yourself on the dance floor. The drink menu includes beers, cocktails, and available bucket-sized alcohol, with prices ranging from 100 to 500 THB ($3-15).

For those seeking unrestrained nightlife, Zoe In Yellow is the top choice.

Boy Blues Bar

This is one of the best places to enjoy live music in Chiang Mai. If you like rock, classics, and blues, this is for you.

Many local blues bands perform live music every night and the owner of the bar also often plays with his band. Audiences can request songs live. They hold a jam night every Monday and everybody could go up and play on the spot.

This bar is located near Kalare Night Market. It is cool to sit at the second-floor rooftop bar and overlook the night market while listening to live music. Alcohol is also served, costing about 50-200 THB ($1.50-6).

The North Gate Jazz Co-Op

This club famous for is the bands' live jazz performances and terrific atmosphere. It is located across from the Chang Phuak Gate with two performance venues.

On the first floor's main stage, three different bands perform diverse music, focusing on jazz but also having hip-hop and rock events. Anyone interested could attend the open mic night and improvisation with the live band every Tuesday.

This bar provides free entrance to see the band live. Drink prices range from 100 to 200 THB ($3-6).

The fourth floor is a smaller room with a balcony and a bar, which is perfect for quietly listening to jazz.

Must-See Night Markets

When it comes to nightlife in Chiang Mai, visiting the night markets is a must. Night markets here are varied and large, offering local food, cute decorations, and crafts made by local artisans. Here are three picked night markets we suggest you go.

Chiang Mai Night Bazaar

Chiang Mai Night Bazaar could satisfy your imagination and needs for night markets with plentiful stalls and shops, live performances, attractive souvenirs, and so on. It is open from 5 pm to 11:30 pm every night.

Chiang Mai Night Bazaar consists of three night markets — the open-air Ploen Ruedee Night Market, the indoor Kalare Night Bazaar, and the Anusarn Market — all located on Chang Khlan Road. You could walk through them all in one go.

Anusarn Market sells jewelry and ceramics, dried fruits, and spices. Seafood restaurants and stalls are also in there.

Kalare Night Bazaar provides street food (like pastry snacks and fresh juice), exotic handicrafts, and clothing.

The highlight of the Ploen Ruedee Night Market is its live performances, which could attract people to play together, and enjoy delicious food at the tables in front.

Prices are a bit high in this night bazaar, but you could try to bargain with the sellers.

Sunday Night Market

As one of the most lively and largest night markets in Chiang Mai, this market has plenty of stalls and is favored by locals. It is open from 5 pm to 10 pm every Sunday.

It runs from Tha Phae Gate to Wat Phra Singh so you could go directly to this market to find something tasty to eat after finishing your afternoon temple visit. Food prices are about 50—100 THB ($1.50—3).

Thai costumes, handicrafts, and local specialties could also be found. Consider buying pretty handmade works as gifts for friends and family, such as flower soap carvings and bowls made of coconut shells.

There's a massage street waiting for you, where you could just sit in a chair to relax. Prices would be marked clearly, ranging from 200—300 THB ($6—9).

One Nimman (White Market and Night Ground Flea Market)

Night markets in One Nimman focus on creativity and style. White Market and Night Ground Flea Market (NGFM) are recommended. You could go there to search for something fancy.

NGFM is a treasured place full of vintage style. It offers garage kits, clothing accessories, secondhand records and posters, and other exquisite small items.

White Market exudes a fashionable atmosphere. A lot of crafters carefully design their interesting works, such as jewelry and pottery, to sell there.

Tips: NGFM opens from 4pm to 10pm every Monday and Tuesday. White Market opens from 3pm to 10pm on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

Want to know how many days to spend in Chiang Mai? Check Chiang Mai itineraries from 3 days to 7 days.

Unique Chiang Mai Nightlife Experiences

Among the many nightlife activities in Chiang Mai, there are some unusual types of entertainment that could make your trip much more worthwhile. Here, we have listed three special activities in Chiang Mai's nightlife.

Nighttime Temple Visits

Most people choose to visit temples during the day, but visiting at night is a favorable experience.

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep

This temple is brightly lit at night. After walking for about 10 minutes or taking the elevator to the top, you could see the charming night view of Chiang Mai city. With the sound of wind chimes in the temple and a smaller crowd, you would be more immersed in the atmosphere and feel the peace and quietness of the temple.

Wat Chedi Luang

Quiet, spectacular, and mysterious are three suitable words to describe Wat Chedi Luang at night.

The temple and Buddhist statues shine with golden light, becoming even more stunning. Walking here at night, the ancient city wall illuminated by lights gives you a sense of traveling through history.

During the Loy Krathong festival, a light show would be hosted in Wat Chedi Luang, which deserves to be visited.

Enjoy an Evening Cruise

Take a scorpion-tailed boat on the Ping River to enjoy enchanting river views.

It is recommended that you depart from the pier at 6pm, a great time to witness the amazing sunset spectacle, creating the perfect atmosphere for the evening.

During the trip, you could gain a broader perspective of Chiang Mai as you pass by traditional villages, ancient temples, and bustling markets in the boat.

Join us for an unforgettable romantic private cruise, exclusively for you and your loved one. You would be welcomed aboard with a refreshing drink and an appetizer. After a delightful 2-hour journey, disembark for a private dinner on the Riverside lawn, complete with a beautiful bouquet and a bottle of fine wine, ensuring a magical evening.

Khantoke Dinner and Show

Khum Khantoke was once the royal banquet of the king of Thailand. Now it is a high-end restaurant located in the Old Chiang Mai Cultural Center, offering dining and performances.

Sit around a round table and savor typical northern Thai dishes, containing Thai hot sauce, fried pork skin, sticky rice, and so on.

During the meal, a 90-minute performance is provided in the center, including martial arts, Muay Thai show, and traditional ethnic dances. You'll be invited to dance on stage together!

Opening times: 6:30pm-9pm every night

Prices:

• Regular and vegetarian set menu 690 THB ($30)
• Halal set menu 740 THB ($22)
• Special set menu 790 THB ($24)
• Deluxe set menu 950 THB ($29)

Travel to Chiang Mai with Us

In addition to highlighting Chiang Mai's vibrant nightlife, we also have extensive knowledge of a wide range of experiences in the area. Whatever your interests may be, we can tailor our recommendations to meet your needs, creating an unforgettable adventure!