One of the greatest things about Thailand is its tasty and affordable food, and you can easily find it at (night) markets. You’ll find plenty of yummy street food options at these markets, with prices that won’t break the bank. In Chiang Mai, we stumbled upon some fantastic markets that became our favorites. Are you excited to explore the top 5 (night) markets in Chiang Mai? Let’s go!
1. Chiang Mai Night Bazaar
The Chiang Mai Night Bazaar market has everything you could want and more! From souvenirs to football shirts, carved elephants to artwork, and sunglasses to furniture, it’s all here. The perfect place for shopping! There’s also a large food area with both Thai and international dishes, with a seating area in the middle of the market. Super cozy! We enjoyed some affordable cocktails (just 80 baht, around € 2) and delicious treats like chicken tacos, sushi, and Thai crispy pancakes. If we weren’t already filled to the brim, we would have ordered even more! The options here are literally endless, and we must say all food stalls look very appetizing. That goes for shopping, too! Kelvin even got himself some new slippers since his old ones were worn out. And yes, we did haggle a little bit to get a nice discount. 😉
2. One Nimman
Looking for a romantic evening or a chill hangout with friends? One Nimman is the spot to be. It’s not your typical bustling Thai market, but a cozy indoor market with different food vendors and souvenir shops. We stumbled upon this fun little market on our way back from a visit to the Maya Shopping Mall. Thysia saw it in the corner of her eye, and we immediately knew that we had to take a look! We really like the interior, all those cozy lights give the place such an amazing vibe. We tried some amazing dumplings, pad Thai, and Khao soi here. Oh yeah, also some original gelato. Definitely worth a visit! Do know that prices are a little higher here compared to the more “authentic” and local markets. But don’t worry, you won’t have to pay an arm and a leg – we promise.
3. Tha Pae Sunday Walking Street
Chiang Mai’s most famous market is open just once a week. If you’re only in town for the weekend, make sure you head to Tha Pae Sunday Walking Street on a Sunday evening! At this market, you’ll encounter a wide range of handicrafts, souvenirs, accessories, and food vendors. Unfortunately, we left on a Sunday morning, so we did not experience Tha Pae Sunday Walking Street for ourselves. However, we only heard good things about this market from several tourists and locals, which is why we added it to the list!
4. Chang Phuak Night Market
Even though Chang Phuak Night Market isn’t the biggest in Chiang Mai, its cozy atmosphere adds to its charm. This was the first market we visited during our time in Chiang Mai, a pretty cool introduction to the city. Chang Phuak mostly hosts food stalls, which makes it very easy to navigate. In the center, you’ll spot plenty of seating options, while to the sides, diverse food vendors offer every dish you can think of. From tasty pad Thai and Khao Soi to chicken skewers, coconut ice cream, and fresh smoothies – you name it. Yummy! We tried a lot of foods here, and only have nice things to say about the quality and atmosphere.
5. One Big Market
For the ultimate local experience, head to One Big Market. Here, you’ll mainly encounter locals shopping for fresh ingredients, with very few tourists around. An actual hidden gem. 😉 From meat and fish to crisp veggies and juicy fruits, this market has it all! Plus, there are plenty of food stalls offering street food as well. And you guessed it, the prices are more than reasonable too. Don’t miss out on the delicious waffles stuffed with banana and coconut. They’re absolutely delightful! We looked everywhere during our trip but couldn’t find the same delicious waffle anywhere else. These waffles cost less than € 1 and will totally fill you up. The perfect way if you’re looking for something sweet to end your meal!
Good to know
Right next to One Big Market, there’s a big covered space with a lot of food vendors. Here, you can order tasty local dishes and enjoy them at one of the many tables available. It’s the perfect place for lunch, we paid less than € 4 for two dishes and two drinks!
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