Bangkok is full of lively night markets. These are the hottest picks in town, including local ones that aren’t frequently visited by tourists.
Here’s your guide to some of the best night markets in town!
Bangkok Night Markets To Visit:
- Srinagarindra Train Night Market
- ChangChui Creative Park
- Chatuchak Friday Night Market
- Yaowarat Road Night Market
- The One Ratchada
- Indy Market Dao Khanong
- Green Day Night Market
- Huai Khwang Night Market
- Jodd Fairs Rama IX
Bangkok Night Markets to Avoid:
Srinagarindra Train Night Market
Best for: Shopping, vintage goods, food, nightlife, classic cars, moo krata
This is by far my favorite night market in town. It’s massive and has some of the most unique vintage clothing and other items you’ll find. There are also plenty of classic cars displayed around the market, making it even better for a car guy like me.
You’ll find endless stalls that sell anything from cool clothing, accessories, and electronics, all the way to vintage furniture and car parts. Naturally, there are loads of food stalls and restaurants too. Be sure to try Moo Krata– Thai BBQ.
Another great reason to visit is all the bars, ideal if you want to experience the local side of Thai nightlife. Inside, you’ll find daily live bands, cold beer, and some more delicious food. The vibe here is massively underrated, and completely different than what you’d find over at Khao San or Sukhumvit Soi 11. What better way to end the night?
Don’t let the seemingly long distance away from downtown discourage you. That said, I highly recommend getting a Grab or Bolt to get here quickly.
The market is open Thursday through Sunday. Theoretically until 1 AM, but I found only a handful of stalls remain open past midnight.
ChangChui Creative Park (Plane Night Market)
Best for: Crafts, Photos, fine dining
While this isn’t theoretically a night market- it’s also open during the day- ChangChui comes alive at night. This is one of the trendiest Bangkok night markets, especially among artsy Thais.
The absolute highlight of ChangChui sits right in the middle of it- it’s the Lockheed L-1011 Tristar. An old airliner-turned-restaurant rightfully earned ChangChui its nickname. Most people know it as the Plane Night Market.
The inside of the airplane has been turned into a restaurant- Na-Oh Bangkok is one of the hottest fine dining spots in town. If you’re on a tighter budget like me, it’s best to stick with a photo from the outside!
ChangChui is ideal for second-hand and vintage clothing shopping, somewhat similar to the Srinagarindra Train Night Market. The market itself closes around 11 PM, but the bars and restaurants remain open a bit longer.
This market is open all week, but it’s best to pop in during the weekend to catch one of the many live performances.
Chatuchak Friday Night Market
Best for: Shopping, vintage clothes
Chatuchak proudly sits as one of the best things to do in Bangkok, and for a very good reason. With over 15,000 stalls to shop at, Chatuchak is one of the largest outdoor markets in the world. It’s open every weekend during the day, but that adds a crucial challenge to the equation- scorching heat.
Travelers visiting the Chatuchak Weekend Market will quickly realize that shopping in the sun isn’t enjoyable in 30+ degree heat. The Chatuchak Friday Night Market is a fantastic alternative to beat the heat and some of the crowds.
The majority of the Chatuchak Market opens as a night market every Friday night. It gets really busy around 10 PM, with most vendors typically calling it a night around midnight.
Chatuchak is an exceptional spot to shop for clothing and souvenirs at affordable prices. Of course, there are some food stalls and bars too, but it’s clear that clothing is the star of the show.
Yaowarat Road Night Market (China Town Night Market)
Best for: Street food, Chinese food, shopping, photos
This Chinatown is one of the largest in the world and one of the best things to do in Bangkok. In addition, after dusk falls it turns into one of the best Bangkok night markets you’ll find.
Yaowarat Road is the center of it all. It’s a busy one-way road with many food stalls, shops, jewelers, and restaurants. Some of the highlights include stalls with spicy grilled seafood, Chinese desserts, and fresh fruit.
Be sure to wander off the main road into some of the more local areas. Yaowarat itself is bustling late into the night, and the side alleys offer a nice escape from the chaos.
After a busy night of exploring the market, head to one of the secret bars– Widdershins is my favorite one. The entrance is hidden behind a bookshelf on the top floor of Laoteng, a dim sum restaurant (which is worth trying out as well!).
The One Ratchada
Best for: foodies (especially seafood), open-air bars
If you’re a fan of Bangkok night markets that aren’t extremely touristy and still located near the heart of the city, this is a great pick. The One Ratchada is conveniently located near Rama IX, close to the famous Jodd Fairs Night Market (more on that one below) and The Street Ratchada- one of Bangkok’s 24-hour malls.
The One Ratchada is significantly less busy than Jodd Fairs, making it a very cool alternative. This Bangkok night market focuses on food and nightlife, with an entire section dedicated to open-air bars.
Naturally, you’ll also find various shops selling clothing and accessories, but the shopping selection is somewhat limited. The One Ratchada really puts food and drinks first.
Indy Market Dao Khanong
Best for: Fashionable clothing, local restaurants
Until recently, this was one of Bangkok’s best-kept secrets. At least in terms of the local night markets.
It’s located out of the main tourist paths, across the river in Thonburi. This district doesn’t cater to tourists much, and as a result, it’s mostly visited by the locals. It’s quite a drive, but if you’re near Thonburi, definitely visit it!
Indy Market Dao Khanong is pretty big and busy. It’s open 7 days a week, though most people come by on the weekends. Here, you’ll find multiple rows of vendors selling clothes, electronic accessories, and other items of all sorts. There’s a dedicated bar section with live music on the weekends, and some restaurants as well. Indy Market offers a great balance of shopping and food.
Green Day Night Market
Best for: Thai food, Local bars,
This spot is another local favorite, especially for street food. It’s one of those Bangkok night markets that are lesser-known and outside the city center. This cozy market may not be as impressive as the bigger players in town, but it’s still worth a visit!
It’s crucial to note that Green Day Night Market caters to local needs, as opposed to international tourists. You won’t find as many crazy food options, with most vendors offering local dishes. The bars play a mix of Thai songs and Thai-style electronic music at max volume. It’s a fantastic local experience!
Green Day Night Market is open daily from 5 PM, with most stalls closing around 11 PM.
Huai Khwang Night Market
Best for: Fresh produce, 24/7 shopping
The Huai Khwang Market isn’t strictly a night market, though a big chunk of the business takes place during the night.
This is the go-to destination for fresh produce of all kinds- meat, seafood, fruit and vegetables, plus clothing and accessories.
The highlight here, apart from the wide selection, is that this market is open 24 hours every single day!
Note that this isn’t one of the glamorous night markets that offer live performances or trendy eateries. Instead, this is where you can shop round the clock for basic goods.
The night market is located a short 10-minute walk away from Huai Kwang MRT station, right in the heart of the district.
Jodd Fairs Rama IX
Best for: Souvenirs, Street Food, Leng Saeb
Jodd Fairs is probably the hottest Bangkok night market among international visitors right now. It’s easy to see why- a central location that’s easily accessible by MRT, a great selection of food, and live music are just some of the reasons why.
As this night market caters primarily to tourists, the prices are relatively high.
There is a real abundance of fantastic food here. There are some crazy options not for the faint-hearted, including a dancing shrimp salad with live shrimp, live squid shots, or fried insects. Those looking for less crazy alternatives won’t be disappointed either.
One dish you absolutely have to try in Thailand is Leng Saeb, and Bangkok night markets are a fantastic spot to try it out. It’s a spicy rib tower- making it very easy to spot from a distance. Leng Saeb is a fantastic feast, so be sure to bring your friends along. Solo travelers can opt for a smaller portion, too.
Bonus- Bangkok Night Markets To Avoid
Believe it or not, some of the night markets in Bangkok are not worth visiting. Focus on the great ones, and leave out the ones below.
Patpong Night Market
Patpong manages to make its way into most Bangkok travel guides. That’s because it’s the city’s original red-light district. However, once you’re there it becomes very clear that its glory days are long gone.
This night market covers a part of Patpong, so it’s just one street.
Shopping is limited to just counterfeit goods of questionable quality, and some basic souvenirs. Around halfway down the street, you’ll find a couple of open-air restaurants, followed by a handful of food vendors.
Patpong may be worth visiting if you’re staying somewhere directly next to it, but making a trip out of it is not worth it. It’s best to hop on the MRT and head over to Jodd Fairs or China Town instead.
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