The night markets in Bangkok have always offered a lively blend of shopping, snacking, and people-watching. Exactly how late and how long these open-air bazaars run varies quite a bit.
Arguably the most famous night market in Bangkok is Chatuchak Weekend Market, which sprawls over 35 acres from dawn till dusk every Saturday and Sunday. While some of the market takes place after dark, you could just as easily stop by for breakfast.
Other markets only properly get going after the sun sets and both the heat and humidity have calmed down a bit. That’s when the neon lights of Yaowarat Road in Chinatown flicker on and street vendors crank up the flames under their woks to feed the masses.
It’s also when the perpetual human carnival of Khao San Road gets rowdier. Meanwhile, over on a promenade along the Chao Phraya River, Asiatique’s vibrant collection of open-air shops and hawkers really gets going around twilight.
These are some of the best night markets in Bangkok.
Yaowarat Night Market
Yaowarat Road
Watch any Hollywood depiction of Bangkok from the last 20 years and you’ll realize that almost all of them are shot on a relatively narrow stretch of Yaowarat Road. It’s easy to see why the city’s Chinatown would appeal to location scouts. With its glaring neon signage, historic architecture, and nocturnal bustle, this area of the city is particularly high on vibes.
It’s also still one of the densest concentrations of street food in town. Many of the hawkers here have been in the business for generations and have cult followings. Note that while these roadside eateries are generally affordable, you should expect to pay more for top-quality seafood dishes. A platter of pong puu karee–curried whole crab–will still run pricey but is worth every baht.
Yaowarat Night Market
Yaowarat has long been the epicenter of Bangkok’s sizable Chinese diaspora. Most Thai-Chinese can trace their ancestry to Guangdong province in southern China. That means you can expect Cantonese-influenced dishes that are still often unique to Thailand.
A few standouts include Pae Sia Dimsum, a century-old spot where the khanom jib–pork dumplings–are nothing short of legendary. For Hong Kong-style noodles, following the towering flames under the woks at Hoo Chalarm. Or head down a narrow alley away from the main drag for Nai Yong Noodle, known for its light, bouncy fish balls.
Chatuchak Weekend Market
Chatuchak Weekend Market
Ask just about anyone to name one market in Bangkok and chances are high that they’ll mention this one. Chatuchak Weekend Market, known affectionately by locals simply as “JJ,” is the juggernaut of the bunch and the most famous night market in Bangkok. In terms of sheer scale and variety, it dwarfs everything else. It boasts more than 15,000 vendors selling absolutely everything spread out over a truly enormous area. Every weekend, more than 200,000 visitors head to the northern part of the city to shop.
To say that navigating Chatuchak Market can be overwhelming is an understatement. Without a clear plan of attack, it’s all too easy to get lost among the seemingly endless stalls. Yet it’s also arguably one of the most worthwhile markets to tackle.
Yes, you’ll find plenty of tourist trinkets and Thai souvenirs here, but Chatuchak Market still very much caters to locals as well as foreigners. Expect to see Thai twentysomethings prowling for vinyls, vintage clothing, and merch from local bands. There are real gems to be had here, including genuine antiques and exquisite handicrafts. You just have to know where to go and be prepared to spend some time on the hunt.
Chatuchak Weekend Market
Chatuchak Market is also one of the best places in the capital to shop for clothing and jewelry by up-and-coming Thai designers before they make it big. Over the last two decades, Thailand’s homegrown fashion scene has mushroomed, with many brands earning international followings. Pieces by designers like Srestis, Disaya, Vatanika, Asava, and Matina Amanita can be spotted on celebrities around the globe. If you’re seeking indie newcomers for comparatively affordable prices, this is the spot.
The key to successful shopping at Chatuchak Market is to plan ahead as much as possible. First of all, get here as early as you can. In the morning, both the crowds and the heat levels are infinitely more bearable.
Second, download an online map of the layout of the market in advance. What might to the untrained eye initially appear to be chaos is actually a highly ordered system. Vendors are grouped by the types of wares they sell. Rather than try to take it all in during a single visit—an impossible task—pick a few targeted sections to browse.
Coconut ice cream
Finally, be sure to plan for plenty of stops for Thai food and drinks, since that’s part of the fun of being here. Chatuchak Market has an incredible line-up of street food vendors selling all manner of dishes. If you’re looking to cool off, wait in line for Chatuchak’s famous coconut ice cream vendor—you’ll know which one by the inevitable line that forms. Here, coconut ice cream comes inside a coconut shell, drizzled with sweetened condensed milk and sprinkled with peanuts.
When your energy levels start to flag, caffeinate at Doi Tung, a sustainable coffee company that supports farmers in northern Thailand. And if you’re looking to sip on something stronger in the late afternoon, make your way to the legendary Viva 8 bar. The mojitos here are both potent and refreshing. Live DJs spin house music here towards the end of the day, turning this part of the market into something of an impromptu block party.
Victory Monument Night Market
Located to the north of Siam Square, Victory Monument is primarily known as a transportation hub. Buses gather around the giant obelisk commemorating a victory in the Franco-Thai War. While the area can be somewhat chaotic to navigate, it’s also home to some of the best street food in Bangkok. This market caters almost exclusively to locals, meaning hawkers here pull no punches when it comes to chile heat.
Kway teow reua
There’s a borderline overwhelming number of excellent dining options here, but if you only have stomach capacity for one, make it a bowl of boat noodles. True to their name, kway teow reua were once served by vendors in boats. Both Bangkok and the former capital of Ayutthaya are built around an intricate network of khlongs, or canals. Long ago, hawkers would offer up bowls of this fragrant soup with pork cracklings, morning glory, and offal from the waterways.
These noodles owe their intoxicating aroma to warm spices such as cinnamon and star anise, and their intense umami to a surprise ingredient: pig’s blood, added just before serving. The blood emulsifies seamlessly into the broth, enriching it and adding a distinctive savoriness. Because it can separate and congeal if left to sit too long, boat noodles are always served in small bowls. Victory Monument is particularly famous for this specialty and it’s very much worth slurping up.
Asiatique The Riverfront
Asiatique The Riverfront
For decades, Sukhumvit Road was the cultural and economic heart of Bangkok. In more recent years, the epicenter has gravitated towards the riverfront area. It’s a logical move—historically, the banks of the Chao Phraya River were the center of the city. And while much of Sukhumvit has been usurped by shopping malls and condos, the neighborhoods around the river retain their charm.
Admittedly, Asiatique, which opened in 2012 as part of the revitalization efforts, is a shopping center as well, but it’s also much more than that. It was built in part to house some of the vendors from the Suan Lum Night Bazaar, which the government shuttered the year before.
The entire complex of this Bangkok night market is situated on the former docks of the East Asiatic Company. Perhaps as a nod to the area’s roots, the whole area is loosely historically themed. It’s meant to resemble Bangkok under King Chulalongkorn’s rule around the turn of the last century. And while you’ll find plenty of shopping opportunities here, Asiatique is arguably more about entertainment.
Street food
It’s home to the tallest ferris wheel in Bangkok, known as the Asiatique Sky. From 200 feet up in the air, passengers get a pretty spectacular view of the skyline along the river. The whole ride only takes 20 minutes, leaving you plenty of time to browse the hawker stands for lunch or dinner.
Note that while Asiatique is accessible from more central parts of the city by car, Bangkok’s infamous traffic jams can make the journey something of a hassle. A far faster and more pleasant option is to take the BTS Skytrain to Saphan Taksin, then hop on a ferry ride. The boat will take you right to Asiatique and offers views of Wat Arun, the Temple of the Dawn, en route.
Pratunam Night Market
Travelers looking for reasonably priced clothing, electronics, and accessories should head toward this night market in Ratchathewi. Pratunam Night Market is one of the largest of its kind in the city center. It’s also particularly easy to get to, since it’s right near the BTS Skytrain and MRT. There’s a respectable selection of street food here, although the focus is more on consumer goods.
You’ll find quite a few knock-offs of designer bags and other items here, but you’ll obviously get better quality items if you avoid the fakes. If you’re willing to put in the work, there are serious bargains to be had here, as well as fashions by local designers. Some degree of haggling is encouraged, although it’s important to mind your manners when doing so. Yelling or any sort of forceful, rude negotiating tactics will get you nowhere.
Khao San Road Night Market
Khao San Road Night Market
In 1982, when the first backpacker guest house opened here, Khao San Road was a relatively sleepy street. Today, it’s absolute pandemonium, seven days a week, with bars blasting reggae music and Western covers until the wee hours. The drinks are cheap and often come in buckets loaded with Red Bull and a concoction of off-brand liquors.
Expect to find lots of stands selling T-shirts and tourist souvenirs. The street food here, which caters heavily to foreigners, tends to err on the sweeter, blander side. If you’re craving a snack, opt for the backpacker classic: a “banana pancake.” These thin rotis griddle-fried in margarine, filled with sliced bananas, and drizzled with condensed milk invariably hit the spot.
Banana pancake
Khao San Road is perhaps best viewed in context as its own sort of subculture. To this day, it still feels largely apart from the rest of the city. Thai twentysomethings occasionally come here for the novelty of it, as well as the bars that stay open well past the usual hours.
The area is still unfortunately rife with scammers preying on unsuspecting travelers. Keep a close hold on your belongings here and steer clear of anyone soliciting dubious shows. Avoid tuk-tuk drivers offering tours of the Grand Palace and other common attractions. If you need to grab a cab or motorbike taxi, try to do so as far away from Khao San as possible to avoid higher fees.
Read: Two Days in Bangkok
Hua Mum Night Market
Hua Mum Night Market
If you’re looking for a more local market, Hua Mum Night Market near Lat Phrao is worth seeking out. It’s not accessible by the BTS Skytrain, which means you’ll have to take a cab or tuk-tuk. Still, it’s worth the journey for an absolutely sensational selection of street food. There are a number of vendors selling clothing, jewelry, and other items, but you’re really here to feast.
The culinary offerings at Hua Mum Night Market include all of the classics. Load up on gai yaang–grilled chicken–with fiery som tam, Thailand’s famous papaya salad, and sticky rice. Or gather around a table of jim jum, Isaan-style hot pot, with a few cold Singha beers. Banh mee, or thin egg noodles, are served either swimming in soup or dry, and are usually topped with char siu–roast pork–and greens.
Khanom Jeen, or fresh vermicelli noodles served with a vast array of curries and fresh herb toppings, are in fine form here. For a more portable snack, grab a couple of skewers of moo ping–sweet, glazed fatty pork–to munch. Or opt instead for khanom krok, which is something like a cross between a mini-pancake and a coconut custard.
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