The Big Mango is a completely different beast come nightfall, and Bangkok’s best night markets are a proud testament to that fact.
These diverse and dynamic gatherings can be found at a variety of locations across the capital, and attract a huge number of locals and tourists alike.
What to experience at these night time jaunts varies from market to market, but you can generally expect a slew of excellent street eats, jazzy cocktails and local arts and crafts to buy.
Here’s our rundown of the best night markets in Bangkok for anyone looking for a place to roll tonight…
Post Contents
Best Bangkok Night Markets
Includes image by Marketa (CC BY-SA 2.0 licence)
Rod Fai Night Market
Forget typical souvenir shopping and go retro at this fabulously huge vintage market just outside of the city centre.
Rod Fai offers a unique shopping experience found nowhere else in Bangkok, and the vibrant atmosphere, cool cocktail bars and eateries and street food lure a hip local crowd to join the fun. Tourists are few in comparison to other night markets in Bangkok, which makes rummaging through the vintage clothes, memorabilia, antique furniture and kitsch collectibles even more enjoyable.
The market relocated from Chatuchak a few years ago and is now based at Srinakarin Soi 51, just behind Seacon Square Shopping Mall. You could beat the traffic by taking the BTS to On Nut Station and then grabbing a cab.
Yep, one of the reasons the vibe is more local than touristy is the fact that it’s quite a long way off the beaten track. Compromises, compromises!
Anway, it’s open from 17:00 – 01:00 Thursday to Sunday and it certainly makes for a fantastic night out if you are prepared to make the trek from Sukhumvit.
If you don’t fancy venturing all the way out past On Nut, check out the Rod Fai 2 market in Ratchada.
It’s a bit smaller than the original but just as vibrant and much easier to get to — you can find it right next to the National Cultural Centre MRT. It’s open from 14:00 – 0:00 Thursday to Sunday.
There’s plenty of things to buy here: a mix of secondhand and vintage goods, as well as everything you’d expect to find in a traditional market.
Patpong Night Market
By Juan Antonio F. Segal (CC BY 2.0 licence)
Squeezed between strip clubs in the Silom district, the chaotic Patpong night market is crammed with foreign tourists seeking souvenirs.
The market stalls line the already quite narrow roads of Patpong and the footfall is pretty massive. Be prepared for slow walkers: a curious mix of western tourists, bar girls, sexpats and the Silom work brigade.
It’s easy to get distracted in this notorious x-rated nightlife district, but if you manage to avoid temptation you’ll find typically tacky tourist souvenirs, fake brand name clothes and accessories, illegal electrical goods and so on.
Prices are comparatively very high here so if something catches your eye be prepared to haggle hard. The quality of goods sold varies enormously — so choose wisely.
Patpong is definitely not our favorite Bangkok night market, but probably worth checking out if you’re staying in the area.
If you’re curious to take a look around Patpong but don’t fancy braving the crowds, check out this video late night walk around of the area:
Patpong market takes place daily between 18:00 – 00:00 on parallel roads (Patpong 1 and Patpong 2) next to Silom Road. Getting here is easy — just take the BTS to Sala Daeng or the MRT to Silom.
Suan Lum Night Bazaar Ratchada
Embrace the modern at this relatively new indoor/outdoor night market in Bangkok along Ladprao Road and Ratchadaphisek Road.
It opened in December 2015 and offers an array of products and souvenirs such as t-shirts, fashion accessories, jewellery, artwork, and wood carvings.
Suan Lum was originally located near Lumpini Park but closed in 2011. While the Ladprao location isn’t quite as central as the old Lumpini one, it’s at least adjacent to the MRT station.
If you want to round your shopping experience off with some entertainment you will find it here in the form of Muay Thai boxing, live music, and Ladyboy cabaret. There are also many restaurants and street food stalls to perch at and munch from if you’re feeling peckish.
Even though it’s a very tourist-friendly market, it’s not yet reached the popular heights of places like JJ Green and Talad Rod Fai.
The advantage of this is that it’s not remotely crowded, which makes for a calm and relaxed shopping experience. It’s certainly not your usual touristy night market!
To check it out take the MRT to Lat Phrao: it’s open daily from 4pm to midnight.
Siam Gypsy Junction
Another favourite with the in-crowd, this Bangkok night market is fast competing with Rod Fai for the crown of trendiest after dark destination.
From 5pm to midnight Thursdays through Sundays, the Siam Gypsy Market in Bang Son draws eclectic crowds who come to peruse the array of quirky second-hand goods available.
You can buy everything from clothes and toys to homeware, old school vinyl, and taxidermy — as well as more modern offerings. It’s particularly well stocked with vintage items and could be Bangkok’s answer to a traditional flea market.
Siam Gypsy is undoubtedly Thai hipster heaven, with live indie bands and affordable pop-up bars adding to the chilled vibe, and there are plenty of food vendors around for when hunger hits. It’s not a huge market, but that makes it feel more intimate and takes the pressure off browsing.
You can see what other people think of this Bangkok night market with the reviews on their Facebook fan page.
Thanks to the newly built Bang Son MRT station (on the purple line), the north Bangkok location of Siam Gypsy Junction is now easy to reach. You’ll have to transfer from the end of the MRT blue line at Bang Sue to the start of the purple line at Tao Poon.
Currently, it’s our only reason to take the purple MRT line…
Chatuchak Friday Night Market
Also known as JJ Night Market/JJ Green, the Bangkok night market at Chatuchak — the night time version of the infamously hectic and huge weekend market — is a slightly more relaxed affair than its daytime counterpart.
Open from Thursday to Sunday, JJ Green definitely isn’t as large as its infamous daytime equivalent — but the clothes, accessories and food sections of the market are still open and going strong. If anything, the fewer market stalls and foot traffic compared to the day mean that you’re more likely to find quality items, particularly when it comes to local fashions.
One of the best things about JJ Night Market is the food and drink scene. There are some excellent street eats and cocktail stops here, and the atmosphere is still buzzing past midnight.
Expect to see other tourists here, but in far fewer numbers than during the day — there is more of an easy-going local vibe — and just outside the perimeter of the market, there are plenty of restaurants and bars attracting a young crowd too.
Many people prefer JJ Night Market to Chatuchak Weekend Market because of this relaxed atmosphere, the lack of tourists and the lack of the soaring midday sun! There isn’t as much pressure to haggle with the vendors in the evening either. The local clientele tends to keep prices low and reasonable.
Here’s an excellent video tour around the night market if you’re curious:
JJ Green is open from 9pm until around as late at 3am. Take the BTS to Mo Chit, or the MRT to Chatuchak Park where a short stroll will get you here.
ArtBox
Via Artbox/Facebook
Described by some as Thailand’s best hipster market, ArtBox is a showcase of up and coming Thai creative talent. The stalls at this pop-up market are housed in moveable shipping containers (meaning that ArtBox’s location is not fixed) so head to their Facebook page to check their latest location.
It’s worth mentioning that ArtBox is more of a seasonal market — it seems to open for weeks and even months at a time in one location, before closing for a while and reopening somewhere new a few weeks later.
ArtBox is a total departure from your standard night market in Bangkok, and you won’t find the usual tourist tat here. The focus is on vintage and handmade items, with local designers selling stylish clothes and accessories, home wares, art, plus gadgets and accessories.
Staying on trend, the food, drink and live music here are fantastic, and prices remain affordable. You’re guaranteed a great night here amongst Bangkok’s bright young things.
Artbox has proven to be so popular and well received in Bangkok that it’s opened up a second location in Singapore. It’s not every day that Bangkok that’s leading the pack ahead of the Lion City!
Asiatique
By Prachanart Viriyaraks (CC BY 2.0 licence)
Fusing an outdoor shopping and entertainment centre with a traditional night market, upscale Asiatique is a lively place to be when the sun goes down. It attracts crowds from all walks of life but is seemingly particularly popular with Asian tourists.
It’s relatively big, but well organised and less unruly than many other night markets in Bangkok. Prices are a little higher here than some other markets, but there is a huge range of goods to choose from, and the handicrafts here are some of the best you’ll find in the city.
The pretty riverside location gives pleasant views of the Bangkok skyline, and there is even a London Eye style ferris wheel giving impressive views over the Chao Phraya — also known as the River of Kings.
As well as stalls and a semi-covered market containing plenty of stalls, Asiatique is home to a plethora of restaurants and bars. Other entertainment includes Ladyboy Calypso cabaret shows, traditional Thai khon performances, and the odd special event too.
You can read more about the Asiatique night market in this complete guide.
Take a free ferry boat from the pier beside BTS Saphan Taksin to get here. It’s open from 17:00 to 00:00 every single day.
What’s your favourite Bangkok night market?
1 Comment
Pingback: The 5 Best Night Markets - BP CAR RENT THAILAND