Nightlife · Chiang Mai · Thailand
Chiang Mai nightlife
Where the evenings happen in Chiang Mai, from early drinks to late nights.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
Chiang Mai's nightlife is relaxed: live-music bars by the river, craft-beer and cocktail bars in Nimman, a backpacker bar scene in the old city and a well-known jazz club at the north gate. The main areas are Nimmanhaemin, Riverside, Chang Phueak Gate and Old City.
Key facts
- Nightlife areas
- 4
- Stay near the action
- Tha Phae and Night Bazaar
- Local drink
- Northern Thai coffee
Where to go out
Nimmanhaemin
Cocktail bars, craft-beer pubs and clubs popular with students and young Thais.
Riverside
Restaurant bars along Charoen Rat Road with live bands most nights.
Chang Phueak Gate
North Gate Jazz Co-Op hosts nightly jam sessions that spill onto the pavement.
Old City
Backpacker bars and reggae bars on the lanes inside the moat.
Nightlife tips
- Closing times are set by local licensing and vary by area; most bars wind down around midnight to 1am.
- Alcohol is not sold on major Buddhist holidays.
- Use Grab or Bolt to get home rather than riding a scooter after drinking.
Evening sights
Market · Old City
Sunday Walking Street
Arrive around 5pm before it becomes shoulder-to-shoulder, and eat in a temple courtyard food court.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Shopping
- Food
- After dark
- Kids
Market · Tha Phae and Night Bazaar
Night Bazaar
Bargain with a smile and compare prices; the Sunday and Saturday walking streets often have more original crafts.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Shopping
- After dark
- Food
Religious site · Wua Lai
Wat Sri Suphan (Silver Temple)
Visit on a Saturday and continue onto the Wua Lai Walking Street market.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Architecture
- Art
- Photo spot
- After dark
Street · Nimmanhaemin
Nimmanhaemin Road
Come in the afternoon for coffee and return after dark for the bars and food stalls.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Food
- Shopping
- After dark
What to drink
- Northern Thai coffee — Arabica grown by hill communities in the north, roasted in the city and served in Nimman's speciality cafés as pour-overs and espresso.
Evenings through the year
Sunset and the overnight low decide how long the outdoor part of a night lasts. April has the warmest evenings, with lows around 22°C (72°F).
| Month | Sunset (15th) | Overnight low | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | About 18:07 | 14°C (57°F) | 1 |
| April | About 18:41 | 22°C (72°F) | 6 |
| July | About 19:05 | 23°C (73°F) | 20 |
| October | About 18:01 | 21°C (70°F) | 10 |
Getting home late
- Bus — Agree the fare before getting in; private hire of a whole songthaew costs more.
- Ride-hailing — Grab and Bolt operate across the city with cars and motorbikes at upfront prices, useful for the airport, Nimman and Doi Suthep.
- Tuk-tuk — Tuk-tuks are faster for short hops but more expensive than songthaews; negotiate before setting off.
- Walking — Within the moat, the main temples are 5–15 minutes apart on foot, and the Night Bazaar is about 15 minutes' walk from Tha Phae Gate.
Late-night bites
- Sai ua — Warorot Market and grill stalls at markets and walking streets.
- Khao kha moo — The evening market at Chang Phueak Gate, where a stall run by a vendor in a cowboy hat is famous.
Staying safe at night
Scooter accidents are the biggest risk for visitors, especially on the steep mountain roads. From about February to April smoke can make air quality hazardous, so check readings and carry a proper mask. Dogs can be territorial on rural roads and trails.
- Emergency number
- Police 191, ambulance 1669, Tourist Police 1155
Where to stay for nightlife
$$ · Best for shopping, first-timers, nightlife and families
Tha Phae and Night Bazaar
East of Tha Phae Gate, Tha Phae Road leads to the Night Bazaar on Chang Khlan Road and Warorot Market near the river. Larger hotels, bars and restaurants line the streets, and the area is lively every evening with stalls, food courts and live music.
- Good
- Markets on the doorstep; Good hotel choice at all levels; Walk to the old city and river
- Watch out
- Touristy around the bazaar; Noisy streets in the evening
- Nearby
- Night Bazaar, Warorot Market, Tha Phae Gate, Ping River
Questions travellers ask
+Where is the best nightlife in Chiang Mai?
Nimmanhaemin, Riverside and Chang Phueak Gate. Cocktail bars, craft-beer pubs and clubs popular with students and young Thais.
+Which area of Chiang Mai is best for nightlife?
Tha Phae and Night Bazaar: Market streets between the east moat and the river.