Chiang Mai at Night – 32 Things to do + Photos 2024

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Checking out Chiang Mai soon? You are in for a treat! Thailand’s second city is great by day but Chiang Mai at night is an equal delight.

Chiang Mai at night comes alive with many things to do – from numerous Chiang Mai night markets to cabaret shows, Muay Thai fights to late night bites, there are plenty of nocturnal experiences to enjoy.

If your traveller tastes are gastronomic or curious, we have some sundown suggestions for you including the best roof-top bars at night in Chiang Mai plus a night out in Nimman.

From Chiang Mai’s best malls to to tranquil temples at dusk, get the best out of Chiang Mai at night with our guide to night-time Chiang Mai activities activities (2024):

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Table of Contents

Chiang Mai at Night Activities:

Rooftop Bars

We start our Chiang Mai at night list with a rundown of the best roof-top bars in Chiang Mai – three of these are located near Chiang Mai Old Town and one is a little further out in Nimman.

1. HIDELAND.cnx

Chiang Mai’s most popular rooftop bar, HIDELAND.cnx is a sublime spot to see in a sunset with two rooftop patios, both looking toward the mountains.

Open from 5pm to 11.30pm daily, be sure to arrive early at HIDELAND.CNX as the best tables fill up quickly. Drink prices are reasonable (a small Chang beer at HIDELAND costs around 70 THB as of February 2024).

They also have an extensive food menu (Thai and Japanese fusion) plus a small indoor seating area and DJ playing most nights – entry is free.

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2. Thaepae Grill

The best rooftop bar in Chiang Mai old town, Thaepae Grill (formerly Improvise Bar) looks out over the old city walls and has several levels of lounges, booths and dining rooms. However, keep going up the stairs for several storeys and bag a table on the top floor which is outdoors.

From Thaepae Grill, you can look out towards the mountains and even see Doi Suthep hillside temple glinting in the sunset rays – this also offers an excellent aerial view of the Sunday Night Walking Market in Chiang Mai.

Whilst a little more expensive than Hideland, Thaepae Grill is a fantastic night out in Chiang Mai and the grilled skewers here are really cheap and tasty (around 20THB to 40 THB a stick). A small Chang at Thaepae Grill costs around 110 THB.

Looking for cheap Chiang Mai day-trips, attractions or group/private tours?
We recommend visiting Vi ator, GetYourGuide, and Klook!

3. Seoul High / Wind n Wide cnx.

Formerly known as Seoul High and since rebranded as Wind n Wide CNX, this is a small but stylish Korean rooftop bar that has great views and cheap drinks (especially during their Happy Hour promotion).

Seoul High / Wind n Wide cnx. Korean rooftop bar Chiang Mai

Open from 5pm until midnight, Seoul High / Wind n Wide CNX Rooftop Bar serves up Korean snacks like fried chicken and tteboki and has neon lights that light up at night.

Whilst not as impressive as Hideland or Thaepae Grill, this is still a cool little night time rooftop bar in Chiang Mai that doesn’t get crowded (we even had the whole bar to ourselves once so it is one of the best Chiang Mai rooftop bars for a chilled sunset).

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4. Myst Nimman

Visit one of Nimman’s best rooftop bars and restaurants, Myst located on top of the Maya Lifestyle Shopping Mall.

This chic cocktail bar comes alive at night with a mezzanine seating area and often has DJs and live music playing till the small hours.

Whilst prices are not cheap compared to most other bars (some of the cocktails are 800 baht), the views are spectacular and the restaurant boasts a Thai and international fusion menu.

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Night Markets

5. Chiang Mai Night Bazaar area

Open 7 days a week, there are several night markets around the Night Bazaar Area, all of which are generally open from 5pm to midnight – Anusarn Night Market, Pavillion Night Market, Chiang Mai Night Bazaar, Kalare Night Bazaar and Ploen Ruedee Night Market.

All of the night markets have dozens of stalls plus food kiosks and street-food stalls – of all the night markets in this area, the best one is Anusarn Night Market but make a night of it and visit several in one go.

Anusarn Night Market in Chiang Mai’s night bazaar area has hundreds of stalls selling crafts, souvenirs and clothing. It is quite spread out with lots of room to explore and shop, and much less crowded than the Saturday and Sunday walking markets.

Combine your Anusarn Night Market shopping with a trip to Chill Square, a well lit and clean food court with multiple food outlets (all pretty reasonable in price) and a couple of bars to buy cheap cool Changs.

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6. Lanna Square Night Market

Opened at the start of 2023, Lanna Square Chiang Mai is currently the newest night market in Chiang Mai.

Handily located right next to one of the busiest night-time party places in Chiang Mai (next to the Zoe in Yellow night-club area), Lanna Square Night Market is actually one of the more laid back and mellow night markets (which is surprising, given it is next to so many clubs and pubs).

Consisting of around 30 or so food stalls, Lanna Square night market in Chiang Mai is centred around a large stage area and a huge seating area – so start your Chiang Mai evening here before checking out the nearby bars and pubs.

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7. Saturday Walking Street Market (Wualai Walking Street)

Chiang Mai’s famous Saturday night market takes place along Wualai Street, from 4pm onwards every Saturday evening until around 10pm (although some stalls start to wind down earlier).

This is definitely one of the best night markets in Chiang Mai, with several hundred stalls.

Saturday Walking Street Market (Wualai Walking Street) Chiang Mai at night

There are lots of craft and food stalls along the way – both handmade and artisan crafts as well as the usual tourist tat. Some stalls at the Saturday Night Walking Market are fixed whilst others allow bartering.

There are several pop-up food courts along the Chiang Mai night Saturday Walking Market plus many street-performers.

As with the Sunday night walking market, please note alcohol is not now allowed on the main walking route (but is served in some of the food-courts along the way).

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8. Sunday Walking Market (Tha Phae Walking Street)

Likely the most iconic and well-known Chiang Mai night market, if you plan to visit just one market on this list, the Sunday Night Walking Market is a must-do.

Sunday Walking Market (Tha Phae Walking Street) Chiang Mai at night

Spanning the full length of Rachadamnoen Road plus several side streets and temple grounds, the Sunday Night Walking Market is huge, comprising hundreds of stalls.

There are several temporary food courts dotted along the Sunday Night Walking Market strip, with most of them located in the grounds of temples making eating in them quite a satisfying yet surreal Chiang-Mai night-time experience.

Opening times: Every Sunday from 5pm – 10.30pm.

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9. Ploen Ruedee Night Market

One of the more modern and fun Chiang Mai night markets, Ploen Ruedee Night Market is purpose built and mainly in the open, with a huge stage and seating area with many food stalls on the outer edges.

Popular with backpackers and families, Ploen Ruedee Night Market is food orientated and whilst smaller than some of the other Chiang Mai night markets, is one of the more fun things to do in Chiang Mai with live music most nights.

Check out our full guide to the 14 best Chiang Mai night markets here >

10. Muay Thai fight nights in Chiang Mai

One of the most common sights (and sounds) whilst staying in Chiang Mai is the Muay Thai promoters handing out leaflets whilst you are in bars or cafes.

Muay Thai boxing matches usually take most nights of the week in Chiang Mai with standard seats costing 600 THB and ringside seats 800 to 900 THB (muay thai boxing prices correct as of early 2024).

Most fixtures have a mixture of local Thai fighters and also ‘guest’ international Muay Thai boxers (male and female bouts).

There are several Chiang Mai muay thai stadiums and theatres including Thaepae Boxing Stadium and Kalare Night Bazaar Boxing Stadium

Get your Chiang Mai Thaphae Boxing Stadium Tickets here or Kalare Night Bazaar Boxing Stadium tickets here.

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11. Wat Phra That Doi Suthep Ratchaworawihan at sunset

Located in the hills high above Chiang Mai, even the journey to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep temple is breathtaking – and as for the views at the top at night and at sunset…(!)

When you first arrive at Doi Suthep, there are two ways to get to the main temple ground – you can walk up the seven-headed serpent stairs (over 300 steps) or take an electric stair lift /funicular for a small fee.

First established in the 1380s, the temple and its grounds have grown over the years to be one of the most beautiful temples in Chiang Mai if not the whole of Thailand.

As a result, tourist hordes can get a little annoying so best to visit late in the evening (the added bonus is that you’ll get to see the sunset over Chiang Mai, given the incredible mountain views).

If you visit in the evening, you will also hear and see the monks chanting plus the golden chedi is lit up at night.

Book this Chiang Mai: Doi Suthep and Wat Umong Enchanting Evening Tour >

12. Chiang Mai evening cabaret and cultural shows

Chiang Mai is no stranger to night-time cabaret shows and whilst there may not be as many as say Bangkok or Pattaya, there are still several evening performances and dinner shows to choose from.

Popular Chiang Mai night-time cabaret shows include the Siam Dragon Cabaret Show, and the Traditional Khantoke Dinner and Cultural Show.

Most (but not all) cabaret shows include transfers and dinner and promise an epic night of evening entertainment.

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13. Zoe in Yellow bar area

Next to Lanna Square Night Market, the bar area around Zoe in Yellow nightclub has been one of Chiang Mai’s main entertainment districts for several decades.

The square has around 8 or 9 bars and nightclubs including Bar 48 Garage, Roots Rock Reggae Bar, Smokey Chiang Mai plus various grass cafes and dispensaries.

Most bars open from 5pm to midnight and as all the bars are right next to each other in a huge outdoor plaza, it can be quite a fun evening pub or bar crawl in the making.

Roots Rock Reggae Bar Chiang Mai at night

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14. LamChang at night

Situated in the heart of Chiang Mai’s old-town, LamChang is a warren of late night bars, tattoo parlours and restaurants.

Whilst it is nice to visit in the daytime, LamChang’s character shines through at night with lots of live music bars, green garden bars and even late night smoothie bars (and yes, you can ‘smoke’ too).

The best areas to explore in LamChang at night are Moon Muang Road Lane 7 or Lane 6. We really rate the By Hand Pizza Cafe for a little taste of Italy or sit in the garden bar of Chadra Mantra Hotel with an ice-cold Chang and watch the world go by.

If you visit the Lamchang area of Chiang Mai on Friday night, be sure to combine your trip with the Chiang Mai Friday Night Market held in this area.

By Hand Pizza Cafe Chiang Mai — *By Hand Pizza Cafe*

15. Chiang Mai Evening Food Tour

Take a journey through Chiang Mai’s night markets with a local tour guide, exploring the city both on foot and by songthaew (the local red trucks).

Try tasty Northern Thai food and distinctive desserts like coconut pudding at several Chiang Mai night markets – visit at least two night markets and try around 8 to 10 dishes whilst getting to know your fellow foodies from around the world.

16. Nimman at night

Nimman is one of the best Chiang Mai neighbourhoods to explore and a short Grab ride from Chiang Mai old town (expect to pay 80 to 100 THB).

We love Nimman and often stay here for several days at a time as it has a nice mix of cool coffee shops, incredible food stalls and a few shopping malls.

New Town Bar Chiang Mai — *New Town Bar*

However, whilst it is quite sleepy in the daytime, Nimman wakes up at night with multiple dive bars, hole in the wall hangouts and late-night party places.

Popular late night bars in Nimman include New Town, Aura Bar, Porjai Bar and Why Me – many have outdoor drinking areas and live music.

You might like our 20+ things to do in Nimman, Chiang Mai guide >

Sucking Stones Brewery Bar Chiang Mai — *Sucking Stones Brewery Bar*

Why Me Nimman Bar Chiang Mai — *Why Me Nimman Bar*

17. Ping River dinner cruise at night in Chiang Mai

Enjoy an evening epicurean experience aboard a Chiang Mai cruise boat at night – try tasty Northern Thai dishes as you float past temples lit up at night and combine with drinks or tea for an unforgettable night-time treat.

An excellent way to see Chiang Mai at night with all the landmarks lit-up, the Ping River Cruise is available most evenings and generally sets sail around 7pm.

Book your Ping River Dinner Cruise in Chiang Mai here >

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18. Chiang Mai Night Light Kayaking

Float on by the River Ping to do an evening kayak tour to enjoy Chiang Mai at night by canoe – paddle on the Ping River in either a single or double kayak.

Headlamps and torches are also provided and this is great way to escape the daytime heat by kayaking at night.

Start you kayaking trip and dusk and see the twilight sights of Chiang Mai including colourful riverside restaurants and the famous mai yai trees on the banks

Chiang Mai evening kayak tours are generally limited to small groups – book a kayaking tour with Viator here >

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Chiang Mai at night Shopping Malls

There are several large shopping malls in Chiang Mai, most of which are open until 10pm at night.

Some of the Chiang Mai at night shopping malls are either located in Nimman or towards the airport. Some of the best shopping malls in Chiang Mai include:

19. One Nimman

For our money, One Nimman is Chiang Mai’s most original and best looking shopping mall, styled after an Italian plaza or European square.

One Nimman is a shopping centre and outdoor plaza handily located just across the road from Maya Lifestyle Shopping Centre and Think Park (two other great late night activities in Chiang Mai) – it is easy to find, just look for the Italian bell tower!

One Nimman has a food court at the rear which is open until late plus the European style streets and square are festooned with fairy lights at night. Check out the super cool neon entrance to the new shopping area on the upper levels called One Nimman Select.

One Nimman also has a small night market with food stalls and buskers Friday through Sunday nights plus a Japanese style ‘White Market’ just outside on the same nights.

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20. Maya Lifestyle Shopping Centre (Nimman)

A sometimes welcome respite from the hot and humid night-time temperatures in Chiang Mai, Maya Lifestyle Shopping centre has INCREDIBLE air-conditioning and awesome shops.

Maya Lifestyle Shopping Centre in Nimman has many local and international brands, plus several Japanese stores like Daiso and Moshi Moshi.

We often go here at night in Chiang Mai to get ice-cream sundaes from Swensen’s or cheap food from the Maya food-court on the same level.

At night, there is also a popular rooftop bar at Maya called Myst, which is situated on the upper deck offering great sunset and evening views of Nimman (plus the planes taking off from Chiang Mai airport).

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21. Chiang Mai Central Festival Mall

Central Festival mall is Chiang Mai’s largest shopping center, located around 5km from Chiang Mai’s old town.

Sprawling across 6 floors of stores, Central Festival Mall has international brands such as Uniqlo, H&M and a Chiang Mai branch of Marks and Spencers, one of the UK’s most famous high street stores.

You can also watch late night movies at the Major Cineplex here.

Check our our guide to the biggest and best shopping malls in Chiang Mai here >

22. Get high in Chiang Mai at night

Since 2022, it has been legal to smoke grass in Thailand and dozens of dope shops have cropped up in Chiang Mai old town and in Nimman – that said, please note it is illegal to smoke (and vape) in public places.

With dope cafes in Chang Mai with names like Green Smoked, The Dispensary and Aura Herb, let’s just say it is now quite easy to make best buds in Chiang Mai at night – look for the bright green neon leaf signs or just follow your nose.

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23. Think Park Nimman

An outdoor plaza packed with shops, bars and restaurants, Think Park is best described as a Japanese themed entertainment district which really comes alive at night (we find it pretty quiet in the daytime too).

Think Park Nimman has lots of Japanese lanterns and neon lights plus has popular craft beer bars and east Asian restaurants – one of the nicest bars is The Camelia cafe and music bar which has a huge outdoor stage.

A little piece of Japan in Nimman, Think Park is a relatively new night-time thing to do in Chiang Mai with loads of cute and charming features like a Japanese road crossing (even the nearest entrance from Maya shopping centre is themed like a Tokyo Metro / Underground station).

24. Chiang Mai Night Safari

Many visit Chiang Mai zoo by day but there is also a night safari – travel around Chiang Mai Zoo at night on an enclosed tram and see hundreds of animals and international species up close.

Many of the Chiang Mai zoo animals are nocturnal species so this is a unique opportunity to see creatures such as tigers, lions and kangaroos at dusk or sunset.

Lasting around 1 hour, Chiang Mai Zoo Night Safaris run every day of the week, between 5:30pm and 8pm every evening.

Book your Chiang Mai Zoo Night Safari here >

25. Chiang Mai Lantern Festival & Loy Krathong (November only)

Loy Krathong is one of the biggest annual festivals in Thailand that takes place during the full moon night on the twelfth month of the Thai lunar month (usually early to mid November in the standard calendar).

One of the best places to enjoy Loy Krathong is in Chiang Mai whereby lanterns are set off in selected parks outside of the city, and thousands of small krathong floats are set sail on the River Ping at night.

The next Loy Krathong festival in Chiang Mai will be around 15 November 2024.

Find out more about the Loy Krathong festival in Chiang Mai here >

26. Listen to live music The North Gate Jazz Co-Op

There is no shortage of live music in Chiang Mai at night – most of the night markets or walking streets have buskers or musicians (some good and some…well…not so good).

One of the most famous live music venues in Chiang Mai, the North Gate Jazz Co-Op is a cosy and charming bar in the shadow of the ancient The Chang Phuek Gate that offers free live blues and jazz music several times a week (just make sure you buy a beer or three).

If you are Nimman, there are also lots of late night music venues and late night cafes too like Why Me and New Moon.

27. See the Silver Temple Sparkle at Night AKA Wat Sri Suphan

Dare we say that after visiting so many temples in Chiang Mai during the daytime, some of them can get a little ‘repetitive’?

If so, we can assure you that Wat Sri Suphan (or the ‘silver temple’) is one of the most unique and memorable temples in Chiang Mai, that shimmers and sparkles in the evening.

We visited Sri Suphan AKA the silver temple of Chiang Mai twice as it was so remarkable, once at night whilst attending the Saturday night walking market and once again in the daytime to see in its full glory.

At night, the silver temple surfaces are lit up by colourful lights – it looks incredible any time of day.

As of 2024, there is now a small admission fee for foreigners (50 THB) to visit Wat Sri Suphan.

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28. Catch a late night movie in Chiang Mai

Most of the biggest movie theatres in Chiang Mai can be found in the Chiang Mai shopping malls – IMAX screens are second nature in Thailand meaning you can see the latest releases with incredible picture and sound quality.

Cinema at Central Festival mall in Chiang Mai. — *Central Festival mall in Chiang Mai.*

You’ll find a huge 3D IMAX cinema screen in Chiang Mai and 4D Theatre on the top floor of Central Festival mall in Chiang Mai.

There is also a Chiang Mai cinema in Maya Lifestyle Shopping Centre in Nimman plus a ‘Major Cineplex’ cinema at Central Chiang Mai Airport (AKA Central Plaza).

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29. Go in search of Khao Soi

No trip to Chiang Mai is complete without tasting at least one bowl of legendary local curry noodle dish khao soi.

Khao soi’s core ingredients are usually a curry soup base (usually medium spiced), served with curry and deep fried noodles.

Khao soi at Huen Phen restaurant in Chiang Mai

The most common version in Chiang Mai is usually chicken khao soi, but many Chiang Mai khao soi restaurants also serve pork and beef versions.

All of the Chiang Mai night markets serve khao soi but one of the best khao soi restaurants Huen Phen – is open until 10pm every night.

Read our guide to the best khao soi restaurants in Chiang Mai >

30. Samurai Kitchen

One of our favourite late night eateries in Chiang Mai is the Samurai Kitchen, a Japanese restaurant with retro interiors and vintage arcade machines that sells most of its menu for only 69 THB (including large Chang beers).

From sushi to salad, okonomyaki to karaage fried chicken, you can eat lots of Japanese food for very little money and it is open until 10pm.

31. Chiang Mai Flower Festival (February only)

One of Chiang Mai’s biggest annual festivals held every February, Chiang Mai blooms into life with its Flower Festival, which takes over the city and Buak Haad Park.

Chiang Mai Flower Festival Buak Haad Park — *Buak Haad Park*

By day, dozens of floral floats and dancers take part in a huge 3 hour parade but by night, all the flowery fun moves to Buak Haad Park where there are evening illuminations, light-shows and lasers.

The Chiang Mai Flower Festival is free to attend – the 2025 Chiang Mai Flower Festival dates have yet to be confirmed but it is likely to be the first or second weekend in February 2025.

Our final thing to do in Chiang Mai at night

32. Chiang Mai Massage

You can’t go far in Chiang Mai without hearing the friendly call of ‘You waaaaant massage?’.

There are lots of permanent massage parlours located in and around Chiang Mai old town and Nimman at night.

Pop up massage stands also appear at the Saturday and Sunday Night Walking Markets en-masse; literally dozens of beds are plonked down on the sides of the market and are a popular tourist attraction.

Generally, the pop-up massage stalls at the night markets are cheapest offering half hour long massages for as little as 80 THB.

Another popular massage parlour chain in Chiang Mai is Women’s Massage Center By Ex-Prisoner, which is renowned for its social enterprise by training female ex-convincts to become masseuses.