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Chiang Mai is shopping heaven, from huge air-conditioned malls through to smaller outdoor plazas – Thailand’s second biggest city Chiang Mai has a handful of big brand shopping centres plus a selection of smaller shopping malls and plazas (many of which have food courts to ‘reward’ yourself afterwards in).
Whilst the shopping experience in downtown Chiang Mai is more about night markets and walking markets, a little further out of town in Nimman and the surrounding areas, you’ll discover the larger Chiang Mai shopping malls.
Given how big some of the shopping malls are in Chiang Mai with cinemas and rooftop bars, you could easily spend the whole day shopping in Chiang Mai (if your credit card will allow it!).
From the colossal Chiang Mai Central Festival mall to the stunning Italian style One Nimman shopping center, here is our guide to the best shopping malls in Chiang Mai (2023).
Table of Contents
Best Shopping Malls in Chiang Mai 2023 Map
Looking for cheap Chiang Mai day-trips, attractions or group/private tours? We recommend visiting Viator, GetYourGuide, and Klook!
1. Chiang Mai Central Festival Mall
We start our best shopping malls in Chiang Mai with Central Festival mall, which is also Chiang Mai’s largest shopping center.
Located around 5km from Chiang Mai’s old town, the out of town location means this is one sof the largest malls in Chiang Mai, sprawling across 6 floors of stores, with 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.
As well as leading fashion chains like Superdry, Levis, Lacoste, Coach and Converse, there are multiple branches of Watsons pharmacy and Boots pharmacy plus well-known brands like Lush and The Body Shop.
Looking for more traditional Thai gifts? There is a branch of the Thai-based Jim Thompson fabric store here if you want to take home Thai silk and elaborately decorated fabrics and scarves.
You won’t go hungry at Chiang Mai Central Festival mall as there are two food courts; one on the first floor and Food Park on the fourth floor (we much preferred the food court on the ground level as there was a lot more food choice and the food court just seemed much more pleasant and busy).
If you’d rather go to a restaurant, there are multiple restaurants on levels 4 and 5 at Central Festival including Japanese eating chains like Coco Ichibanya, Chester’s and Fuji Restaurant. Other restaurants here include Yayoi, MK, Dairy Queen, Ootoya, Bar B Q Sizzler, Black Canyon Coffee and Fuku Matcha.
Fast food favourites include KFC and the Pizza Company; we’d highly recommend the ice-cream sundaes (and air conditioning) at Swensen’s Ice Cream.
If retail isn’t your shopping bag, there is also a huge IMAX 3D cinema and 4D Theatre on the top floor of Central Festival mall in Chiang Mai.
For families and children, there is a skating rink and an amusement park called Fun City and Playland Kidz plus during the weekends and on public holidays, a free Thomas the Tank Engine noddy train that goes around the upper levels. Lots of cool gachapon machines can be found dotted around the mall as well.
Given the location, most overseas visitors will likely need to get a taxi to Central Festival mall – prices are generally 100 to 140 Thai Baht depending on the time of the day to get here from the Old Town. There is ample parking onsite too.
The Chiang Mai Central Festival mall flagship stores
H&M, Uniqlo, Converse, Marks and Spencers, The Body Shop
The Chiang Mai Central Festival mall opening hours
11am to 8pm; 7 days a week
The Chiang Mai Central Festival mall address
99, 99/1 99/2 หมู่ที่ 4 ถ. ซุปเปอร์ไฮเวย์ เชียงใหม่-ลำปาง Fa Ham, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50000
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2. Maya Lifestyle Shopping Centre, Nimman, Chiang Mai
A sometimes welcome respite from the humid and hot temperatures in Chiang Mai, Maya Lifestyle Shopping centre has INCREDIBLE air-conditioning – oh and lots of nice, lovely shops (but for us, it was all about the air con!).
Maya Lifestyle Shopping Centre in Nimman has many local and international brands, plus several Japanese stores like Daiso and Moshi Moshi.
Current stores and brands in Nimman’s Maya Mall as at 2023 include H&M, American Eagle Outfitters, a Mango outlet, Seiko, Casio, Watson’s pharmacy, Fila, Crocs and naRaYa.
As well as lots of shops, Maya Lifestyle Shopping Centre in Chiang Mai has a cheap food court on level 4 – you will need to buy a top-up card at the cashier to buy food here (a bit like the Terminal 21 food court in Bangkok).
Plus Maya also has a cinema on level 5 and a free viewing deck on the top floor (level 6).
At Maya Lifestyle Shopping Centre in Chiang Mai, you’ll discover the alfresco rooftop area called ‘Nimman Hill’.
Located on the 6th floor, Nimman Hill offers incredible views of the Chiang Mai skyline plus an aerial view of next-door Rincome Market (you might even see some planes taking off from nearby Chiang Mai airport). Nimman Hill at Maya is free to visit.
Whilst at Nimman Hill, you can combine your shopping centre visit with a drink at one of Nimman’s best rooftop bars and restaurants, Myst. 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.
The Maya Lifestyle Shopping Centre flagship stores
H&M, Mango, Daiso, Moshi Moshi, American Eagle Outfitters
The Maya Lifestyle Shopping Centre opening hours
10am to 10pm; 7 days a week (individual store opening hours may vary)
The Maya Lifestyle Shopping Centre address
55 หมู่ที่ 5 Huay Kaew Rd, Chang Phueak, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50300
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3. 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 – it is easy to find, just look for the Italian bell tower!
We like that One Nimman is a little different from other Chiang Mai shopping centres – it has cobbled streets, a piazza plus a beautiful Italian style street (known as One Street) of chic cofffee shops and fashion stores – it actually feels kinda like the Bellagio shopping centre in Las Vegas (like kinda fake but still quite cool).
New for 2023, One Nimman opened a new shopping area on the upper levels called One Nimman Select – here you’ll find a lot of nice looking independent shops and stalls selling everything from discount sneakers to high end humidifers.
One Nimman has an eclectic weekly events schedule including night markets every Friday to Sunday plus even yoga, body balance and salsa sessions.
A couple of Chiang Mai’s best night markets takes place at One Nimman that both take place every Friday to Sunday, from 3pm to 10pm. The street food night market at One Nimman takes place in the One Square area, in the shadow of the big and beautiful clock tower.
Live music and buskers set up in the cobbled square on a small stage, and you’ll find around 15 food and drink stalls selling snacks like fresh seafood, tornado potatoes and Thai food.
Next door on a tree lined side street road immediately outside One Nimman, the White Market sells handcrafted and artisan goods.
Described as a Japanese Lanna Hand Craft night market, One Nimman’s White Market has over 25 stalls selling fine fashion items and high quality goods – a little like a rather fetching flea market!
One Nimman flagship stores
N/A – it is mainly independent gift, fashion and beauty stores plus restaurants
One Nimman opening hours
Open daily from 10am to 10pm (individual store opening hours may vary)
One Nimman Shopping Centre address
Suthep, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50200
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4. Central Chiang Mai Airport (AKA Central Plaza)
From the same shopping centre group as Central Festival Mall, Central Chiang Mai Airport Mall is a five storey shopping mall with various additional activities on offer like an aquarium, games arcades plus a ‘Major Cineplex’ cinema. Until recently, this Chiang Mai shopping mall was also known as Central Plaza (it rebranded in 2022).
Given its close proximity to Chiang Mai airport, this is also a good way to pick up souvenirs on the way to the airport – or just take a 5 minute tuk tuk or taxi ride from Chiang Mai old town.
Chiang Mai’s oldest shopping mall, you’ll find a food court on the ground level plus a Thai style market (The Northern Village) selling traditional goods, local handicrafts (plus the usual tourist tat).
With shops sprawling over several floors, popular shops at Central Chiang Mai Airport include Nike, Esprit, Uniqlo and Mango in addition to Robinson Department Store and Tops Foodhall.
Central Chiang Mai Airport flagship stores
Nike, Uniqlo, Esprit and Mango
Central Chiang Mai Airport opening hours
Monday to Friday from 11 am to 9 pm, Saturday to Sunday from 10 am to 9 pm; individual store opening hours may vary.
Central Chiang Mai Airport address
2, 252-252/1 Mahidol Rd, Tambon Pa Daet, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50100
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5. Think Park Nimman
One of the smallest shopping plazas in Chiang Mai and mainly in the outdoors, Think Park is best described as a Japanese themed shopping plaza with several food, drink and fashion kiosks.
Not worth a trip in itself but nice to combine with One Nimman and Maya Lifestyle shopping centers (as they are all within two minutes walking distance of each other).
A little piece of Japan in Nimman, Think Park is a relatively new themed shopping area 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). Look out for the cutesy cartoon models dotted around Think Park too.
There are several bars and restaurants at Nimman’s Think Park plus around 10 to 15 shops (think fashion, Japanese groceries, jewellery, beauticians etc).
Popular bars at Nimman’s Think Park! include The Camellia (the outdoor terrace here is popular for people-watching and live music) plus new for 2023, Matsuri, a fun and friendly Japanese restaurant. There is also a weekly night market at Think Park every Thursday evening.
Think Park flagship stores
N/A – it is mainly independent fashion and beauty kiosks plus late night bars and restaurants
Think Park Nimman opening hours
Open daily from 11am to 10pm (individual store opening hours may vary)
Think Park Shopping Centre address
Think Park Project, 165 Huay Kaew Rd, Tambon Su Thep, Chiang Mai 50000
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6. Kad Suan Kaew Department Store – permanently closed
Please note Kad Suan Kaew Chiang Mai shopping mall closed in July 2022.
7. Promenada Resort Mall Chiang Mai – permanently closed
Please note Kad Promenada Resort Mall Chiang Mai shopping center closed in May 2022.
8. Kad Klang Wiang Outdoor Shopping Plaza
The smallest Chiang Mai shopping center on this list, this is also the only outdoor shopping plaza that is located within the Old Town area of Chiang Mai, with around 15 to 20 stores and kiosks.
As such, it is quite a limited array of shops, bars and restaurants but is a nice setting with several independent fashion shops and a large outdoor leafy terrace and courtyard.
Food and drink prices are pretty reasonable with dishes like pork noodles, khao soi and ice-cream rolls available plus fresh fruit smoothies.
Shops at Kad Klang Wiang Chiang Mai shopping plaza include Roastniyom coffee roasters, Girasole Italian restaurant, Ru Yi Eatery and Khao Soi Lanna.
Kad Klang Wiang outdoor shopping plaza is also handily located on the Chiang Mai Sunday night walking market route and often has live music – you can hire traditional Thai dress here too.
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Chiang Mai Accommodation
So you’ve picked out the best Chiang Mai shopping malls to visit but do you have your Chiang Mai Accomodation?
Here are some other Chiang Mai accommodation suggestions for all budgets:
Budget Accommodation
Family Home Hostel
This hostel is highly rated and located a short walk away from the old town. Check out prices and availability for Family Home Hostel.
Chedi Home Hotel
Cute and cosy hotel with small pool and amazing breakfast. Check out prices and availability for Chedi Home Hotel. (read our review on Chedi Home Hotel)
The Islander Chiang Mai
Highly rated Thai style hostel with rooftop area. Located 2 minutes away from the famous Saturday Night Market. Check out prices and availability for The Islander.
Mid range hotels
Rimping Village
Highly rated hotel located a 10-minute walk from Chiang Mai Night Bazaar with outdoor pool. Check out prices and availability for Rimping Village.
Amata Lanna Village
Beautiful 4-star resort located a short drive from Chiang Mai old town. Check out prices and availability for Amata Lanna Village
Villa Sanpakoi
3-star hotel with pool, restaurant, garden and buffet breakfast. Check out prices and availability for Villa Sanpakoi.
Luxury
99 The Heritage
This 4 star boutique hotel is set in a colonial building across the street from the epic Wat Phra Singh temple and a short walk away from the weekly Sunday Walking market. Facilities include an outdoor pool and fun group activity classes. Check out prices and availability for 99 The Heritage >
X2 Chiang Mai Riverside Resort
Luxurious hotel set on the banks of the majestic Ping River with rooftop gym, spa, pool and bar that overlooks the river. Check out prices and availability for X2 Chiang Mai Riverside Resort
Anantara Chiang Mai Resort
Hotel with minimalist Asian design, located along the banks of the Ping River with a spa, cocktail bar and pool. Check out prices and availability for Anantara Chiang Mai Resort
Ping Nakara Boutique Hotel & Spa
Hotel set in a colonial-style building with outdoor pool, a restaurant and lobby bar. Just a 5-minute walk to the Night Bazaar. Check out prices and availability for Ping Nakara Boutique Hotel & Spa
Other Chiang Mai and Thailand posts you might like
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- A Chiang Mai food tour – eating like a local!
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- Terminal 21 Rama3 – Bangkok’s new shopping mall
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- 99 The Heritage Hotel in Chiang Mai review
- Chiang Mai lantern festival & Loy Krathong festival (post covid guide)
- Thai Farm Cooking School in Chiang Mai
- Best Chiang Mai temples you must visit!
- Top things to do in Chiang Rai
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