Bangkok – Shopping Paradise: Guide to Famous Shopping Districts and Captivating Night Markets

Bangkok is renowned as the city that never sleeps, pulsating with life both day and night. Particularly, Bangkok’s nightlife offers a plethora of entertainment activities for exploration. Foremost among them are the iconic Bangkok night markets, a distinctive feature of this city. Let’s delve into the bustling Bangkok night markets that are currently in vogue.

After a long day of exploring Bangkok, if you don’t have any evening plans, I highly recommend visiting the night markets. Here, you can not only snag some great fashion deals but also indulge in a gastronomic paradise offering a variety of cuisines. A trip to Bangkok isn’t complete without a visit to these night markets. Let’s see what makes them unmissable for anyone visiting Bangkok.

1- Train Night Market – Ratchada (Talad Rot Fai)

Directions: If you’re taking a taxi, it will take about 45 minutes from central Bangkok. If you’re using the MRT, get off at the MRT National Culture Center station to reach Rot Fai.

Opening hours: 5:00 PM – 1:00 AM, Thursday to Sunday.

One of the Bangkok night markets always on the ‘must-visit’ list is Rod Fai, also known as the Train Night Market. Located in the Ratchada area, right by the MRT National Culture Center, you can easily spot Rod Fai with its vibrant rainbow-colored tents.

Rod Fai Night Market boasts a range of cool and trendy stalls. However, the standout experience here is undoubtedly the food. It’s a culinary paradise for food enthusiasts, where you can find a wide array of Thai signature dishes.

What’s to eat at Rod Fai Night Market?

First and foremost, the renowned giant spicy ribs must be mentioned, a favorite among Vietnamese tourists and others. If you’re two people, just order the small size, and for larger groups, go all out! Word has it that this dish is genuinely spicy and could take about 1-2 hours to finish the huge portion. Oh, remember to arrive early around 5 – 6 PM to avoid long waits due to crowds.

It doesn’t stop there; your ‘culinary journey’ can continue (if you still have room) with seafood, skewers, ice cream, bingsu, mango sticky rice… You can find all the distinctive Thai dishes like tom yum goong, pad Thai, curry, and more at Rod Fai Night Market.

What’s there to do at Rod Fai Night Market?

Once your belly is satisfied, it’s time for shopping and entertainment. Rod Fai Night Market offers an abundance of fashion items such as T-shirts, bags, shoes, jewelry, at reasonable prices, even more so if you’re good at bargaining. It’s no exaggeration to say that Rod Fai Night Market is large enough for you to shop all night.

For those less enthusiastic about shopping, Rod Fai Night Market has plenty of interesting places to explore, like cool bars, and beer venues. Sitting here, after a satisfying meal, enjoying a few drinks with friends and soaking in the vibrant atmosphere of the night market, is truly ideal.

By now, you might somewhat understand why tourists cannot overlook Bangkok night markets, where you can eat to your heart’s content and shop for various items at reasonable prices.

2- Talad Neon Night Market

Address: Petchaburi Road, Pratunam

Directions: Get off at BTS Chit Lom or Ratchthewi station, then walk about 5-10 minutes to Platinum Fashion Mall.

Opening hours: 5:00 PM – 12:00 AM, Thursday to Sunday

Talad Neon Market is located in the Pratunam area, right next to Platinum Fashion Mall, making it easy to reach from the city center. Recognizable by its colorful tents, Talad Neon Market, like Rot Fai Market, is also a culinary paradise with interesting food and many charming stores and fun activities. Let’s explore!

What to eat at Talad Neon Night Market?

You can find giant spicy ribs here too. Talad Neon Night Market is most famous for its seafood stalls, offering an incredibly diverse range of seafood dishes.

Additionally, there are mouth-watering desserts like bingsu, smoothies, and cheese. It’s hard to resist. Unique cocktail and beer bars can also be found, attracting those who want to step into the famous ‘Hangover’ movie scenes filmed in Thailand.

What to do at Talad Neon?

Surely, you can find fashionable items like clothes, phone cases, but Talad Neon Night Market not only provides shopping but also exciting game booths, such as shooting games, colorful merry-go-rounds, inflatable houses… It’s no wonder why both kids and adults love this place. In such a colorful space, you can easily capture some dazzling photos. After strolling around Talad Neon Night Market, you can even get a foot massage right there to relax.

3- Chang Chui Bangkok Plane Market

Address: 462 Sirindhorn Rd, Bangkok

Directions: The drawback of this Bangkok night market is that it’s quite far from the city center and doesn’t have any nearby BTS or MRT stations. The quickest and most convenient way to get to Chang Chui Market is by taxi or Grab.

Opening hours: 5:00 PM – 11:00 PM

When people mention night markets, they usually think of crowded, somewhat shabby places only good for eating and shopping. But you’re mistaken; Bangkok’s night market has reached new heights with Chang Chui Bangkok Plane Market.

Who said night markets can’t be cool and edgy? You will find extremely artistic corners and stalls at Chang Chui Market. It’s called Chang Chui Bangkok Plane Market because right in the middle of the night market, there’s an old Airbus used as a decorative piece. This stands out as a highlight of Chang Chui Market, with the message: “Nothing is too old to be discarded.”

For those passionate about hip-hop fashion or ‘artsy’ styles, the clothing stores at Chang Chui Market will likely appeal to you. The further you explore, the more you’ll find uniquely designed eateries and bars, guaranteed to offer countless Instagrammable spots. Besides traditional Thai food, Chang Chui Market also has fancy restaurants, tea houses, bars, and occasionally hosts live bands on weekends.

4- Artbox Container Night Market

Opening hours: Friday to Sunday, 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM.

Artbox is a unique pop-up market in Bangkok. The stalls at Artbox are made from containers, making them easy to move and look pretty cool. Artbox doesn’t have a fixed location, so when you’re in Bangkok, check their Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/Artboxthailand/) or Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/artbox_th/) to get the latest ‘pop-up’ spot.

As the name suggests, Artbox offers truly artistic items. Unlike other night markets, Artbox Bangkok mainly focuses on designed products, vintage clothing, or quirky accessories. You can also find some unique home decor items here. For those who love to hunt for rare, unique items, Artbox is an ideal destination.

After shopping, what’s next? Artbox Bangkok has numerous food and beverage stalls, each designed in a trendy style. There are often live band performances too. There’s nothing better than buying lots of food, sitting down with some beers, and chilling with your friends here.

5- Asiatique the Riverfront Night Market

Address: 2194 Charoen Krung Rd, Khwaeng Wat Phraya Krai, Khet Bang Kho Laem

Directions: The easiest way is to take the BTS to Saphan Taksin station, then take the free boat to Asiatique the Riverfront, about a 10-minute ride. Note that the boat service runs until 11:00 PM only.

Opening hours: 4:00 PM – 12:00 AM, daily.

There’s no need to introduce Asiatique the Riverfront too much; it’s already a well-known hotspot, right? Asiatique the Riverfront has long been discovered by travel enthusiasts visiting Bangkok, and indeed, your trip wouldn’t be complete without a visit here. Asiatique the Riverfront is located alongside the beautiful Chao Phraya River.

It’s a complex that includes dining, shopping, and entertainment. Asiatique the Riverfront is more upscale compared to regular night markets as the entire area is clean and well-kept. Asiatique the Riverfront mainly consists of restaurants serving international and Thai cuisines. There’s no shortage of charming small eateries offering tempting desserts either.

For shopping, Asiatique the Riverfront offers various fashion items, souvenirs, accessories, and jewelry. Prices here are relatively higher than other night markets, mainly catering to tourists seeking quality souvenirs.

And if you get the chance, don’t miss the opportunity to take a ride on the Ferris wheel at Asiatique the Riverfront, which takes about 30 – 45 minutes. It’s definitely worth a try. One experience that everyone enjoys at Asiatique the Riverfront might be strolling along the Chao Phraya River, quite romantic and relaxing.

6- Siam Square Night Market

Address: Adjacent to Siam Square One shopping center. (Siam Square Soi 5)

If you’re in the central area of Bangkok, why not visit the outdoor market at Siam Square? This market is located near the Siam Square One shopping center, specifically at Siam Square Soi 5. Though not very extensive, Siam Square Market has several stalls offering both food and shopping.

Immediately catching your eye are famous dishes like mango sticky rice, pomegranate juice, lychee, grilled skewers, and more. The clothing and accessory stalls here are well-curated, ensuring quality comparable to store items. Prices are quite reasonable, ranging from 100 – 150 baht (equivalent to about 70). You’ll surely find a few items you like without worrying too much about burning a hole in your pocket compared to shopping in malls.

7- Khaosan Road

Directions: The simplest way is by taxi or Grab, or you can try a tuk-tuk. At night, traffic in Bangkok is better, so it will take only about 20 – 30 minutes to get to Khaosan from the city center.

Khaosan Road is the liveliest place in Bangkok at night. If you want to enjoy an all-night party until the early morning, then Khaosan is the place to be. Restaurants and bars here never turn off their lights and are always bustling with customers.

Here, you’ll find Thailand’s bold insect dishes and witness the surprised expressions of Western tourists trying these foods. Along Khaosan Road, people are continuously going in and out of bars, and you can hear music playing everywhere. If you’re not a big fan of the lively atmosphere, you can choose to sit at quieter places at the end of the street, enjoy eating comfortably, and have a chat with friends.

In Khaosan, there are also many foot massage services available for those tired feet after a long day.

8- Chinatown (Yaowarat)

Address: Yaowarat Road, Bangkok

Directions: Since there’s no BTS or MRT to Chinatown, the simplest way to get there is by taxi, Grab, or tuk-tuk.

When talking about Bangkok’s night food scene, Chinatown cannot be overlooked, offering a variety of delicious dishes. For food enthusiasts, Chinatown is a must-visit destination. Chinatown is where the Chinese community in Bangkok resides, brightly lit up at night with numerous food stalls.

As soon as you set foot in Chinatown Bangkok, the smell of sizzling and frying food becomes irresistible. Seafood is the most famous here. Renowned seafood stalls like T & K, Lek, and Rut are quite reliable and worth trying. The variety of dishes available, including shrimp, crab, squid, clams, prepared in various styles, but my personal favorite is the fried oyster dish.

It’s not just seafood; if you stroll along the main Yaowarat Road, you’ll find many other dishes like various desserts, fruits, or traditional Chinese dishes such as dumplings, pork ribs… In short, a visit to Chinatown Bangkok will leave you with a satisfied belly.

This is a culinary and entertainment guide to Bangkok’s food streets and night markets that you can choose to include in your itinerary. Visiting these places allows you not only to eat to your heart’s content and shop till you drop at fair.

Source: Compiled from the Internet