A Local's Guide to Best Chiang Mai Markets for Foodies

When it comes to markets, Chiang Mai is doing something right. As the second-largest city in Thailand, you can expect to find quite a few markets around town every day of the week. Visit during the weekend, and you'll have the chance to visit some of the best night markets in all of Thailand.

While Chiang Mai's markets are always great places to shop for local handicrafts and be entertained by performers, they're also where you'll find some of the best street food in the city.

Chiang Mai's markets are lined with street food stalls hawking Thai classics like pad Thai, banana pancakes, and mango sticky rice. But you'll want to seek out northern Thai specialities too, especially khao soi (coconut curry noodle soup), sai oua (herb and spicy-infused sausage), and som tam (green papaya salad).

There are so many food markets in Chiang Mai, you might not know where to start. Follow this guide to the best markets in Chiang Mai and you're sure to have a blast eating your way around the city.

Held on Saturdays from 5pm to midnight, the Wua Lai Walking Street Saturday Market is located just outside of the southern end of the walled Old City. Wua Lai Road is closed off, making it easy to hop from stall to stall. The fried dumplings, banana rotis, tornado chips, and tropical fruit smoothies are all popular. But this place is massive, so you never know what foodie gems you'll find.

Food aside, this is a great place to pick up souvenirs. You'll find plenty of local artisans hawking their handicrafts, clothing, jewellery, and more tempting trinkets. There's also likely to be live music and buskers, adding to the market's festive ambience.

The Chiang Mai Sunday Night Market (aka Chiang Mai Walking Street or Tha Phae Walking Street) is located inside the Old City, extending from Tha Phae Gate to Wat Phra Singh on Ratchadamnoen Road. This is the most-visited Chiang Mai market, so expect large crowds and long lines during peak hours (from around 7pm to 10pm).

The market is open from 4pm to midnight. As night falls, the entire area comes bursting to life with street food stalls, local artisans, and live performers. As you make your way down the street, you can snack on everything from khao soi, coconut pancakes, and sushi to papaya salad, grilled veggie and fried scorpions. If you're tired of walking, join the other tourists and -meat skewers, and even deepget a cheap foot massage at one of the massage parlours.

Visiting after dark? Be sure to walk to Wat Sri Suphan to see it all lit up.

Located on the northern end of the Old City. This is a smaller and more intimate night market, making it a bit more relaxed compared to other night markets in Chiang Mai. These food stalls are open daily from about 5pm to midnight.

This market may be on the smaller side, but it packs a punch when it comes to quality food stalls. Do as Anthony Bourdain once did and order the famous khao kha moo (braised pork knuckle) from the "Cowboy Hat Lady". The market's sukiyaki (Japanese hot pot) stand is also a must.

Located on Bumrung Buri Road at the southern end of the Old City, Chiang Mai Gate Market is typically open every day from 4am to noon and again from 5pm to midnight. You're going to find all manner of street food being sold by vendors here, including classics, like pad Thai and mango sticky rice, and northern specialities, like sai oua and khao soi. While Chiang Mai Gate Market is more food-oriented, you can also shop for clothes, handbags, paintings, and more.

Located on the eastern side of the city near the Ping River, Warorot Market is one of the oldest and most famous Chiang Mai markets. This multi-level indoor market has plenty of stalls selling clothes and household items, but go to the lower level and you'll find all sorts of food being prepared both inside and outside of the market.

No trip to Warorot Market is complete without trying the famous sai ua and moo tod (fried pork) from Dam Rong. This guy is famous for these two meats and it's well worth waiting in line. The market is open from 9am to 6pm but there are often food vendors outside of the market in the evening.

Located on Changklan Road to the east of the Old City, this ultra-popular market is open every night from 6pm to midnight. It's absolutely huge and packed with tourists, so you'll want to take your time to explore. You can spend your evening snacking on all the Thai street food staples, shopping for local handcrafts and souvenirs, staying entertained with live performances, dining at sit-down restaurants, and getting boozy beverages at one of the many bars.

Do note that Chiang Mai Night Bazaar is located on the same road as Kalare Night Bazaar, Anusarn Market, and Pavilion Night Bazaar. So it's possible to visit all four on the same night.

Located just down the road from the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar, Kalare Night Bazaar is also open nightly (from 4pm to 11:30pm). This market features a small food court that's packed with vendors selling international eats, including Thai, Indian, Turkish, American, and Mexican. So this is a great place if you're craving something other than Thai food.

Also located on Changklan Road, Anusarn Market is a great option for rainy days because it's one of the few covered markets. In the centre of the market, you'll find a food court with a range of Thai and international options. There's shopping and entertainment galore here as well, including muay Thai matches, traditional dance and music performances, and cabaret shows. Vendors usually set up shop around 5pm and leave around 11 pm.

Pavilion Night Bazaar is right next to Anusarn Market. This is a rather small market but you'll find a decent number of food stalls selling classics like banana pancakes, pad Thai, papaya salad, and pineapple fried rice.

Located in Malin Plaza, right across the street from the university, vendors gather here every night from 5pm to 11pm. This place is roughly 5 kilometres (15 minutes) from the Old City, meaning it's less touristy than other Chiang Mai markets. Fewer tourists also means cheaper prices.

Expect all the usual Thai street foods as well as a few stalls selling Japanese gyoza (dumplings) and takoyaki (fried octopus balls) and Korean fried chicken. Because this place is student-oriented, you'll find plenty of cheap clothes and electronics for sale too.

• When to visit: It's best to visit the night markets at least an hour or two after they open. Vendors and performers tend to trickle in and take a while to set up shop. That being said, if you're going to a weekend night market, things will get crowded from around 7pm to 10pm, so expect lots of people and long lines for the most popular food stalls.
• Expect to haggle: While you should never haggle for food, you might want to haggle a bit while shopping. Just remember to be respectful and pay what you think an item is worth.
• Getting around: Getting around Chiang Mai is easy. You can easily book a ride through the Grab or Bolt apps to get to and from the markets. Plus, you'll always find plenty of tuk tuks and songthaews (red buses) hanging around the markets. Just make sure to double-check what the price is before you hop in.
• Be prepared for rain: Most of the markets on this list are outdoors. So if you're travelling during the rainy season (from June to October), you may very well experience a downpour. To be safe, always bring an umbrella.
• Where to stay in Chiang Mai: Mercure Chiang Mai is a great place to stay if you want to be within walking distance of the Old City. This hotel is a short stroll from Chang Phuak Gate (the north gate), so you can easily walk to the nightly Chang Phuak Gate Night Market. All of the Old City's attractions, including the Saturday and Sunday night markets, are within easy reach too. The rooms here are modern and have comfy beds, flat-screen TVs, and writing desks. Plus, there's an outdoor pool, which is a huge perk.