Which night market for which traveller
| Market | Open | Best for | Getting there | Allow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jodd Fairs | Daily 5pm-1am | First night, street food, metro access | MRT Thailand Cultural Centre, exit 4 | 2 h |
| Rot Fai Srinakarin | About Wed-Sun, from 5pm | Vintage finds, classic cars, local feel | Taxi or Grab, about 20 min without traffic | 2-3 h |
| Asiatique | Daily 11am-midnight | Riverside dinner, Ferris wheel, families | BTS Saphan Taksin, then the free river shuttle | 2-3 h |
| Patpong | Nightly about 6pm-midnight | Curiosity, neighbourhood history | BTS Sala Daeng or MRT Silom | 1 h |
| Yaowarat (Chinatown) | Evenings; many vendors absent on Mondays | Chinese street food | MRT Wat Mangkon | 2 h |
Jodd Fairs: the easiest place to start
Jodd Fairs has moved. The old site behind Central Rama 9 closed at the end of 2024, and the market now runs on Ratchadaphisek Road next to Big C Ratchada. Do not go to the old address. Get off at MRT Thailand Cultural Centre (exit 4) and walk about 3 minutes. Entry is free.
Food is the point: grilled skewers, seafood, noodles, spicy salads and the famous leng saap, a pile of pork ribs in a sour, spicy broth (around 180 baht a tray depending on size, seen in 2026). Drinks cost 35 to 70 baht. Go on a weekday around 6-7pm; on Friday and Saturday the lanes are packed from 8pm.
Rot Fai Srinakarin: vintage stalls and classic cars
This large open-air market in east Bangkok, near Seacon Square, sells second-hand clothes, collectibles and street food, with vintage cars and motorbikes used as decor and bars. It is more local and bigger than the central markets. No station is close: take a taxi or Grab and order your return ride before closing. Its days and hours have changed several times, so check the official page before leaving.
Asiatique: the riverside market
Built on the former port of the Danish East Asiatic Company, Asiatique combines shops, restaurants and a 60-metre Ferris wheel (500 baht per adult on the official site; recent visitors report 600 baht at the ticket desk). Shop prices are higher than in neighbourhood markets. Arrive around 5pm to watch the sunset on the Chao Phraya, then have dinner. The river shuttle from Sathorn pier is free, 4pm to 11:30pm.
For a dinner on the water with a set departure, the White Orchid dinner cruise with free beer can be booked online.
Patpong: look, don't shop
The night market fills the central street of Patpong with bag, watch and T-shirt stalls, mostly counterfeits that many countries ban at customs. The two parallel streets hold adult bars whose touts are persistent. Go between 6 and 9pm, start bargaining below half the asking price, and never go upstairs anywhere without a written price.
Yaowarat, Chinatown after dark
Yaowarat Road lights up at night and turns into an open-air street-food market. Many vendors are absent on Mondays. For a guided taste, the night tuk-tuk tour with a Chinatown street food meal can be booked online. See also our guide to Chinatown and Yaowarat.
Tips for every night market
- Payment: carry small notes. Thai QR payment (PromptPay) mostly works with Thai bank apps. See money, payments and tipping in Bangkok.
- Bargaining: for clothes and souvenirs, not for food.
- Rain: from May to October a downpour can empty an open-air market.
- Late return: order a Grab in the app or take a metered taxi; see Grab or taxi in Bangkok.
- Scams: keep your bag zipped in front of you; see scams and safety in Bangkok.
FAQ
What is the best night market in Bangkok for a first trip?
Jodd Fairs: open daily, reachable by metro and built around street food. Add Asiatique if you travel with family.
Are the night markets open every day?
Jodd Fairs, Asiatique and Patpong open every evening. Rot Fai Srinakarin opens roughly at the end of the week and its days change, so check before you go.
Do I pay to get in?
No, entry to these markets is free. Only some attractions, such as the Asiatique Ferris wheel, are paid.
Can I bring children?
Yes to Jodd Fairs and Asiatique, early in the evening. Patpong is not recommended with children.
For the evening in general, see Bangkok at night and Bangkok markets, day by day.
The Bangkok Authority editorial team
