The 3 most famous night markets in Bangkok
Bangkok has a huge variety of options when it comes to shopping, and night markets are a great way to hunt for souvenirs, sample some delicious street food, get up close and personal with the locals and perhaps even grab yourself a bargain! Here are a few that should be on your list:
Talat Rot Fai Srinakarin (Rot fai market)
This is probably my favourite of all the night markets in Bangkok. Located in the Srinakarin area in the outskirts east of the city, the talat Rot Fai is a huge open-air weekend market that offers a wonderfully quirky, vintage-flavoured shopping experience.
It’s absolutely massive, a little bit chaotic and usually very busy, but this is shopping in Bangkok at its best! There’s everything from vintage clothing to cool memorabilia and kitsch furniture to antiques… if you have a canine friend, there’s even a dog spa! Prices are very reasonable and usually you don’t need to haggle.
It’s very popular with the young locals, and besides being a good place to find a bargain, the Rot Fai market is simply a great way to spend a Friday or Saturday evening sampling some excellent street food or having a drink in many of the cool little bars!
The best way to get here is to take the BTS Skytrain to On Nut station and then ask a taxi driver to take you to Seacon Square. The market is located right behind the shopping mall. You can’t miss it! We can also arrange a car and driver to get you there safely.
Asiatique the riverfront
With hundreds of cute little boutiques, international restaurants offering fine dining as well as trendy bars, Asiatique is actually a stunningly beautiful open-air shopping mall right next to the Chao Phraya river.
The shopping here is focused on cutting edge fashion with a mixture of local and international brands, souvenirs and branded gadgets – there’s even an Apple store here.
Most evenings it attracts a mixed crowd composed of mainly young, trendy locals as well tourists, and although fairly busy, the relatively calm and relaxed atmosphere can offer a welcome escape from the hustle and bustle of Bangkok’s streets.
Although not the most exotic attraction in the city, this is nevertheless a great place to spend an evening by the river complete with open-air dining and a couple of drinks.
Patpong night market
For good or bad, the notorious entertainment district of Patpong has always been synonymous with Bangkok’s nightlife. Just a stone’s throw away from the infamous go-go bars, the open-air night market houses a shopping experience that for many visitors represents what shopping in Bangkok is about.
One of the main attractions here are the fake branded goods such as designer handbags and Rolex watches. The rule is to bargain hard. It’s very touristy and vendors will typically quote you as much as they think they can get away with, and then some.
As a rule of thumb, you can assume that the actual price should be roughly half or even one third of the asking price. For those of you after quality products, a more local vibe and value for money, Patpong may not be the first choice, but for any first-time visitor to Bangkok, this night market offers a strangely captivating experience that should be on your list.
Have you visited any night markets in Bangkok? We’d love to hear what you think!
