14 Best Nightlife in Chiang Mai, Thailand

This is the city's most popular bar for jazz music. Doors open at 7 pm and seats on the first floor and mezzanine fill up soon afterwards with a mix of expats, locals, and tourists eager to hear covers of jazz, folk rock, and pop. Tuesdays are jam-session nights, but the place, on the northern edge of the Old City, is packed every night of the week. The bar is super casual---shorts and flip-flops are welcome---and there's no cover, with drinks moderately priced (stick to beer and cider; the cocktails and wine aren't worth the price).

At the ever-popular Kantoke Palace, a series of dances that might involve umbrellas, swords, or other props is followed by an audience-participation circle dance. The food is not what you're coming for, though the specialty cocktails aren't bad.

An espresso bar by day and a cocktail bar by night, this sleek spot takes both sides of its persona very seriously. The barista offers several styles of coffee-making, such as Aeropress, Japanese drip, and cold brew. Later, the bartender takes over with a list of creative options that includes the Jackie Kennedy, a surprising but delicious combination of passion fruit, tomato, and mustard flavors.

Beer lovers come to this Chiang Mai restaurant-bar for its selection of local and imported craft beers, dozens bottled and 18 on tap. 

This fine ensemble of old-style teak-built houses offers a multicourse dinner accompanied by traditional music and dancing. Take a seat on the floor to experience the show up close.

Part–night market, part–outdoor food hall, Ploen Ruedee is a great place to get a bite to eat, drink a cold Chang or Singha beer, and listen to the bands that perform nightly. This is the trendiest of the night markets, with tables made of reclaimed wood, pretty string lights, and a cocktail kiosk. Two or three local bands perform nightly, with the music ranging from folk to pop to rock. Food-wise you'll find stands selling pizza, dumplings, satay, pad Thai, sashimi bowls, crepes, and ice cream.

The city's most popular gay bar runs a drag show every night from 10 pm, though seats fill up far earlier with a wide mix of travelers and local LGBTQ community members. The costumes are stunning, the dancers' stamina impressive, and the routines a hoot, leaving the audience laughing up a storm (it's mostly Western music, so you don't need to speak Thai to enjoy yourself). There's no cover charge, drinks are reasonably priced (expect to pay B180 for a local beer), and everyone is welcome.

This longtime popular live music venue on the east bank of the Ping River, resounds after dark with live rock, jazz, and Motown oldies played by cover bands. The Thai fare and extensive cocktail list are above average, too. The Riverside Restaurant & Bar is another good option for a laid-back evening of music.

Young Thais, many of whom are students at nearby universities, love the discos and music bars of the Nimmanhaemin Road area, a major nightlife scene. Visiting ravers under 40 won't feel out of place in haunts like Warm Up, where local bands play Thai pop music and, in between sets, a DJ spins house and EDM. If you don't want to put in earplugs, enjoy a drink at the low-key outdoor tables.

Although it's predominantly a retail shop, this well-stocked spot in a shopping plaza has outside bistro tables where customers can sample wines until late. Wine buffs, still a newish breed here, crowd the tables on most evenings. Food can be ordered from a neighboring bistro.

Chiang Mai's unofficial press club is open to anyone who enjoys networking in good company. The decor is "eclectic colonial."

The Weave Artisan Society, in a renovated ice factory, includes an art gallery, a craft shop, a café, an open-kitchen restaurant with a massive wood-fired oven, and the Yellow Pug, a bar known for its selection of craft beers. The choices are constantly rotating but you can expect selections from the U.S., Europe, and elsewhere. You can also take your beer over to the restaurant to enjoy with a wood-fired pizza.

An unsigned laneway just off Ratchaphakhinai Road in the Old City is a magnet for backpackers and rasta-Thais who gather nightly at the cluster of open-air or open-sided music bars, including Zoe in Yellow. Music tends to be DJs on deck spinning house, EDM, and trance music. Expect inexpensive beer and sugary cocktails. Babylon Bar and Roots Rock Reggae are also popular and will be equally full. The bars close at midnight.

The soi (lane) is difficult to find—the entrance is off Ratchaphakinai Road, one block north of Ratvithi Road.