Kalare Night Bazaar – A Must-Visit for Nightlife and Culture in Chiang Mai
Kalare Night Bazaar is one of Chiang Mai’s iconic night spots, blending local culture, shopping, and vibrant nightlife. Conveniently located in the city center, it’s easily accessible and perfect for an evening stroll, food tasting, and live entertainment.
The market offers a wide range of local products, souvenirs, and food stalls, catering to both tourists and locals. It’s less hectic than the main Night Bazaar, which makes it ideal for those who prefer a more laid-back atmosphere while still enjoying everything Chiang Mai nightlife has to offer.
A standout highlight here is Boy Blue Bar, tucked inside Kalare. It’s a must-visit for classic rock lovers! This cozy, energetic spot features talented local bands performing oldie rock hits that create a nostalgic and fun vibe. The bar is easy to find and a perfect place to relax, enjoy good music, and meet people.
Pros: • Central location in Chiang Mai’s Night Bazaar area • Great mix of shopping, food, and music • Boy Blue Bar offers excellent live rock music • Friendly atmosphere and welcoming to foreigners
Cons: • Prices for food and goods can be a bit touristy • Limited local artisan products compared to other markets • Gets crowded during peak tourist season
Verdict: Kalare Night Bazaar is a great choice for visitors looking to enjoy a mix of culture, shopping, and music. Don’t miss Boy Blue Bar—one of the best places in town to experience Chiang Mai’s rock music scene with a drink in hand and good...
Read moreKalare Night Bazaar in Chiang Mai is an absolute must-visit if you love food, culture, and a lively atmosphere. The market is impressively clean, full of energy, and set right inside the famous Chiang Mai Night Bazaar, surrounded by high-end hotels. Between the live music, dancers, and the buzzing crowd, the whole place feels festive and welcoming.
The food section is outstanding, with endless Thai stalls offering dishes in the 50–80 baht range, making it both affordable and delicious. You’ll find everything from vegetarian and vegan stir-fries, curries, mango sticky rice, fresh coconuts, and fruit smoothies, to hearty options like fried chicken (I’m vegetarian, but I have to say it looked fit for a king at just 80 baht!). Beyond Thai food, there are Indian food stalls serving fragrant curries and naan, and even international choices like pizza and ribs for those craving something different. The variety here means there’s truly something for everyone.
As a vegetarian, I was blown away by the options—nearly every stall had something for me, which is rare in many markets. The vegetarian Thai fried rice I had was hands down the best I’ve ever tasted—flavorful, fresh, and cooked right in front of me.
Kalare Night Bazaar is more than just a night market; it’s an experience where food, music, and culture come together in one vibrant space. Whether you’re looking for a casual dinner, live entertainment, or just a fun night out in Chiang Mai, this...
Read moreWe decided on our hotel in Chiang Mai due to its proximity to Kalare night bazar. A Chinese market or a Chinatown in any city has inherent benefits of good food and good shopping. In shopping you may end up buying a fake or duplicate brand but food is always authentic and cheap. This market and the surrounding shops fit that definition. The market opens in the evening. Food stalls do brisk business till about 11 pm after which they start winding up. But the bars with billiard boards and girls in skimpy clothes under colourful lights remain open past midnight. Though Thai food is sold in majority of the outlets, there are Chinese, Japanese, Malaysian and even Indian food stalls there. We had a fantastic dinner on two nights back to back. There was a stall where fried silk worms, centipedes, scorpions and many other insects were being sold. You can buy an ensemble of them or just one variety, the choice is yours. Food costs around 50 to 90 Thai Baht per plate and are very tasty. The bazar is full of tourists and local people and is very lively. On both sides of the the main road in front of Kalare bazar you can spend hours shopping. In the morning the market changes its character. It is silent and practically non-operational. However on the back side, a vegetable and fruit market operates where you get fresh vegetables, fruit, pork, fish , household items, groceries etc. It's a fabulous...
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