Nightlife in Chiang Mai

Nightlife in Chiang Mai

1. Drink

   6ixcret

   Located in the Night Bazar building, this famous gay bar is transitioning to a night club to attract more people including tourists. Drag show and cabaret show starts at 21:30 to midnight. No entrance fee, but there is a two drink minimum.

2. Drink

   Ben Cocktail Bar

   A tiny, hole-in-the-wall (~15 seat) cocktail bar that just may serve the best cocktails in Chiang Mai. Certainly the best price/performance. Run by Ben, an irrepressible, animal-loving, lovely female and her partner, Keng. She is especially proud of her mojitos, but all the 270 cocktails on offer are delicious. The conversation is good too as she speaks excellent English. Free Wi-Fi. Great place to people watch.

   17:00-last man standing·Chang beer 60 baht; cocktails 120 baht

3. Drink

   CaveCave 洞洞

   A small club for about 50 people — positive atmosphere with Techno and Psy music or the accidental Old School Electro. Also, one of the less expensive venues with an according more alternative crowd.

   Thu–Sun 20:00–·From 100 baht

4. Drink

   Liquid Room

   A full blown EDM club (House, Techno, and Trance) with regular international DJs. It features a lively bar experience with eclectic drinks for those guests willing to spend. Probably the largest of the clubs in Chiang Mai.

   Daily 21:00–·From 200 baht

5. Drink

   Noise

   A prominent and cozy Chinese Underground Techno Club, if that doesn't sound too racist. A dark venue with likewise darker kind of electronic music for a crowd that enjoys deep and experimental tunes.

   Fri Sat 22:00–·Often 200 baht (include 1 free drink)

6. Drink

   Red CNX

   A western orientated club known for its energetic atmosphere with famous host DJs from time to time and electronic music genres like House and Techno. Young and hip. Due to its size (more than 150 people), it will need a decent crowd to be fun. Don't pay entrance if you are not 100% sure that there is a crowd inside, ready to let loose.

   Fri–Sun 21:00–·100–300 baht entrance

7. Drink

   Riverside Restaurant

   The live music starts around 19:00 with dinner music from the Eagles, Beatles or soft jazz. Starting at 21:00, the music changes to more rock and pop. The restaurant gets very crowded, so arrive early to get a table. The Riverside also offers a nightly dinner cruise departing at 20:00 for 110 baht/person extra.

8. Drink

   The Good View

   Thai and Western varieties of rock, jazz, pop and country music in the evening. Their extensive menu offers more than 150 Thai, Chinese, and Western dishes, including curries, noodles, rice and pizza. Full-service bar serving wine, beer and spirits. If you want to get in, get there early and there's a queue every night.

   Closed · opens 10 am

9. Drink

   The North Gate Jazz Collective

   Nightly jazz performances starting around 21:30 with different performers and occasional guests from the audience. A surprisingly young crowd for the type of music they play here. If you are a music enthusiast, the performance can be a mixed bag: sometimes great, sometimes mediocre. However, the range of available stimulants in Chiang Mai will ensure that you will have a great time, especially if you come here with friends. Serves a variety of drinks not normally found in Chiang Mai, notably red and white wine, mojitos and other mixed drinks. The staff are quick and efficient, and the prices are reasonable.

   No admission. Small beer 100 baht

10. Drink

    The Writers Club

    An old fashioned bar and restaurant purportedly for SE Asia's community of authors, journalists and screenwriters, though everyone's welcome. A good, informal source of information about SE Asia. This is where some of those writing guidebooks gather.

11. Drink

    Warm Up Bar

    This chain bar/restaurant/club has several venues in Thailand. The venue in Chiang Mai is a lot less touristy and the dance hall packed to the brim with Thai students.

12. Drink

    Zoe in Yellow

    Very large indoor/outdoor bar and club with a dance floor, live music or DJ, including lots of outdoor seating and multiple bars. If you're looking to party with foreigners in Chiang Mai, this is the place to be. Closes exactly at midnight except on special occasions, such as New Year or Songkran.

13. Do Not mapped

    Cricket

    Northern Thailand may seem an odd place to find an international cricket tournament. Every year since 1988 more than 200 cricketers from around the world gather at Chiang Mai for the tournament. The week-long tournament for amateur players, with a sprinkling of test stars, it is held at the historic Chiang Mai Gymkhana Club, generally at the start of April.

14. Do Not mapped

    Tennis

    There are many places to play tennis in Chiang Mai: Gymkhana Club (Chiang Mai-Lamphun Rd); Chiang Mai Land Village (Chiang Mai Land Rd); Lanna Sports Club (Chotana Rd); Palm Springs (120 Moo 5, Mahidol Rd); and Chiang Mai Sports Complex (700 Year Stadium, Irrigation Canal Rd, Rte 121 to Mae Rim), which has 12 courts. All courts are bookable in advance and at most flood lighting makes it possible to play in the evening when it is cooler. There is an additional charge to cover the cost of electricity.

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Chiang Mai (CC BY-SA 4.0).