Chiang Mai Nightlife

Chiang Mai nightlife is much tamer and quieter than Bangkok, but provides many options all the same. People in this city like to enjoy themselves and are happy to party with the many foreigners visiting their town.

For a peaceful private evening, you can relax to piano music in a hotel lobby. Blues, Jazz, Rock, and both Thai and Western Country are played live at the many pubs and coffee shops around Chiang Mai city. For a more upbeat atmosphere, check out one of the local discos some of which have talented DJs spinning dance floor anthems, cutting edge trance and house, and retro classics. There are numerous bars, cocktail lounges, karaoke centers, and cabaret shows located on the Moonmuang and Thapae Rd around the edge of Chiang Mai City. In addition, there are several restaurants open at night, which along with serving food and drinks, also provide music, sometimes live, to help make your evening more enjoyable. Thailand is also very accepting of the gay and lesbian scene.

Chiang Mai city is a great place for a pub crawl because it's easy to walk from bar to bar (it takes about 20 minutes to cross the city on foot. Bars are found all over the city, but are mostly congregated on either side of the Chiang Mai City Moat's eastern wall (in the Tapae Gate area), along the Ping River near Nawarat Bridge or in the vicinity of the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar. Some are lively, friendly affairs, others are quiet and more sedate. The Night Bazaar keeps Chiang Mai's nightlife busy after hours, and there is plenty of late shopping and eating. At the Galare Centre adjacent, you can enjoy some quick food while watching a free display of Thai cultural dancing and music.

The Chiang Mai nightlife is unfortunately quite restricted after midnight due to a current directive from the Governor to spoil the fun. There have been considerable complaints from all quarters, but only a selected number of places have so far been allowed to remain open until 2am.

Like the rest of Thailand, Chiang Mai is not without its go-go bars though these remain well contained within small areas. Mostly located along the western end of Loi Kroh rd, including a walk-in arcade near the Imperial Mae Ping Hotel, and a stretch of Moon Muang rd south of Tapae Gate they are generally tamer than their Bangkok and Pattaya counterparts.

There is also plenty of good clean fun to be had in Chiang Mai at night. Multiplex cinemas can be found in the Kad Suan Kaew mall (also known as Central) and Airport Plaza for movie buffs - both even show movies with English soundtrack. Central hasan ice skating rink and a bowling alley in to boot. In addition Chiang Mai has a karting track and mini golf. A Thursday night quiz and bi-monthly Spoken Word (Tuesdays) are held at the Irish Pub, while writers congregate at the Writers' Club and Wine Bar on Friday nights to swap tales.

Here are a selection of Chiang Mai bars we can suggest:

Riverside Restaurant: large and lively riverfront place with live band, good food and friendly people. 9 Charoenrat rd, across Nawarat Bridge and turn left.

The Brasserie: serious music venue featuring legendary blues and rock local, Tuk. 37 Charoenrat rd, across Nawarat Bridge and turn left.

The Cottage: rocking restaurant and bar popular with Thais, great atmosphere, plenty of room. 27 Chiang Mai - Lampoon rd, across Nawarat Bridge turn right.

The Tavern: comfortable British-styled pub, with good English pub food and tipple selection. 23 Chiang Mai - Lampoon rd, across Nawarat Bridge and turn right.

The (UN) Irish Pub: magnet for local ex-pat crowd, serves food, sports on a big TV, hardly Irish but hosts quiz and Spoken Word evenings. 24/1 Ratvithi rd.

The Chiang Mai Micro Brewery: far out of town but worth it for the beer and food, cavernous atmosphere and live entertainment. Behind Carrefour on superhighway.

Blue Note: upmarket live jazz venue with big comfy couches and drink prices to match - for the mature crowd. 49/1-2 Chiang Mai - Lampoon rd (near Cottage).

The Pub: an ageing but very reputable English-styled pub popular with the older long-standing ex-pat crowd. Huay Kaew rd (West of the Amari Rincome).

The Saloon: American-styled burger and beer place, good food and music videos with good location. Loi Kroh rd, near Night Bazaar.

O'Malley's Bar: Irish pub with several good beers on tap and comfy interior, plus pub grub. Anusarn Market, near Night Bazaar.

Sax Pub: popular with visiting German motorcycle crowd, good music, convenient location. Moon Muang rd, opposite Tapae Gate.

Rasta Bar: popular, laid-back outdoor place among a cluster of underground bars, with live music and cheap drinks. Off Ratvithi rd, behind Irish Pub.

THC Rooftop Bar: a bohemian place above the Hemp Shop, with good views of Tapae Gate and floor level seating. 19/4-5 Kotchasarn rd (opposite Tapae Gate).

The Writers' Club and Wine Bar: popular with local writers, friendly owners, great wine selection and good food specials. Ratchadamnoen rd, two blocks from AUA.

Discos in Chiang Mai: The following are popular with visitors

Bubbles: usually full with a mixed crowd of Thais and foreigners, up-to-date music, easy atmosphere, reasonable drink prices. Below Porn Ping Hotel.

Nice Illusion: sometimes busy, live music, full of friendly girls, open late. Chaiyaphun rd, alongside the Moat, can't miss it.

Club G: An all-Thai affair with ear-splitting music, dance floor full of bar tables. 68/2 Chiang Mai - Lampoon rd, over Nawarat Bridge, turn right, drive 1km.

Gay and Lesbian

Suggested popular gay-friendly bars in Chiang Mai include: Coffee Boy Bar (Thanon Tung Hotel), Circle Pub (Erawan lnn) and Adam's Apple (both on Chotana rd), and Doi boy (near Novotel Hotel), each featuring live cabaret shows. There are also a number of gay go-go bars behind the Night Bazaar. The lesbian scene is far quieter and the only magnet is Femme Fatale (located at Chiang Mai Land, south of the city off Chang Klan rd).