Chiang Rai’s nightlife is much quieter than what you would find in big cities like Bangkok or even a smaller one like Chiang Mai. However, there are some things you can do at night in Chiang Rai. One of the first places new arrivals look for is the Night Bazaar, next to the bus station. Attending a local cultural show is also a main attraction in Chiang Rai.
If you are looking for a romantic evening with your partner, then Chiang Rai nightlife has a couple of places that might interest you. If you are looking for a relaxing escape with your family, you will find some perfect options too.
Chiang Rai offers limited options when it comes to nightlife. Besides the Night Bazaar and a string of bars and massage parlours lining Jet Yod Street and around Wangcome Hotel, there’s not much else going on after sunset. Rather than flashy clubs and pubs, what you get is a place to really take it slow and enjoy a chill-out experience. Many bars have large-screen TVs for live sports broadcasts and a few pool tables.
Live music, however, is a rarity, and you will have to make do with the bar owner’s taste for Mp3s or CD music. For A go-go bars, head over to a short strip of private Punyodyana Road east of the Clock Tower, and that’s all you will get. As you stroll down the nightlife street, it will dawn on you that clubbing and late-night partying is really not the highlight of this hill-enclosed town.
Many visitors prefer to hit the Night Bazaar and sip a few beers at the open-air beer garden in-between their shopping breaks. But don’t ramp up your expectations too high, though, or you will be in for a disappointment. Just remember that, rather than nightlife, the charms of Chiang Rai lie in its pristine natural beauty as well as fascinating artistic and cultural heritage.
Par Club Chiang Rai
Walking Street Chiang Rai – Jetyod Road
Chiang Rai Nightlife Tour, Night Bazaar, Sunday
