While the nightlife in Chiang Mai may not be as crazy as in Bangkok, Pattaya, or Phuket, the city certainly offers some great spots for chatting over a few beers, enjoying live music, and even dancing into the early hours of the morning.

There's something to suit everyone when it comes to Chiang Mai's nightlife. The city is brimming with rooftop bars, and one of the most popular ways to spend an evening is enjoying cocktails while admiring city views from above. You'll also find a handful of bars-turned live music venues with performances every night, sports bars showing matches from around the globe, and specialist bars and pubs serving up a range of locally brewed pints.

With so much on offer, planning where to go can be tricky - which is why we've put together this guide. As Chiang Mai locals, here's a list of our favorite nightlife spots in Chiang Mai to ensure your evenings in the city are ones to remember.

Live Music Bars

Live music is the heart and soul of Chiang Mai's nightlife. Walking through the city's streets during the evening, you'll be sure to hear the sounds of talented local musicians spilling out of bars and restaurants, and they contribute to Chiang Mai's vibrant after-dark atmosphere. The spots below offer a great way to unwind with a drink in hand, soak in the ambiance, and discover local musical talent.

North Gate Jazz: A legendary spot for jazz lovers, North Gate Jazz Co-op is a vibrant venue where musicians showcase their skills in a cozy, communal setting. The place is packed every night, and crowds often spill out onto the street - so make sure to show up early to grab a good seat.

Best Days: Tuesday for jam sessions, but every night is lively
Location: Near Chang Phuak Gate

Roots, Rock, Reggae: Reggae is synonymous with Thailand's music scene, and you'll hear the mellow tropical beats blasting from sound systems across the city. This bar is the best place for live reggae and ska music performances, and its Rasta owners and staff serve strong drinks in a very vibrant atmosphere. It's one of our favorite bars in Chiang Mai.

Best Days: You can watch live performances here every night of the week
Location: Next to Zoe in Yellow

Rooftop Bars

Rooftop bars in Chiang Mai offer a sophisticated nightlife experience and are perfect for enjoying stunning city views, craft cocktails, and a relaxed atmosphere. Kicking off your evening by enjoying a sunset drink at a rooftop bar is an excellent start to a night in Chiang Mai. Most rooftop bars offer comfortable lounge seating, ambient music, and a mix of locals and travelers enjoying the skyline.

Myst Maya: This is one of the fanciest Chiang Mai rooftops where you can enjoy the sunset while sipping a cocktail and taking in the views over the city. They offer a vast selection of drinks, and the top-quality bartenders like to put on a show while crafting cocktails. There's a live band most evenings, and the dance floor fills up on the weekends with a mix of locals and tourists.

Best Days: The atmosphere is always great here, but it's particularly lively on weekends
Location: On top of Maya Mall

Rise Bar: Another upmarket rooftop spot with a luxurious swimming pool and incredibly chic design. They serve a great selection of extravagant cocktails and delicious food, and there's always good music playing - it's the perfect place to enjoy views of the Doi Suthep mountain. The atmosphere here is very romantic, so it's an excellent choice for couples.

Best Days: Rise Bar is open every day of the week and is a great spot to visit both day and night
Location: Inside the Akyra Hotel, Nimman

Thapae Grill: Thapae Grill is easily one of the best spots to watch the sunset in the city. The laid-back terrace is the perfect place to enjoy local food in a relaxed atmosphere, and they also do great cocktails. It's not the biggest rooftop bar on this list, so it's worth booking a table for sunset if you plan on visiting.

Best Days: Sundays - the rooftop is a few stories above the Sunday Night Market on Tha Pae Road, so it's a great people-watching spot
Location: Old City near Thapae Gate

Hideland.cnx: A hidden gem, Hideland.cnx Rooftop Bar offers breathtaking views of Suthep Mountain and the Old City. With a relaxed atmosphere and fewer crowds, it's the perfect spot to sip a cocktail while watching the sunset over Chiang Mai.

Best Days: Check their Instagram before planning your visit, as they put on various specials and offers throughout the week
Location: Intrawarorot Road, near the West Gate

Clubs

Zoe in Yellow: Arguably the most famous clubbing destination in Chiang Mai, Zoe in Yellow is part of a cluster of bars that create a buzzing nightlife hub. Expect a packed dance floor, a mix of electronic and chart-topping hits, and a lively, youthful crowd. Licensing laws mean this place has to close at 12, but if the night isn't over, you can head somewhere else after!

Best Days: Zoe in Yellow is liveliest on weekends, and it tends to get busy after 10 pm
Location: Old City

Spicy Club: This is Chiang Mai's main after-party venue, perfect for when you aren't ready to go home yet. When most other bars close, Spicy is just getting started! Follow the crowd from Zoe In Yellow, and they will show you the way. The entrance fee is 100 THB and includes one drink. It's a fun place to dance to electronic music and meet new people.

Best Days: Open every night from 8 pm - 4 am, but it doesn't get busy until around midnight.
Location: Old City

Sound Up: Our choice for a late night out; Sound Up is arguably the best club in Chiang Mai. This typical Thai-style club offers private tables and bottle service on the dance floor, so it's a great choice if you're in a group. The entrance fee is 200 Baht per person, and if you come with a group of 4, this will include one bottle of (cheap) local booze.

Best Days: Open every night from 11 pm - 4 am, but it doesn't start getting busy here until after midnight.
Location: Old City

Pubs and Bars

Meilleur Wine Coffee: Wine lovers who have spent time in Thailand will know that it's not always the easiest country to find decent wine, but Meilleur challenges that. It has one of the best wine selections in the city and is a lovely, laid-back spot to treat yourself to a few glasses (or bottles!). The atmosphere here is relaxed, and the unique decorations give this place a real artsy vibe; plus, the owners are incredibly warm and welcoming.

Best Days: Open every day other than Tuesday, from 5 pm to 10:30 pm.
Location: 34 1 Ratchamanka Rd, Tambon Si Phum

UN Irish Pub: You'd be hard-pressed to find a city worldwide without an Irish pub, and Chiang Mai is no exception. If you are craving hearty pies and creamy Guinness, this place should be on your list. They offer live sports, Thursday night pub quizzes, fantastic food, and local and imported beers. There's live music here most nights, and the atmosphere is always great.

Best Days: The not-to-be-missed pub quiz takes place every Thursday at 8 pm
Location: Old City

Ram Bar: A.k.a. The friendliest LGBTQ bar in Chiang Mai. The cabaret show in this bar is hilarious and a "must-do" while you are in Chiang Mai. The bar has an incredible, eclectic style - you'll feel like you've entered a different world upon stepping through the doors! Make sure to get here early if you want to watch the show, or you will be standing outside.

Best Days: Mondays, Tuesdays, and Sundays. They're open from 7 pm - 1 am, with shows starting at 9:30 pm.
Location: Charoen Prathet Rd, Chang Khlan

Beer Lab: Beer Lab is a real staple when it comes to Chiang Mai nightlife, and it's a must if you're a beer lover. They offer over 15 kinds of beer on draft and around 200 different types of bottled beers - this is the place to be if you're craving a quality beer! It's not the cheapest spot for beer in the city, as many options are craft and specialist varieties, but if you're a beer lover, it's well worth it.

Best Days: Open every day from 5 pm - 12 am. Beer Lab is a great spot to go earlier in the evening.
Location: Nimman

Pim’s Favorites

Chill Out Bar: A little “hole in the wall” kind of bar is located in the northeast corner of the old city. If you want to meet friendly people, drink cheap strong cocktails, and look for a cool place to start the night, then the Chill Out Bar is where you must go. The owner/bartender, Mr. Bom, is a character and will take good care of you.

Best Days: Every day! Open all night and often until very late.

Location: Moon Muang Soi 9 (Old City)

Radost Bar: My favorite sports bar. The friendly Thai and German owner couple is helpful and will show any live sports event you want to see on one of their five televisions. There is a pool table, a dart board, a foosball table, and board games to keep you busy. The Tiger draft beer is fresh and ice cold.

Best Days: Open all day, every day. Often until late to show live football matches.

Location: Moon Muang Soi 9 (Old City)

Shows

Chiang Mai Ladyboy Cabaret (Anusarn Night Market): You can't come to Thailand without watching a ladyboy cabaret show, and this is one of Chiang Mai's best. Hidden inside the Anusarn Night Market, near the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar. The doors open at 9:00 pm, and the entrance fee is 300 Baht per person. This experience is an absolute must-do when you are in Chiang Mai.

Best Days: Shows take place most evenings at 9:30 pm
Location: Anusarn Night Market

Sports

Chiang Mai Boxing Stadium: You shouldn't spend too much time in Chiang Mai without watching a fight, and this is the best place to experience Muay Thai in Chiang Mai. Tickets can be bought at most hostels or the stadium on the night. You can read more about this in our Chiang Mai Boxing Stadium blog.

Best Days: Matches typically take place every Monday - Saturday night. Matches start around 9:00 pm
Location: Santitham

Chiang Mai FC: Thais don't just love Muay Thai - football is also very popular within the country, and watching a match is a great way to spend an evening in Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai FC (a.k.a. the Lanna Tigers) play their home games at the Tessabaan Stadium, just north of the Old City. The atmosphere is loud and friendly, with multiple fan groups playing drums and chanting their team to victory. They sell beers and snacks outside the ground, and tickets cost 100 THB.

Best Days: Check match fixtures online. The season typically runs from August to May
Location: Tessabaan Stadium

Winston’s Pool & Sports Bar: One of the city's most well-loved sports bars, you'll find everything you could want here - pool tables, dart boards, and multiple sports screens showing local and international fixtures. Winston’s is a great place to relax, play a game, and catch up on sports action.

Best Days: Evenings; open daily
Location: Near the Old City

Local Favorites

Warm Up Café: Warm Up café is a popular spot among Chiang Mai locals. It's a versatile place; during the day and early evening, you can eat and drink here, watch sports on the TV, listen to live music, and it comes alive by night with a DJ and busy dancefloor. Warm Up Café is probably the best spot on this list to mix and meet with locals, so it's a good choice for an authentic Thai night out.

Best Days: Open every night from 7 pm -2 am. For dancing, head here after 10 pm
Location: Nimman

TaWanDang: One of the best-kept secrets in Chiang Mai, this is a local favorite. You'll get your private table, and order a bottle of liquor, a tower of beer, and some snacks, which you can enjoy while you sit back, relax, and watch the show. Expect Live music, dance performances, theater, and DJs throughout the night. It's a typical Thai night out, and it won't be easy to blend in and meet people, so it's best to go here with a group of friends. After midnight, when the whiskey kicks in, the party really kicks off here and the dancefloor fills up.

Best Days: Open daily, from 7 pm - 3:30 am
Location: Nimman

Enjoy your nights in Chiang Mai! 🍻

Chiang Mai Night Life