The original Talat Rot Fai (commonly known as Train Night Market) once stood on land owned by the Thai railways near the Chatuchak Weekend Market. This wasn’t a formal arrangement and soon enough the popular night market had to find a new location. After a brief absence, the market found a new home behind the Seacon Square shopping center on Sri Nakharin Road, east of (and a bit further out of) the city. The market has quickly grown in popularity and has spawned two more markets, the second at the Train Night Market Ratchada and the third at Kaset-Nawamin. Train Night Market, at its primary location at Sri Nakharin has been ranked the most popular night market in Bangkok.
People love the Train Night Markets because of their ‘rough-edged’ history. Even though they are much sharper looking and more ‘brand aware’ these days, the original feel has flowed through to today’s markets, creating a casual, laid-back marketplace with a perfect mix of food, shopping and nightlife.
The market focuses on antiques and vintage-style offerings, especially clothing and home accessories. That said, the market has become far more mainstream in recent years. It’s now possible to find all kinds of things here. Everything from cheap street fashion to electronics, home decor, and plenty more. You’ll even find old-fashioned al-fresco barber shops delivering haircuts for as little as a couple of hundred baht. In addition to the main outdoor market area that sits at the very back of the site, there are a number of alleys of brick-and-mortar shops that visitors stream through on their way into the market.
The selection of eating options has grown, both in more conventional settings and outside in the area of the market itself. You’ll find just about every kind of Thai food here, from stir fries and curries to north-eastern papaya salad, southern Thai biryani and meat-filled mataba pancakes. The market also hosts the famous Jompalung noodle soup. They’re famous for serving oversized portions loaded with fresh seafood like tiger prawns and entire lobsters.
Like other night markets, bars feature prominently at Talat Rot Fai too. For many tourists, the bars make the market just as much of a destination as the shopping does. You’re sure to find one you like no matter whether you choose to kick back at one of the ‘proper’ bars with walls along the market’s entrance walkway and around the perimeter (these bars often feature live music), or prefer to pull up a stool alongside an old Volksy camper van that’s been turned into a makeshift cocktail bar that turns out mojitos and other classic cocktails for as little as 100 baht per serve, or 350 baht per pitcher.
Night markets are popular among Bangkok locals and tourists alike. There are plenty of night markets around Bangkok and you can visit them all with Your Thai Guide.
Love markets? Here’s a quick list of some other night markets in Bangkok:
- Train Night Market Ratchada
- Asiatique The Riverfront
- Chatuchak Weekend Market
- Khao San Road
- Saphan Phut Night Market (Memorial Bridge Market)
- Indy Night Market
- On Nut Night Market
So next time you are in Thailand, visit one, or all, of these bustling Bangkok night markets for a night of shopping and entertainment served up with a side of salted fish and ice-cold beer. Come join the carnival-like atmosphere of the hottest night market in Bangkok.
Train Night Market can be visited Tuesday to Sunday from 5pm until Midnight.
Admission Price: Free entry.
