Night Bazaar and Environs

[Caitrin]

Howdy,

Tonight my co-traveler and I are going out to the night bazaar, and while we've read all the various tourist descriptions, and what not, we wanted to ask if there were any particular restaurants/bars/venues we shouldn't miss.

I also posted something similar in the Gay in Thailand forum, but we are both queer ladies and we'd be interested in checking out some of the local LGBT spots in the city, but the internet seems to suggest its very gay male oriented. Anyone local know where we might be welcome?

Thanks!

Edited January 2, 2015 by Caitrin

[Ulysses G.]

The Duke's, but nothing to do with gay issues. It is just good food.

[Caitrin]

Looks good, but it looks like it closes fairly early (10:30PM), but maybe we can go there for lunch or something...

[HansBlinkers]

Looks good, but it looks like it closes fairly early (10:30PM), but maybe we can go there for lunch or something...

There's nothing really down at the night bazaar and it finishes up early. You would want to go to Bun Yoo market find bars called Babylon and Zoe in Yellow. They are not LGBT spots per se, but would but queer friendly you will probably meet like minded people there. Hope you enjoy your stay.

[scd]

The Night Bazaar closes down by midnight, so if you're looking for a late night out you might be better off looking elsewhere.

There is a cross dressing revue of sorts in Anusarn Market at around 9pm which you and your friend might enjoy, though it's more for fun viewing and enjoyment than anything else.

In terms of the LGBT scene i'm far from informed, though it definitely does exist.

You are correct regarding the gay male club scene being dominant, though there are plenty of gay gals here as well, and they must go somewhere.

Maybe try a FB search in Thai using Google translate?

Edited January 2, 2015 by scd

[Paagai]

There are a couple of gay owned bars at the Kalare Night Bazaar. Given the location they have quite a mixed group of customers and aren't specifically gay, or seedy, just friendly people. Orion Bar and Mango Bar. The easiest way to find them is from Charonephratet soi 6 off Changklan road (the main night bazaar road) - enter the Kalare complex from opposite "le Spice Indian restaurant and they are in the second row. Station 1, in the old Night Bazaar building (Thapae Soi 1) is also mixed and gay friendly.

[Beetlejuice]

I just checked what LGBT means, so now able to respond to the OP`s inquiry.

Whether gay or not, you will be welcome. Never heard of any Chiang Mai establishments that have a discriminate anti gay and lesbian policy.

As I have mentioned many times here in the Chiang Mai forum, the Chiang Mai nightly entertainments scene is abysmal. Besides a MacDonalds and perhaps a few Thai noodle stalls I doubt that you will find much else open after 10.00pm The Red Lion pub and restaurant used to open into the late hours, but have no idea if that is still the case?

As for the lesbian scene, I don`t think there is one in Chiang Mai. Lots of highly commercialised expensive gay male venues spread around the city that doubt you would enjoy and a few skanky beerbars and that`s about all there is.

You may find something to your liking on here:

http://www.chiangmailocator.com/

Whatever, welcome to Chiang Mai, ladies.

[Caitrin]

Bangmai:

Hardeeharhar, like I've never heard jokes about lesbian hairstyles or women's prisons before. Ever. You're so original, give yourself a round of applause at your uniqueness and creativity.

Beetlejuice:

I think we were more looking for some place we'd actually be wanted as opposed to merely allowed. We did check out a one of the major gay male bars, but didn't stay very long. We were the only women present, and as soon as I asked about anything remotely related to a lesbian scene I was pretty much told, "doesn't exist." So, whatevs.

Ulysses:

We had some salad and pizza at Duke's. Good stuff.

[Tywais]

A couple of sites to look through. Does seem most other sites that I could find are male oriented.

Radchada.com

utopia-asia

[elektrified]

Considering there are thousands of Thai lesbian ladies here, there must be night clubs for the ladies in the OP to visit. People are very friendly here. Maybe just ask around - you can't miss the lesbian ladies they are everywhere. Have fun on your visit!

[narkeddiver]

I'm not looking to defend Bangmai but I work with a fair few lesbians and I have a few lesbian friends so from personal experience I would say there is a standard "Tom" look in Thai circles - but this may not be everyone's experience

[Beetlejuice]

Bangmai:

Hardeeharhar, like I've never heard jokes about lesbian hairstyles or women's prisons before. Ever. You're so original, give yourself a round of applause at your uniqueness and creativity.

Beetlejuice:

I think we were more looking for some place we'd actually be wanted as opposed to merely allowed. We did check out a one of the major gay male bars, but didn't stay very long. We were the only women present, and as soon as I asked about anything remotely related to a lesbian scene I was pretty much told, "doesn't exist." So, whatevs.

Ulysses:

We had some salad and pizza at Duke's. Good stuff.

What do you mean by actually wanted?

If you are looking for an exclusive lesbian establishment or somewhere that has a fair number of lesbian clientele, I don`t think you are going to find such places in Chiang Mai. When it comes to nightly entertainments in the city, Chiang Mai is very male orientated, gay or otherwise and the same applies here on most of the Thai visa forums,

You may get some better results in the Ladies Forum here:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/forum/15-ladies-in-thailand/

[FolkGuitar]

There is a "Women's Massage" spa on (I believe) Ratchadamnern Rd. While perhaps not specifically a gay venue, at the very least they may be able to give you some direction to follow up to find what you are looking for.

[Loptr]

The OP might find more like-minded folks in the clubs on Nimmanhaemin Rd as opposed to the area of Loi Kroh or the Old City...

As narkeddiver stated, the Toms in CM do have a certain look, typically with the "bowl on the head" haircut look...

Edited January 3, 2015 by Loptr

[daoyai]

In my experience, people of all persuasions tend to integrate here more than "in the west', not unusual to see toms, gays, str8s etc. sharing a table and comradery.... so give up the where are we welcome idea and expect to be welcomed almost anywhere. In the night bazaar area you may enjoy the Boy's blue bar....at Galare food center upstairs.

[DaddyWarbucks]

In my experience, people of all persuasions tend to integrate here more than "in the west', not unusual to see toms, gays, str8s etc. sharing a table and comradery.... so give up the where are we welcome idea and expect to be welcomed almost anywhere. In the night bazaar area you may enjoy the Boy's blue bar....at Galare food center upstairs.

That's certainly true.

Just try to enjoy what Chiang Mai has to offer, and don't make a big deal out of your sexuality.

If you don't, the Thais won't.

[WinnieTheKhwai]

I just checked what LGBT means, so now able to respond to the OP`s inquiry.

As I have mentioned many times here in the Chiang Mai forum, the Chiang Mai nightly entertainments scene is abysmal. Besides a MacDonalds and perhaps a few Thai noodle stalls I doubt that you will find much else open after 10.00pm The Red Lion pub and restaurant used to open into the late hours, but have no idea if that is still the case?

LOL! It's one thing arguing with you when the topic is limited to 'the tourist scene' or just Loy Kroh Road wpecifically, but now it it's Chiang Mai as a whole that's abysmal, presumably including Boon Yoo (pics below), Nimmanhaemin, Santhitham, etc, etc?

You love slamming the tourist bars, (to each his own) but do you ever make it out to Nimmanhaemin / uni area / Canal Rd, or Santhitham or anywhere else?

I can assure you it goes on DEEP into the morning.

Enjoy the rest of your retirement. From a guy who did not have to look up LGBT.

As for lesbian-specific.. From time to time I hear places mentioned on Nimmanhaemin or a bit further out, but I think most lesbians visit the same places everyone else does and that applies to Thais and foreigners alike. Mostly because Thailand in general is open minded enough to not require gender-specific ghettoisation of nightlife, but also because most people prefer it that way, enjoying all the nightlife the city has to offer, over just one or two places that are more lesbian-dedicated.

Anyway, as others have said start at the Boon Yoo area. (a.k.a Reggae Bars though there's much more than reggae these days, a.k.a "Zoe" a.k.a. "Yellow".) After 10pm at the earliest, preferably after 11pm. Some lesbian girls I know also visit Spicy afters, though that's a bit of a scene.

As for Night Bazar area, there is relatively little of interest there when it comes to Nightlife, perhaps with an exception of Bubble Disco late at night, and the adjacent Hot Shot (slightly earlier). Both located at the Porn Ping Hotel.

Edited January 3, 2015 by WinnieTheKhwai

[northernjohn]

I just checked what LGBT means, so now able to respond to the OP`s inquiry.

As I have mentioned many times here in the Chiang Mai forum, the Chiang Mai nightly entertainments scene is abysmal. Besides a MacDonalds and perhaps a few Thai noodle stalls I doubt that you will find much else open after 10.00pm The Red Lion pub and restaurant used to open into the late hours, but have no idea if that is still the case?

LOL! It's one thing arguing with you when the topic is limited to 'the tourist scene' or just Loy Kroh Road wpecifically, but now it it's Chiang Mai as a whole that's abysmal, presumably including Boon Yoo (pics below), Nimmanhaemin, Santhitham, etc, etc?

You love slamming the tourist bars, (to each his own) but do you ever make it out to Nimmanhaemin / uni area / Canal Rd, or Santhitham or anywhere else?

I can assure you it goes on DEEP into the morning.

Enjoy the rest of your retirement. From a guy who did not have to look up LGBT.

DSC00283s.JPG

zoe1.jpg

zoe2.jpg

As for lesbian-specific.. From time to time I hear places mentioned on Nimmanhaemin or a bit further out, but I think most lesbians visit the same places everyone else does and that applies to Thais and foreigners alike. Mostly because Thailand in general is open minded enough to not require gender-specific ghettoisation of nightlife, but also because most people prefer it that way, enjoying all the nightlife the city has to offer, over just one or two places that are more lesbian-dedicated.

Anyway, as others have said start at the Boon Yoo area. (a.k.a Reggae Bars though there's much more than reggae these days, a.k.a "Zoe" a.k.a. "Yellow".) After 10pm at the earliest, preferably after 11pm. Some lesbian girls I know also visit Spicy afters, though that's a bit of a scene.

As for Night Bazar area, there is relatively little of interest there when it comes to Nightlife, perhaps with an exception of Bubble Disco late at night, and the adjacent Hot Shot (slightly earlier). Both located at the Porn Ping Hotel.

I am surprised that with his police connections he could not name a bar very suitable to what the OP is asking for. If their is one in town they will know.

[StevieH]

Bangmai:

Hardeeharhar, like I've never heard jokes about lesbian hairstyles or women's prisons before. Ever. You're so original, give yourself a round of applause at your uniqueness and creativity.

Beetlejuice:

I think we were more looking for some place we'd actually be wanted as opposed to merely allowed. We did check out a one of the major gay male bars, but didn't stay very long. We were the only women present, and as soon as I asked about anything remotely related to a lesbian scene I was pretty much told, "doesn't exist." So, whatevs.

Ulysses:

We had some salad and pizza at Duke's. Good stuff.

What do you mean by actually wanted?

If you are looking for an exclusive lesbian establishment or somewhere that has a fair number of lesbian clientele, I don`t think you are going to find such places in Chiang Mai. When it comes to nightly entertainments in the city, Chiang Mai is very male orientated, gay or otherwise and the same applies here on most of the Thai visa forums,

You may get some better results in the Ladies Forum here:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/forum/15-ladies-in-thailand/

and you'd be completely wrong there.

out of interest, why do you continue to post about things you know nothing at all about?

[AnotherOneAmerican]

Looks good, but it looks like it closes fairly early (10:30PM), but maybe we can go there for lunch or something...

There's nothing really down at the night bazaar and it finishes up early. You would want to go to Bun Yoo market find bars called Babylon and Zoe in Yellow. They are not LGBT spots per se, but would but queer friendly you will probably meet like minded people there. Hope you enjoy your stay.

Gay bars just after Thanin Market half way down Chang Phuak Road turn left into Wiang Bua Road.

Blue Bar and another one near it.

Plenty of lesbian couples to be found in the Bar area at Santitham Plaza, just off Santitham Road.

As BJ stated, Santitham Plaza, these are just normal bars for everyone to mix in.

Edited January 3, 2015 by AnotherOneAmerican

[mizztraveller]

Caitrin - have sent you a pm.

[Caitrin]

Not that trolls should be fed, but, I'm 31, she's 27, both of us are still in the younger part of our lives, I'm only a couple years out of grad school, her a few years out of undergrad. No family obligations, no commitments, steady employment, but still very much in the post-university period of our lives.

We never said anything about an exclusive lesbian place, just that we have often found elsewhere in the world (especially in Japan where we are visiting from) that gay male venues can often find our presence an invasion at worst or a distraction at best. And the lesbian places are very word-of-mouth and many are de fact ethnic Japanese-only (although the argument is because non-Japanese do not stick around long enough to be viable partners, which is dubious, but whatever). We like mixed places, but only if it is really, truly mixed (therefore the difference between being wanted and being allowed, plenty of gay male spaces will allow us in our experience, but that is different than being wanted).

As far as the physical aspects, neither of us are butch (I'm a tomboy femme, and she's low femme), nor are we particularly interested in butches and in fact, we're not really interested in hooking up or anything of the like. We were just looking for some like-minded company.

TL;DR: Okay, I fed the troll, but at least you can see how much the troll is wrong. :3

[Loptr]

I just checked what LGBT means, so now able to respond to the OP`s inquiry.

As I have mentioned many times here in the Chiang Mai forum, the Chiang Mai nightly entertainments scene is abysmal. Besides a MacDonalds and perhaps a few Thai noodle stalls I doubt that you will find much else open after 10.00pm The Red Lion pub and restaurant used to open into the late hours, but have no idea if that is still the case?

LOL! It's one thing arguing with you when the topic is limited to 'the tourist scene' or just Loy Kroh Road wpecifically, but now it it's Chiang Mai as a whole that's abysmal, presumably including Boon Yoo (pics below), Nimmanhaemin, Santhitham, etc, etc?

You love slamming the tourist bars, (to each his own) but do you ever make it out to Nimmanhaemin / uni area / Canal Rd, or Santhitham or anywhere else?

I can assure you it goes on DEEP into the morning.

Enjoy the rest of your retirement. From a guy who did not have to look up LGBT.

DSC00283s.JPG

zoe1.jpg

zoe2.jpg

As for lesbian-specific.. From time to time I hear places mentioned on Nimmanhaemin or a bit further out, but I think most lesbians visit the same places everyone else does and that applies to Thais and foreigners alike. Mostly because Thailand in general is open minded enough to not require gender-specific ghettoisation of nightlife, but also because most people prefer it that way, enjoying all the nightlife the city has to offer, over just one or two places that are more lesbian-dedicated.

Anyway, as others have said start at the Boon Yoo area. (a.k.a Reggae Bars though there's much more than reggae these days, a.k.a "Zoe" a.k.a. "Yellow".) After 10pm at the earliest, preferably after 11pm. Some lesbian girls I know also visit Spicy afters, though that's a bit of a scene.

As for Night Bazar area, there is relatively little of interest there when it comes to Nightlife, perhaps with an exception of Bubble Disco late at night, and the adjacent Hot Shot (slightly earlier). Both located at the Porn Ping Hotel.

I was elbow deep in that scrum at Zoe Yellow on New Years Eve with friends... Lots of fun and there were many couples of all flavors in attendance... Chiang Mai is too small for niche clubs of any one genre... Enjoy, live and let live as life is too short to pick a side...

[Cpkt8]

Nightlife= potential trouble

Beware and be cautious, especially for 2 ladies.

[WinnieTheKhwai]

^ Just trolling, and in a nasty way at that. Suggest to just ignore.

Anyway reading the OP's follow up posts I actually wondered about one thing (no need to answer, just being curious): I understand the concern about not being wanted at gay venues; I've visited one with some presumably straight Western women and didn't really feel unwanted there, though it was also clear that we were not the target demographic. So you get a bit of that feeling of visiting a zoo: outsider looking in.

What I wonder about though is why you would want to go to such a place? Never mind what staff and other customers might think, why would you want to hang out at a place oriented towards gay men?

Edited January 3, 2015 by WinnieTheKhwai

[Caitrin]

Winnie,

That's the point, we don't. Like I said, mixed spaces are great, but in general, we'd be in the way in most gay male spaces, so we were hoping to avoid making ourselves or a venue uncomfortable by avoiding those spaces. In general, it appears we'll probably end up unsuccessful, as we're not going to be here long enough to suss out where we might go.

The truth about most LGBT people a great deal of cisgender/heterosexual folks seem to fail to grasp is, while there are certainly stereotypes, mostly we look like you. You'd never know unless we told you. Maybe I'd be hit on less by guys if it was more obvious, but alas, probably not. Because then I'd probably just get more "can I watch" comments and the like. >____>

[Tywais]

I removed several troll comments and replies to them.

[Beetlejuice]

Winnie,

That's the point, we don't. Like I said, mixed spaces are great, but in general, we'd be in the way in most gay male spaces, so we were hoping to avoid making ourselves or a venue uncomfortable by avoiding those spaces. In general, it appears we'll probably end up unsuccessful, as we're not going to be here long enough to suss out where we might go.

The truth about most LGBT people a great deal of cisgender/heterosexual folks seem to fail to grasp is, while there are certainly stereotypes, mostly we look like you. You'd never know unless we told you. Maybe I'd be hit on less by guys if it was more obvious, but alas, probably not. Because then I'd probably just get more "can I watch" comments and the like. >____>

Firstly, I must apologise for the disgusting comments of one particular poster. Totally embarrassing for all of us. Unfortunately there are certain themes that attract the morons like magnets, a sad loser that had probably forgotten to take his medication.

I think by now you already know what is and what is not available in Chiang Mai. As I said the nightlife and entertainments here are extremely limited. My advice is; just be yourselves, don`t give a rat`s behind about what anyone else thinks, go out and have fun.

Something you may enjoy: hire a taxi after dark if you don`t have your own transport, travel up to the Doi Suthep mountains. It is possible to see the whole city from up there, and at night it is amazing, a truly romantic setting looking down at all the lights. An opportunity to take some great photos that is unique and cannot be done anywhere else and perhaps leaving you with some fond memories of Chiang Mai.

Edited January 3, 2015 by Beetlejuice

[PJcm]

Bangmai:

Hardeeharhar, like I've never heard jokes about lesbian hairstyles or women's prisons before. Ever. You're so original, give yourself a round of applause at your uniqueness and creativity.

Beetlejuice:

I think we were more looking for some place we'd actually be wanted as opposed to merely allowed. We did check out a one of the major gay male bars, but didn't stay very long. We were the only women present, and as soon as I asked about anything remotely related to a lesbian scene I was pretty much told, "doesn't exist." So, whatevs.

Ulysses:

We had some salad and pizza at Duke's. Good stuff.

I am going back a few years maybe ten, but there is or was an exclusive women's/ lesbian bar in Chiang Mai Land, don't know if it is still there, received a write up in the Bangkok Post or the Nation, good luck hunting.

[haybilly]

I hope that you manage to find what you are looking for, you seem like a nice, sensible young lady.