Suan Lum Night Bazaar, Bangkok

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Suan Lum Night Bazaar

The second best bazaar market in Bangkok also and with a great nightlife inside.


My Photos
First Photo: Suan Lum Night Bazaar
Second photo: Fast food in Night Bazaar
Third photo: Music in Night Bazaar

What to buy: Shoes, Suvenirs, T-Shirts

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If you take your time to look around, you'll find quite a few 'boutiques' here. By that I mean, young people who design their own stuff and sell it here in their corner of a shop in this night market. I bought several shoes (around 750-1000 baht), dresses ( 200-800 baht), accesories etc from such shops. Unique stuff I must say. They have alot of creativity.

What to pay: Price ranges from 200 for the commonfare to 1000 for self-designed stuff

Suan Lum bazaar is the night version of Chatachuck weekend market. There’s quite a lot on sale here and it’s a good place to bargain for souvenirs, grab a bite or even buy furniture. It’s got a pretty big layout and there’s a lot of selection. It’s also nice to look at things in the cool of the night rather than the heat of the day.

What to buy: Antiques and furniture (along with just about everything else) can be gotten there.

What to pay: Asking prices are generally far above the final one. Bargain hard, but with good humor

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Suan Lum could best be described as the VIP outdoor market of Bangkok (where you're always welcome, of course). Covered walkways with centrally-located snack bars provide perhaps the most luxurious (outdoor) market shopping experience in the city. Several bars along with Thai, Italian, German, and even Mexican restaurants are conveniently within the market area, close enough to analyze the crowd while enjoying a drink, yet away from the market's hustle-and-bustle. In the same area, dinner shows featuring classical Thai puppetry can be enjoyed at the famous Joe Louis Puppet Theatre. Open: 18:00 - 00:00 (every day)

On the other side of the market's curious Khmer-looking temple walkway, lies a large outdoor beer garden, food court, and concert venue all rolled into one. Here one can indulge in an assortment of inernational and Thai beers and foods, with international fare either Japanese (yakitori and Asahi) or German (sausage, Paulaner, etc). Beer and food are accompanied by live Thai cover bands performing the latest local and international hits on stage.

What to buy: Creative gifts, trendy home items, clothing/jewellery boutique shops by local designers, packaged dried fruits, a few stalls selling the usual market CD's/clothing.

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This is a huge night market that is clean and well-organised. However, prices are much higher than Chatuchak and other local markets.

Opening hours:
6pm - midnight

Getting there:
1) MRT - Lumpini station
2) BTS - Saladaeng station
3) Bus - 4, 13, 14, 17, 22, 43, 45, 46, 47, 50, 62, 76, 109, 115, 116, 149, 173

Tips:
Slash at least 60% off the calculator price!

Second trip to Thailand, without my knowledgeable husband, I lined up the tuktuk driver and said I wanted to go to Suan Lum - had only been to a fairly limited part of Patpong (or Silom - as I was to find out) - wondered why the cheeky driver said "what you want to go there for?". Took me about 10 mins to realise that I was at SILOM and not SWALUM - guess it was all in the way I tried to say it! He was well known to me, and when he came back, I said "why you bring me to Papong?" - and a comical conversation went from there - "this is Silom madame" etc. Anyway, I learned a geography and language message! If in doubt ask for the "night bazaar"!!

What to buy: The market experience at Suan Lum Night Bazaar is very different to Chatuchak - firstly its at night, and therefore COOLER, and its really quite nicely done, with all tiled indoor stalls. Its really growing - seen it every few months for last couple of years - and just gets bigger and more diverse. Lots of individual's craft, whether clothing and accessories, or more expensive homewares. Some of the artisans are very talented, and will probably get snapped up and lured out of the place with retail offers. Just have to keep something in reserve from the day to really appreciate this market. I find I am often so tired and foot weary, I don't have the energy to stay long - and I thought that was impossible!

What to pay: Bargain as hard as you can. Any tourist shopping venue has a go at top prices initially.

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Not yet tired of whole day shopping and craving for more? Suan Lum Night Market offers wide variety of souvenirs, clothes, jewelry, bags, shoes etc. Within the m,arket you can also find small massage parlors offering foot massage to your tired feet.

We bought couple of items from here like glass souvenirs, pillow cases, candle holder etc.

Bargaining skill is definitely needed to get a good price.

This night bazaar is right across Lumpini Park. It's a great place to see local craft and other kitsch. There are good places to eat around, so it's a nice place to walk off your calories and spend some more baht.

When I was there last, there even a ferris wheel. Too bad, I didn't have time to ride it (I know, I'm such a kid).

What to buy: You can buy anything from clothes to jewelry to local art and craft to furniture to household kitsch. It's a feast for the eyes.

Although it was steamy hot out still at midnite (38C)...We made our way through this organized maze of shops, food vendors, beer vendors and everything else you could think of!! When we first entered, we ordered some really inexpensive Thai food which was very good..You first had to buy coupons, and then you could exchange it for food or beverage...They even had live music..It was actually a great big Food Court..

We shopped and shopped and shopped..til it was very late...and didn't buy anything!!! But there was just so many Thai Handicrafts, clothes, shoes, tshirts, etc, that i just couldn't decide what i wanted!!

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If you're on the lookout for reasonably priced souvenirs, then I'd suggest heading down one evening to the Suan Lum Night Bazaar, which is right next to Lumphini park. It's not going to be there much longer, though - the tenants have been given notice to quit by April 2007 at the latest, as the site is going to be redeveloped.

While it lasts, it's great for an evening stroll and as it's much more tourist-oriented than Chatuchak weekend market, you just might find something to take home. There are several on-site restaurants, so you can spend the whole evening here. It's easy to get to - take the subway to the Lumphini stop, and the entrance to the market is right next to the subway exit. The market opens from 4pm to midnight daily.