You can’t say that you’ve been to Bangkok unless you’ve experienced their night market scene. Bangkok is home to a plethora of markets that sell anything and everything that you could need; from food to the latest fashion trends to services like manicures and perms, they’ve got you thoroughly covered.
If you don’t have much time to go night market hopping in Bangkok, the one market you need to head to to get the full experience is the famous Talad Rot Fai Srinakarin, which is also known as Rot Fai Train Market. There are a number of similar train markets across Bangkok but this is one of the bigger ones.
This market is a little out of the way from central Bangkok but we promise you that the journey is completely worth it.
Talad Rot Fai Srinakarin is located at Srinakarin Soi 51 in between two malls called Seacon Square Shopping Mall and Paradise Place. We recommend that you take a grab down as the place is not as accessible to public transport like central Bangkok.
What we love about this place is how it feels like there are multiple night markets packed into one area. Just when you think that you’ve finished walking the whole stretch, you find yourself in another completely different area filled with more rows of exciting things to explore.
FOOD
Like every other night market in Bangkok, Talad Rot Fai Srinakarin is no short of glorious food and we promise you that you’ll be spoilt for choice here.
Be prepared to walk down rows and rows of stalls selling scrumptious eats; from street food such as fried beef, skewered meat and coconut ice cream to proper food stalls that sell boat noodles and pad thai, the choices are truly endless.
While here, we also recommend that you try the famous Leng Saap, which is something the Rot Fai Markets are famous for. Leng Saap is essentially spicy pork bone soup and the dish consists of gigantic portions of pork ribs and spine that are a doused in a full-flavoured spicy broth packed with lots of lime, chilli and coriander.
There is a stall in Singapore that specialises in it too, but honestly, nothing tastes quite as good as the original!
SHOPPING
Shopaholics will be thrilled to know that there is so much shopping to do here that you probably won’t have time to cover everything within one night. Get lost in the massive maze of endless stalls that each specialise in something different.
The streets here are packed with a smorgasbord of dirt-cheap clothes, knick-knacks and accessories for people of all ages so there is something for everyone. Men, fret not, you won’t be banished to a corner while your girlfriend shops; there are plenty of things here for you too!
Take a break from the shopping by looking out for one of these cool vintage cars along the shopping streets!
LOCAL TALENT
What we also love about Bangkok night markets is the fact that it isn’t just all about shopping and food. Here, you can also appreciate and support the work of talented local artists who sometimes even sell their pieces to earn a living.
For instance, we came across a talented caricature artist who was drawing a picture of a girl and her boyfriend. It was pretty mesmerising to watch him at work! Aside from him, we also came across numerous stalls selling bags, shoes, art pieces and accessories designed by local designers.
VINTAGE ITEMS
Hipsters will be excited to know that the market has an entire section dedicated to vintage goods. Here, you can rummage through stores brimming with preloved goods and vintage items to see what you can unearth. As they always say: one man’s junk is another man’s treasure!
The vintage area doesn’t just have vintage knick-knacks; they also have a few massive vintage aircrafts on display too! Snap a picture with one these giant planes and helicopters for a cool new profile picture update.
LIVE MUSIC & BARS
If shopping isn’t your thing, you can also head over to one of the many bars and pubs in the market to just chill and bask in some good music.
The drinks and food at these bars and pubs are also relatively cheaper as compared to Singapore so just go nuts!
If you find this market too inaccessible, you can instead check out a smaller version of it at central Bangkok called Rot Fai Market Ratchada.
Talad Rot Fai Train Night Market
Soi Srinagarindra 51
Khwaeng Nong Bon, Khet Prawet
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10250, Thailand
Thu to Sun: 5pm – 1pm
(Closed on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays)