Talad Rot Fai – Bangkok’s Hipster Night Market

In the Bangkok itinerary I recommended in an earlier post, I listed Talad Rot Fai as one of the Thai capital’s hidden gems. Whether you’re a shopaholic or simply a curious tourist, a visit to this suburban weekend night market is definitely worth your time. While I frequent Chatuchak for its immensity, Talad Rot Fai is the place to go for quirky and vintage items that you’ll be hard-pressed to see under one roof. This is without a doubt, Bangkok’s coolest night market and is a place where the Thai’s entrepreneurial spirit jive with their creative side.

Getting to Talad Rot Fai:

Easiest way – The easiest way to get to Talad Rot Fai is by taxi, where you can expect to pay nearly THB 200 for the ride from the CBD. Many drivers don’t recognize the name of the market when you tell them so it’s advisable to instead mention the name of the mall beside it, Seacon Square.
Moderately easy way – The traffic was quite bad the night I decided to go to Talad Rot Fai so I utilized a mix between the BTS and taxi. From Siam station in Central Bangkok, I took the Sukhumvit Line of the BTS to Punnawithi Station (THB 52) where I hailed a cab to take me to Seacon Square (~ THB 70).

Update: Do note that there is a smaller Talad Rot Fai market in Ratchadaphisek Road. This is a more accessible location, a few steps from the Thailand Cultural Center MRT and behind Esplanade Shopping Mall. It has a similar concept but in a much smaller space and without the display of all those vintage cars.

What to See & Buy in Talad Rot Fai

Talad Rot Fai is located at the southern end of Seacon Square. There is a huge boat with a sign written in Thai that marks the entrance to the market. Or better yet just follow the foot traffic and that will lead you to the entrance.

restaurant using old cinema chairs…

restaurant using new cinema chairs

Compared to Chatuchak, the first thing that people will notice about Talad Rot Fai is just how spacious it is. The market is neatly divided into several sections. Shoppers enter through a narrow path lined with offbeat cafes, speakeasies and eateries.

pop-up bar

This is followed by several rows of shops within the cemented complex. There are lots of theme stores around here, including a toy store with Chuckie dolls, a Cool Britannia shop and your usual clothing stores.

From there, one encounters a huge series of open-area shops, laid out in the bazaar format. Some of the goods here are similar to what you can find in Chatuchak but are cheaper due to the absence of tourists in the area. The stores lining the main pathway of the open-air section are also quite unique. I did chance upon a makeshift bar on an old Volkswagen Beetle and a guy selling large cans made into stools.

A highlight of Talad Rot Fai would have to be the vintage/retro section found at the far end of the market. There is an exhibition space near this area filled with vintage cars and motorcycles. It’s a popular spot for photo taking. There wasn’t anyone in particular manning the store during my visit, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the things here are actually for sale.

With barely any tourists around these parts, I found the goods to be quite reasonably priced generally. Talad Rot Fai is definitely the place to visit for some off-beat stuff so I wouldn’t mind coming here every once in a while to check out what’s new. There are also tons of eating places around here, ranging from food carts to creatively-designed bars and restaurants. I had dinner at a simple pork noodle stall for THB 40 (~US 1.20) and it was great!

Talad Rot Fai
Srinakarin Road Soi 51
Bangkok Thailand

Best time to come is during weekends from 7PM onwards

Bino

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