In the evening, when the heat finally eases, Pattaya eats outdoors. Picking a Pattaya night market means picking a mood: a huge weekend bazaar, a seafront market in Jomtien or covered lanes in the city centre. Here is my comparison, with days, hours and how to get there.
Thepprasit: the big weekend market
This is the biggest and liveliest. Thepprasit market stretches along Thepprasit Road, near the junction with Sukhumvit Road, in south Pattaya on the way to Jomtien. It is often described as several hundred stalls, much of it under cover.
When to go? It runs at full capacity from Friday to Sunday, roughly 5 pm to 11 pm. Some sources say it also opens on weekdays, but with far fewer stalls. For the real atmosphere, go at the weekend, and check locally for other evenings.
The food is the highlight: grilled pork skewers, barbecued fish and seafood, roast duck on rice, papaya salad, mango sticky rice, coconut ice cream and fresh fruit juice. For shopping: clothes, shoes, bags, phone gadgets, toys and souvenirs. Plenty of Thai families come here, and you can feel it. Counterfeit goods are sold openly: look, but do not buy.
Jomtien Night Market: the sea across the road
Jomtien night market sits on Jomtien Beach Road, right across from the beach. Easy landmark: a large windmill at the entrance. It normally opens every evening around 5 pm and closes at about 11 pm. The crowds arrive around 6 pm, at sunset.
It is smaller and more relaxed than Thepprasit. People come mainly to eat: salt-crusted grilled fish, som tam with grilled chicken, fried rice, Thai pancakes, desserts and smoothies. A few clothing, craft and souvenir stalls complete the picture. Prices are gentler than in the seafront restaurants. Perfect after a day on Jomtien Beach.
Pattaya Night Bazaar: shelter from the rain
Right in the centre, on Second Road (Pattaya Sai Song), opposite the Central shopping mall, Pattaya Night Bazaar plays a different tune. It is a covered, calmer market with more than 250 shops: clothes, shoes, luggage, watches, jewellery, silk, soaps and Thai crafts.
The doors open in the morning and close around 11 pm, but the place only really comes alive in the late afternoon. There is little cooking inside, so people eat at the stalls outside. Its big advantage? When a monsoon downpour hits, you keep shopping in the dry. Some shops are air-conditioned, not all.
Naklua: seafood, before nightfall
This is not a night market, but it is worth the trip. In the north of the city, Lan Pho Naklua market is the place for seafood lovers: prawns, crab, squid and shellfish, depending on the day’s catch. At the far end, small kitchens cook what you have bought for an extra fee.
Watch the hours: it runs during the day and closes in the late afternoon, or earlier according to some sources. Go there for lunch, then move on to a night market in the evening.
Getting there by songthaew
The easiest way is the songthaew, which everyone here calls the baht bus: a blue pick-up with two benches in the back. On the Beach Road and Second Road loops, a ride costs about 10 baht per person (prices checked in 2026). Towards Jomtien, via Thappraya Road, expect about 10 to 20 baht depending on distance.
It is simple. Wave one down, climb in, press the buzzer to get off and pay the driver in small change. The Night Bazaar is on the Second Road baht bus route. For Thepprasit, a baht bus towards Jomtien drops you at the Sukhumvit junction. If the pick-up is empty and the driver starts negotiating, it is a private hire: agree on the price before you get in. To plan the rest of your stay, see my guide to things to do in Pattaya.
Mr Schaka’s practical tips
- Bring cash, in small notes. Cards are rarely accepted at the stalls.
- Bargain with a smile for clothes and souvenirs, not for food. Starting at around half the asking price is common at the Night Bazaar.
- Arrive at opening time, around 5 pm: fewer people, more air, more choice.
- Drink water and carry a fan or a small portable fan: even at night it is often above 28 °C.
- During the monsoon, keep a poncho in your bag. Downpours are heavy but often short. The Night Bazaar is the best fallback.
- Keep bags and phones in front of you in the weekend crowds.
- Check opening hours locally: they change with the season and public holidays.
Frequently asked questions
Which Pattaya night market should I choose for a first evening?
If you are there on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday, go to Thepprasit: it is the biggest and busiest. On weekdays, Jomtien night market, normally open every evening, is a very good choice.
How much does a meal cost at a night market?
Prices vary from stall to stall. A street food dish is generally much cheaper than at a seafront restaurant. Seafood sold by weight costs more: always ask the price before ordering.
What if it rains?
Head for Pattaya Night Bazaar, which is covered. Thepprasit is partly covered too. Open-air markets slow down in heavy downpours, then often pick up again as soon as the rain stops.
To go further
Mr Schaka’s guidebook, Pattaya – The Practical Guide, covers the essentials: transport, neighbourhoods, addresses, food, etiquette and safety, updated for 2026–2027.
