อ่านบทความภาษาไทยคลิกที่นี่
It is a wonderful time of the year! The weather is fantastic, the vibe is festive, the city has a spring to her step and holiday cheer is in the air.
This is not a time to be siting inside…so on any lovely evening, why not gather a lover, a friend or two, some family or just head out on your own to PhaPloen Market, which has recently been taken over by Beer Chang (great rates on draft beers!) and which has become the heart of the Night Bazaar area, with its funky and fun food court, evening live music, fabulous bars and generally really great atmosphere.
PhaPloen, previously Ploen Reudee, sits on TripAdvisor’s ten top things to do in Chiang Mai, and Citylife, having spent a recent evening eating, drinking and bopping our way through the night market, can’t agree more. If you arrive before sunset, you have a great chance of grabbing some really good seats, whether you want to sit on top of a food van-tuned-cocktail bar to catch the last rays of sunshine, or grab a table in the middle of the entire market for a bird’s eye view on the best bites being cooked around you, there is plenty of great seating for the entire family. Make yourself a home base, then head off to explore any of the 70 food and drinks stalls which flank and surround the centre entertainment area. There is classic Thai grilled pork and sticky rice, or some spicy Szechuan bbq; perhaps you are in the mood for some traditional Lanna khao soy, but also have a hankering for a perfectly juicy burger or a slice of pizza. There are premium grade steaks, corn on the cob, boat noodles, home made ice creams, freshly juiced tropical fruits, Indian, Middle Eastern and other exciting world cuisines as well as enough bars—wines, beers, cocktails—to keep your group going deep into the night.
The management of PhaPloen have focused their attention on the curation of their 70 food and drink outlets, creating a fine range of cuisines, price points, flavours and options from the familiar to the exotic, for which you can while away many many delightful evenings. For instance, check out the mango sticky rice from All About Mango, which also serves up mango sticky rice inspired drinks, or the Layla khao soy ice cream, a new home made ice cream meant to challenge and excite your palate with some local curry flavours! A special drink that you may wish to try is the Big Silver Bowl which serves up alcohol infused with local herbs and spices. And vegans and vegetarians have nothing to fear as there are a plethora of options for the most discerning of eaters.
While the novel may wow, some of Chiang Mai’s most beloved restaurants are also featured here, ensuring high and consistent standards, such as Royal India Restaurant, Eat Roti Fusion and many more.
What PhaPloen does is elevate street food. Inspection is made regularly to ensure quality and standards, facilities such as bathrooms, smoking zones, recycling and waste as well as signage and access are of international standards and there are even regular patrols by the local Chiang Mai Tourist Police to ensure safety and security to all visitors. Each venue is banned from using plastic styrofoam and must conform to implemented environmental practices, attaining all required certificates to participate and the entire venue has been designed for child safety and good wholesome family fun.
As the evening kicks off, so does the stage entertainment, which ranges from traditional dance and cultural shows to the super popular Atom Band which is guaranteed to get the crowd going as the night rolls on.
A great destination for food lovers who wish to get straight into the heart of Chiang Mais vibe and have a fantastic time eating, drinking, and soaking in some of the best entertainment to be found around town on any given night.
PhaPloen Market : พาเพลิน มาร์เก็ต
Chang Klan Road, Chiang Mai
Open: Monday – Saturday (close on Sunday)
5 pm – 11 pm
Tel. 053 288 383
