2010 Guide to the Chiangmai Night club Scene
Nightclubs and Danceclubs in Chiangmai are a lot different than what they are in Europe and western countries. While they call them danceclubs it's not what you'd expect, there are little areas to get down and show off your latest dance moves as thai clubs have tables all over the dance floor. The reason for this is simple, cost. Thais typically go out in groups therefore it's cheaper for them to get a bottle of whisky than it is to buy individual drinks, it's similar to the scene you would find in an upmarket LA nightclub except you'd expect to pay here $100 between you and your mates than $1000 you would pay at a nightclub there. So with everone standing or sitting around on the dancefloor don't expect too much real dancing going on in the nightclubs in chiang mai. But still expect a good time. The way you get interaction with the other revellers in the nightclub is the symbolic gesture of raising a toast to the other table. Like any other nightclub in the world most people go to the club to meet other people and as such most clubs are full of single boys and girls. Music in most clubs in Chiangmai are typically Pop music, and there is typically a band that will play at most clubs which is mostly rock and pop songs in Thai, then when the DJ takes over it's mostly western style american music. If you don't really like the nightclub scene and prefer to sit down eat a good dinner listen to a band over a few beers then you should check out our guide to beer gardens in chiangmai. If your going to make a night of it and your looking for a place to stay in Chiang Mai Nightclubs then you should definately check out one of our recommended hotels in chiang mai.
List of Nightclubs and Danceclubs in Chiangmai
Club 54
Club 54 is the newest club in chiang mai now is very hip and serves a younger crowed 18+. The club 54 has a very cool atmosphere and plays all kinds of music all night long. Mostly a thai crowed it's just like a copy of the legendary club 54 in New York. Hip Hop House techno they play it all.
Open 8 a.m. - late
179 Mahidol Road
Tel: 053 267 389
Fabrique
Fabrique nightclub is one of the biggest clubs in chiang mai and takes up the entire ground floor of the president hotel. There are three rooms, an outdoor area with swings lazy chairs mats on the ground and is really done up nice. There is a regular (table room) which every night has a band playing and hordes of rich thai people aged 20-25 stand around drinking bottles of expensive liquir and mixes. The other room is the dance room, again the biggest dance floor in chiang mai, is geered more to trance techno with dj's playing but also has hip hop playing also. Be warned that if your a white person then they are going to charge you 300 baht to enter but you get coupons for 2 drinks (beers are about 150 baht each anyway) that's just how it is, thais are free.
Warm Up Cafe
This 10 year old cafe is a hit with the local university crowd. Many hipsters from Bangkok love to come to this place, a smattering of younger foreign students this is the place to be seen as well as see. Dress Up. Some days they are closed to ticket holders. Check their website for details. They have a restaurant that serves good food until midnight, you must get here really early if your going to get a seat but the best thing to do is get someone earlier in the day to reserve a table for you. It's best to buy a bottle of whisky. And make the night of it. There are 3 rooms where music is played for all sorts, the inside is always packed especially on weekends, so if you have a table on the inner side near the dj your better off. Prices are on the pricey side so for a bottle of red and mixes for your friends expect to pay around 2300 + for the night.
Club Fashion Paris
Located underneath the lotus hotel which is behind kad suan kow. This place is full of well to do Thais. Ladies night (Mondays) was a real flop and was full of guys, i recommend the weekends better. It's a stylish place though expensive, i think i paid 190 baht for 1 corona, other beers around 120-150. Best to go in a group and get a bottle but the mixers are really expensive too. 60 baht for a bottle of water. This place closes at 4am. There is no smoking in the club like everywhere else, but they do have a smoking room so you don't have to go outside. Is well ventilated and was recently remodelled a year ago.
Hot Shots
Right next to Bubbles in the Porn Ping Tower featuring sexy live bands, some members of which peel off layers as the night wears on. Very popular haunt with groups of young Thais grooving around whisky adorned tables. 7 p.m. - 1 a.m. Charoen Prathet Road., Porn Ping Hotel
Mandalay (Boost Up)
Firstly there is a 300 baht bar fine for foreigners that look white/european/ or black so as you can imagine only thai people frequent this place. All the music is thai but they do have a large stage that has bands singing girls etc. Upstairs you'll find really young people under 18 mostly gay crowd. Not really a place i'd recommend going.
Monkey Club
Monkey is a very popular place, mostly for thais and some westerners, it's very trendy and so are the guests, lots of good looking people, saturday and sunday nights this place is packed.
ChalermKrung
This is a new club not a year old, looks really great, good music, band plays ever night. They have a pool table you can use if you get their early while you wait for the crowds to arrive. Outside bar and lounges. Good place to hang out but it's really a young crowd under 25. Thais need an ID to get in unless you know someone. This is off Nimmanheiman road so dress up.
Bubbles
10 years ago this place was packed, it has now seen better days, you still get the regular tourists coming here but if you don't like trance music then don't go here, the music is super load, the stairs are are dangerously slippery, not a place I recommend.
Spicy Nightclub & Bar
This club is exactly what the name suggests, it's pretty hot, the place really doesn't open until 2am when all the bars get off, so as you can imagine 95% of the women in the place are working girls who didn't get any Johns that night. But it is a lively Chiang Mai Nightlife spot. If everything else is closed you can be sure to get some action here. Just be very mindful of yourself, because it's so late everyone is really plastered and there are fights here often. Beware. This place has an infomous sister downsouth at the Spicy nightclub Bangkok if you like this place you'll love that place.
Step Up
One of my favourite places. This place attracts a thai crowed, the music is mostly thai pop and thai alternative rock. The best move here is to make a night of it, go upstairs first and have a few rounds of karaoke with a beer. Go downstairs into the club before 12 and you'll get their promotion special. December 2009 i got a pipers bottle and free mixers for 199 baht.
Horizon
Duang Tawan Hotel, Loi Kroh Raod A lively venue which although located in the basement of the Duangtawan Hotel is a popular venue with young Thais. The music policy is largely house and hip hop.
People who like to go to Chiang Mai Nightclubs also like to go to:
Chiang Mai Beer Gardens
Chiang Mai Karaoke Clubs
Chiang Mai Night Life