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Boy Blues Bar
Nightlife & Bars
Chiang Mai

Boy Blues Bar

4.7(973 reviews)$$$$

Boy Blues Bar is a well-regarded live music venue and bar sitting above the streets of the Chang Moi sub-district, close to Chiang Mai's old city. Its upstairs location means the music often drifts down to the markets below, which is how more than a few visitors find their way in for the first time. The venue pulls a sociable mix of tourists, expats, and locals, and its mid-range pricing keeps the evening accessible without feeling like a compromise. The main draw is the live band performances, which lean toward rock and cover a broad range of classic and contemporary hits spanning the mid-20th century through to the 2000s. It is worth knowing going in that the playlist skews toward well-known crowd-pleasers rather than traditional or roots-style blues, so visitors expecting stripped-back, genre-specific performances may want to adjust their expectations. For those happy with high-energy rock covers in a lively bar setting, the atmosphere delivers consistently. A practical note on timing: bands typically start around 8pm and the venue tends to be quiet before then, so arriving between 7:30 and 8pm is a reasonable approach for securing a good spot before the crowd builds. As no website is currently listed, checking hours and any schedule changes directly with the venue before visiting is advisable, particularly on quieter weeknights.

Experience hints

Visitor favorite
Mid-range

Visitor Reviews

During my week stay in this neighborhood I would walk down daily to the markets and hear the music from above. It only took 2 night before my feet followed the music and headed upstairs to a magical little place. The quality of music here is off the charts. My favorite time is Friday from 730-930pm when the blues band plays. They have different bands coming through every night so keep your ears open to the vibe you like and come on up! I've heard rock, alt rock, and blues so far. Don't forget tip the musicians! They absolutely slay. Also they tend to fill up around 9ish and when we were there at 7:45 we essentially had a private show for an hour :)

Went here following good reviews. Arrived 7.40 not a soul In the place another reviewer recommend arriving 7:30 because it gets busy l...but the bands don't start until 8, and people didnt start arriving untill after 8 so I'd recommend arriving around 8 plenty of seats, not crowded. I seen a good blues band playing all the standards - BB King, Muddy Waters, SRV, Clapton. Volume level's ok you can talk and hear, staircase up is near the toilets

Very nice atmosphere with great live music and bands. Friendly service and a nice location. We ended up spending most of our evenings in Chiang Mai here. Highly recommended!

Tips for Visiting Nightlife & Bars

Carry Your Passport or a Copy

Clubs and some bars check IDs strictly, especially in Bangkok's Thonglor, RCA, and Sukhumvit areas. A photo of your passport info page on your phone usually works, but carrying a laminated photocopy is safer.

Know the Closing Times

Legal closing time is 2 AM for most venues, though enforcement varies. In Bangkok's designated entertainment zones (RCA, Silom Soi 2/4, Khao San), some clubs stay open until 4 AM. Islands tend to be more relaxed about hours.

Buy Bucket Drinks Cautiously

Island bucket drinks (mixed spirits in a small bucket) are cheap and fun but notoriously strong and inconsistent. Stick to one, stay hydrated, and never leave your drink unattended at beach parties.

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Visitor Information

Best time to visit

November – February

Avoid: March – May (smoke & heat)

Rainy season

June – October

Avg. temperature

15°C – 36°C(59°F – 97°F)

Crowds

High

Peak: December – January & Songkran (April)

Getting there

Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) has direct flights from Bangkok (1 hr), Singapore, and Kuala Lumpur. Overnight sleeper trains from Bangkok take ~12 hrs.

Getting around

  • Red songthaews (shared pick-up trucks)
  • Grab (available in city centre)
  • Motorbike rental (฿150–250/day)
  • Tuk-tuks (negotiate price first)