Eight night markets, led by Thepprasit and Jomtien, which both now run every night. The hours on each card come from the market's Google listing.
Every night market on this list opens every day of the week, and that's the first thing many guides get wrong. Thepprasit, the biggest, is still written up as a Friday to Sunday market, but the market's own Facebook page and its Google listing both have it open every evening from 17:00. The weekend is when every stall turns up, so I'd still save it for a Friday or Saturday if I could.
Pattaya's night markets fall into three areas. Central Pattaya has the Night Bazaar, Runway and the Tree Town end of Soi Buakhao, all within reach of Second Road. Jomtien has its beachfront night market, Yai Mak, Phratamnak and the Pattaya Park market at the north end of the beach. Thepprasit sits on its own between the two, off the baht-bus loops.
Two well-known markets aren't here because they close before dark. The Pattaya Floating Market on Sukhumvit Road runs 09:00 to 19:00, so it's a daytime trip, and the Buakhao day market on Soi Buakhao trades from early morning until about 18:00.
Pattaya's biggest night market runs every evening from 17:00 to about 22:30 on Thepprasit Road, and Friday to Sunday is when every stall turns up. I'd come for the food zone and the desserts, with cash in small notes.
Open every night from 17:00 to 23:00 on Kwan Mueang Road across from Jomtien Beach, with Thai stalls beside Indian curry, burgers and churros, and the sea a short walk from your table.
The night end of the Soi Buakhao market strip, a square of bars, food stalls and clothes racks that's open every day until 04:00 and loud with live music after dark.
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My pick at each price level in Pattaya, going by Google's hotel class. Hotels from my ranked list of the 10 best come first, then the best-reviewed. Each button opens the hotel on Booking.com with your dates filled in.
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Arbour Hotel and Residence Pattaya4.9 (12,604 reviews)
A highly regarded Pattaya hotel offering spacious rooms with kitchenettes, a rooftop pool, spa, and restaurant.
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More than 250 covered shops on Second Road opposite Central Pattaya, open every day from 10:00 to 23:00, so it's the one to pick when it rains. Bargain hard, because the first price is never the real one.
A food-first market on Phra Tam Nak Soi 5, open every day until 02:00, with trays of ready-made Thai meals at prices that undercut cooking for yourself. It's open air, so come once the heat drops.
The night market built around a retired 747 on Second Road, opposite the Alcazar cabaret, open every day from 16:00 to 01:00, which makes it the easy dinner before or after a show.
Jomtien's late one, open every day from 15:00 to 03:00 on Jomtien Sai Nueng Road, and more food court than flea market, with fresh seafood, cold drinks and a big international crowd.
Half food stalls and half clothes racks near Pattaya Park, open every day from noon until 01:00, with a clean layout that's easy to walk and sushi at 10 baht a piece among the Thai standards.
Thepprasit Night Market on Thepprasit Road in South Pattaya. It's the biggest. Jomtien Night Market across from Jomtien Beach is the other one I'd go to, and the Night Bazaar on Second Road is the busiest covered option in the center.
All eight on this list open every day. Thepprasit runs every evening from 17:00 to about 22:30, with the full market Friday to Sunday and thinner weeknights. Jomtien Night Market runs 17:00 to 23:00 every night. Posts that still call Thepprasit a weekend-only market are out of date, since the market's Facebook page and Google listing both say every evening.
Its Google listing has it open every day from 10:00 to 23:00, so despite the name it's open in the daytime too. The aisles of more than 250 shops fill up and most stalls are staffed from early evening. It's on Second Road, opposite Central Pattaya.
Yes, three. Jomtien Night Market on Kwan Mueang Road across from the beach runs 17:00 to 23:00 every night. Yai Mak on Jomtien Sai Nueng Road opens 15:00 to 03:00 every day, and Phratamnak Night Market on Phra Tam Nak Soi 5 runs every day until 02:00.
