Loi Kroh & Night Bazaar, Chiang Mai

Loi Kroh Road runs east of the Old City towards the Night Bazaar on Chang Klan Road, and this district covers the bars, massage shops and markets along that stretch. The Night Bazaar and Anusarn Market are a short walk from the bar strip. It is the heart of Chiang Mai's bar nightlife.

Neon, music and a lot of massage signs. Beer bars and open-air bars line the road, and oil-massage shops sit between them, so the pavement is busy with visitors drifting from one door to the next. It is far smaller than Bangkok or Pattaya, and the mood stays friendly and unhurried, with the Night Bazaar close by.

Loi Kroh Road is the hub, the city's main bar strip. Within it the Loi Kroh entertainment complex gathers beer bars under one roof, and the karaoke clubs along the road, such as Hi Class Karaoke and Sakura Karaoke, add a late-night option. There is no gogo street on the scale of Bangkok or Pattaya.

Bars and massage shops dominate. Of 201 places, 96 are bars, 89 are massage shops, 10 are nightclubs, 2 are beer bars, 2 are markets and 1 is a mall, plus Loi Kroh Road itself. It is the busiest district in Chiang Mai, and its massage count is the highest in the city.

Loi Kroh is the bar-and-massage strip, with beer bars, karaoke and a mostly visiting crowd. Nimman is the smarter side, with cafes by day, cocktail bars and clubs at night, and a younger Thai and student crowd. Loi Kroh suits a punting evening, while Nimman is a better fit for a relaxed night with no bar-girl scene.

East of the Old City, near Loi Kroh Road or Tha Phae Gate, puts the bars, the Night Bazaar and the Old City within walking distance. A wander through the Night Bazaar is an easy start before the bars along the road. Hotels differ on guests, so ask before you book.

Walk. The bar strip and the Night Bazaar are within a stroll of each other, and the Old City is close. For longer trips use a red songthaew and agree the fare first, or book a Grab or Bolt car, which is simplest late at night.

Standards in the massage shops vary a great deal, so look at the shop front and the price list before you walk in. Check the bill in a bar, keep your phone and wallet in front pockets in the Night Bazaar crowd, and agree anything you arrange before leaving a venue. Much of the strip winds down earlier than Bangkok's.