The best clubs in Chiang Mai

The new kid in Nimman that's making noise with the younger crowd. Cream's stylish interiors and strong visual identity make it feel like it belongs in Bangkok – but it works just as well here. The boiler room-style DJs read the room well, mixing hip hop and EDM with crowd-pleasing pop anthems that get everyone singing. The layout leans table-heavy with sofas lining the walls and seating circling the DJ booth, which in a smaller space creates some seriously good energy – no empty dance floor feelings here.

12 Charoen Raj Road, Chang Moi, Muang Chiang Mai. Open 9pm-3am

Tucked inside Think Park, Tora is one of the more accessible clubs in the city – easy to get to, easy to enjoy and open only on Fridays and Saturdays which means the crowd is consistently packed. Unlike a lot of Thai clubs where the format is firmly table-based, Tora has a proper dance floor, and people actually use it too. The music leans hip hop with enough popular crossover songs to keep things singable. The crowd skews Thai with a solid international mix – the kind of place that feels local without being exclusive about it.

165 Think Park, Huay Kaew Road, Muang Chiang Mai. 6pm-midnight on Fridays and Saturdays only

Thai clubs have a thing for live music and Lavish does it better than most in the city. The bands and singers are consistently good – charismatic performers who actually engage with the crowd rather than just playing through a setlist. There's no formal dance floor (classic table set-ups are still going strong) but the audience naturally gathers at the foot of the stage, which ends up working better anyway. The setlist leans heavily into T-pop, so brushing up on a few Thai pop classics before going isn't the worst idea. A mixed crowd of all ages with one shared goal – dancing until they can't anymore.

32/1 Nimmanahaeminda Road, Suthep, Muang Chiang Mai. Open 5pm-midnight

Situated next door to Tora, Barc makes for a perfect club hop when you want to mix things up.  Centering around a DJ booth with tables circling it and a lighting setup that bathes the whole space in deep red, its mood sits somewhere between sexy and mysterious. The music is largely international – 2010s pop anthems and mainstream hip hop that make it easy to sing along regardless of how the night is going. A good second stop on a Nimman night out.

165 Think Park, Huay Kaew Road, Muang Chiang Mai. Open 9pm-midnight

No Chiang Mai nightlife list is complete without it. Zoe in Yellow is less a single club and more an entire square of bars, two dance floors, pool tables and dart games, slap bang in the centre of the Old City. The official Zoe in Yellow venue sits with one dance floor open-air playing mainly hip hop, the other indoors with air conditioning and a more EDM focus. The surrounding smaller bars are good for pre-drinks – chill bars, reggae bars, rock bars and psytrance bars – all serving a cheap and easy selection of drinks and shots to keep the mood high. Drinking games and pool tables give you a natural breather between dance sessions, populated by a strong mix of backpackers, expats and locals who like an international crowd. 

1 Ratvithi Road, Si Phum, Muang Chiang Mai. Open 5pm-1.30am

Newly popular on the Nimman scene, this spot is a sleek, stylish club leaning into live Thai music and attended by some of the best-dressed Gen Z locals in the city. Like most Thai clubs there's no formal dance floor but the energy from the band more than compensates – performances that get the whole room yelling along to the lyrics and dancing between tables. A good pick for anyone who wants the live music experience with a trendier, younger-crowd type of setting.

Nimmanahaeminda Road Lane 7, Suthep, Muang Chiang Mai. Open 6pm-midnight

A Nimman institution that has been pulling in university students, young locals and regulars for almost two decades,  Warm Up is still going strong, and delivers every time. The format runs live Thai bands first, transitioning into DJs later in the night, with multiple zones across the venue – an outdoor beer garden, a live music stage and an indoor DJ room – meaning there's always somewhere to move to depending on the mood. Open every day from 7pm, the crowd it pulls keeps the energy consistently good whether it's a weekday or a Saturday.

40 Nimmanahaeminda Road, Suthep, Muang Chiang Mai. Open 7pm-3am

The parties at Tha Chang are nothing short of spectacular. A large venue famous for its massive Songkran party but just as good the rest of the year – with both DJs and live music keeping the crowd moving as the night shifts gear. The crowd leans Thai but the doors are open to everyone and Tha Chang goers know how to have a good time regardless of the table setup. Don't mistake the seated format for a quiet night – this is one of those venues where the dancing and mingling starts early and doesn't stop.

11/9 Rattanakosin Road, Chang Puaek, Muang Chiang Mai. Open 6pm-midnight

A live music club that's equal measures fun night out and community hub – on nights when there aren't singers performing and lights strobing the dance floor, FÜR also hosts aerobics classes and run clubs. Oh how the clubbing scene changes! For party heads, it's great for big groups and company outings with long tables and plenty of space. Live music can be hit or miss if you don't know the songs but with large speakers, colourful lights and people dancing all around you, it's hard not to get swept up in it anyway.

77/1 Sirithorn Road, Chuang Pueak, Muang Chiang Mai. Open 6pm-2am, open until 3am on the weekend

EDM, house and dance music lovers, this is where you belong. RED is a club made for ravers, by ravers – genres lean techno and hypnotic basslines with a rotating lineup of international DJs each weekend bringing their own takes on electronic music. It's for those who just want to get lost in the sound and not think too hard about anything else. No dress code, no table politics – just the music and the dance floor.

12 Huay Kaew Road, Chang Pueak, Muang Chiang Mai. Open Friday and Saturday from 8pm-2am

NYX starts the night with live bands singing heartbreak anthems and T-pop favourites before transitioning to DJs and harder dance beats as the night picks up. The whole venue leans into a deep red aesthetic – plush maroon sofas, dark walls and low lighting that adds to the atmosphere. Being in Nimman means a good mix of locals and internationals which keeps the energy interesting. A solid pick for a full night that covers both live music and proper clubbing.

11 Nimmanahaeminda Road Lange 5, Suthep, Muang Chiang Mai. Open 5pm-midnight

A firm favourite for electronic music fans and a regular home for Chiang Mai's rave scene. Regular events from Techno CNX and other collectives mean the programming is serious and the crowd that shows up knows what they're there for. The sound system is world-class, the vibe is underground and the parties go all night – a welcome contrast to the clubs that call it at midnight. If you're into electronic music and want a proper late night, this is the one.

13 Nimmanahaeminda Road Lane 13, Suthep, Muang Chiang Mai. Open Tuesday to Saturday from 9pm-3am