The best clubs in Chiang Mai

The new kid in town 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 flow with the crowd's mood. Like any good Thai club, 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 but watch out for your neighbours if you crack a big move.

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

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 in the centre of Nimman, 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 is the usual playlist, making for easy sing-alongs regardless of how the night is going. A good second stop on a Nimman night out that’s easy to miss. 

165 Think Park, Huay Kaew Road, Muang Chiang Mai. Open 9pm-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 afterparty is arguably the best part of the night – vibes are high and intoxicants are rushing. NOISE carries through with that energy with late hours and great, non-mainstream music – going much further into the night than many other Chiang Mai clubs. The setlist is mostly house music mixed by both local and international DJs. It’s one for the true music lovers looking to go deeper into the night in a townhouse club that’s equal parts intimate and energetic, despite the late hours. 

Moon Muang Rd Lane 7, Si Phum, Muang Chiang Mai. Open 9pm-3am from Wednesday to Thursday, 9pm-4am from Friday to Saturday

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, from our opinion at least. 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

No Chiang Mai nightlife list is complete without a hat tip to Zoe in Yellow. Less of a single club, this sprawling complex is an entire square of bars, two larger 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 open-air bar playing mainly chart toppers and hip hop, while the indoor, air-conditioned dancefloor takes more of an 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 and backpackers happy. Drinking games and pool tables give you a natural breather between dance sessions, populated by a strong mix of travellers, expats and locals who like an international crowd. 

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

The parties at Tha Chang are nothing short of spectacular, and is a well-known student hang. Moving from a roadside bar some years ago, the now large indoor venue with an outdoor ‘street’ setup of bars, nooks and dancefloors is now most famous for its massive Songkran party – but it’s just as good the rest of the year. Both DJs and live music keep the crowd moving as the night shifts from relaxed evening drinks to late-night dancing. 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! Back inside, the night gives way to the party heads and is a great spot 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 loud speakers, classic club lighting 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 Fridays and Saturdays

EDM, house and dance music lovers, this is where you belong. RED is a club made for ravers, by ravers – genres lean underground, with techno and hypnotic basslines rotating by way of international weekend DJs, each bringing their own take 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

A mega club fully leaning into the Thai vibes popular with locals of all ages – with a fair amount of uncles and aunties who still hold some wicked stamina. Dancing and singing at Tawandeng is done around tables rather than on a typical dancefloor, with mostly peua cheewit and Isan classics as the soundtrack. Don’t mistake that for boring, the live performances bring the energy, with an accompanying cabaret show that gives the house band a real edge over more darker club settings. If you get hungry while clubbing, they also serve a full menu of food (people often come for dinner and stay for the party) with everything from oversized somtum dishes to full fish off the grill. If you want to do classic Thai clubbing right, this is the place.

73 Chonprathan Road, Suthep, Muang Chiang Mai. Open 7pm-midnight

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, with an extra late closing time for those who just want to keep going.

11 Nimmanahaeminda Road Lange 5, Suthep, Muang Chiang Mai. Open 8pm-2.45am

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

One of Chiang Mai’s late-night Thai-style clubs, Sound Up is especially popular with the city’s LGBTQ+ crowd and anyone after an unpretentious night out. It brings a classic table-service setup, as expected, with flashing lasers, pounding bass and a packed table-dotted dance floor once the night gets late. Drinks are reasonably priced, making it an easy place to settle in for the long haul, while the powerful sound system keeps the room buzzing until close.

3 Moon Muang Rd Lane 2, Phra Sing, Muang Chiang Mai District. Open 11pm-4am

Differ works well for those who like their night to build gradually. Arrive early and it functions as a casual drinks spot, with groups gathering around tables over beers and bottles before the venue shifts gears into full party mode later on. As the lights dim and the music gets louder, the room transforms into a classic Thai-style club with upbeat pop, dance tracks and singalong favourites keeping the energy high. It’s ideal for those who like Thai-style clubbing – with both pre-drinks and clubbing all in one place. 

66/6 Sanamkila Rd, Sri Phum, Muang Chiang Mai. Open 8pm-2am