Chiang Mai’s best vintage stores and markets

No, that’s not a typo. This is a quirky Y2K haven waiting for you to dive on in. Look online and the internet crowd is already all over Lucgy Girl – the store has built a healthy following online thanks to its artful curation of vintage and secondhand clothing – but the IRL shop really delivers the hype. Decked out in retro-style décor and filled to the rafters with hip things to browse, every nook and cranny is lined with items. 

We like to first check out the tables at the entrance where watches, bracelets, rings and even watch rings make parting with your earnings all too easy. Clothes include those Spice Girls friendly bright tank tops to grunge loving frill and fur coats, plus there’s a solid range of shoes, flats and sandals, so essentially you can build a whole look without leaving. Fun, colourful and youthful – perfect for young gen newbie shoppers or anyone who misses the year 2000.

3/6, 37 Ratchawong Lane 3 Alley, Chang Moi, Muang Chiang Mai. Open 11am-8pm

This one is less overwhelming than most vintage shops as they’ve given a deliberate emphasis on high-end designer pieces that have stood the test of time. Expect racks of secondhand Supreme, Jil Sander and Comme des Garçons – pieces that are honestly harder to find these days and don't tend to turn up in most stores. 

However, the punchy prices reflect this quality but we say it’s not unreasonable given what’s on offer. And there are usually discount racks mixed in for those who aren’t packing mega bucks. All in all, you never know what rare collectible you'll walk out with, which is the appeal here.

111 Ratchawong Rd, Chang Moi, Muang Chiang Mai. Open 11am-7pm, closed Tuesdays

Old-west energy and London's Brick Lane spirit in one Chiang Mai shop. Aden Fed leans into leather and suede pieces, fedora hats and the kind of carefully selected, tastefully worn-in clothing that takes you back – part vintage shop, part antique store. Neutral-toned jackets and shirts alongside cargo trousers and stylish slacks, with military jackets and rarities you won't find anywhere else filling the walls. The antiques on display throughout add to the sensation that you've accidentally stepped back in time.

154/1 Charoen Rajd Road, Muang Chiang Mai. Open 1pm-5pm 

An underrated gem that surprises everyone who stumbles across it, Famous Store has a chic and stylish selection at a price point that makes it hard to leave empty-handed. The size is smaller than most but the variety punches above its weight; vintage tees, accessories, handbags and sunnies to complete any look. Find a great pair of Levi's that will last a lifetime, slip into a vintage Issey Miyake shirt or dig for designer pieces at a fraction of what they'd cost anywhere else.

Darley Hotel, 94-96, Chang Moi, Muang Chiang Mai. Open 11am-8pm, closed Sundays

A huge, two-storey emporium that’s been in town over 20 years, Toro has racks and racks of second hand clothes and shoes that are well worth making the pilgrimage to San Sai for. Particularly if you’re digging for everyday activewear – they have some of the fairest prices in the city. It’s particularly good for sportswear, with pre-used hiking jackets by the likes of North Face, Colombia and Patagonia, or trackybs by Adidas and Fila cropping up regularly. The denim and t-shirt game is strong here too with band tour shirts being a common find. Give yourself at least an hour of perusing time. And if you can’t bear the venture out of town, there’s a smaller (but less exciting) store just north of Si Phum Corner.

Chiang Mai-Doi Saket road, San Na Meng, San Sai, Chiang Mai. Open 9am-6pm, closed Sundays

Your craving for mid-century Americana is answered, if the Roswell nod name didn’t give that away already. We love this dinky little shop for their commitment to the theme. Letterman sweaters and varsity cardigans in extremely fresh condition considering somebody’s grandpa probably once owned them, surround a rail of distinctly retro US tees and boxes of baseball boots. The showroom has been going strong for over a decade, but has just moved to Nuii in the old city so treat yourself to a bev at their vinyl listening bar after your semi-expensive session of retail therapy.

Pra Pok Klao Rd Soi 1, Phra Sing, Old City, Chiang Mai. Open 12pm-7pm daily

I mean if the name didn’t already give it away, this is the place for the colourful, psychedelic hippy wear your parents only dreamed of. Absolutely packed rails are neatly ordered, with the flowing boho dresses, shawls, kimonos and frilly ladies shirts on the left side of the sizeable store, and beatnik shirts, tasselled leather jackets and denim goods galore for you boys (or lesbian boyfriends) stretch across the right. Accessories are fun here too, cowboy boots and pre-worn-in brogues dot around the place. Despite the name, ’80s and ’90s bomber jackets and shell suits turn up here too and if you take the time to dig you’ll find some gorgeous vintage Thai style bits if you’re lucky. Pull over when you have time on your hands – you won’t leave empty handed. 

54 Singharat Rd, Old City, Chiang Mai. Open daily 12pm-9pm

This sleek Nimman spot ultimately stocks menswear, focusing on snazzy, patterned shirts for the distinguished gentleman, whether that be Hawaiian shirts, Japanese motifs or just plain good tailoring. Varsity jackets, blazers, designer trousers and a strong selection of playful tees including band tees, football logos and plenty of Snoopy and Peanuts going on. The chaps here are tailors themselves so if you need anything adjusting before or after you buy it, be sure to ask them. And it goes without saying ladies – shop here too – we popped in for some sharper than the average Songkran garms and were not disappointed. 

29C Nimman Soi 9, Suthep, Chiang Mai. Open 9am-9pm

Atsadathon Road is a veritable vintage wonderland of a street that’s home to a powerhouse of cheaper end thrifting style shops like Hola Hola, Melon, Toro’s smaller store and a bunch that don’t even have names. Keep trotting north though, and you’ll come across MediumRare – one of the finest on the street – with a bijou boutique vibe that invites you to leaf, not dig, through their carefully curated pieces. Again its Americana, wild west nostalgia meets varsity wear, with rare accessories to check out too, and it’s a stone’s throw away from Jing Jai Market so you can really make a day of it on this one avenue of cool.

45 Atsadathon Rd, Chang Phueak, Chiang Mai. Open 10am-3.30pm. Closed weekends

Chiang Mai’s best flea market, and it is an actual flea market, is one to whip to as early as your Saturday or Sunday allows, because boy does it get hot. It’s carboot a go go with vendors from all over the province rocking up in trucks and pitching their gazebos to sell their wares within. Some are selling homemade crafts and artisanal bits, but the majority are flogging second hand items of clothing, shoes, furniture, decor, amulets, accessories, cassette tapes and records at the cheapest prices you’ll find in the city. Is it all top quality? No. Will digging result in treasure? Potentially. Will you have a fun morning? We can all but guarantee it.

Just off Route 1366, Chang Phueak, Chiang Mai. Weekends 7am-2pm

A whole building dedicated to vintage clothing and creative energy. The ground floor houses Atmosphere, a selective secondhand and vintage shop with clothes that lean eccentric, colourful and interestingly cut. The pieces are unisex and come alive in how the wearer puts it together, meaning every piece has a life of its own. On the mezzanine is a collection of furniture, playful home décor and painting studios. Head upstairs to the second floor for Alternate, another vintage shop that pushes the same creative spirit further – even the basics have a twist. If you're looking to experiment with your personal style or just want somewhere to lose a few hours browsing, Alterground is the place.

23/1 Charoen Prathet Road, Chang Khlan, Muang Chiang Mai. Open 11am-8pm

Every vintage lover's dream shop – a neon sign in the window and a treasure trove of accessories and baby tees that makes it immediately clear what kind of place this is. Layered necklaces, colourful bangles, patterned socks and funky belts that are anything but boring sit alongside denim skirts with floral stitching and long-sleeve tops that land somewhere between boho and eclectic. The shop reflects the idea that dressing up should be fun and that your clothes are an extension of how you actually feel – whatever trend has made its comeback to mainstream, you'll probably find it here first.

Two locations, one at Chang Phuak 25/4 and another at Nimman Soi 7. Open 11am-8pm