Street food & Walking Markets

Night markets often replace restaurants in Thailand, one dish at a time, plastic chairs, real flavors. Lowcoast, social, and deeply authentic. This is where food becomes a shared experience rather than a polished concept.

Thai cuisine is incredibly diverse and deeply rooted in regional traditions. One important thing to know: Pad Thai is not a traditional local dish, it was created mainly for tourists. That said, it’s still absolutely delicious and definitely a must-try.

For true food lovers, street food and walking markets are pure heaven. Even when a stall might look a little suspicious at first glance, I always felt safe eating there, he high turnover and fresh preparation speak for themselves.

Thailand is the place where I ate the most Michelin-listed food in my life and yet I still preferred market food. There’s something unbeatable about sitting on a small plastic chair, surrounded by locals, tasting dishes full of soul  and traditions. 

Want to compliment Thai food like a local? It’s very easy. Just remember two words: aroi (delicious) and maak (very). So when the food is really good, just say:
“Aroi mak mak!” 😋🇹🇭

Chiang Mai – The North

Thai spas with traditional massages, ice baths, forest saunas, and a strong focus on herbal wellness invite you to log off Instagram and truly arrive. For me, this holistic approach to wellbeing was pure bliss.

Chiang Mai is well known for its Northern Thai cuisine and beautiful temples, but honestly, I skipped most of the touristy highlights. Instead, I focused on slowing down  and experiencing the city more intentionally (Foodspots only).

Here are four things I truly recommend doing in Chiang Mai as a slow traveler:

1. Food

This is where Michelin-listed restaurants don’t look fancy, but the food is incredibly tasty, authentic, and affordable. Take a full day just to hunt them down. Wander, try and repeat. Some of the best meals come from the most unassuming places.

2. Spa & Wellness

Most spas in Chiang Mai begin with a detailed questionnaire to understand your physical condition and any concerns, something I really appreciated.

My personal favorite was Kiyora Spa, where I experienced a Yoga Thai Massage. It’s a deeply therapeutic two-hour treatment combining assisted stretching, pressure points and mindful breathing,  leaving both body and mind completely reset.
To end the experience, they served freshly made mango sticky rice, which was honestly one of the most delicious I’ve ever had.

Fah Lanna Spa is another highly recommended option, especially for traditional Lanna-style treatments.

Take a nap, The experience begins with a delicate foot-cleansing ritual using warm water infused with rose petals, the Thai Yoga Massage is exceptional, deeply restorative, I highly recommend.

3. Markets

There are countless markets in Chiang Mai, but one you absolutely shouldn’t miss is Coconut Market. It’s a perfect place to experience local life, fresh food, and a relaxed atmosphere away from the crowds.

Chiang Mai Walking Street Market begins at Tha Phae Gate and stretches all the way to Wat Phra Singh, passing through several different zones along the way (Sundays). I absolutely loved this market. While some of the narrow streets can get quite crowded, that’s also part of its charm and It’s an incredible place for street food. Alos the  Wua Lai Walking Street Saturday Market should be on your list. 

Come on Nimman Craft market; Nimman (short for Nimmanhaemin) is Chiang Mai’s trendy, creative and modern neighborhood, is the “cool side” of Chiang Mai, perfect if you love good food, design & coffee culture.

4. Cooking Class

For a hands-on cultural experience, I highly recommend Zabb E Lee Thai Cooking Class. It’s authentic, fun and gives you a deeper appreciation for Thai flavors and techniques.

During this 6-hour class, we prepared five dishes, a starter, soup, main course, curry, and dessert. The best part? The entire time our teacher was playing music, and we were dancing along while cooking.