Rating: 3.3/5 (7 votes)

Open Days: Daily

Opening Hours: 08:00 – 17:00 (hours may vary by zone/shop; mornings to afternoon are recommended)

 

Warorot Market (Kad Luang) in Chiang Mai is one of those rare “real-city markets” that stays alive every single day. It isn’t a market built for photo ops. It’s where locals genuinely shop for daily life—fresh ingredients, ready-to-eat food, souvenirs, dried goods, spices, and then up on the upper floors, clothing and household textiles. If you want to read Chiang Mai through local eyes, this is one of the easiest places to start, because it gathers the city’s everyday rhythm, small-scale economy, and Northern Thai food culture into one walkable space.

 

The market sits in Chang Moi Subdistrict, Mueang Chiang Mai District, and its footprint is clearly framed by surrounding streets and lanes: Chang Moi Road to the north, Lao Jow Alley to the south, Wichayanon Road to the east, and Khuang Meru Road to the west. That location makes it simple to connect on foot or by short rides to major sightseeing areas such as Tha Phae Gate, the Wat Ket neighborhood, and the Night Bazaar zone.

 

One common misconception is the name “Kad Luang,” which many people use to include the Ton Lam Yai market across the road and the flower market as well. In reality, the flower market is under the municipality, and Ton Lam Yai is managed by a different company. So if you are creating content or planning a serious market walk, keeping these zones separate helps you tell the story accurately and avoid mixing different management areas into one.

 

Structurally, Warorot Market has been developed as an “indoor market” since 1949, and the current building was completed in 1972. It was designed by Prof. An Nimmanhemin, associated with the Faculty of Architecture at Chulalongkorn University. The building has three main floors, plus a basement and mezzanine levels, with around 500 stalls in total. Walking here is not only about shopping; it is also a walk through an older urban-market system that has continuously adapted to shifting consumer habits and the growth of tourism.

 

If you want to walk it efficiently, start at the basement where food and drinks are concentrated, especially the khao nom jeen area with multiple vendors to choose from. Then move up to the 1st floor for souvenirs, local foods, fresh produce, and Northern highland fruits. The 1.5 mezzanine includes the pork-butcher section plus front-facing stalls selling clothing, shoes, and bedding. The 2nd floor focuses on ready-to-wear clothing, shoes, bags, cosmetics, and tailoring services. The 2.5 mezzanine features city-style clothing, fashion shoes, and a central space often used for promotional discount sales. Finally, the 3rd floor includes local-style clothing and ready-to-wear items, bags, made-to-order food and drinks, and even a children’s library.

 

Small details here show how the market functions as a true public space. There are two hair salons (one on the 2.5 mezzanine and another on the 3rd floor near the library). The market also improved food-odor management by zoning fried foods such as grilled pork and sai ua (Northern Thai sausage) and installing updated smoke-and-odor extraction ducts. Restrooms are located at three points across the market (one per level, separated for men and women), and accessible facilities were improved during past renovation periods. These practical upgrades keep Warorot working as a major everyday market, not merely a tourist souvenir stop.

 

Getting There is easy from the Old City and Tha Phae area. You can take a red songthaew (shared taxi) or a tuk-tuk and get off near Wichayanon Road or Chang Moi Road. If you prefer a relaxed walk from Tha Phae Gate, follow Tha Phae Road toward the Ping River, then connect into Wichayanon Road. Along the way you’ll pass older shops, local neighborhoods, and traces of Chiang Mai’s long-standing urban character. Morning visits suit people hunting for food, ingredients, and dried goods, while afternoons work well for souvenir shopping and exploring the upper floors.

 

If you are buying souvenirs to take home, the key advantage of Kad Luang is that the selection is large, authentic, and constantly rotating. You’ll find dried foods and Northern specialties such as sai ua, nam prik, crispy pork rinds, spices, teas and coffee products, processed fruits, plus local textiles and everyday items. Prices are often competitive because locals shop here for real. The trade-off is that some food zones naturally smell strong like any fresh market, and certain walkways can feel narrow during peak hours, especially late morning and on weekends.

 

To “read the city” through Warorot Market, watch three things as you walk. First, how seasonal products reflect Northern Thailand’s rhythms (highland fruits, dried goods, and cooking ingredients). Second, how shoppers differ between the lower floors and the upper floors (food-buyers versus clothing-buyers). And third, how the surrounding neighborhoods connect, reminding you that Kad Luang isn’t isolated at all—it’s a living heart of the Ping River trading area that still beats every day.