Siri Wattana Market

If you want a real Chiang Mai market without the tourist markup, head north of the moat to Siri Wattana (Thanin) Market on Chang Phueak Road. Under the big covered roof you’ll find tidy produce aisles stacked with fragrant herbs, wild mushrooms in season, and mountains of chilies, plus butchers and fishmongers who know their regulars by name. Coffee carts work the corners from early, and by late afternoon the cooked‑food section kicks into high gear with trays of curries over rice, grilled pork and chicken, sticky rice, and those snappy Northern sausages you’ll end up taking home by the half‑kilo. It’s a daily routine spot for local families and office workers: pick up breakfast from 7am, do a veg run at lunchtime, swing back around 5pm–7pm for takeaway dinner. Prices are squarely local—think 30–60 THB for a rice plate, 20–40 THB for iced coffees, fruit by the kilo for less than a café smoothie. Compared with the weekend walking streets, this place is cleaner, calmer, and open every day, with proper seating around the food court if you want to eat on the spot. Regulars know to duck upstairs for second‑hand book stalls (often with English paperbacks) and to scout the side lanes for cheap basics—socks, school uniforms, kitchenware—aimed at people who live here, not just visit. It’s an easy 10‑minute ride north from the Old City via Chang Phueak Gate; look for the big Siriwattana sign at 193 Changhuak Road. Hours run daily 6am–8pm (last checked March 2026). Bring small bills and an appetite.