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80°F / 26°C
(Sunny. Warm.)
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Chiang Mai is an easygoing yet active city. On the one hand, it appears very sophisticated and, to some degree, very Westernized; on the other hand, influences from the surrounding farming communities and hill tribes infuse everyday life. This division between Western and traditional Thai lifestyles characterizes almost everything in Chiang Mai, including entertainment. Visitors can opt for Western-style entertainment or join the local crowd rowdily cheering a muay Thai match, savor a khantoke dinner with Thai dancing, or explore Chiang Mai on a river cruise.
The ancient martial art of muay Thai, or Thai kickboxing, is as popular in Chiang Mai as anywhere else in Thailand. Nowadays, most muay Thai matches are held in Western-style boxing arenas, watched by people from all walks of life rooting for (and betting on) their favorite fighters. A dance-like ritual initiates each fight, with musical accompaniment from a small orchestra. This symbolizes the fighters’ gratitude to the spirits and their prayer for strength and courage. The fighting itself looks codified but brutal, involving free-for-all kicks and elbow blows to the body and face (do not be surprised if one boxer knocks another one out—stretchers are a common sight at Thai boxing matches). You can watch muay Thai at Gawila Boxing Stadium, where boxers from all over Thailand compete, usually at 7.30pm on weekend nights. You can also see less compelling exhibitions of Muay Thai at a small stadium on Loi Kroh, near the Night Bazaar.
A traditional khantoke dinner is a sumptuous occasion. Diners sit on cushions while elegantly attired attendants serve them a variety of appetizers, salads, curries and rice dishes. During the meal, traditional Thai dancers entertain the guests with fluid, graceful performances using enormous fans and other props. You can experience this age-old tradition at The Old Chiang Mai Cultural Center, Nakorn Lanna 1296 or Kantoke Palace.
While you can enjoy traditional Thai dance at a khantoke restaurant such as The Old Chiang Mai Cultural Center, you can also check out dancing in the evenings over a simple meal at the Kalare Food and Shopping Center. This is a good place to get your first taste of Thai dancing. At Kalare, diners select their own food from a host of stalls serving northern Thai, Indian, Middle Eastern and Western dishes.
Live guitar is especially popular in Thailand. Dinner with live music is available at La Brasserie, Good View and Huan Suntaree. Other popular venues include Phar Lap, The Gallery, The Good View and Antique House 2 River Terrace. The Riverside Bar and Restaurant is probably the most popular dinner-with-live-music spot in Chiang Mai, among both Thais and farangs (foreigners), with several different bands exuberantly and skillfully playing Western popular music from Metallica to Eric Clapton and the Cranberries. Scene Song Say Pub provides an ultra-hip option for live music on weekends, and Drunken Flower is a popular hang-out for local university students. Just about any bar in Chiang Mai has karaoke. Croon your own favorites at Romantic Restaurant and Pub or check out the numerous karaoke clubs across the street from Kad Suan Kaew. Visitors to any part of Thailand will quickly learn that 'lady boys', young men who dress as women, are as much a part of the culture as khantoke and Muay Thai. For an over-the-top lady-boy performance, stop by Blue Moon Cabaret near Tha Pae Gate (you can’t miss the 'ladies' beckoning you to the show!).
No visit to Chiang Mai is complete without a leisurely cruise up the Mae Ping River. The Mae Ping River Cruise allows you to sit back and gaze at the passing countryside for a couple of hours, or you may call The Riverside Bar and Restaurant for information on its nightly dinner cruises.
Even the most seasoned traveler needs an occasional dip into familiar Western-style entertainment. For first-release movies, Vista Cinema, which has two locations at Kad Suan Kaew (one on the top floor of the mall and the other across the street), screens about three films a week, each one shown four or five times a day. Call +66 53 262 661 for English language listings and show times. Kad Suan Kaew also offers other forms of entertainment. Bully Sky Ice, an ice-skating rink on the top of the building, commands a panoramic view of the city. Here you can learn to skate, brush up on your triple-toe loops, or just watch the skaters. The well-maintained rink stays open until 1am. Bowling offers yet another entertainment option. Bully Bowl also in Kad Suan Kaew, feels like a cross between a bowling alley and a disco, with dance music throbbing while customers toss back Singha beers between rounds. Bowling is a popular late-night and weekend activity for local teenagers, so it is no wonder Bully Bowl stays open until 2am. The Irish Pub is an extremely popular expatriate hangout, especially on Thursday nights when an occasionally raucous Trivial Pursuit tournament rages on from about 8.30p.
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