Jomtien Beach Night Market (Pattaya) – Cheap, Cheerful and Lively

Visitors can get some great views if they stop off for some food and maybe a beer. Catching the sunset from this spot is popular. It can get quite crowded as well as noisy though, just like any other night market in Thailand, but most people report the experience to be positive and enjoyable.

Although there is a lively atmosphere to the market and lots of stalls, the market is near to the beach and the breeze helps no end in keeping things a little cooler and more manageable.

If lots of food and people near the beach is your thing, not to mention pumping music, you’ll love this place. It is also very family-friendly despite the crowds and noise, and the market also features entertainment by way of shows or performances.

If you are familiar with Thailand and its markets you may find this to be not that much different from any other market—aside from the views and sea breeze which make the experience a lot more worthwhile.  

The Kind of Food Available at the Market

The market features lots of different types of food and features more variety than is likely to be found in some of the nearby restaurants. Many visitors report the food here to be comparably better than in the other markets.

Food is also sold at much lower prices than in the beach front shops, and this is a nice place to socialise at night and enjoy some cold local Chang beer if that’s your thing, along with a variety of freshly-grilled finger foods and such like.

Many people will get some shopping done at the market first and then check out the food and drink options. They usually find a great selection of barbecued chicken and other meats as well as seafood, and many of the dishes are freshly prepared in front of you.

There’s a great selection of street food to suit all tastes, and anyone who normally eats in the seafront restaurants will most likely consider this a great spot for some relatively inexpensive dining. Typical fayre includes:

• Salt-baked fish
• Barbecued meats and seafood
• Fried rice and virtually all signature Thai dishes
• Papaya salad and grilled chicken (som tam Gai yang)
• Sushi
• Thai pancakes, deserts, sweets, and many other locally-inspired options.

Besides the street food-type stalls, visitors will also note the good selection of non-Thai Food like kebabs along with other options like Mexican and Russian food. This can provide a welcome respite for many visitors who have not yet fully transitioned to Thai food at every meal. That said, it’s not entirely uncommon to see tourists digging into some local Pad Thai.

Fruit smoothies and Thai-style deserts are also freshly-made and readily-available at the market.

Other Items for Sale at the Night Market

Visitors to Jomtien Night Market will find vendors selling the usual fayre that is found on the majority of Thai markets. Aside from the cuisine, this includes aisles of:

• Clothing
• Cheap jewellery
• Accessories
• Souvenir-type items
• Toys
• Various other local items like handicrafts and such like

You can expect to find all the usual cheap clothing (including the usual fakes and copies of various brands). It’s also a great place to pick up some holiday beach wear like flip-flops, shorts, and T Shirts.

The market is sectioned into various zones for A to F, and visitors will find food in the first two A and B while the others are shops selling the other items on offer.

Other Features and Attractions at the Market

The night market features a DJ with a stage, and everyone including children can dance here, with a kids’ disco being another feature of the market. The stage also features various short exhibitions and shows by different types of acts like bands, dancers, and ‘B-Boy’ troups.

There are a few bars selling beer, and wine can be bought here as well. Many people will combine the beer with the food and do their best to try and grab some seating with some views of the beach and sea.

Like many aspects of Pattaya the market has recently received something of an upgrade by way of new bathrooms and repaved walkways, which also have curtains that can be pulled if any heavy downpours occur during the rainy season.

Right across from the market the beach is often host to various types of events like volleyball and other beach sport activities and competitions like speed boating.  It’s also a regular occurrence for a stage to be set up on the beach for live music events.

Jomtien Beach is one of the more upmarket regions of the city which can be seen by the children’s playground and various other features that would most likely not have been thought of in other parts of the town. Thai families will frequent the beach with food and watch the sunset and many families from Bangkok will escape to Jomtien Beach on weekends.

Opening Times and Location

The market is located just across from the beach, which often allows a nice cool breeze. The proceedings kick off every evening as the sun goes down around 5pm, and usually wind up around 11. It does get busy by about 6pm and you may have to share a table in the eating section.

The market is easily-accessible either on foot or by local transportation known as songthaews. It can be easily reached in around 15 mins from the centre of Pattaya, and you’ll know you have arrived at the market when you see the large, Dutch-style windmill at the entrance.

Songteaws provide a very cheap way to get around and the routes run along the beach road as well as into Pattaya. It’s easy enough to jump on a 10 baht bus from the market and travel around Jomtien as well as other parts of Pattaya.

Address: Jomtien Beach Night Market, Bang Lamung District, Pattaya, Chon Buri 20150