🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
Koh Samui doesn't have just one night market — there are several, rotating across almost every night of the week. The one people talk about most is Fisherman's Village in Bophut, open every Friday. Chaweng has a market running nearly every day, handy if you're staying in that area, and Lamai and Maenam each have their own as well. This article breaks them down one by one — which day to go and what to eat.
Days & times for the island's main night markets
Before you plan the whole trip, remember the two days that matter: Friday = Fisherman's Village and Thursday = Maenam Walking Street. Those are the highlights. On the other nights you've still got the Chaweng markets and a few regular ones to wander.
- Monday — Chaweng (regular market) + the Central Festival plaza
- Tuesday — Nathon Night Market (a local market, cheap prices)
- Wednesday — Central Festival Chaweng + a small market around Bangrak
- Thursday — Maenam Walking Street
- Friday — Fisherman's Village, Bophut (the highlight of the week)
- Saturday — Chaweng (regular market) + a small market around Bangrak
- Sunday — Lamai (check its status first, details below)
Straight talk
The operating days of the island's night markets shift with the season and low-season lulls. Some shrink in size or move their day. We'd check the market's Facebook page or Google reviews before you leave your hotel that evening — it's the safer bet.
Want to taste deeper? Try a Koh Samui food tour or cooking class
Half a day with a local who knows the lanes — or cooking a dish yourself — teaches you more than just eating. Book ahead on Klook or GetYourGuide.
Fisherman's Village, Bophut — don't miss Friday
Every Friday from around 5pm to 11pm, the seafront road in Bophut closes to become a walking street. This is the night market tourists talk about most on the island. The setting is old Sino-European buildings mixed with design shops, and you'll find grill stalls, charcoal seafood, clothing, crafts and beachfront bars — easily an hour of walking. The downsides: it gets crowded, and prices run a touch higher than the local markets.
- Roadside grills — pork skewers, grilled chicken, meatball skewers, ฿10–25 per stick
- Charcoal seafood — prawns, shellfish, grilled squid, priced by weight, plates from around ฿120 up
- Roti — banana, egg, condensed milk, around ฿40–60
- Fruit smoothies — mango, passion fruit, watermelon, around ฿50–70
- Beachfront bars — sit with a drink and the Bophut bay view at the far end of the market
Tip
Go around 6–7pm — the sun is softening but the crowd hasn't packed in yet, so you can photograph the pretty old buildings in peace. Later than that and the middle of the street gets shoulder-to-shoulder. Parking nearby fills up fast, so try parking a bit further out and walking in.
Chaweng — the market that's open almost every day
If you're staying in Chaweng, the island's main accommodation hub, you don't have to wait for Friday. This area has a night market running nearly every day. A popular spot is the market near Chaweng Lake (Chaweng Lek), with rows of food stalls, seating and an easygoing vibe, plus the Central Festival plaza, which runs an evening food market with live performances. The food ranges from Thai dishes to pizza, kebabs and sushi — good for a group that can never agree on what to eat.
Fisherman's Village (Bophut)
A seafront walking street set in old Sino-European buildings, with grills, charcoal seafood, crafts and beach bars. The market tourists talk about most — crowded, but the atmosphere really is good.
Maenam Walking Street
A walking street in Maenam every Thursday, with more locals than tourists, friendly prices, grilled food, seafood and fresh fruit. Low-key and never claustrophobic.
Chaweng Lek Night Market
Rows of food stalls near Chaweng Lake with seating and plenty of variety, from moo kratha hotpot and Thai dishes to sushi and kebabs. Good if you're staying in Chaweng and want to walk somewhere close.
Nathon Night Market
A market in Nathon town aimed at locals, clearly cheaper than the tourist markets, with proper Southern Thai food, snacks and local sweets. Good for a real meal before or after the ferry.
Central Festival (mall plaza)
An evening food market on the plaza in front of Central Festival Chaweng, with live performances, snacks, desserts and drinks. Good for bringing kids or chilling after a mall trip.
Lamai Night (check status first)
The old Lamai Sunday Market closed during Covid and its status has changed several times. These days a smaller market sometimes runs in its place. If you're going on a Sunday, check the latest Google reviews first — don't assume it's the same as before.
Bangrak Small Market (Wed/Sat)
A small pop-up market around Bangrak on Wednesday and Saturday evenings, with local eats and grilled food. For anyone staying around Bangrak–Bophut who doesn't want to travel far.
Maenam Walking Street — the locals' Thursday
Every Thursday, the Maenam area in the north of the island runs a walking street. The vibe is different from Fisherman's Village — more locals, friendlier prices and no crush. It's good for anyone who wants to eat the way locals do, with charcoal grills, fresh seafood, tropical fruit and plenty of snacks to graze on as you walk. If you're staying around Maenam or Bophut, it's a short drive away.
- Grilled seafood — squid, prawns and shellfish off the charcoal, fresh, priced by weight
- Som tam & grilled chicken — the classic combo, spice to taste, ฿40–80 a plate
- Fresh fruit — mango, pineapple, watermelon, cut into ready-to-eat bags
- Local sweets — khanom krok, mango sticky rice, fried banana
What to try at a Samui night market
Whichever market you end up at, this lineup turns up almost everywhere, and these are the things people come back for seconds of.
- Moo ping (pork skewers) — sweet-savoury marinated pork grilled until fragrant, eaten with sticky rice, ฿10–15 a stick
- Grilled squid — on a skewer with seafood dipping sauce, or by weight off the grill
- Charcoal-grilled prawns & shellfish — pick them fresh from the ice tray and they'll grill them for you
- Roti — banana, egg, chocolate, condensed milk, around ฿40–60
- Mango sticky rice — the popular dessert; it's at its best during sweet mango season
- Khanom krok — coconut-rice batter grilled in moulds, crisp outside and soft inside, with that coconut aroma
- Smoothies / fresh juice — great in the heat, around ฿50–70
On cash
Most night markets run mainly on cash. Some stalls have PromptPay QR, but not all of them, so bring plenty of small ฿20–฿100 notes to keep things moving. ATMs near the tourist markets tend to have long queues in the evening.
How to make the most of a night market
- Ride carefully on a motorbike — some stretches of road on the island are steep and dark, so if you're not used to it, ride slowly and wear a helmet. Don't ride after drinking — call a taxi or Grab instead.
- Budget for taxis — taxis on the island are pricey and often don't run the meter, so agree on a fare before you get in, every time.
- Go a little before dark — around 6pm everything's still stocked, the grills haven't sold out, and it's easier to walk than at peak time.
- Mosquito spray — the seafront markets get mosquito-heavy in the evening, so bring repellent.
Plan a full eat-and-explore trip to Koh Samui
See the Koh Samui travel guide →