Talad Rot Fai Srinakarin Market

Among Bangkok’s several night markets, Talad Rot Fai Srinakarin weekend bazaar is currently one of most popular among local Thai people. Located on Srinakarin Soi 51, in a suburban neighborhood to east of Bangkok's downtown, it is an open-air market specializing in second-hand retro and vintage items, but also packed with several stalls offering good Thai food and drink. Talad Rot Fai is opened from 5pm till 1am from Thursday to Sunday, and is always crowded despite its decentralized location, especially on Saturdays and Sundays. Due to its enormous popularity since opening, two other similar bazaars were opened in the Ratchada central area, named Talad Rot Fai Ratchada, and in Kaset-Nawamin Road in the extreme north of Bangkok, named Talad Rot Fai Kaset-Nawamin. The original Talad Rot Fai Market, meaning Train Market, began its life on 2011 in a further north location, next to the train tracks, hence the name, between the Saphan Khwai and Mo Chit Skytrain stations and not far from the famous Chatuchak Weekend Market. The market existed semi-illegally on land owned by the State Railway of Thailand, SRT, and so, consequently to an expansion of the Suvarnabhumi International Airport's SRT rail link, Talad Rot Fai was forced to close in 2013. After a brief absence, the bazaar re-emerged on a disused area on Srinakarin Road, just behind the Seacon Square Shopping Mall, in the east of Bangkok and far from its previous location. The huge Talad Rot Fai is divided in three different areas: the Market Zone, Warehouse Zone and a converted factory building called Rod’s Antiques. In the Warehouse Zone, you will find second-hand clothes, home decor items, shoes and fashion accessories in vintage style, old electronic appliances and used auto parts. Most sellers are also hobbyist and collectors of vintage items, so it’s easy to see collections of old cameras, bikes, eyeglasses, Japanese anime toys, hats, and Coca-Cola collectibles items. You’ll even find old-fashioned al-fresco barber shops serving up on-trend, retro-style haircuts for just a couple of hundred Baht. The market's highlight is the Rod’s Antiques. The old factory building is home of antiques and vintage items including motorbikes, kitsch furniture and even classic cars like old and precious Cadillac. Sourced from all over the world, all vintage items are guaranteed to be genuine. The Market Zone consists of more than 2,000 stalls arranged in rows selling any kinds of goods like clothes, T-shirts, shoes, trend fashion, children’s toys and home ware. Inside bazaar there is also a great selection of eating options, practically any kinds of Thai street food. Many stalls serve fresh seafood, cuttlefish, tiger prawns, lobsters and meat skewers cooked on small barbecue; others offer Jompalung noodle soup, spicy somtam, Pad Thai and fried rice. Makeshift bars are placed random among the stalls and shop, many obtained from classic Volkswagen vans and old railway carriages, they sell cheap cocktails and drinks, beer, ice cream and Thai iced-teal. There is also a row of bars and restaurants at the entrance to the market, where you can sit and listen to the live bands.
Getting there - Talod Rot Fai Market is located on Srinakarin Soi 51, just behind Seacon Square Shopping Mall, in a suburban neighborhood about 13 km to east of Bangkok's downtown. There aren't skytrain or subway station close to the market, so the best way to get there is via taxi, perhaps approach to it by skytrain until Punnawithi BTS Station, 4.5 km to west, and then take a taxi or motorbike taxi for around 50-80 THB.Read More