The Ao Nang night market is where most visitors to this part of Krabi end up after sunset: a compact strip of food stalls, fruit-shake carts, clothing stands and bar seating a short walk from the beach road. It is not a huge market like the ones in Bangkok or Chiang Mai, but it is the easiest place in Ao Nang to eat cheap, fresh Thai street food and try several dishes in one evening.
This guide explains where the Ao Nang night market is, when it is open, what to eat, how it compares with the weekend markets in Krabi Town, and which nearby hotels make it easy to walk back after dinner.
The Ao Nang night market is an evening street-food market close to the main beach road in Ao Nang, Krabi. Stalls usually open from late afternoon and run until about 10–11 pm every day. Go for pad thai, grilled seafood, roti and fruit shakes; bring cash, and combine it with a sunset at Ao Nang Beach.
- Where
- Ao Nang, Krabi — walking distance from the beach road
- When
- Daily, late afternoon to about 10–11 pm (stalls vary)
- Best for
- Cheap Thai street food, fruit shakes, souvenirs
- Pay with
- Cash (small Thai baht notes)
- Nearby
- Ao Nang Beach, Nopparat Thara Beach, Krabi Town markets
Stay within walking distance
Compare hotels in Ao Nang so you can walk to the night market and the beach.
Where is the Ao Nang night market?
Ao Nang is a small resort town, so the night market is easy to find. The main cluster of food stalls sits just back from the seafront road, within a 5–15 minute walk of most beachfront hotels. If you are staying further along towards Nopparat Thara, a songthaew (shared pickup truck) along the main road will drop you close by for a small fare.
Exact stall positions change from season to season, and smaller pop-up markets sometimes appear on vacant lots along the main road. The simplest way to find the current Ao Nang night market is to ask at your hotel reception or walk along the main road at dusk and follow the smoke from the grills.
Local tip
Arrive around sunset. You can watch the light change over Ao Nang Beach, then walk inland to the stalls before the busiest hour (roughly 7–9 pm).
Ao Nang night market opening hours and best time to go
Most stalls set up in the late afternoon and are fully running by early evening. Trade usually winds down between 10 and 11 pm, earlier in the low season (May–October) when there are fewer visitors and some vendors take nights off.
High season (November–April) is the liveliest time: more vendors, more seating and a busier atmosphere. In the rainy months the Ao Nang night market still operates, but heavy showers can close stalls for an hour or two, so keep a backup dinner plan.
| Period | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Late afternoon | Stalls setting up, quiet, good for photos |
| Sunset to 9 pm | Peak time, all stalls open, busiest seating |
| 9 pm onwards | Quieter, some stalls closing, easier to find a table |
| Low season | Fewer vendors, occasional closures in heavy rain |
The best street food at the Ao Nang night market
The food is the main reason to come. Vendors cook to order, so you can watch dishes being made and point at what you want. These are the classics worth trying:
- Pad thai — stir-fried rice noodles with egg, tofu or prawns; ask for it less sweet if you prefer.
- Grilled seafood — prawns, squid and whole fish on skewers or on ice, priced by weight or by piece.
- Som tam — green papaya salad; say mai phet if you want it mild.
- Gai yang and moo ping — grilled chicken and marinated pork skewers with sticky rice.
- Massaman and green curry — often sold in bags or plates with rice.
- Roti — fried flatbread with banana, egg, Nutella or condensed milk.
- Mango sticky rice — best in the mango season (roughly March–June).
- Fruit shakes — blended to order; ask for no sugar if you want it lighter.
Prices are set by each vendor and change with the season, so check the price board or ask before ordering seafood sold by weight. Street-food dishes generally cost much less than the same meal in a beachfront restaurant.
Ordering tip
Share several small dishes rather than one large meal — it is the best way to taste the range at the Ao Nang night market.
Shopping and souvenirs
Alongside the food, the Ao Nang night market and the stalls around it sell beachwear, elephant trousers, sarongs, sunglasses, phone accessories, soaps and small souvenirs. Quality varies, and many items are the same as in shops along the beach road. Gentle bargaining is normal for clothes and souvenirs, but not for food.
If you want handicrafts or a larger choice, the weekend markets in Krabi Town are better (see below).
Ao Nang night market vs Krabi Town night markets
Krabi Town, about 30 minutes by road from Ao Nang, has two well-known evening markets: the weekend Walking Street, with food, live music and handicrafts, and the riverside food market near Chao Fah Pier. Both are bigger and more local than the Ao Nang night market.
| Ao Nang night market | Krabi Town markets | |
|---|---|---|
| Distance from Ao Nang hotels | Walking distance | About 30 min by road |
| Days | Daily (most stalls) | Walking Street on weekends; riverside market most evenings |
| Atmosphere | Tourist-friendly, compact | More local, larger, live music |
| Best for | Easy dinner after the beach | A night out with more choice |
If you have one free evening, the Ao Nang night market is the easy option. If you have a weekend night and want a more local feel, take a songthaew or taxi to Krabi Town. Our Krabi Town guide covers the markets in more detail.
How to get to the Ao Nang night market
From hotels on Ao Nang Beach, simply walk. From Nopparat Thara, Klong Muang or Railay, you will need transport:
- Songthaew — shared trucks run along the main road between Krabi Town, Ao Nang and Nopparat Thara during the day and early evening.
- Taxi or ride-hailing app — the easiest option late at night.
- From Railay — longtail boats run to Ao Nang until early evening; check the last boat time, or stay in Ao Nang for the night. See our Ao Nang to Railay guide.
Arriving by air? Book a transfer from Krabi Airport straight to your Ao Nang hotel and you can be at the night market the same evening.
Krabi Airport to Ao Nang
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Where to stay near the Ao Nang night market
Staying in central Ao Nang means you can walk to the beach by day and the Ao Nang night market by night, with no transport to arrange. Hotels on the hillside above the main road are often quieter and cheaper; beachfront resorts cost more but put you closest to the sunset.
Read our full where to stay in Ao Nang guide for areas and hotel picks, or compare live prices below.
Hotels near the night market
Compare Ao Nang hotels by price, rating and distance to the beach.
Food tours and evening activities
If you want someone to explain the dishes, a guided food tour is a good first-night activity. Tours in Krabi often visit the night markets and include several tastings. Availability changes, so compare options on GetYourGuide:
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For daytime plans, see things to do in Ao Nang and Krabi island hopping.
Practical tips for visiting
- Bring cash in small notes; most stalls do not take cards.
- Check seafood prices before it goes on the grill.
- Food hygiene: choose busy stalls where food is cooked fresh in front of you.
- Spice level: “mai phet” means not spicy; “phet nit noi” means a little spicy.
- Plastic: carry a reusable bottle and bag to cut waste.
- Mosquitoes: apply repellent in the evening, especially in the rainy season.
For the latest official travel information on Krabi, see the Tourism Authority of Thailand.
Ao Nang night market: FAQ
Is the Ao Nang night market open every day?
Most stalls open every evening, but individual vendors take days off and the market is quieter in the low season. Heavy rain can close stalls temporarily.
What time does the Ao Nang night market open?
Stalls usually start in the late afternoon and are fully open by early evening, closing around 10–11 pm.
Is the Ao Nang night market expensive?
No. Street food is generally much cheaper than restaurant meals on the beach road. Seafood sold by weight costs more, so check the price first.
Is it better than the Krabi Town night market?
It is more convenient if you stay in Ao Nang. Krabi Town's weekend Walking Street is bigger and more local, with live music and handicrafts.
Can vegetarians eat at the Ao Nang night market?
Yes. Ask for dishes with tofu or vegetables and say “jay” (vegan) or “mangsawirat” (vegetarian). Fruit, roti and sticky rice are easy choices.
Sources: Tourism Authority of Thailand; InsideSamui editorial research. Opening times and vendor lists change; check locally. Last updated 13 November 2026.
Photos: Stefan Fussan (CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons); Wendy Harman (CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons); Stefan Fussan (CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons); Stefan Fussan (CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons); kallerna (CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons).
Disclosure: InsideSamui may earn a commission when you book through some of the links on this page, at no extra cost to you. Prices and timetables quoted here were checked on 13 November 2026; they change by season and operator, so confirm when you book.