Greetings to all our LGBTQ+ Friends and followers
Welcome all our LGBTQ+ friends to 2026 and with best wishes to everyone from Gay in Chiang Mai hoping you enjoyed last night’s celebrations and wishing you all a fabulously gay 2026. We hope this is the year that many of you will come to visit Chiang Mai and we look forward to welcoming you to our wonderful city.
2026 Gay Scene update for LGBTQ+ visitors
The start of a new year is always a good time to look ahead and update our LGBTQ+ visitors and ex-pats with all the latest gay news from Chiang Mai. We endeavor to keep our gay guide as up to date as possible and recommend this as a key resource for new visitors.
In common with worldwide trends, there has been a decline in the popularity of the “Gay bar” in the last 10-15 years, with online dating in the ascendancy, and Chiang Mai is no exception. A further blow was dealt by COVID-19 which saw the closure of a number of clubs and bars. However, the tourist business has since rebounded and the current bars are busy, and fun places to visit.
Update on gay bars and places of interest to LGBTQ+ visitors
The Night Bazaar area of Chiang Mai is still where most of the gay nightlife exists. In Chang Puaek district to the North of the old city, the legendary Adam’s Apple Club, one of two remaining go-go clubs, is still providing great entertainment and plenty of handsome eye-candy. On the banks of the Ping River, to the south of the city, Club One Seven, now the city’s only gay guest house and gay sauna, remains extremely popular.
The Night Bazaar area
In 2026, the Night Bazaar area remains not just the biggest area of interest for LGBTQ+ visitors, but also a major attraction for tourists of all persuasions. As well as a plethora of market stalls, shops and restaurants, the area offers two nightlife possibilities for LGBTQ+ visitors. Namely, show bars and beer bars.
For more information on the bars listed here check out our guide to LGBTQ+ friendly bars in Chiang Mai
Show Bars
Ever popular with tourists, Chiang Mai now has two LGBTQ+ show bars offering well produced shows which include a mixture of drag, fun and masculinity with plenty of drama and sequins!
Ram Bar, the most popular and longest running show bar, located at the bottom end end of gay soi 6 is very popular packed every night. Ram’s describes itself as a straight friendly gay bar! 6ixcret Bar is located upstairs in the old Night Bazaar building
Beer Bars
Just up the Road from Ram Bar you’ll find two beer bars adjacent to each other. Orion Bar, run by the affable Mr Mai, has been around for quite a few years now and fairly deserves the title of the most popular gay bar for meeting people and socialising. The large bar has ample seating inside, as well as a pool table and some seats out on the street where you can people watch! The bar has a pool table and always a range of boys and waiters to serve you, play pool or sit and drink with you. Next door, Charm Bar, run by the handsome Mr James, (who old timers will remember from New My Way and Relax) is a smaller venue and a calmer version of what’s on offer at Orion.
Chiang Mai 19 is another beer bar, located on Thapae soi 1 at the rear of the old Night Bazaar Building. Whilst definitely LGBTQ+ friendly, it has a more mixed audience than the other bars.
Until the end of November, a popular bar on Gay Soi 6 was Connections Bar, but due to the re-development of the Kalae Night Bazaar area, they had to move and are now on Chang Klan Road, see later.
Chang Klan Area
Situated right on the west bank of the Ping River in a beautiful antique Lanna style teakwood mansion is Club One Seven, the Cities only guest house for gay men, combined with a gay sauna which is open to non residents. The sauna area’s facilities include a novel pool, steam and sauna rooms,, relax areas, a fully equipped gym and riverside bar and terrace where you can get food or enjoy a cocktail.
A recent addition to the Chang Klan area is Connections bar, a popular beer bar with a large selections of boys, which moved from gay soi 6 in December 2024. Connections is located in a small soi off Chang Klan Rd and is only a ten minute walk from Club One Seven making it ideal for guest staying there.
Chang Phueak and the Go-Go Bars
Chang Phueak and Santitham, the traditional gay area, once home to several go-go bars, massage boudoirs, short time hotels, gay hotels and other bars has changed drastically in recent years with massive construction of condos and new shop houses everywhere. Now only two of the go-go bars remain The famous and legendary Adam’s Apple Club, with it’s raunchy show, which remains ever popular, and the Old Circle Pub, now called New Circle Club.
For foreign visitors we thoroughly recommend Adam’s Apple Club, with it’s friendly Patriarch and Papa San, the adorable Mr Jens who will ensure you are looked after and entertained. ENJOY THE SHOW!
There are now many male host bars around Chiang Mai. Caution is advised for foreigners visiting some of these places which are aimed more at a female audience than a gay audience and certain advances may not be appreciated. Some of these bars are listed on our Gay Map
However, we do recommend BRC Karaoke and Host Bar located in Santitham Plaza. The gay owner (Pon of CU Bar and Barocco fame) and manager (Ray of Free Guy fame) are both veteran operators of Chiang Mai gay businesses and will make sure you have a great time.
Mainstream Fun
Nightlife in Chiang Mai is massive these days with lots of places where younger Thai’s go to party. None are specifically gay, but you will always find some LGBTQ+ customers in these places. There are many venues; we’ll just mention a few of those of most of interest.
Sound Up is a mega club with live music, located in the old city just by the moat it is Chiang Mai’s most popular late night venue. Formerly called Mandalay Bar it was perhaps better known by it’s nickname Mandagay. On Nimmanhaeminda Road you will find Warm Up, a music club quite popular with students. Also in Nimman area is Tawan Deang, the renowned Thai Country music club, which has a distinct gay following! Tha Chang Cafe, (11/9 Rattanakosin Rd, Chang Phueak), is another place popular with the younger Thai crowd. In the old City, Zoe in Yellow is the quintessential late night bar for the young foreign tourist crowd, which inevitably includes some of our LGBTQ+ friends!
Chiang Mai Pride 2026
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