Plern Pao Night Market, Phuket – Real Street Food in Phuket Town

Plern Pao Street Market: A Local Night Market Near Surin Circle

If you’re looking to experience the real Phuket after dark — without the tourist stalls and selfie crowds — Plern Pao Street Market is where it begins. Located just outside Phuket Old Town near Surin Circle, this night market has quickly become one of the most authentic evening experiences on the island. Built with the support of Phuket Municipality, Plern Pao is a fresh answer to the typical night bazaar: more locals, more food, and a calm, creative atmosphere.

Whether you’re staying in Patong, Kamala, or Old Town, this is a market worth visiting if you want to taste the local rhythm of life after sunset.

What Is the Plern Pao Street Market?

Plern Pao is a newly launched evening market located opposite Baan Klang Mosque, just a short walk from the Surin Circle clocktower in Phuket Town. Open daily from 4 PM to 10 PM (closed Sundays), the market features over 250 stalls spread across 15 rai, with dedicated areas for street food, handmade goods, live music, and community events.

While most Phuket night markets cater to tourists, Plern Pao was designed with locals in mind. There’s no entrance fee, no tour groups, and no pressure to shop. You’ll find students hanging out after school, musicians performing on a small stage, and families enjoying dinner in the open air.

Why Is This Market Different from the Others?

Unlike Naka Weekend Market or the Sunday Walking Street, Plern Pao focuses on the everyday — grilled skewers, iced herbal drinks, and space to sit and breathe. There are no loudspeakers or tourist promotions. Just food, music, and the kind of low-key atmosphere that locals actually enjoy.

The market is intentionally relaxed. Vendors are friendly but not pushy. Seating areas are shaded and clean. Music is live but never loud. It’s become especially popular among Phuket residents who usually avoid crowded markets — teachers, office workers, students, even off-duty police from the nearby station.

What Can You Eat at Plern Pao?

The food at Plern Pao reflects its local roots. Expect grilled pork and chicken satay, sticky rice, Thai sushi, fried chicken, dumplings, fried bananas, and butterfly pea juice. Most items are under 100 baht, and many of the vendors are part-time cooks — students, retirees, families — selling homemade dishes from generations-old recipes.

There’s no branded merchandise here, no chain stalls. Just people making and selling food they actually eat themselves.

When Is the Best Time to Visit the Market?

The market opens at 4 PM and fills up quickly after 5. Most of the food is freshest between 5 PM and 7 PM, while live music performances usually start around sunset. If you prefer a quieter walk-through, arrive early. If you’re after the full nighttime buzz — lanterns, music, families — 6:30 PM is ideal.

It’s open six days a week, with Sunday as the regular closure day.

What Kind of Crowd Will You Find There?

Plern Pao is a market for locals — and that makes all the difference. You’ll hear mostly Thai spoken around you. People come here to relax, not to pose. Tourists are welcome, but they’re not the focus. That’s part of the market’s charm: it exists whether you’re there or not.

The atmosphere is inclusive, friendly, and slower-paced than other markets. If you’re visiting from Kamala Beach Estate, it’s a welcome contrast from the commercial scenes at Naka or Chillva.

Local Life at Night, No Gimmicks

In a town where many markets feel curated for Instagram, Plern Pao offers something quieter: a place to sit, eat, and be part of real local life. It’s not a secret anymore, but it still feels personal — a night market that hasn’t forgotten why it exists.

Whether you come for the food, the music, or just to sit and observe, Plern Pao is proof that some of the best places in Phuket are still made for the people who live here.