📝 1. Overview
Pratu Chiang Mai, the South Gate of the Old City, is Chiang Mai’s everyday heart — no frills, no fancy, just fantastic street food, a bustling wet market, and a major access point for the Sunday Walking Street. It’s where locals grab breakfast, teens chill after school, and food stalls light up the night. You’re steps from temples, traditional vendors, and some of the cheapest, most authentic eats in town.
🌟 2. Highlights
🍲 South Gate Night Food Market – A local-favorite dinner zone with dozens of stalls
🥬 Chiang Mai Gate Morning Market – Wet market with fresh fruit, flowers, and grab-and-go rice sets
🍚 Street Cart Legends – From kao ka moo to mango sticky rice
⛩️ Access to Wat Chedi Luang & Old City temples – Easy walk-in route
🎶 Chill Evening Vibes – Locals eating on plastic stools with buskers nearby
🧘♀️ Sunrise Tai Chi & Temple Walks – Super peaceful in the early AM
🧧 Sunday Walking Street Extension – South Gate connects to Ratchadamnoen Rd
💡 3. Tips
📸 Best Photo Spots:
- Food carts at golden hour – Glowing with smoke, neon, and motion
- Chiang Mai Gate arch – Beautiful when lit up at dusk
- Wet market flower zone (morning) – Bursting with colors
🕐 Best times:
- Morning (6:00–9:00 AM) – Local shopping, fresh juices, monks collecting alms
- Evening (5:00–9:00 PM) – Street food rush + live music
💵 Bring cash – most vendors don’t take cards
💡 Early bird? Grab breakfast here before temple hopping
🍽️ 4. Best Eats at South Gate Food Market
- Jok Sompet (Rice Porridge Stall)
🥣 Thai-style rice porridge with pork, egg, and ginger
🕒 6:00 AM – 10:00 AM
📍 Morning market side - Khao Kha Moo (Stewed Pork Leg Rice)
🍖 Rich, fall-apart pork over rice with egg
🕒 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM
📍 Right at the gate, look for the big pot - Pad Thai & Banana Roti Carts
🍌 Classic banana + condensed milk + crispy roti
🕒 Evenings only
📍 Near food court seating zone
🍽️ 4B. Hidden Café & Chill Spots Nearby
☕ Clay Studio Coffee in the Garden
📍 Phra Pok Klao Soi 2
🏡 Coffee in a terracotta garden — super quiet
🕒 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
🍵 A Day in Chiang Mai Coffee Brew
📍 Chiang Mai Gate area
🎨 Hipster-craft café with beans from local farms
🕒 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
🛍️ 5. Market Vibes & Local Life
🌞 Morning Market Finds
- Sticky rice + grilled pork sticks
- Fresh flower bundles for temples
- Herbal teas & Thai omelets for 20–30 THB
🌙 Night Market Flavors
- Som tam (papaya salad) made fresh
- Coconut pancakes & fried bananas
- Buskers and acoustic sets on the weekends
🛕 Nearby Temples
- Wat Sri Suphan (Silver Temple) – 8 min walk
- Wat Chedi Luang – ~12 min walk north
- Wat Phan Tao – Peaceful wood temple nearby
🚗 6. Access
📍 From Chiang Mai Airport (CNX)
🚕 Taxi / Grab (~15 min)
🛵 Scooter rental nearby (great for exploring the Old City perimeter)
📍 From Tha Phae Gate (East Gate)
🚶 Walk (~15–20 min across town)
🛺 Red songthaews (~30 THB)
📍 Local Travel
🚶 Best explored on foot in the early morning or at night
🛏️ Stay near Wua Lai Rd or Chiang Mai Gate area for local charm & walkability
