Categories > Guides and Tips
Discover the 10 Best Craft Shops in Thailand for All Your Creative Needs!
Just a quick look at dozens of Buddhist temples in Thailand should tell you the Land of Smile is oozing with generational talent. Likewise, the country’s diverse range of quality handicrafts, from woven handbags to silverware just can’t be ignored.
With its thriving artistic handicrafts industry, there’s no shortage of impressive craft shops to visit. But tracking the real gems in Thailand’s vast crafts scene can be daunting, especially if you have no idea where to start.
The good news is we’re a step ahead of you and have assembled a team of crafts experts to do due diligence. Yup, we’re glad to share the best craft shops in Thailand—so your quest involves more shopping and less looking. Read on!
Chatuchak Weekend Market
Address: 587, 10 Kamphaeng Phet 2 Road, Khwaeng Chatuchak, Chatuchak, Bangkok
Operating Hours:
- 7 a.m. – 6 p.m. (Wednesday – Thursday)
- 6 p.m. – 12 a.m. (Friday)
- 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. (Saturday – Sunday)
Contact Number: +66 75 695 152
Website
Pricing: ฿฿
Chatuchak Weekend Market is arguably the best place to visit if you’re looking for craft shops in Thailand. It’s filled with thousands of local stalls selling a wide range of craft products, from textiles to antiques, handmade home decor, and more.
This place is particularly known for its numerous vendors selling Buddhism-related handicraft products. Think of ornate Buddha figurines, Buddhist mala bead necklaces, monk alm bowls, and talismans.
You can also find traditional and colorful flower crafts like wreaths, garlands, and bouquets used as shrine offerings at Buddhist temples. Plus, it has shops selling ancient Thai handicrafts like lacquerware, pottery, mulberry paper, and carved teak.
Pro Tip:
This is a weekend market so it’s best to visit from Saturday to Sunday because all of its shops are open on these days. But you can also check it out from Wednesday to Thursday if you only plan to shop at the market’s plant section.
Some vendors also open shop on Fridays but it’s mostly for wholesale products so we only recommend this if you like buying in bulk.
Train Night Market Srinagarindra
Media credit: hufei_1010
Address: 1, 4 Srinagarindra Road, Nong Bon, Prawet, Bangkok
Operating Hours:
- 5 p.m. – 1 a.m. (Thursday – Saturday)
- 5 p.m. – 12 a.m. (Sunday)
Contact Number: +66 81 827 5885
Website
Pricing: ฿฿
Train Night Market Srinagarindra is a bustling open-air night market packed with some of the best craft shops in Thailand. There, you’ll find a broad range of shops selling souvenir items like handcrafted jewelry, home decor, antiques, and more.
This market has 3 distinct sections: Market Zone, Rod’s Antiques, and Warehouse Zone. Its Market Zone in the north end is particularly great for fans of vintage and unique products like clothes, stamps, ceramic kitchenware, and Thai dolls.
Some of the must-see shops in Train Night Market Srinagarindra are English Memories, Marmalade Dolls Shop, Cool Way 3/25, and Rabbit and Wolf. English Memories, in particular, is worth checking out for its collection of imported antiques from the UK.
Pro Tip:
Train Night Market Srinagarindra focuses on vintage and retro products so it might not be the best option if you’re looking for modern Thai handicrafts. It’s also worth noting that the market has terrible parking space management so don’t drive a car there.
If you park your car early, it’s likely to be trapped between numerous newly parked cars so you can’t leave before they move. Otherwise, your best option is to park at the nearby Seacon Square Srinagarindra.
Baan Tawai Woodcarving Village
Media credit: namochiladazhu
Address: Khun Klong Hang Dong District, Chiang Mai
Operating Hours: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. (Monday – Sunday)
Contact Number: +66 81 882 4882
Website
Pricing: ฿฿
Baan Tawai Woodcarving Village is well-known among craft fans who frequent Chiang Mai’s Hang Dong District. This crafts village is popular for its massive selection of traditional Thai handicrafts, from jewelry to lacquerware, ceramics, and bronzeware.
However, this place is best known for its carved wood products. This includes teak Buddha figurines, vintage dressing room screen dividers, mango wood vases, and ancient Lanna-style furniture pieces.
They also sell wooden art pieces and home decor like ornate lamps, Thai rocking horses, teak jewelry boxes, miniature Thai house models, and more. Going here also gives you the best chance to see traditional Thai woodcarving in action which is a plus.
Pro Tip:
There are worldwide shipping companies in Baan Tawai Woodcarving Village so you don’t have to worry about how to take the furniture pieces you’re eyeing home. Also, it’s like a traditional market so you can haggle for better prices at all the shops there.
Jim Thompson House Museum Gift Shop
Media from jimthompsonhouse
Address: 6 Kasem San 2 Alley, Wang Mai, Pathum Wan, Bangkok
Operating Hours: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. (Monday – Sunday)
Contact Number: +66 2 216 7368
Website
Pricing: ฿฿฿
Jim Thompson House Museum is a popular tourist attraction boasting a classic Thai-style teak house and an impressive art collection. But the museum’s main draw among craft fans is its on-site gift shop specializing in handwoven silk products.
This includes kaftan dresses, patterned twill scarves, silk cushion covers, cosmetics cases, and more. Aside from that, they also sell handwoven cotton products like reversible bucket hats, animal-patterned coasters, placemats, and handkerchiefs.
Jim Thompson also has exclusive in-house and collaborative fashion collections that feature their signature handwoven silk fabrics. Think Aquasilk, House on the Klong, and Jim Thompson X Asava.
Pro Tip:
The Jim Thompson House Museum doesn’t have a car parking spot because it’s tucked away in a narrow street. We don’t recommend driving a car to get there since it’s better to use public transportation.
The closest train station to this museum is the National Stadium BTS station which is only a 4-minute walk away.
Maha-Saan
Media credit: juuhapark
Address: 63 Khuangmen Street, Chang Moi Sub-district, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai
Operating Hours: 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. (Monday – Saturday)
Contact Number: +66 99 131 3533
Website
Pricing: ฿฿
Maha-Saan is one of the more accessible craft shops in Thailand. This roadside craft store is only a 6-minute drive east of Chiang Mai Old City which makes it a popular stop for tourists who frequent the walled city for sightseeing tours.
The store focuses on traditional Thai handicrafts from handwoven and knitted baskets to hats, bags, pots, and more. Most of their products are made from rattan fibers but some handicrafts also use other materials like leather, Thai fabric, yarn fiber, cotton, etc.
Maha-Saan is also frequented for its wide selection of handwoven rattan furnishings and furniture pieces. This includes food trays, plates, tables, and decorative lamps.
Pro Tip:
Maha-Saan has a membership option via LNW Shop. You can apply for membership by creating an online account to get special member-only promotions and discounts.
Koh Kret Pottery
Media credit: ariesv
Address: Ko Kret, Pak Kret District, Nonthaburi
Operating Hours: 24 Hours (Monday – Sunday)
Pricing: ฿฿
Koh Kret is a small island in Nonthaburi known for its traditional Mon-style pottery. The island has numerous pottery workshops and stores, so going there gives you the chance to make or buy pottery products like incense burners, vases, cups, and plates.
Some of the best pottery workshops and stores in Koh Kret are Pa Tum Pottery Factory, Sang Charoen, Perfect Pottery, and Earth Element. However, you can also find numerous pottery vendors on the island’s Ong Ang Community Market.
Moreover, this market also has many stalls selling other local handicrafts. Think affordable handmade bracelets, keychains, fragrant potpourris, wooden kitchenware, and more.
Pro Tip:
Koh Kret is busiest on weekends, so visiting during weekdays is best to avoid the throngs of tourists. It’s also worth noting that the island only has narrow roads, so be sure to rent a bicycle at the ferry port to get around more easily.
Varni Handicraft
Media from varnicraft_nut
Address: 152 Moo 10, Phanang Tung, Khuan Khanun District, Phatthalung
Operating Hours:
- 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. (Monday – Saturday)
- 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. (Sunday)
Contact Number: +66 74 610 415
Website
Pricing: ฿฿฿
Varni Handicraft is a world-class producer of traditional handmade krajood products in Phattalung. More commonly known as saltmarsh bulrush, krajood is an aquatic vegetation that grows all over southern Thailand, including Thale Noi.
Local artisans in Varni Hardicraft use these krajood fibers to craft import-quality handwoven baskets, handbags, hanging lanterns, floor mats, and more. They also add colorful patterns and embroidered designs to give their products a more premium feel.
Moreover, this place sells non-krajood products like clothes, sandals, knitted sling bags, and stuffed toys. They also make furniture pieces and home decor like armchairs, stools, tables, and animal-shaped woven statues.
Pro Tip:
For the best experience, we recommend their embroidery lessons so you can use this chance to design your krajood product. You can also stay at Varni Handicraft’s hotel rooms to make the most of your visit.
Sun Collections
Media from suncollections1975
Address: 1313 Charoenkrung Road, Suriya Wong, Bang Rak, Bangkok
Operating Hours:
- 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. (Monday – Friday)
- 11 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (Saturday)
Contact Number: +66 2 233 7854
Website
Pricing: ฿฿฿
Sun Collections is arguably the best craft shop in Thailand when it comes to premium silverware. In fact, this place supplies its high-quality stainless tableware and cutlery products to top luxury hotels and restaurants all over Bangkok.
These products include silver buffet wares, serving trays, wine baskets, tongs, and more. However, its standout products are its signature cutleries with a wide range of handle designs, from hexagons to bamboo shapes, drop heads, triple rings, and more.
Furthermore, you can also contact them for a custom order if you’re looking for a more personalized design. Their worldwide shipping service is also a massive plus.
Pro Tip:
Sun Collections has an online shop on its official website but you can only order cutleries, so it’s best to visit their physical store to buy other silverware like chalices, bowls, serving plates, vases, etc.
Bangkok Dolls Shop and Museum
Address: Soi Mo Leng, Soi Ratchathewi, Makkasan, Ratchathewi, Bangkok
Operating Hours: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. (Sunday)
Contact Number: +66 96 789 1455
Pricing: ฿฿
Bangkok Dolls Shop and Museum is a workshop and store known for its handcrafted Thai dolls in traditional clothing. It has a massive collection of over 400 locally-made dolls, including numerous dolls sourced from around the world.
Their dolls are steeped in Thai culture because they feature the rural lifestyle, traditional Thai clothing, and ethnic hill tribes of northern Thailand. They also have a section dedicated to dolls wearing traditional clothing from foreign countries.
This includes Belgium, China, Greece, Poland, and more. However, the museum’s best collection is its khon dance dolls wearing khon masks and attire taken from Thailand’s national Ramakien epic inspired by the Indian Ramayana epic.
Pro Tip:
Not all dolls displayed at the Bangkok Dolls Shop and Museum are for sale. For instance, dolls in the outer rooms are mostly antiques and collector’s items so visitors can’t just buy them.
Only dolls found inside the museum’s inner section are for sale.
DoiTung Lifestyle
Media from doitung.official
Address: 1875, 1 Rama IV Road, Lumphini, Pathum Wan, Bangkok
Operating Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. (Monday – Saturday)
Contact Number: +66 2 252 7114
Website
Pricing: ฿฿฿
DoiTung Lifestyle is a craft shop for Thailand’s unique and high-quality local handicrafts. They sell a wide range of Thai handicraft products featuring local factories, workshops, artists, and more.
Their products include traditional Thai crafts like woven fabrics, sa papers, and ceramics. DoiTung Lifestyle is also a royal project of the Thai government, so buying there supports local artisans and communities.
Pro Tip:
DoiTung Lifestyle’s headquarters is in Bangkok but also has numerous branches across Thailand. You can also find their products in the country’s shopping centers, supermarkets, and malls.
