Why should you go there and how do you do it right?

Here's the solution for your weeknights. Naka is only open on Saturdays and Sundays, and the pedestrianized Lard Yai in the Old Town is only open on Sundays. So, if you're in Phuket Town on a Tuesday and have plans for the evening, head here. Chillva is open Monday to Saturday from 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM and closed on Sundays. It's located on Yaowarat Road in the Ratsada district, about a ten-minute drive north of the Old Town. You can also reach it by Grab.

The market consists of rows of converted shipping containers surrounding an open seating area. Almost every evening, starting around 7:00 PM, there's live music, which attracts just as many visitors as the shops themselves. The offerings are primarily independent fashion, vintage clothing, accessories, and plants. From Thursday to Saturday, there's also a flea market section. The food is inexpensive, even by Phuket Town standards: grilled seafood, Pad Thai, Moo Ping, mango sticky rice, and bubble tea, as well as a lemon-honey tea that, according to critics, costs around 35 baht and is worth returning for. The market feels like a place that Thais actually use, not a tourist trap.

Entry is free, and you can pay in cash at the stalls, so bring small bills. Parking is available, but it gets crowded on busy evenings, and a Grab is more convenient. The drive from Patong, Kata, or Karon takes 30 to 45 minutes, making it more of a Phuket Town experience than a beach outing. Arrive around 5:00 PM if you want a seat before the band gets too big, and on Sundays, check out Lard Yai instead.