Orion Bar

It’s always nice to report on new places to go in Chiang Mai, especially when they are fun places such as Orion Bar. Although, not exactly new – Orion has been around for a while, and always been gay friendly, it took on a new lease of life about a month ago when the current gay owners took it over.

Orion offers a friendly mix of tourists and gay customers together with some friendly staff. They also have a pool table and are open late. Judging by the number of friends we met here Orion seems to be providing a refreshing change as a nice bar to hang out which doesn’t take its gay credentials too seriously.

Orion Bar is located in the Kalare Night Bazaar complex on Changklan Road (not to be confused with the area behind the D2 Hotel where other bars are, and the now defunct Sleaze Alley was located). This is on the eastern side of the main Night Bazaar street and is an undercover area packed with small shops selling handicrafts and souvenirs, a food court and many other bars, massage shops and other small businesses catering for tourists. The easiest way to Find Orion is to take Chareonphrathet Soi 6 which runs from Changklan down past the Porn Ping hotel. Heading down the soi from Chang Klan Road there is an Indian restaurant “Le Spice” on the right, opposite this turn into the night bazaar and you will find Orion Bar in the second row of kiosks.