Bus Bar
Bus Bar is an outdoor beer-and-acoustic venue built around two repurposed VW-style buses parked permanently along the Ping River near the Iron Bridge at the east end of Loi Kroh corridor. One bus serves as the bar, the other as a small interior cocktail bar for rainy nights. Tables and chairs spread across an open lot under string lights, with a small acoustic stage tucked between the buses. Live acoustic music runs most evenings: Thai folk, Western covers, and the occasional Latin or reggae set. The crowd skews international and student-aged with a real Thai contingent from nearby Chiang Mai University. Drinks are cheap: beer 80-110 THB, simple cocktails 180-220 THB, no cover. The vibe is laid-back and conversational, more travel-meeting than party.
Where to stay near Bus Bar
Hotels and rentals within walking distance.
What to Expect
An open-air gravel lot under string lights with two buses serving drinks, scattered tables, and an acoustic act on a low stage. Cool river breeze even on hot nights, mixed crowd of travelers and Thai students, and a slow-paced evening that rewards staying put.
Laid-back, riverside, string-lit. The kind of place where strangers share tables and conversations stretch.
Acoustic folk, indie covers, reggae, occasional Thai pop
Whatever. Shorts and flip-flops fit perfectly.
Solo travelers, couples wanting a cheap easygoing evening, and anyone who prefers conversation over volume.
Cash strongly preferred; cards accepted but slow
Price Range
Beer 80-110 THB, cocktails 180-220 THB, no cover
Beer ~$2.30-3/€2-2.80, cocktails ~$5-6/€4.50-5.50
Hours
17:00 to roughly 01:00 daily
Insider Tip
Arrive at sunset for the best riverside light and table availability. Cash works better than cards here, especially after midnight when the system slows. Acoustic sets start around 8 PM; mark Thursdays for the strongest lineups.
Full Review
Bus Bar occupies a gravel lot at the river edge, accessible through a low wooden gate off Loi Kroh's eastern end. The two buses, repainted in faded pastels, anchor the space; one functions as the main service bar with kegs and bottles inside, the other as a small enclosed cocktail bar for cooler nights. Picnic tables and plastic chairs fill the lot, and string lights crisscross overhead. Capacity is around 80 to 100 people when packed.
The music programming is acoustic and small-scale: typically a single performer or a duo on the low stage between the buses. The volume stays conversational; this is not a venue where the band overpowers the room. The crowd reflects that pacing, with mixed groups of European travelers, Australian students from CMU exchange programs, and Thai university kids on dates.
Compared to nearby Riverside Bar and Restaurant, which runs full cover bands and dinner programming, Bus Bar is cheaper, looser, and more student-driven. Compared to the Loi Kroh lady-bar strip a few minutes west, the energy here is entirely different: no transactional dynamic, no pressure, just drinks and conversation.
Cash payments process faster than cards. The bar staff are friendly and patient with English questions. Mosquitoes can be aggressive in rainy season; carry repellent or take a table near the buses where the fans help.
The Neighborhood
Bus Bar sits at the eastern end of the Loi Kroh corridor along the Ping River, near the Iron Bridge and the Riverside Bar complex. Boy Blues is a five-minute walk west into the Kalare complex; the lady-bar strip is 10 minutes west on Loi Kroh proper.
Getting There
From Tha Phae Gate, walk 15 minutes east along Tha Phae Road and then south along the river. From the Night Bazaar, walk five minutes east toward the Iron Bridge. From Nimman, allow 20 minutes by Bolt for around 140 THB.
Address
Loi Kroh Road, near Iron Bridge, Charoen Prathet Road, Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand
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Browse Thailand eSIM plansOther Venues in Loi Kroh Road
The Spicy
Late-night licensed nightclub just north of Tha Phae on Chaiyaphum Road. Runs until around 5 AM and absorbs the late crowd from Loi Kroh, Zoe, and Nimman. Mixed Thai and tourist crowd, hip-hop and EDM.
Boy Blues Bar
Long-running live-blues bar on the mezzanine of the Kalare Night Bazaar complex at the east end of Loi Kroh. Smooth blues, soul, and rock most nights, opposite a small dancing-stage food court.
6ixcret Show
Drag cabaret bar on the 2nd floor at the rear of the Night Bazaar building, just off Loi Kroh. Free admission with a two-drink minimum. Shows run Wednesday through Sunday from 9:30 PM.
Ram Cabaret
Long-running ladyboy cabaret venue in the Loi Kroh corridor with nightly drag shows starting around 10 PM. Tourist-focused, with seated table service and a two-drink minimum on busy nights.
John's Place
Open-fronted sports-and-beer bar on Loi Kroh with large-screen TVs showing live Premier League, MotoGP, and rugby. Cheap bottled beer, pool tables, and a steady older-expat clientele.
Loi Kroh Lady Bar Strip
A cluster of roughly a dozen open-fronted lady bars along the central section of Loi Kroh between Charoenprathet and Kotchasarn. Bar stools facing the street, neon signage, lady drinks at 150-200 THB, low-key low-pressure.