Lovers of all things classic will find a point of resonation with Ratchada’s weekly night bazaar where antique is the norm and the term “pre-owned” is not a dealbreaker. Situated right by the Lad Phrao MRT station, the Ratchada Night Bazaar welcomes pennywise collectors and forgone-era enthusiasts from 18:30 to, roughly, 2:00 each Saturday night.
What makes Rachada stand out from other vintage markets of the same stripe is the heavy emphasis on vintage motorcycles, Vespas and cars. What began as a market for gearheads to buy and sell parts for their classic vehicles has now expanded into a chimeric blend of market, museum and car show. Vendors hawk everything from grilles to turn signals for models dating back to the 50’s (or in some cases, earlier) and most all of it has been stripped from real-deal clunkers for resale. Many patrons bring their throwback rides to show off to one another and talk shop about collecting and restoring vintage automobiles. Elsewhere, closer to the MRT station, teens trick around on their fixies for an audience and give their new/old add-ons a test run. For an onlooker, the show is more than enough to stimulate but, for an enthusiast, it’s a key into Bangkok’s tacit community of the like-minded.
Beyond the world of the automotive, the Ratchada bazaar has much else to offer. There’s a key selection of old leather and denim for the skaterpunk in you alongside a hefty selection of boat shoes and loafers in classic styles. The market is also a goldmine for knick-knacks like patches, timeworn telephones, childhood relics like Power Rangers action figures, dusty barware and antique posters and advertisements. It has the feel of a neighborhood yard sale – if your neighbors were aging hipsters with impeccable taste.
It may take some digging, but just about anything old enough to bear the title “vintage” can be found heaped on a blanket somewhere in the market. Sure, Ratchada also features a bit of the standard BKK market fare (iPhone covers, Beats by Dre headphones, etc.) but that’s a bit of garnish on the main draw.
Ratchada is also a feasible Saturday night destination, as the market is not shy with their booze offerings. One of the only markets in the city where you can sample wine while you puruse, Ratchada is both cheap and various in its alcohol selection. Several stands throughout sell beer at convenience store prices and there are a handful of bars on-site that serve the market’s signature liquor-infused slushies. One of these bars, Superhits, is a corrugated tin shack that pumps out the good stuff while patrons lounge lazily on its odd selection of furniture. The bar is stuck a little bit out in the muck behind the stalls but it’s a good place to catch up with other vintage aficionados over a cold one.
Overall, Ratchada Night Bazaar is a bit of an out-of-Bangkok experience, but not as much as it’s an out-of-2012 experience. Worth a visit for the sheer curiosity factor, Ratchada does not disappoint with its collection of novelties. Even if you’re not a discerning collector of classic tchotchkes or a gearhead with a fetish for old muscle, there’s plenty in the atmosphere to beckon you back for repeat visits.
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