Thailand is hot for most of the year, and people drink all day: sweet iced tea from a street cart, coffee filtered through a cloth sock, a fresh coconut on the beach. This guide explains what to order, how to ask for it the way you like it, where to find it, and what changed in 2026 for anyone who wants a beer.
Classic Thai Drinks
Thai Iced Tea (Cha Yen)
Cha yen is the bright orange tea sold in plastic cups all over the country. It is strong black tea, usually brewed from a Thai tea mix, sweetened with condensed milk and poured over crushed ice, often with evaporated milk on top. The orange colour comes from the colouring in most tea mixes, not from the leaves. Two lighter versions are cha dam yen (iced black tea with sugar, no milk) and cha manao (iced tea with lime). All of them are very sweet unless you ask for wan noi (less sweet).
Thai Coffee: Oliang and Kafae Boran
Oliang is traditional Thai iced black coffee, served sweet. The powder is often a blend of coffee with roasted grains and seeds such as corn, soybeans or sesame, which gives it a deep, slightly smoky taste. Kafae yen is iced coffee with condensed milk, and kafae ron is hot coffee.
At older coffee shops and market stalls you may see kafae boran, coffee made the old way: the vendor pours it through a cloth filter that looks like a sock, then mixes it with sugar and milk.
Fresh Coconut Water (Nam Maprao)
A young green coconut, cut open in front of you and served with a straw, is the simplest refreshment in Thailand. The water is light and slightly sweet. When you finish, ask the vendor to split the coconut so you can scoop out the soft flesh with a spoon.
Fruit Shakes and Fresh Juices
Nam pan means a blended drink: fresh fruit, ice and usually sugar syrup, made to order. Mango, pineapple, watermelon, papaya and passion fruit are the usual choices, and most stalls will mix fruits for you. Many stalls add syrup and some add a pinch of salt, so say mai sai nam tan (no sugar) if you want only fruit.
Two more to look for:
- Nam oi (sugarcane juice), pressed on the spot by a machine at the stall. It is sweet and grassy.
- Nam manao (lime juice), made with fresh lime, sugar and often a pinch of salt: sour, sweet and very refreshing.
Traditional Herbal Drinks
Thai herbal drinks are made from flowers, herbs and roots, and sold at food stalls, markets and convenience stores.
| Drink | Thai name | What it tastes like |
|---|---|---|
| Butterfly pea flower | Nam dok anchan | Mild and earthy; deep blue, turns purple when lime is added |
| Roselle (a type of hibiscus) | Nam krachiap | Deep red, tart and fruity |
| Chrysanthemum tea | Nam kek huay | Light and floral, often sweetened |
| Lemongrass | Nam takrai | Fresh and lemony, served hot or cold |
| Bael fruit | Nam matoom | Sweet and earthy, made from the dried fruit |
| Pennywort | Nam bai bua bok | Green and grassy, slightly bitter |
In the early morning, street vendors also sell fresh soy milk (nam tao hu), often warm, which many Thais drink for breakfast with fried dough sticks (pathongko).
Where to Try Local Drinks
Street carts and market stalls are the best places to try Thai drinks. Choose busy stalls where drinks are made to order, and carry small notes. At Bangkok night markets in 2026, drinks such as Thai tea, cocoa and juices cost about 35-69 THB. These prices were checked in September 2026 and vary by stall.
Most night markets open around 17:00, but not all stalls are open until about 19:00. Allow about 200-400 THB per person to try several dishes and drinks. In Bangkok, try:
- Yaowarat (Chinatown): nightly from about 18:00 to midnight, near MRT Wat Mangkon, Exit 3.
- Train Night Market Ratchada: reopened on 27 March 2026, open daily 17:00-01:00, near MRT Thailand Cultural Centre, Exit 3.
- Jodd Fairs Ratchada: 129 Ratchadaphisek Road, open daily 17:00-01:00, near MRT Thailand Cultural Centre, Exit 4.
By day, Chatuchak Weekend Market (Saturday and Sunday, 09:00-18:00) has drink stalls throughout. In Chiang Mai, the Sunday Walking Street from Tha Phae Gate runs from about 16:00-17:00 to 22:00-23:00. Convenience stores such as 7-Eleven sell bottled herbal drinks, canned coffee and beer.
Thai Beer and Spirits
The Thai beers you will see everywhere are Singha, Chang and Leo, all of them lagers. Many Thais drink beer with ice in the glass, and restaurants often bring a bucket of ice with the bottle.
Thai spirits such as SangSom and Mekhong are usually shared at the table: a bottle, a bucket of ice and soda water, mixed glass by glass. They are much stronger than beer, so drink slowly, especially in the heat. Avoid unlabelled home-made spirits in reused bottles: you cannot know what is in them.
Alcohol Rules in Thailand (2026)
The 2-5 pm ban on alcohol sales, in place since 1972, was suspended for a 180-day trial announced in the Royal Gazette on 2 December 2025. The National Alcohol Policy Committee made the change permanent in a regulation dated 29 May 2026, and the Tourism Authority of Thailand announced it on 8 June 2026.
Sales Hours
- Alcohol can be sold every day from 11:00 to midnight, with no afternoon break.
- There are no sales from midnight to 11:00, including at 7-Eleven and supermarkets.
- Some places are exempt from these hours: international airports, licensed hotels and licensed entertainment venues.
Buddhist Holidays
On Buddhist holidays, alcohol sales are banned for 24 hours across the country. Shops and most restaurants cannot sell alcohol; licensed hotels, licensed entertainment venues and airside airport outlets may still serve.
| Buddhist holiday | Date in 2026 |
|---|---|
| Makha Bucha | 3 March |
| Visakha Bucha | 31 May |
| Asalha Bucha and Khao Phansa | 29-30 July (48 hours in a row) |
| Ok Phansa | 26 October |
The next one is Ok Phansa on 26 October 2026. The 2027 dates had not been published when this guide was checked.
Age, Places and Fines
- The legal drinking age is 20.
- Drinking is not allowed in public parks, on public transport or on government property.
- Alcohol cannot be sold near temples, schools, hospitals, petrol stations or public parks.
- Breaking the rules can mean a fine of up to 10,000 THB. Since the law was amended in late 2025, this fine also applies to customers who drink during banned hours or in banned places, not only to sellers.
Water, Ice and Staying Safe
- Do not drink tap water. Drink bottled or filtered water, and check that bottles are sealed.
- Drink more water than you would at home, especially when drinking alcohol.
- If you have a sensitive stomach, ask for no ice (mai sai nam khaeng) at small roadside stalls.
Emergency numbers: 191 police, 1155 Tourist Police, 1669 medical emergencies and ambulance.
Useful Thai Phrases for Ordering Drinks
Thai is a tonal language, so these spellings are only a guide. Pointing also works well.
| English | Thai | Say it |
|---|---|---|
| Water | น้ำเปล่า | nam plao |
| No ice | ไม่ใส่น้ำแข็ง | mai sai nam khaeng |
| Less sweet | หวานน้อย | wan noi |
| No sugar | ไม่ใส่น้ำตาล | mai sai nam tan |
| Cold / iced | เย็น | yen |
| Cheers! | ชนแก้ว | chon kaeo |
"Mai sai" means "without": mai sai nom is "no milk". If you have an allergy, carry a note written in Thai.
Getting Around with a Private Driver
If you plan to drink, do not drive. Smile Taxi Service runs private transfers 24/7 at fixed fares: per vehicle (not per person), one way, expressway tolls included. You pay the driver in cash (THB) at the end of the trip; if you can only pay by card, message the team for a PayPal payment link (a 5% fee is added). Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before pickup. After that, a cancellation or change costs 25% (less than 24 h), 35% (less than 12 h) or 50% (less than 2 h) of the price, and a no-show 100%, also when you pay the driver in cash (details).
- Suvarnabhumi Airport to Bangkok: 600 THB by sedan (up to 3 passengers), 800 THB by SUV (up to 5) or 1,100 THB by van (up to 7), with 60 minutes of free waiting, counted from the actual landing time. Book a sedan from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Bangkok.
- A day of markets with your own driver: the Bangkok Tour (up to 10 hours) costs 2,700 THB by sedan, 3,000 THB by SUV, 3,700 THB by van or 4,000 THB by VIP van. See tours and day trips.
Floating markets outside Bangkok, such as Damnoen Saduak and Amphawa, have no fixed fare: ask for a quote on WhatsApp or LINE. All routes are on the fare list.
FAQ
Can I buy beer in the afternoon in Thailand now?
Yes. Since the regulation of 29 May 2026, alcohol can be sold every day from 11:00 to midnight, with no 2-5 pm break.
Which days can I not buy alcohol in 2026?
The Buddhist holidays: 3 March, 31 May, 29-30 July and 26 October 2026. Licensed hotels, licensed entertainment venues and airside airport outlets may still serve.
What is the legal drinking age in Thailand?
The legal drinking age is 20.
How do I order a drink that is less sweet?
Say wan noi (less sweet) or mai sai nam tan (no sugar). Thai tea, coffee and shakes are very sweet unless you ask.
Is tap water safe to drink?
No. Drink bottled or filtered water.
Planning a day at Thailand's markets and cafés? You can book a transfer on the booking page or message us on WhatsApp or LINE.