Kata Fresh Market

Kata Fresh Market (Kata Porpeang Market) is quite simply one of the most vibrant fresh markets on Phuket’s west coast. There are two types of market in Thailand: A Talad Nad is a twice- (sometimes thrice) weekly market and a Talad Sod is a daily market. Kata Porpeang is a Talad Nad.

Kata Fresh Market is located on Kata Road. Roughly speaking, it’s a large L-shaped market on a piece of unused land with plenty of parking space to the side. Don’t wear your best white clothes to come shopping here as it is muddy when wet and dusty when dry and remember to dress light as it gets pretty hot and only cools down after the sun has set.

Entering the market you’ll come across a secondhand clothes section to the left that is flanked by a new clothes stall selling mostly ladies’ jeans and T-shirts and a risqué ladies’ underwear collection. There’s also a complete collection of men’s ‘leather’ belts bearing brand names such as Gucci, Billabong, Armani, and Boss. Further in and you’ll discover a children’s section that is next to a cosmetic stand which is in turn next to a collection of religious artifacts that flanks a health juice and skin products stall.

The food stands begin and the air is filled with delicious aromas and scents… deep-fried chicken, duck, barbecued fish, crabs, cockles, squid, spring rolls (prepared fresh before your eyes), and of course by the wonderful array of fresh tropical fruit. Some of the colourful fruit on sale here includes big bouncy melons, soft and yielding mangoes, bananas, rose apples, coconuts, pineapples of all sizes , papayas and even more according to the season.
At the corner of the ‘L’ shape and just after the wonderfully green vegetable section things change once more and you’ll enter gadget territory with electronic toys, speakers, headphones and the like which is quickly followed by several pearl and bracelet stands, textiles, towels, and bed sheets. The list is endless of what you can buy at Kata Fresh market so just amble along and take it all in. It’s a calm and peaceful atmosphere with no throbbing annoying speakers and booming bass that are sometimes prevalent at other markets.

The best time to go is after five o’clock in the afternoon when the market is not so crowded but if you want to ensure the freshest vegetables it’s best to go mid afternoon. Market hours are ostensibly from 11:00 – 21:00 but the market doesn’t really get going until 16:00 on Mondays and Thursday.

Kata ocean view is 5 minutes far from the market. Please ask to our friendly reception staff, they can help you to choose the best way to go there.