'Airy" and "smelling clean and fresh" was how Nueng-ruethai Kijcharoen, a 46-year-old housewife described the toilets at Talat Iam Sombat Market, a privately-run fresh market on Soi Sukhumvit 77, known as Soi On Nut.

"No typical damp smells, which are usually apparent in public toilets at just about any other markets. If they will continue maintaining this good standard, I'll bet every customer will be impressed and think the service is worth paying for," said Ms Nueng-ruethai who still shops at the market even though she has now moved far from the neighbourhood.

Located near Si Nut intersection in Suan Luang district, the market's facilities were among the 15 winners of City Hall's public toilet of the year awards. The market won in the category of fresh-market toilets.