The best things to do in Bangkok this weekend (February 12-15)

An exhibition confronting Thai democracy arrives with unsettling clarity, pairing Manit Sriwanichpoom and Akkara Naktamna in a conversation that feels both personal and painfully public. Their works sketch daily existence beneath rigid political scripts where citizenship becomes an endurance test rather than an act of participation. Photographs and installations lean on sharp metaphors: veiled faces, constricted bodies, environments that appear breathable yet quietly hostile. Each piece questions authority’s gentle language while revealing how control slips through education, media, ritual. Viewers are left wondering what belief even means when vision feels filtered and breath negotiated. Are citizens misled, or simply surviving within limits imposed long before consent? The exhibition asks uncomfortable questions without promising answers, suggesting delusion may not belong to individuals alone but to a system sustained by repetition, fear and uneasy silence.

Until April 12. Free. West Eden Gallery, 11am-6pm

February in Bangkok has a habit of softening people, especially once the city lifts you above street level. Skyline Film leans into the season with a rooftop programme that treats romance as a broad church rather than a fixed idea. Over four evenings at River City, love stories unfold in all their familiar, awkward and occasionally devastating forms. Chungking Express shares space with Romeo + Juliet, while 10 Things I Hate About You rubs shoulders with Mr. & Mrs. Smith. The weekend turns gentler, then heavier. No Strings Attached leads neatly to Pride & Prejudice, before 50 First Dates sets up the quiet ache of Brokeback Mountain. Come coupled, single or undecided. The skyline does the rest, the films carry the feeling and nobody asks too many questions.

February 12-15. B500 via here. River City Bangkok, 5.30pm and 8.30pm

Slowcombo launches its first Movie Night just in time for Valentine’s, offering an alternative to candlelit cliches. The evening begins with a relaxed wander through Lumphini Park, city lights flickering as strangers become temporary walking companions before heading back for conversation and cinema. A House of Common Read-lation-ship talk opens space for honest chat about love, friendship and the awkward grey areas between. Screens then glow with Richard Linklater’s romances: Before Sunrise on February 13, Before Sunset on February 14. Expect floor seating, laughter, moments of reflection and the comforting presence of fellow film lovers. Schedule runs 4.30pm-5.30pm park walk, 5.30pm-6pm return journey, 6pm-6.45pm discussion, 8pm-10pm screening. 

February 13-14. B150-300. Reserve at Line OA: @slowcombo. Slowcombo, 4.30pm-10pm

Riva Starr claims the penthouse at APT 101 for a night shaped by rhythm, reputation and a catalogue most dancers already carry in muscle memory. Expect selections familiar yet freshly charged, delivered live from the booth by a DJ who has spent years refining club culture from shadowy basements to headline festival slots. Founder of Snatch! Records and a regular presence across Dirtybird, Defected, Crosstown Rebels and Glitterbox, he arrives with both credibility and a playful sense of occasion. Stories hide between transitions, while grooves slip effortlessly across house, disco and unexpected detours. Regulars know his sets rarely follow predictable paths, favouring instinct over formula. Skip long introductions and trust curiosity instead. Think late smiles, spontaneous movement and strangers becoming co-conspirators beneath penthouse lights until the city finally quietens.

February 13. B500 via here. APT 101, 6pm

Maya City looks different once the sun gives up. The Film Archive’s replica streets, borrowed from Thai and world cinema, take on a softer glow after dark, opening for a rare evening that feels quietly transportive. Wander past familiar façades while craft stalls stay open late, live music drifts through courtyards and small activities invite lingering rather than rushing. The soundtrack changes each night. Thee Chaiyadej brings warmth on February 13, followed by the gentle, almost whispered songs of Pijika Jittaputta two days later. Valentine’s Day belongs to student bands from the Salaya community, offering earnest love songs that feel more sincere than polished. It’s a once-a-year chance to see this cinematic city breathe at night, romantic without trying too hard and best enjoyed slowly, preferably with nowhere else to be.

February 13-15. Free. Thai Film Archive, 5pm-9pm

The Nordic Film Festival returns with a familiar sense of quiet confidence, bringing Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden back to the same screen. Over two days, four films sketch a portrait of everyday life shaped by dry humour, emotional restraint and long winters that seem to encourage reflection. These stories favour small gestures over spectacle, finding meaning in family tensions, awkward silences and moments that linger longer than expected. Rather than selling an idea of the region, the programme lets contradictions sit comfortably side by side. Tradition brushes up against modern anxiety, intimacy shares space with distance and laughter often arrives slightly sideways. Watching them together reveals shared concerns without flattening their differences. Consider it a reminder that cinema doesn’t need volume to leave an impression, just careful storytelling and the patience to let it unfold.

February 13. Free. The Embassy of Denmark, 6.15pm onwards

Valentine’s plans feel refreshingly easy with Moose Chill Ground and Friends Edition, a two-day gathering that swaps stiff romance for music, browsing and shared afternoons that stretch well past sunset. Indie pop risers Kikidoyoumind Band headline with melodies built for swaying crowds, balancing sweetness with a slightly restless edge. Between sets, wander a thoughtfully curated market hosting more than 30 vendors, mixing familiar local makers with outside labels offering fashion pieces, crafts and playful lifestyle finds. Corners across the venue hold workshops, games and low key hangout zones, encouraging guests to linger rather than rush between highlights. Couples, friend groups, solo wanderers and curious families all find space without pressure.

February 14-15. Free. Tur Gub Chan, 11am-10pm

Saturday afternoon plans gain a playful twist this Valentine’s season as W XYZ Bar swaps late night rituals for a sunlit gathering built on rhythm, caffeine and easy conversation. DJs take charge from early hours, blending smooth house, nostalgic favourites and laidback grooves that keep bodies gently moving without demanding full club commitment. Behind the counter, baristas craft inventive coffee creations designed for lingering rather than rushing, each cup matching the buoyant mood. Expect friends catching up across communal tables, couples laughing over iced lattes, solo guests discovering unexpected company between tracks. Lighting stays bright, energy relaxed, atmosphere welcoming rather than overwhelming.

February 14. B250 via here. W XYZ Bar, 2pm-6pm

Thai illustrator Lili Tae, also known as Phindita Techamongkhalaphiwat, presents a solo exhibition curated by Jason Yang that feels like stepping through shifting layers of memory, dream and landscape. Her digital paintings grow from quiet encounters with forests, wandering paths and unexpected meetings with flora and fauna, reshaped through a deeply personal lens. Soft brushwork meets luminous colour, allowing realism to brush against fantasy and moments of gentle surrealism without losing emotional clarity. Figures appear suspended between waking life and subconscious reflection, suggesting stories half remembered rather than fully explained. Natural textures echo skin, water, leaves and shifting weather, giving each image a tactile presence despite its digital form. Viewers wander through scenes that feel intimate yet expansive, reflecting how imagination reshapes daily observation without ever fully separating from lived experience.

Until March 16. Free. GalileOasis Gallery, 9am-8pm

Tropic City marks eight years of tropical mischief with a house party that feels equal parts reunion and open invitation. Doors swing from 4pm, perfect for a pre dinner shuffle, sunset cocktails or a full night surrendering to rhythm. Franco Munoz of Salmon Guru Dubai lands for a rare Thailand appearance, joining Leo Malakul from Dry Wave Cocktail Studio alongside two surprise guests shaking signature drinks for one night only. Behind the decks, Sarayu, Pichy, DJ Zombie, KWH, Jirus and Mumsfilibaba keep spirits high with a blend of house, disco, breaks and playful curveballs that regulars know well. 

February 14. Free. Tropic City, 4pm-2am

Valentine’s evening finds a softer rhythm at Siwilai Sound Club with The Natural Sound of Love, a live session shaped for quiet connection rather than grand gestures. RIRI x 3 Lbs take the stage with a fluid mix of jazz, soul, pop and R&B, weaving smooth melodies with gentle improvisation that feels close enough to touch. Seating stays intimate, lights low, conversation easy between songs that linger long after the final note fades. Couples lean closer, friends sway together, solo listeners find comfort among strangers sharing the same soundtrack. Drinks flow slowly, laughter travels softly and the evening moves at an unhurried pace, allowing music to guide each moment without forcing any particular mood.

February 14. B1,200. Siwilai Sound Club, 9pm-midnight

February Sundays gain a leisurely rhythm with Sunday Jazzy Brunch, a month-long series pairing thoughtful cooking with live jazz that gently reshapes the usual weekend routine. Each week introduces a new culinary theme, encouraging returning guests to experience familiar surroundings through fresh flavours and seasonal ingredients handled with quiet confidence. Expect towers of chilled seafood, flame kissed specialities and shareable plates designed for lingering conversation rather than hurried bites. Atmosphere leans warm and unpretentious, allowing romance to appear naturally without staged theatrics. The Namsai Trio provide an elegant soundtrack, their intimate arrangements drifting through the room like a soft afternoon breeze. Friends gather around generous tables, couples settle close over sparkling glasses, solo visitors find easy comfort among strangers united by music, laughter and the unspoken joy of slowing down.

Every Sunday. Starts at B1,500. Reserve via 02-649-8888. Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit, midday-3pm

Reading Party offers a gentle alternative to loud socials, inviting guests to spend unhurried hours turning pages while sharing quiet company. Inspired by the WHOLESOME Book Club yet shaped with a looser spirit, the gathering skips deadlines, assigned chapters and formal discussions. Bring a beloved novel or borrow one on site, settle into a cosy corner and read alongside strangers who quickly begin to feel familiar. The debut session arrives through a collaboration with Biblio and BKK Lit Fest, blending literary curiosity with an easygoing atmosphere where conversation happens naturally rather than by design. Small giveaways add a playful touch, alongside a 10 per cent discount from Guss Damn Good and Adam n Eve for those craving a sweet reward.

February 15. B150 via here and B200 at the door. The Commons Thonglor, 4pm 

Hands still matter, even now. At Rosewood Bangkok, Made in Thai-Hands arrives through a collaboration with Play Art House, offering a thoughtful look at living craft traditions shaped by patience rather than speed. Curated by independent artist Seada Samdao, the exhibition brings together 10 Thai artists working between inherited techniques and contemporary thinking, without treating either as fixed. Moving through the space feels like travelling across different landscapes, guided by texture, material and touch. Threads hold hours of quiet labour, pigment settles through instinct and surfaces reveal years of repetition. Nothing rushes for attention. Instead, each work carries the weight of human effort and the calm confidence that comes from knowing a process deeply. While the rhythms of making remain central, the voices feel current, led by a generation carrying tradition forward with clarity rather than reverence. Craft here feels alive, personal and quietly defiant.

Until March 20. Free. G/F, Rosewood Bangkok, 9am-9pm

Song Wat turns playful without losing its sense of history. For Bangkok Design Week, the district becomes a walkable board game, stretching across streets that once carried trade, gossip and daily deals. Building on the earlier manhole cover project, this new chapter invites visitors to play merchant, navigating landmarks and stories that shaped the neighbourhood’s working life. Set along Song Wat Road at Tuk Khaek, Merchants of Song Wat reimagines the area as a network of warehouses and shops. Players move as caravans, trading goods, striking bargains with local businesses and slowly building their own corner of commerce. The rules stay friendly, the visuals clear, drawing from familiar colours and signs around the area. 

January 29-February. Free. Song Wat, 2pm-8pm on weekdays and 1pm-7pm on weekends.

A Kid from Yesterday returns with a fifth solo outing that feels quietly defiant. Somphon ‘Paolo’ Ratanavaree’s latest body of work steps back from certainty and sits without knowing, a rare move in a culture obsessed with definitions. Titled “Just” BEING BE/NG BE—NG, the exhibition borrows from Camus’ Philosophy of Sisyphus while nodding to the calm discipline of a Zen garden. The result isn’t comfort or escape, but acceptance of contradiction. Cigarettes sit opposite raked sand, everyday habits facing ritual stillness, neither winning the argument. This space doesn’t promise healing or answers. It allows doubt to exist without apology. Being human here means pausing, noticing and carrying on regardless. In a world eager for declarations, the show suggests something softer and braver: existing without explanation might already be enough.

January 17-March 1. Free. Street Star Gallery, 8am-6pm

Bangkok welcomes 2026 with a knowing wink as Muse Anime Festival sets up at JAM SPACE, a familiar meeting point for pop culture devotees. This is less trade fair, more shared obsession. Fourteen anime titles spread across 17 photo zones turn fandom into a walk-through experience, complete with oversized sets and scenes designed for lingering rather than rushing. Expect towering inflatables of Momo and Okarun from DAN DA DAN plus Rimuru, the eternally cheerful slime, looming large for cameras. Beyond the visuals, shelves fill with officially licensed pieces and harder-to-find imports, tempting even the disciplined collector. Food gets its own moment too, thanks to a themed cafe riffing on SPY x FAMILY and That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime. 

January 10-March 29. Free. 4/F, MBK Centre, 11am-9pm