Aydan Stuart

The skies are blue, the Christmas crowd has departed and all is zen in Phuket this weekend. It’s also little over a week until the Thai national elections commence so if you’re jonesing to get out on the lash, the time is now (the weekend after will likely be subdued while the ballots are open – don’t say we didn’t warn you).    This weekend, there are huge parties afoot. Legend of the house scene Roger Sanchez brings his iconic lively set to FIRA, while afro-beat star Da Capo rocks the clubroom at Cafe Del Mar’s Roots series. But if that’s not fabulous enough for you, international party monsters Glitterbox are also in town throwing the most glam do on the island. And for those feeling crafty, join Wasted Art Collective at their Paint n Sip on Saturday or just browse for local crafts at Selina’s Sunday Craft Market. Let the weekend commence!

It may have taken a decade or so but the Chiang Mai festival season is well and truly back. If you like sweat-free camping, friendlier ticket prices and a crowd that leans a little… unconventional, then you’re in the right place.     Chiang Mai and its neighbours are leading the charge this year with an almost back-to-back lineup of parties that range from family-friendly Glastonbury-style long weekends to one-day techno raves that go well past dawn and in-your-face events that turn the tables on what makes a festival good.    Sure, this isn’t the land of mega-EDM blowouts like EDC or Wonderfruit – but that’s kind of the point. Northern Thailand does things differently, with music, art and culture leading the way. Below, we’ve rounded up the festivals in the north that are genuinely worth clearing space for on your party calendar this year. We’ll see you there, in costume of course.

Ok, we know New Year’s Eve is still not over but, if you’re like us, you’ll be wanting to spy out the best recovery options before the hangover arrives – after all, there’s nothing like pre-party clarity to help you ease into a day of bed movies and electrolytes.    So, while you pour yourself another drink, browse through our top picks for the best hangover cures for January 1 – we’re talking saunas, ice baths, IV drips, slap up breakfasts, massages you can fall asleep in and a big list of other ideas that should help soothe you right into the New Year. For now, bottoms up! But keep this list in your back pocket for when tomorrow comes.   

New Year’s Eve in Chiang Mai doesn’t stick to just one script – and that’s why we’re sharing a bit of everything to get you in the mood.    You can do the full movie-style moment under fireworks, lanterns and stage lights, dance your way into 2026 in a sweaty club corner, clink glasses over a long dinner or head for the hills to chant your way into a calmer, more enlightened version of yourself. Either way, Chiang Mai delivers every option for an end-of-year send-off that’s as varied as it is memorable – second only to the Thai New Year just a few months down the line.   From big-ticket countdowns and neighbourhood festivals to lantern-lit rituals and rooftop celebrations, here’s how Chiang Mai is welcoming 2026. Choose wisely. Or don’t. It’s only New Year’s Eve. 

If there’s one rumour about Chiang Mai that refuses to die, it’s that the city has somehow lost its digital-nomad magic. The reality? Quite the opposite. New coworking spaces are popping up every month, laptops are still hogging cafe tables and a steady stream of nomads continues to roll into town – many of them deciding to stick around rather than move on.   And if you’ve ever toyed with the idea of basing yourself in Chiang Mai – even temporarily – you’re in very good company. This weekend marks the return of Nomad Summit 2026, one of the city’s biggest digital-nomad meetups and, frankly, the closest thing laptop lovers have to their own Coachella.   More than a decade deep, this annual summit has long drawn founders, indie hackers, thought leaders, freelancers and the perpetually curious to the northern Thai capital to learn, connect and – let’s be honest – have a very good time while doing it.    Sure, the main focus is clearly about networking, big ideas and the odd late-night conversation about the good and evils of AI, but there’s way more to this event than just business. Here’s our run down of what’s on, how to sign up and where to go for the biggest pool party in the city.  Photograph: Nomad Summit What is the Nomad Summit?   This ‘aint no sterile corporate shindig – speakers and attendees join from a range of backgrounds and countries, from remote pros and founders to freelancers, investors and people who just really love the vibes.  This week-long event is desig

If you hadn’t already noticed, the north is in full ‘brrr’ mode as a chilly weather surge has rolled into town. Since early this week, the mercury has dropped a fair few notches, leaving city mornings with crisp low-teens and mountain tops like Doi Inthanon going full ice age – with grass-level lows hitting a record-breaking -5C and air temperatures hovering around 2C if you can believe it! Needless to say, things are getting frosty.   City minimums are said to reach 11C this weekend, as cold air from China sweeps across the country. And while this is all fine and lovely – we all love a break from sweating – the government has issued warnings to keep warm as a 75-year-old man has become the first reported fatality linked to the almost-Baltic chills.    But with winter properly here and the smog still keeping its distance, there’s no better moment to see the cooler side of Chiang Mai. If anything ever called for adventure, it’s cold mornings, rolling mist and a perfectly legitimate excuse to finally wear that jacket you’ve been eyeing in your wardrobe for the last fifty-so weeks. 

Christmas in Chiang Mai might lack snowflakes and woolly jumpers, but it makes up for the lack of frost with sunshine, cocktails and a calendar bursting with events. Sure, the midday heat is real and Santa has likely swapped his red suit for a Hawaiian shirt, but the city is firmly in festive mode. Get ready for a packed few days of feasting, drinking, dancing and zero excuses to stay home.   You can absolutely do Christmas the classic way – piling plates high at indulgent spreads at Skugga Estate, Anantara or Melia – but that’s just the starting point. Elsewhere, Christmas Eve spills onto rooftops, into tiki bars and across dancefloors, with DJ-led blowouts, jungle parties, fire shows, markets and Chiang Mai-style celebrations that are far more exciting than sitting through another rerun on the sofa.   We say skip the stay-at-home movie marathon and lean into the tropics. Whether it’s refreshing rooftop cocktails, basslines till late, Christmas dinners with a twist or playing bar games into the night, this is December in Thailand – and Chiang Mai is doing it its own way. 

For years, Thailand’s cocktail crown sat firmly on Bangkok’s head, a city that’s saturated with rooftop bars and hidden speakeasies. But, in more recent years, energy has been shifting further afield, with a number of out-of-the-capital bars capturing the interest of drinkers and critics alike.    While Phuket’s beach-side cocktail scene has a wealthy market ready to sip on gold-infused martinis, Chiang Mai is taking a more creative approach that’s more in tune with its own audience. And out of the many Chiang Mai cocktail bars we’ve reviewed and shared along the way, a little speakeasy-style spot hidden up a flight of bright orange stairs is pushing the city onto the national (and now international) map: Bar Not Found.   In just over a year, this bright, quirky, colour-soaked cocktail den has snagged spots on multiple awards rankings and produced mixologists now making waves on the competitive circuit – from World Class Rising Star Thailand to the Sip Supernova finals in China.   Not bad for a bar that opened its secret living room lair for the first time in September 2024.   Photograph: Time Out – Apiwat Singharach Colour first, then the cocktails   The Bar Not Found story is disarmingly humble. Before launching a venue together, Foam, Game, Jane and Amber were already friends – bartenders, chefs and industry folks moving around Chiang Mai’s growing drinks scene.    Lockdowns, hidden bars and late-night ‘what ifs’ eventually solidified into a plan and the idea for Bar Not

Long before hashtags, influencers and TikTok, there was a small blue book that could be found tucked inside every backpacker’s pocket. Its author? Joe Cummings – the man who wrote the first ever Lonely Planet guide to Thailand and lifelong Thaiophile who introduced a generation to the kingdom’s best temples, towns and tuk tuk rides.  As a writer myself (with a few Lonely Planet books under my own belt, as it happens) I couldn’t help but jump at the opportunity to interview the legend himself on a recent Time Out Thailand podcast episode. Before I knew it, we were sat together in the podcast studio inside Sukhmuvit 31’s Public House. As planned, we switched into Thai – a second language for both of us – to begin unravelling the stories, surprises and side-quests of a writer, musician, actor and accidental cultural icon.    Photograph: Joe Cummings His first calling to Thailand was spiritual  Cummings’ story starts far from the tropics. Born in New Orleans and raised everywhere his army father was stationed, he grew up without a hometown – ‘we moved every two or three years,’ he recalls as we discuss his father’s role in the Army.  With travel in his blood, it’s little surprise that when he finally flew the nest, his compass pointed due east. Landing in Bangkok in 1977, he arrived just as Thailand was entering one of its most fascinating eras – a time where stories were just waiting to be told. Thailand in the late ’70s, he says, was ‘slower, quieter, and the air was worse.’

ก่อนจะมียุคออนไลน์ในปัจจุบันที่เต็มไปด้วยติ๊กต็อก เหล่าอินฟลูเอนเซอร์ และแฮชแท็กสารพัด โลกของนักเดินทางในสมัยก่อนนั้นมีเพียงหนังสือเล่มเล็กปกสีน้ำเงินที่แบ็กแพ็กเกอร์ทุกคนต่างพกติดกระเป๋าไว้เสมอ แล้วใครกันที่เป็นผู้เขียนมันขึ้นมา หากไม่ใช่ชายหนุ่มผู้หลงใหลในมนต์เสน่ห์ของสยามเมืองยิ้มอย่าง ‘โจ คัมมิงส์’ชายผู้จับปากกาเขียนไกด์บุ๊ก Lonely Planet Thailand เล่มแรก และเป็นผู้ที่หลงใหลในเมืองไทยแบบสุดหัวใจ ผู้พาคนทั้งยุคออกเดินทางไปรู้จักเสน่ห์ของอาณาจักรสยาม ตั้งแต่วัดที่งดงามที่สุด เมืองที่มีชีวิตชีวาไปจนถึงการนั่งตุ๊กตุ๊กที่ไม่มีวันลืม ตัวผม ในฐานะนักเขียนที่บังเอิญมีหนังสือ Lonely Planet อยู่บ้าง จึงไม่พลาดโอกาสที่จะได้พูดคุยกับตำนานที่ยังมีลมหายใจคนนี้ ในพอดแคสต์ตอนล่าสุดของ Time Out Thailand เรานั่งคุยกันที่ สตูดิโอ Public House ซอยสุขุมวิท 31 และตามแผนที่วางไว้ เราเริ่มต้นสนทนาเป็นภาษาไทย ภาษาที่สองของเราทั้งคู่ ซึ่งกลายมาเป็นสื่อกลางในการคลี่เรื่องราว ชีวิต และการเดินทางของนักเขียน นักดนตรี นักแสดง และ ‘ไอคอนทางวัฒนธรรมโดยบังเอิญ’ คนนี้   Photograph: Joe Cummings ‘จิตวิญญาณ’ เสียงเรียกแรกที่นำพาเขามาสู่แดนแห่งสยาม เรื่องราวของคัมมิงส์เริ่มต้นไกลจากดินแดนอาคเนย์อันร้อนระอุ เขาเกิดที่เมืองนิวออร์ลีนส์ สหรัฐอเมริกา แต่เติบโตตามทุกพื้นที่ที่ผู้เป็นพ่อถูกส่งไปประจำการในฐานะนายทหาร นั่นจึงเป็นเหตุผลที่เขาไม่เคยมีบ้านเกิดอยู่ที่ใดเลย ‘พวกเราเปลี่ยนที่อยู่ทุกสองถึงสามปี’ โจย้อนเล่าถึงวัยเด็กที่เต็มไปด้วยการเดินทางของเขาและพ่อผู้รับใช้ชาติ ดังนั้นการเดินทางจึงเหมือนอยู่ในสายเลือดของเขา และไม่น่าแปลกใจเลยเมื่อกนกตัวนี้ได้บินออกจากรังตามเข็มทิศที่ชี้ตรงไปทางทิศตะวันออก เขาโผยบินลงที่

It turns out, Thailand isn’t just a holiday hotspot, it’s a dream destination for many from all walks of life. Just this week, Chiang Mai ranked 14th on a list of the happiest cities worldwide, while in January, it reached 28th on Time Out’s 50 Best Cities in the World 2025 list.  Now, it’s the retiree’s time – with Forbes’ ‘Best Places to Retire Abroad in 2025’ list placing four Thai cities in the global shortlist: Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Phuket and Koh Samui. The list is unranked, leaving readers and those looking to retire without the pressure of aiming for number one. However, after some serious research Forbes identified 24 countries and 96 recommended spots for the best retirement out there – based on costs, amenities, health care, language, crime and climate risk. And, given it’s a US publication, the rankings also take into account whether American retirees are welcome – so we expect some bias based on this metric.  Either way, it’s hardly surprising that social media is already dubbing Thailand ‘the world’s retirement hub,’ with a growing desire for people to enjoy its unbeatable food and culture on a more long-term basis. Add a cost of living that still undercuts most of the West, and it’s easy to see why so many are trading in their drab morning commutes for fresh lunchtime coconuts. Here’s the cities that made the list and why we think they’re great for retirement. 

Chiang Mai’s got no shortage of good eats, but when the chefs are as obsessed with the origin of their ingredients as they are with flavour, you know you’re in for something special.  From wild salad plucked fresh from the mountains to complex 360-degree systems that leave nothing but a crumb of food waste, some of Chiang Mai’s most exciting kitchens are shrinking the distance between farm and fork in ways that actually make sense. Think high-rise romance over sunset dinners, long lunches that roll lazily into the afternoon and menus built entirely on local, seasonal, socially-conscious ingredients. With that much goodness baked into the concept alone, just imagine how good your soul’s going to feel once you’ve cleared your plate.

Miss those uninhibited days of climbing trees? Feel your inner child stirring? This brilliant workshop from Retro Recess is part exercise, part healing, as it tours the Old City like no other gang out there. Bopping around the streets and alleys playing games and tackling challenges are the MO until the whistle blows and the floor becomes lava – which means climb, scramble and hold on to anything that lifts you up off the ground. All attendees get a goody bag because what’s a kid’s party without treats?     Jan 31. B200. Meet at Rare Finds Bookstore. 3pm-5.30pm

One of the top wellness spots in the city, Eudemonia’s Friday reset is rolling out ‘Organic Nights’, a  great programme for anyone still in that post-festival recovery zone – or just for those looking chill after a busy week of work. Eudemonia’s saunas, steam room, cold baths and rolling green gardens turn into even more of a sanctuary than usual, with zen activities welcoming a wind-down from 3pm onwards. Yin yoga, tai chi, sound-healing, sauna rituals and cacao around their bonfire mellow the pace, before ecstatic dance followed by downtempo tribal DJs round off the night. What could be better?   Jan 30. B350. Chiang Mai Sauna Ice Bath Eudemonia. 3pm-late

The atmospheric, riverside 1921 House is throwing a do in their aptly-themed Brit Bar this weekend. The gorge heritage building was formerly the British Embassy many moons ago, and as chic parties in the city go, there’s nothing finer. With two hours of open bar, we are here for their insanely good wine selection. It’s time to get moderately sloshed while you dance the night away to ‘70s-themed soul and funk classics under the specially erected disco ball. Extra brownie points if you have any Brit-themed outfits at hand.   Jan 30. B1,290. 1921 House, Anantara Chiang Mai Resort. 7.30pm-midnight

Chiang Mai’s latin dance scene knows no bounds, whether it’s bachata, salsa or tango, the classes and meet-ups are strong. So when Pura Vida throws a party, you best believe it’ll be a good ‘un. Host choreographers Keyti and Jess have some big moves up their sleeves and top DJs are in the house for the night – Mimao kicking off with Afro roots, followed by DJ Baby Paper’s mix of urban Latin and reggaeton, before DJ Nuphoria ends the night with global grooves. Plus there are prizes for the best crowd battle dancers.    Jan 30. B200. Pura Vida, One Nimman. 8.30pm-1.30am

Short and sweet, this one-day festival gets as rowdy, grubby and lit as you like, making it all too easy to go all out in the moshpit. The ferocious energy of this festival is unmatched in northern Thailand, with bands coming to play their loud and proud bangers from across the country and overseas. This year’s acts will blast into town from Tokyo, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, China and Germany, reminding one and all that punk knows no borders and jams with a cause will always rally community spirit. Don’t be fooled by the tough leather-clad exterior, the Chiang Mai punk scene is extremely welcoming.   Jan 30. From B700. Tiger Art Camp. 2pm-midnight

As one of Thailand’s most respected techno artists, there’s little introduction needed for Nakadia. Back in Chiang Mai for an intimate but impactful night behind the decks, she’s one of Thailand's most famous music exports – a Tomorrowland headliner who, most recently, opened for Carl Cox at Cafe del Mar Phuket. Tekno CNX is behind this special appearance, and while Liquid Room may not be as pyrotechnical, Chiang Mai’s most ‘boiler room’-style venue is arguably a much better setting for real, close-quarters partying among legends.   Jan 30. From B300 via Ticketmelon. Liquid Room CNX. 9pm-4am

Selina’s gorge Rawai branch always brings the goods, throwing top events and parties. So their Sunday Craft Market is as stellar as you’d expect. Showcasing the wares of local makers, from jewelry, textiles and bits for your condo, while selling tasty snacks and even having a tarot reader in situ, it’s a great spot to while away a weekend afternoon and even enjoy a dip or a spot of volleyball in their pool.   Feb 1. Free. Selina Serenity Rawai. 12pm-3pm

Join the joyful Wasted Art Collective, who’ve been busy running fun painting workshops this season and will be rolling their nurturing Paint n Sip into The Farm at Tri Vananda’s lush green ‘Making Deck’ this weekend. With easels set on the table, brushes and canvases ready, with nature all around, this promises to be a gentle painting workshop to soothe this Saturday. Choose to paint on canvas or tote bags and see what inspiration takes hold. All materials are included and no experience is needed, just a dash of enthusiasm.   Jan 31. B350. The Making Deck, The Farm at Tri Vananda. 1pm-3pm

Globetrotting party machine Glitterbox makes its Phuket debut this weekend so it’s time to dust off your lycra leggings and procure a feather boa at your earliest convenience. Expect the usual Glitterbox blend of disco, funk, soul and house, plus an exciting all star lineup. Mousse T., Jellybean Benitez, Breakbot & Irfane and Yasmin are guaranteed to get you, your friends and Glitterbox’s flamboyant performers united on the sweaty, joyful dancefloor. Jan 30. From B700 on Megatix. Illuzion Patong. 9pm-4am

A defining figure of house music, Grammy Award-winning DJ and producer Roger Sanchez’s career spans more than three decades. From New York’s underground to the world’s most established clubs and festivals, his sound has remained consistently uncompromising. Best known for his banger Another Chance, his appearance at our favourite hilltop gaff, FIRA, promises to be the house bliss your soul is craving. Groove away as you watch the sun set over the Andaman Sea. Lovely stuff. Jan 30. From B1200 available on Megatix. FIRA Phuket. 4pm-late

Polish off those dancing shoes and get ready to sway (and maybe twerk) those hips the night away as Cafe del Mar open the shutters for afro-house hero Da Capo, who graces their shore-side clubroom this Thursday. From his double-platinum debut album Indigo Child, to mega tracks like Secret ID and Umbovukazi, his journey through afro-house music speaks for itself.    Jan 29. B700. Cafe del Mar Phuket. 10pm-late

Yamagucci makes his YONA debut, bringing his signature blend of organic percussion, deep house grooves and melodic lift to Phuket’s biggest floating dancefloor. The Japanese-Israeli DJ and producer is known for soulful productions and high-energy sets that build slowly, then lock you in – a great way to forget about the busy week behind you. Sure, a weekend chilling on the beach sounds delightful, but the sounds coming out of YONA are always far more inviting.    Jan 23. From B2,000. YONA Beach Club. 3pm-11pm

While competition for the nomad dollar is fierce across Southeast Asia, Thailand is still very much winning the remote-work popularity contest. In the latest global rankings, Bangkok swaggers confidently into the number-one spot as the world’s favourite city to plug in, power up and get that remote-work brain firing, with Chiang Mai right behind it in a very respectable second place. The rankings come courtesy of nomads.com – the world’s largest digital nomad platform and community – whose users have collectively crowned Thailand’s two heavyweights above cities like Melbourne, Buenos Aires, Da Nang and Tokyo. Not bad company to beat. Thailand scores particularly high for affordability, safety and overall likeability, with just one minor blemish on the scorecard: internet speeds – which, frankly, says a lot. Turns out there’s more to the digital nomad dream than just the Mbps.  While busy Bangkok tops the ranks, given its connectivity and fast-paced lifestyle with literally everything at your fingertips, the quieter, more culturally-minded Chiang Mai is hot on its heels, with a calmer, creative vibe that happily trades a few megabits for peacefulness and good coffee. Just read our off-duty guide for digital nomads in Chiang Mai, and it’ll all make more sense.  Last week’s Nomad Summit only adds weight to these rankings. The gathering brought in close to a thousand digital nomads from across the globe to participate in a conference of digital minds, in the flesh.  The news also

If your idea of a good time involves great cocktails and seven bars in one night, keep reading. Our friends up in Choeng Doi Distillery are officially rolling out ‘Sonklin Weeks’ – a citywide cocktail crawl that shines a spotlight on their contemporary rice spirit, one glass at a time.  From January 18-31, Chiang Mai’s most respected cocktail bars including Bar Not Found, BRINE, The Continental, Bar Foucault, Bar San, THUUB and The White Rabbit are each serving a one-off signature cocktail using Sonklin as the star ingredient. And the distillery wants you to try them all – with prizes involved of course.  So, what’s the challenge? Well, as this is a bar crawl (of sorts), grab yourself a Sonklin Passport from any of the participating venues, order the Sonklin cocktail, collect a stamp and move onto the next. Five stamps unlock a complimentary distillery tour at Choeng Doi Distillery; collect all seven and you’ll score the tour plus exclusive Sonklin merchandise and special distillery-only rewards. Photograph: Choeng Doi Distillery And for those of you (like us) that may not handle seven cocktails at seven bars in just one night, you’re in luck – these stamps can be collected at your own pace over the next two weeks. All you need to do is find a few friends to share the bragging rights with.  In short, drink local, collect stamps, get a craving for contemporary rice spirit and discover Chiang Mai’s bar scene one cocktail at a time. Cheers to that, we’ll see you on the crawl. 

Wherever you are in Thailand, fine dining has a tendency to show off. Big statements, rigid rituals and concept-heavy menus can sometimes leave diners more puzzled than pleased. And while I’m always open to having my horizons expanded, Cuisine de Garden’s latest seasonal revamp does something far more interesting: it lowers its voice and introduces a touch of sweetness instead. And while a few moments may make you second-guess your choices, a few mouthfuls in, you’ll be glad you didn’t.   Chiang Mai’s OG fine diner  Photograph: Aydan Stuart – Time Out Cuisine de Garden has built its reputation quietly over the years, emerging as one of Chiang Mai’s pioneering fine dining spots – appearing way before the local audience was ready.    From its outset, the restaurant set out to explore a ‘Lanna Nordic’ identity – pairing local Thai ingredients and culinary memory with Nordic techniques, playing into fermentation and a respect for seasonality.    Chef Rinnameth ‘Nan’ Thaisuchat leads the operation from the semi-open kitchen. With no formal training, they’re completely self-taught – an impressive feat in the face of big kitchen names that most fine diners pass through.    This gives way to some exciting quirks that I personally think only make the place better. Cuisine de Garden turns its back on strict plating and planning, instead allowing its menus to evolve in response to what’s available, with tasting menus that ebb and flow with the seasons, or whatever is found in the mark

If you’ve been following Chiang Mai Design Festival 2025 this year, you’ll know there’s been tons of local and international guests showing off their best all around the city. From music to art, fashion to technology, the north is buzzing and alive – making this one of the busiest and most exciting Of all the venues, Three Kings Monument may be the most interesting. There’s back-to-back happenings at both the Lanna Folklife Museum and Chiang Mai Arts and Cultural Centre just behind, but it’s what’s on the courtyard itself that has caught our attention.  Slap bang in the middle you’ll find the Russian-Thai Business Council (RTBC) pavilion – a bright white and orange display of Russian heritage, art, craft and contemporary design.  From Gzhel porcelain to contemporary fashion and design, the Russian Soul Pavilion brings three cultural landscapes of Russia into the heart of Chiang Mai. Discover it for free and try your hand at the creative workshops until December 14.  Photograph: Time Out Thailand Local Plus – Design Week theme with a Russian twist   For Vladimir Kovalev, Executive Director of RTBC, the decision to debut here was obvious. ‘Chiang Mai was our clear choice,’ he tells Time Out. ‘It’s not just a city; it’s Thailand’s creative capital.’    Visit on any given day and you’ll find Vladimir’s team – many having flown in specially from Moscow – keen to share their best. With design at the heart of the city this week, he adds ‘this philosophy perfectly matches what we w

At the end of the year, Chiang Mai turns into a living, breathing open-air playground with festivals, events, parties, expos and hangouts that mark the city’s highest season. And from December 6-14, Chiang Mai Design Week takes over the city, with over 300 events, workshops, galleries, pop-ups and concerts that feels equal parts creative conference and street festival.  Now 11 years strong, this year’s theme is all about ‘Local Plus’ – a powerup week where everyone – from designers, musicians and students to travellers, entrepreneurs, neighbourhood aunties – gets involved. It’s no doubt one of the best times to be in Chiang Mai, and to help you navigate the ocean of opportunities, here’s our lowdown on what to see and do this creative week.   Photograph: Chiang Mai Design Week So, what actually is Chiang Mai Design Week? At its core, it’s a festival that spotlights local creative talent – from designers and architects to artisans, technologists, food innovators, sustainable-living champions and emerging makers. The official mission (and they've stuck to it brilliantly) is simple: share ideas, build community and show how design can solve real-world problems. From December 6-14, you can expect to see:  Design exhibitions and installations  Hands-on workshops (ceramics, textiles, printmaking, woodworking – you name it, it's got it) Talks and panel discussions Live performances, music and full-blown concerts Experimental food and craft programmes Photograph: Chiang Mai Desi

Anyone who keeps an eye on Chiang Mai’s live-music undercurrent has almost certainly stumbled into a Terror Terror set. Maybe you caught them shaking things up at Mycelium last year, tearing through the stages at Thantawan Festival or perhaps blasting through the 2am haze at Yoda’s CNX Gallery.  Formed in Chiang Mai in 2023, Terror Terror has quickly become one of the city’s most popular homegrown alt-rock bands. The musicians, hailing from local and international homes, fuse Western post-punk urgency with Thai indie sensibilities – a combo that strikes hard among those in the local scene. Their single ‘Wasted’ hit number one on Bedroom Radio and climbed to number 13 on Cat Radio’s Top 100, later becoming one of Bedroom Studio’s 50 Most Played Tracks of 2023 among Thai listeners. Photograph: Terror Terror   Chiang Mai’s alternative music scene is rising The band sits within a rapidly shifting Chiang Mai soundscape. As Rosie, the lead singer, puts it, ‘Chiang Mai has a strong lineage of folk rock sound, but most people only see that sort of stuff performed at holiday celebrations or walking streets.’  So, over the last decade, indie, experimental and DIY venues have flourished among local music enthusiasts, reshaping the landscape – powered by pioneers like Chiang Mai Originalive, Minimal Records, North Gate, Tempo Wave, Punk Rock Chiang Mai, as well as a hometown festival circuit that is now booming.  The band’s identity spans genres – ‘a bit indie, punk and garage rock’ –

From all the restaurant’s I’ve visited in Chiang Mai, few come close to having a clearer mission than &Then. Walk inside and you might mistake it for just another wine bar, but as soon as you open the menu, you’ll find something different – and dare I say, deeper inside.  But before we get to the food, let’s take a step back and share the story of how &Then came to be, and then some (see what we did there?). Behind the fancy yet casually approachable restaurant and wine bar sits three partners – each of different heritage (this becomes important later).  Photograph: &Then Trish is the chef, and with a mixed Burmese heritage, she spends her time exploring the region discovering new food and reviving old ones too. ‘I grew up eating lots of Burmese food. Kapi, fish sauce – all Burmese,’ she said over a glass of wine when we visited to hear the story. ‘This influences a lot of the menu, but we don’t want to frame today’s Burmese community as the only group of migrants in Chiang Mai. Rather, we believe that all of us are migrants who have come to live in this place in different ways and at different times.’ Flicking through the menu, this is made more apparent. Some pages more recognisable than others, the options dart between Thai, Burmese, Chinese and Muslim dishes – all deeply connected to the roots of each partner.  Kanwara ‘Ben’ Huangsuwannakorn, another founder and creative director of &Then adds, ‘I grew up in a Chinese family, with many children, aunties and uncles under

Jazz fans (and music fans for that matter), prepare yourselves as Chiang Mai enters full swing. And by swing, we mean jazz, folk and all kinds of funky music played across the city as, for one full week, the mountainside city transforms into a living, breathing jazz stage as the Chiang Mai Street Jazz Festival returns for its 7th edition.  This citywide celebration of brass, soul, improvisation and good music reaches far and wide. From street corners inside the old city moat to intimate club sessions and a grand finale on the Chiang Mai Cultural Center’s main stage, this festival is where Chiang Mai shows exactly why it’s one of Southeast Asia’s fastest growing music hotspots. Whether you’re a diehard jazz listener, a casual genre-hopper or simply someone who loves an excuse to visit Chiang Mai, this is one of the most exciting citywide festivals of the year. And to make it extra easy to navigate the busy schedule, here’s everything you need to know before you go.     Photograph: Chiang Mai Street Jazz Festival   What exactly is the Chiang Mai Street Jazz Festival? Think jazz everywhere – performed in temples, cafes, parks, cultural spaces, clubs, bars, co-ops and on actual street corners. It’s a week where musicians spill out into the city, where locals and visitors wander between pop-up sets, and where you’re just as likely to stumble upon a late-afternoon sax solo as you are a midnight jam session. The festival’s theme for 2025 – ‘Chiang Mai Jazz City: Let the City Play

Chiang Rai turns up the volume this cool season as the Chiang Rai Jazz Festival 2025 makes its encore, sending trumpets, basslines and brassy bursts out across the north. Under the theme ‘Analog Pulse,’ the Chiang Rai Contemporary Art Museum (CCAM) shifts from quiet gallery to full-bodied music playground, celebrating all things analogue. From vinyl to live instruments, acoustic sets and physical art, this year’s ‘jazz’ feels more eclectic than ever before. Sure, it may be a ‘jazz festival’, but this year’s lineup is anything but narrow. Headlining this year is the internationally-acclaimed Paradise Bangkok Molam International Band (we can’t get enough of them, honestly), supported by Chiang Mai’s own Rasmee Isan Soul – another one of our faves.  They’re joined by Natt Buntita x PYC, PETITE, Jūji, Nice Guys, Groovy Doopy, Khela, Overload and a wave of other rising northern talent pushing the festival into bolder, more eclectic territory. Throw in some vinyl DJs spinning warm grooves and you’re all-set this weekend. Plus, for the more proactive of us out there, hands-on art workshops, kinetic gallery installations and food stalls all add up to be the most ‘more-than-jazz’ jazz festival the region’s seen to date. And, if you’re flying in specially, why not pair the weekend with a high-energy ‘90s-themed brunch at Le Méridien Chiang Rai – their Italian restaurant, Favola, is to die for.  With its mix of international acts and homegrown talent, Chiang Rai Jazz Festival is quietly

A new global poll by Time Out has named Chiang Mai the 14th happiest city in the world, ranking it ahead of dozens of major world cities, underscoring its appeal as one of the best places to live. The survey, which polled more than 18,000 city-dwellers, asked urbanites across the world how their city makes them feel – including whether they find joy in everyday life, perceive neighbours as happy and feel their sense of happiness has grown recently. From that, we compiled a definitive list of the top 20 happiest cities, with Chiang Mai emerging as Thailand’s sole entry and the highest-ranking city in Southeast Asia. The happiness index was based on the percentage of positive responses to five key statements: ‘My city makes me happy’; ‘I feel happier here than in other places I’ve lived or visited’; ‘People in my city seem happy’; ‘I find joy in the everyday experiences my city offers’; and ‘The sense of happiness in my city has grown a lot recently’. This latest ranking follows Time Out’s 50 Best Cities in the World 2025 list, published earlier this year, where Chiang Mai placed 28 thanks to its growing reputation for excellent cuisine and third-most affordable place to eat out at a restaurant in all 50 cities.

Two of the city’s most innovative cocktail bars  – Bar.San and Bar Not Found – earned national acclaim at the weekend, landing at numbers 10 and 12 respectively on Thailand’s 20 Best Bars 2025 list, revealed at this year’s Bangkok Bar Show Awards. While Bangkok’s heavyweights took the top spots (see the full list here on Time Out Bangkok), Chiang Mai proved it can hold its tipple, with both bars recognised for creativity, craftsmanship and boundary-pushing alcoholic beverages. Bar.San, the sophisticated sister to Noir CMI and its neighbouring jazz-inspired venues, not only placed 10 overall but also took home the title of Best Bar in Chiang Mai. Meanwhile, Bar Not Found – the city’s ultra-modern, Pantone-themed cocktail bar – came in at 12 with nods to its colourful cocktails and brightly lit conceptual flair. The Bangkok Bar Show was co-founded in 2019 by Thailand’s cocktail pioneer Niks Anuman and Singapore’s Colin Chia, who built events that not only spotlight the country’s best bars but also celebrates Southeast Asia’s rising fine-drinking culture and spirited creativity.  And while there’s many more we think could have made the list (check out our best hidden cocktail bar list here), when you’re next in town, head to Bar San for some moody elegance and masterfully balanced classics, or pull up a stool at the well-hidden Bar Not Found – but only if you can find the right doorway first.

As the Yi Peng festival looms closer, lantern sales are up – but beware, there are strict rules this year on where you can release them. From November 5-6, Chiang Mai officially celebrates Yi Peng – the northern counterpart to Loy Krathong is usually celebrated by releasing paper lanterns into the sky, often adorned with names, wishes and prayers to the gods. This year, authorities have drawn up six ‘surveillance zones’ where launching anything that flies, sparks or explodes is strictly off limits. Red Zones, where lantern release is strictly prohibited, includes Hang Dong, Saraphi, San Sai, Mae Rim, San Patong, Muang Chiang Mai and the ‘Toffy Zone’ – a designated flight safe area that stretches 15km north and south from the airport.  If you still want that picture-perfect lantern release for your social media stories, you’ll need to head to one of the few officially approved events, CAD Yi Peng Sky Lantern Festival, where thousands of lanterns are set free in one go under strict safety rules. Take this as your warning: if you ignore the ban, you face up to five years in prison and a fine of up to B200,000. This almost doubles if your lantern starts a fire.  If, after all this, you’re still planning your own mini-release, then keep it green by using only biodegradable materials that vanish within a year – yes, this is also a strictly enforced rule from this year.  So if you’re planning to release a lantern this year, swap out the old frames for biodegradable ones and send off