Aydan Stuart

Chiang Mai’s weekend is looking like one of the busiest so far this year, with a clash of parties, festivals, concerts, shows and nerd-a-thons.  On one end of the scale, mega-stage festivals like Thantawan Festival and Panoramic Space blast you into another dimension – the former more groovy, the latter more ethereal. Sangsom’s legendary MOONLAB event also makes its debut appearance, transforming Central Chiang Mai Airport into a glowing ‘four seasons of the moon’ art playground by day and a concert arena by night.  On the other end, things feel a lot more grounded. Mountain Rise Festival unfolds beside Sai Mok Waterfall with wellness sessions, meditation, bonfires and barefoot dancing under the stars, while Northern Volkswagen gathers vintage vans in Mae Rim for lakeside camping, vinyl DJs and acoustic sets from Apartment Khunpa and Whatcharawalee. In the city, things stay playful and intimate – just how we like it. America’s ARTOON NETWORK brings another exhibition of cartoon-inspired art chaos to town, Brilliant Drama offers gentle, wordless shadow puppet theatre for all ages and Retro Recess invites photographers to loosen up and shoot for fun.  Big fields or small rooms, cosmic art or camping by a waterfall – here’s everything worth stepping out for in Chiang Mai this weekend.

From Ibiza-born underground heavyweights to sunset Prosecco sessions on the sand (or on a boat), the island is serving serious range this weekend.  The bizarre but Ibiza-famed ANTS storms Illuzion with AJ Christou, Andrea Oliva and Fleur Shore for a full-throttle house and techno takeover, while over at Cafe del Mar, Stephan Bodzin delivers cinematic melodic techno on the temple stage. Or, if you’re here for the sea, Dolly’s Night at Maya Beach Club brings deep-house elegance and free-flow bubbles for ladies in Bang Tao, while Sailaway’s Foam Boat Party turns the Andaman into a floating dancefloor, complete with DJs, suds and upper-deck bottle service. And if you prefer something more refined, Open Kitchen’s Lunar New Year Peking Duck set adds a little golden-crispy indulgence to the mix. Superclubs, beach clubs, boats and banquet tables – here’s what’s worth stepping out for in Phuket this week.

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. 

The North’s most out-of-this-world music fest is back, this time landing in the PAO Park with chart-toppers, singalong anthems and stadium-sized concert energy – all set against an open-air backdrop. Leading the mission is a star-studded lineup of all our faves including Taitosmith, Jeff Satur, 4EVE, Tilly Birds and Tor Saksit. Ticket options range from solo ‘Landing Space’ passes (B888) to value-friendly ‘Gang Packs’ for you and your friends (B3,200), while the VIP package (B8,888 for four) throws in fast-track entry, air-conditioned restrooms, drink coupons, private seating and prime side-stage views. Kids under 110cm get in free with a guardian, and there’s no age restriction overall, making this one of the more accessible large-scale concerts on the calendar this month.  Feb 21. From B888, tickets here. Chiang Mai Provincial Administrative Organization (PAO) Park. Midday-midnight

The Chiang Mai WLW community (women who love women, if you didn’t know) is kicking the New Year off with its very first casual hangout for those looking for friends, love and kinship. Led by the proudly queer-owned Sapphic Riot, this is your calling for a relaxed, LGBTQ+ friendly get-together, with a menu packed with drinks, mocktails and fun conversations. With a focus on community-building, the event is uber affirming and designed to make you comfortable, whether you’re heading out solo or with friends. Open to lesbian and gay women – as well as bi, queer, pansexual, sapphic, questioning and non-binary folks who feel aligned with WLW spaces.   Feb 21. Free. Sapphic Riot. 7pm onwards

ARTOON NETWORK – America’s self-proclaimed original cartoon-themed travelling art show brings its colourful chaos back to Chiang Mai as part of its international tour, with past stops including NYC, London, Berlin and Bangkok. If you missed it last year, let us fill you in. More than 25 artists from across the globe come together to reimagine your favourite animated universes – from Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network classics to cult staples – in a non-serious, community space that is as fun as the cartoons themselves. It’s definitely a vibe, blending art with vendors, live music, free games and plenty of opportunities to actually meet the creators behind the work. Time to plug into Chiang Mai’s art scene without all the pretence. Feb 21. B250-350. Various locations. Details here.

Retro Recess’ ability to tap into our inner child knows no bounds. This time, it’s through the medium of photography. This relaxed, community-first photography meet-up invites Chiang Mai’s curious creatives to loosen up and shoot for the joy of it. Hosted by our fave Studio By Char, join a fun two-hour session that takes you through the motions with playful prompts, shared shooting and guidance designed to help you reconnect with how you see the world. All levels are welcome – whether you’re dusting off a DSLR, deep into film or firmly entrenched in team iPhone. Spots are limited, so if you’ve been meaning to pick up your camera again, consider this your sign.   Feb 22. B100 per person. Sign up via Instagram (@retro.recess). Studio by Char. 4pm-6pm   

If your idea of a perfect weekend involves mountains, waterfalls and a little collective of soul-searching spiritualists, then Mountain Rise Festival is calling. Head out to the beautiful Sai Mok Waterfall and pitch a tent at this three-day, two-night gathering that blends wellness, music and community into one nature-soaked escape. The festival is mostly made up of movement sessions, meditation journeys, creative and cultural workshops and open community circles – with plenty of space for spontaneous offerings from participants themselves and a fair amount of music and jams to keep spirits high. More of a co-created playground than a strictly organised event, this is your chance to expect the unexpected and lean into the weird and wonderful. Feb 20-22. B1,300 per day or B2,900 for the weekend – higher prices at the door. Tickets and info here. Sai Mok Waterfall.

Cocktails with a view? Always. But ‘From Earth to Sky’ is dialing things up a notch atop Chiang Mai’s highest rooftop bar – MAI The Sky Bar. In addition to their excellent selection of cocktails and unmistakable vibes, our favourite chefs, Black and Beer from Blackitch Artisan Kitchen-fame, take over the rooftop’s kitchens – sharing his distinctive holistic, localised and artisanal food philosophy to tasting plates all evening. Tickets include access to interactive food and beverage stations where locally inspired flavors meet handcrafted cocktails, while live performances and DJ beats tie it all together. Whether you’re easing into the weekend or making this your main event, this one’s all about good food and even better atmosphere.   Feb 21. B899 per person (including an exclusive tasting of SEII Beverage).  MAI The Sky Bar. 6pm-10pm

Theatre fans cheer, it’s time for a shadow showdown, this time from the beaches of Blue Island. Loneliness, light and a little bit of magic frame this poetic, non-verbal shadow puppet performance by Sutarath Sinnong of Homemade Puppet fame. Using nothing more than household objects, light, shadow and sound, A Tale From the Blue Island tells the story of a cautious creature born different – choosing solitude over the risk of hurting others – until an unexpected encounter changes everything. Best of all? No dialogue means no language barrier. Just pure visual storytelling covering themes of connection and transformation that land just as beautifully for grown-ups as they do for little ones. Suitable for ages 3 and up. Running time 25 minutes.  Feb 21-22. B300, tickets here. Brilliant Drama. Showtimes 10am, 11am, 1pm, 3pm and 6pm

Chiang Mai’s VW crew rolls back into the mountains of Mon Jod inviting any VW bods (and those with other types of campers, beetles and kombis) to park up for one seriously hipster overnight camp-out. Part car club, part party, the all-day event is all about admiring machines and enjoying live music from a camping chair. Live performances come courtesy of Apartment Khunpa and Whatcharawalee, with special guests Rayron, as well as vinyl DJs spinning tunes, a flea market packed with VW parts and collectibles, a dedicated Vespa camp zone, kids’ art camp and an open-air movie screening once night falls. If you’ve yet to invest in your own VW camper, fear not. Walk-ins are allowed (and welcomed), as well as space for Toyotas and Fords. Just note: no outside alcohol, no open fires and bring your own camping gear.   Feb 21. B400 on the door. Mon Jodd, Mae Rim. 2pm-midday the next day 

Lanna Rot Production Unit rolls out an all-Thai-bands showdown that is playing loud, unapologetic hardocre with a distinct northern feel. Dubbed ‘Lanna Blood Cold 2026’, we’re talking the loudest and deadliest evilcore, hardcore and horrorcore hip-hop – and it’s not even October yet. From Bangkok’s Whispers and Not Proven to local faves Dirty Heaven, The Shredder, Olex, Heredity, Wratred and Richter, these dark and dangerous bands have been known to pop eardrums – so pop in some plugs and prepare your vocal cords, it’s gonna be loud.    Feb 21. B450, under 20s welcome at B50. DemoCrazy! 5pm-11pm

Chiang Mai’s teens and twenty-somethings, this one’s calling your name. SangSom’s highly-popular MOONLAB concert-installation event has eclipsed the north until now, bringing a four-season lunar experience to Central Chiang Mai Airport – complete with immersive light, sound and larger-than-life installations designed to make you feel like you’re wandering through a multi-dimensional moonscape. By day, it’s all about the art and entrance is free (before 3.30pm). By night, things turn up several notches with live concerts from The Toys, Milli, Yee, Lower Mansion, MIRRR, YourMood, Moving and Cut, Maiyarap and Yented. Sure, you have to pay for the show, but with all these big names, who cares how much tickets cost? Night tickets start at B390, with duo deals and three-day passes (B999, including a limited-edition souvenir) for those who want to commit to the full experience.  Feb 20-22. Daytime entry is Free. Night concert from B360, tickets here and strictly over 20s only. Central Chiang Mai Airport. 1pm-11pm (concert starts 5pm)

Chiang Mai’s sunflower fest is back – and it’s not quite the same beast. After carving out a name as the city’s most ambitious DJ-forward lifestyle festival, Thantawan is switching towards a lineup that’s all about live Thai bands. Headliners including 1MILL, Da Endorphine, Burin and Kong Huayrai are big ones to watch out for, while local bands and DJs fill the space with their own growing talents. Under this year’s ‘Groovy Bloom’ theme, Thantawan leans hard into ‘60s and ‘70s flower-power nostalgia – which means costumes are very much encouraged. Add in art installations, wellness sessions, a dedicated high-zone for green smokers, glamping options, a proper kids’ area and a late-night afterparty stage for the energy owls, and you’ve got a festival weekender that’s ticking all the right boxes.  Feb 20-22. B1,750 (click here for 20% off with Time Out using code STAFF001). Pangfan Rock & River, Doi Saket.

Chiang Mai, dust off your dancing shoes – Amsterdam’s Biggles Big Band is back in Thailand and landing in the north for a knees up like no other. Known for their high-octane live shows and tight, brassy arrangements, this seasoned Dutch ensemble brings the golden age of swing roaring back to life, channeling everything from Duke Ellington to Glenn Miller with enough modern flair to keep things fresh and roaring. Whether you’re a lindy hopper, brass head or just keen to see something different to the usual Chiang Mai flavour – this evening is giving strong Harlem ballroom vibes.  Feb 19. Free (reservations recommended). Tulou Restaurant. 6.30pm 

Chiang Mai’s festival scene isn’t exactly short on guitars, hippies and golden-hour folk. In fact, Northern Thailand has, in the last few years, become a circuit of its own – where live bands, local sounds and day-trance DJs dominate the hills most winter weekends. But Thantawan Festival never quite followed the script. When it first emerged, Thantawan positioned itself as the outlier: Chiang Mai’s biggest DJ-forward, lifestyle-leaning weekender. While other fests played into the acoustic and rootsy feel of Chiang Mai, founder Damian Johnston and his crew were flying in international selectors – stacking lineups with house, techno and sunrise sets that stretched well past sensible bedtimes.  It sat slightly on the fringes of the city’s music ecosystem – not fully underground, not fully mainstream – yet still managed to pull serious crowds, with electronic devotees jetting in from across the globe to dance its stages. However, scenes evolve – and so do the festivals that define them.   This February 20-22, Thantawan Festival marks a bold new pivot in a bid to attract a larger Thai audience – and it might just be the reset the festival needs. Trading a heavily DJ-dominated bill for an almost endless list of bands – including some of Thailand's hottest acts – gives the festival a whole new energy. It’s less Berlin-in-the-mountains and more Glastonbury-in-Thailand, a sunflowery-glow up that will no doubt be make or break. Live headliners this year include Thai rap icon 1MILL, eve

Cantonese cuisine has long shaped the way Bangkok eats – from the city’s love of roast meats and clear, aromatic broths to the everyday rituals of dim sum, noodles and stir-fries that have quietly woven themselves into the capital’s food culture. And while generations of Chinese-Thai kitchens have happily blurred the lines between the two, one new opening is giving classic Cantonese flavours a sharp, modern-city polish. Enter Xian Yuan, a sleek newcomer perched on the fifth floor of Central Park, with leafy views across Lumpini Park and a clear eye on Bangkok’s business crowd. Inspired by the idea of creating a ‘heavenly sanctuary’ in the city, the space leans into modern Chinese Zen – calm, considered and quietly luxurious with hints of blue willow on the clean upholstery – while the menu brings finesse to familiar comforts. Dim sum gets a contemporary upgrade, from har gow enriched with ankimo (monkfish liver) to warming soup dumplings filled with tender black-bone chicken. Photograph: Xian Yuan At the barbecue station, dishes light up with the kiss of applewood. Smoked Peking duck and rich suckling pig are served with fragrant sweet and savoury chestnut filling, while a live seafood counter keeps flavours clean and textures pristine.  For bigger moments, there are steamed red grouper with soy, and fish har gow and fragrant rice wrapped in lotus leaf and oven-baked with a whole Japanese abalone that are sure to impress. And with seven private dining rooms accommodating ev

While election weekend gets underway, many of us who can’t vote (or would rather not doom-scroll the results) may be wondering how exactly to fill the time. With bars and restaurants understandably dry for the duration, distraction becomes a little harder to come by – unless you’re willing to swap a drink in hand for something a bit more cerebrally enriching. If that’s you, you’re in luck. Long a capital of creativity, Chiang Mai is turning to performance this weekend, as the Chiang Mai Performing Arts Festival (CMPAF) takes over theatres and public spaces across town – starting right now.  From Friday to Saturday, CMPAF offers a timely reminder that entertainment doesn’t have to come with a bar tab (note to self), and instead, a lineup of contemporary performance rubs shoulders with tradition and international artists, sharing the floor with local creatives and audiences who know this city inside out. Now in its 2026 edition, CMPAF has grown from a tight-knit artist-led initiative into one of Northern Thailand’s most exciting platforms for performance. A mini-Fringe Festival if you will, under the theme ‘Lives in Rhythm’. Here’s what to expect and where to find performances all weekend – our best solution to avoid the election chatter. Mostly. Photograph: Cozomia Performing Arts Archive What’s on at the Chiang Mai Performing Arts Festival this year? Major shows will be hosted across the city, many with multiple performances to catch across the three days. Artists from acr

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