Kaweewat Siwanartwong

Summer's here, so you might as well meet it properly. February slips through your fingers every year and suddenly you're staring at its final weekend. Thailand has already tipped into summer, the light sharper, the air warmer, the polite excuse to stay home officially gone. Translation: step outside. Start softly with Myriam Ayari Piano Solo, an intimate recital that treats classical music like a conversation rather than a ceremony. If you want art with a mythic undercurrent, The Wings of Innocence offers Icarus reimagined with tenderness rather than tragedy. Russian Seasons opens in suitably grand style, folding jazz improvisation around orchestral favourites for a night that feels both polished and playful. Prefer something more roamable? Re:Turn Market and Looker 'n' Friends gather vintage hunters, designers and curious browsers under one roof, while Bangkok Art Walk lets you wander between canvases and street corners with equal ease. For audiophiles, the Vinyl Only Listening Session honours Haruomi Hosono and Yellow Magic Orchestra through warm analogue sound. Friends of man’s best friend have Dogue Days Out, essentially a social calendar for well groomed pups and their humans. Maker Jam hands the spotlight to robot builders and cardboard visionaries. And if your weekend needs a soundtrack, Rasmee Isan Soul delivers folk, mor lam and jazz with a voice that carries beautifully through a small room. Get out there. Get ahead of the game and start planning your month with our

February might be the month of love, but March keeps Bangkok in a pretty flirtatious mood. The heat settles over pavements, linen replaces layers and the city remembers how good it feels to be outside. Weekends fill up quickly now. Parks host lazy wanderers, galleries tempt the curious and nights stretch longer than intended. Take a look at Mango Art Festival, it’s back as a huge playground for collectors and camera rolls alike, with installations and performances that'll have you reaching for your phone. T-Pet x T-Pop Festival pairs idol culture with four-legged companions, which sounds improbable but somehow works brilliantly. People Festival and MEK Music and Market go grassroots, mixing live sets with independent stalls and conversations that drift well past midnight. Silent Theatre Festival proves words are optional when movement tells the story. Central Cee brings sharp West London lyricism to a local stage, a reminder that global rap feels entirely at home here now. And Chilli Fest crowns the season with heat levels that test your courage as much as your taste buds. The thing about March is it rarely whispers. It beckons, really, pulling you out of whatever comfortable routine February left you in. So don't waste the month watching the temperature climb from indoors. Get out there and see what all the fuss is about. Stay one step ahead and map out your plans with our round-up of the best things to do in Bangkok.

This will be the first time a Marley heir has performed alongside Thailand's top reggae artists, which is pretty monumental when you think about it. Julian Marley, the son of Bob Marley himself has linked up with The Uprising for what’s shaping up to be a milestone gig. He and Alexx Antaeus just scored a Grammy nomination for Best Remixed Recording with their amapiano take on ‘Jah Sees Them’. When he talks about dabbling in different genres, he makes it sound completely natural, like it's just part of the journey. And his father's influence? Still there, always present, guiding everything he does. It's not just Julian Marley taking the spotlight. You've got some Thai reggae legends on this bill too. JOB2DO are there with all the tracks everyone knows and loves, doing what they do best with that easy, laidback feel. Malaiman Downtown bring their own unmistakable  flavour, and then there's INJA, who basically shows up to set the whole place on fire. Jamaican reggae heritage meets Thailand's homegrown talent, all on one stage. If you plan to go, here’s what you need to know before the night starts. When is Julian Marley performing in Bangkok? Julian Marley is set to play a one-night-only live show in Bangkok on Friday 22 May. Where is Julian Marley performing in Bangkok? Julian Marley brings his signature sound to the stage at UOB LIVE, located within Bangkok’s EM District and perched atop the Emsphere. The venue can host up to 6,000 guests, accommodating concerts, entertainment

We update this article regularly to ensure the information remains accurate and current. Please check back for the latest updates. Every weekend, dancefloors fill with crowds that look like they've walked straight out of a street style blog. Sequins, sunglasses and a studied sense of nonchalance are everywhere. But past the queue-snaking clubs and glitter-drenched Instagram backdrops, there's more happening. Bangkok still knows how to party but change is on the horizon. Iconic venues like Studio Lam have already shut their doors (thank you for the great memories) but, if there's one thing the city does best, it’s fighting for the right to rave. Clubs are going strong and the community is pushing forward, determined to keep the scene alive, dancing and kicking. Bangkok's after-hours scene, in all its forms, continues to confound, delight and seduce. Whether you're chasing beats in a basement or sipping bourbon under LED constellations, one thing's clear: sleep can wait. From the old guard spinning vinyl in converted warehouses to sleek newcomers rewriting the rules of nightlife, the Thai capital remains relentlessly restless. Time to get your party on.   RECOMMENDED:  🕺Best LGBTQ+ bars and nightclubs in Bangkok  🍻The 10 best beer bars in Bangkok  🍽️Bangkok's 7 sexiest dim-lit bars and restaurants

February always shows Bangkok at its most performative. Bangkok Design Week rolls through town, collectors sharpen their opinions, gallerists rehearse enthusiasm and suddenly everyone is very busy being seen. It's loud in the cultural sense but also oddly useful. This is the moment to take stock and plan how the year might look beyond opening night chatter. Across the city, sculpture rubs shoulders with glossy photography while big exhibitions compete with smaller spaces quietly doing the most interesting work. Some shows lean on spectacle, others on ideas that take a while to land. Together, they sketch a scene that feels ambitious, occasionally overwhelming and far more varied than it gets credit for. From niche project rooms to stubbornly experimental galleries and museums built for crowds, Bangkok is stacked with work that provokes, comforts, confuses and sometimes does all three at once. Not everything deserves equal attention though. If time and energy are limited, a little guidance helps. So start here. These are the exhibitions worth stepping out for right now, with updates dropping weekly as the city keeps moving. Consider this a gentle nudge rather than a rulebook. Grab a pen, mark your calendar and let the rest of February sort itself out. Stay one step ahead and map out your plans with our round-up of the best things to do in Bangkok.   Get ahead of the game and start planning your month with our list of top things to do this February. Whether you're a regular gal

When you think of the citywide festivals that get locals excited, Bangkok Design Week should be in your top three. This year it returns with the theme DESIGN S/O/S, inviting everyone to switch on creative mode, unleash their wildest survival ideas and make them happen in reality, whoever you are. The concept imagines a world where uncertainty strikes every day. Here, design isn't just about creating beautiful things but becomes a tool for questioning society: the way we live our lives, cope with change and imagine the future of cities and people. The event wraps up this weekend, so time is running out. This year, Time Out went wandering along the routes of design events scattered around the city, exploring where design is working and who it's working with. We've picked out nine design highlights from BKKDW2026 that we reckon aren't just there to look pretty. These projects are clearly answering the same question as us: how can design actually help to ‘do/give/survive’? What events should you check out? Let's get stuck in.

New York has been photographed to death. Every alley mythologised, every night flattened into attitude. What Jesper Haynes offers instead is something quieter and more unsettling: a record of being there without rehearsing what it might later become. New York Darkroom, his recent exhibition in Bangkok, looks back at downtown New York in the late ’80s and ’90s without soft focus or hero worship. Faces are close. Streets feel narrow. Nothing performs for the camera. Photograph: Jesper Haynes Speaking to Haynes, what becomes clear is that this work is not about legacy. It is about attention. About what happens when you show up night after night, shoot one frame instead of ten and trust that whatever remains will explain itself later. His photographs, featuring figures such as Andy Warhol, Willem Dafoe and John Lurie alongside friends, lovers and strangers, feel less like cultural artefacts than private evidence. Proof that something happened. Proof that he was there. This is not nostalgia. It is memory with its elbows out. Before New York became a story When I ask Haynes whether the New York he photographed felt historic at the time, he doesn’t pause. ‘Simply immediate,’ he says. No sense of witnessing a future legend. No awareness of living inside a reference point. Just now. That matters. The photographs in New York Darkroom don’t announce themselves as documents of an era. They are too absorbed in the moment for that. Haynes arrived in New York as a teenager after Andy Warh

January drags its feet like it has nowhere else to be, while February slips past almost apologetically. After the detoxes, dry weeks and financial self-discipline that open the year, Bangkok responds with a calendar that refuses restraint. The city seems to exhale all at once, stacking romance, release and late nights into four compact weeks.   Music does much of the heavy lifting. Givēon Live in Bangkok lands as the month's emotional centre, all velvet heartbreak and cinematic restraint. His baritone carries regret with a strange tenderness, backed by a full band built for drama rather than efficiency. Elsewhere, RomRom and Transport offer their own kind of therapy, sweaty and communal, with lineups that prioritise feeling over neatness. The Modern Sound from Isan shifts the mood again, letting regional rhythms take over bodies before anyone has time to overthink.   Cinema plays its part too. Skyline Film turns rooftops into temporary confessionals for lovers, friends and solo romantics, while Japan Expo reminds the city how easily pop culture, food and fandom blur together when given enough space. February doesn't ask for grand plans. It just suggests showing up, staying out a little longer and letting the month do what it does best. Stay one step ahead and map out your plans with our round-up of the best things to do in Bangkok.

Muay Thai is both a sport and a martial art that's been woven into Thai society for centuries, from the Sukhothai, Ayutthaya and Thonburi periods right through to Rattanakosin. Even though the world spins faster every day and plenty of things have changed, Muay Thai still stands as an important national identity. At the same time, it's never stood still but has adapted and evolved with the times. Culture from outside has gradually blended naturally with Thai roots. The result is Muay Thai that's gone beyond being a fighting art in the ring, expanding into dimensions of branding, lifestyle and contemporary creativity, reflecting how the sport has evolved in the big city context and its role on the world stage today. Before Muay Thai went global, it began with bare hands, kad chueak wrapped with raw thread. Fighters wore prajieds on their left and right arms, mongkol on the head, short pants, no shirt and bare feet. Meanwhile, the referee in purple cloth and royal sash stood supervising the game. The atmosphere was thus not unlike a ritual awakening the fighter's spirit before the bell rang. Photograph: Muay Siam Magazine Today, Muay Thai might live in a gym next to the BTS, with classes after work and gloves instead of kad chueak. But its true essence hasn't disappeared. Anyone who's truly trained knows that every punch, every elbow, still connects to the original roots of this fighting art. Muay Thai from each region has a different signature. The North emphasises footwork,

Coming back to poke Bangkok where it already aches is perhaps not how most creative projects like to announce themselves. Yet that is precisely how Bangkok Pains feels when it returns, slightly smug, knowingly sharp and irritatingly accurate. Invisible Ink, the Creative Agency behind last year’s Bangkok Pains board game, is back with another affectionate assault: Bangkok Pains – The Alphabet Poster. It scratches the same itch as its predecessor, the kind that only appears after years of living here, when affection and exhaustion start sharing the same sentence. This time the medium is deceptively gentle. A Kor Kai to Hor Nok Hook alphabet practice sheet, the kind that once hovered above childhood desks, learning corners and dusty classroom walls. The familiar cadence of Thai consonants is still there, but the meaning has been quietly rerouted. Gor Gai has left the coop. Hor Nok Hook has flown off somewhere quieter. In their place come readings written by the city itself, spelling out daily irritations with the precision of someone who has been stuck at Asoke junction long enough to observe everything else happening around them. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Invisible Ink (@invisibleink.asia) I approach the poster with the particular defensiveness of someone who has lived in Bangkok long enough to recognise themselves in the joke. Some letters make me laugh out loud. Others make me stare for a moment longer than expected. It is

New Year, new art exhibition to look forward to. More art, better conversations and plenty of afternoons that'll start with good intentions and end with you wandering around galleries instead of dealing with your inbox. The city shifts between tiny spaces hidden down side streets, experimental rooms that push you a bit and museums that aren't shy about showing off. Each one gives you a different reason to stick around, ask questions or just stare at something for longer than you meant to. Some exhibitions demand your full attention. Others plant ideas that only land properly later when you're on the BTS heading home. Together they make a cultural landscape that feels restless and generous, never happy with just one way of looking at things. We've pulled together seven exhibitions worth knowing about right now. If your diary's packed but your curiosity's louder, these are the shows worth shuffling things around for.   Stay one step ahead and map out your plans with our round-up of the best things to do in Bangkok.   Get ahead of the game and start planning your month with our list of top things to do this January. Whether you're a regular gallery-goer or just art-curious, these are Bangkok’s best spots to live the art life. From alleyway masterpieces to paint-splashed corners you might walk past without noticing, here are our top spots to see street art.

So 2025 was pretty huge for live music in Bangkok, wasn't it? We had Doja Cat, BLACKPINK, TV Girl, The Smashing Pumpkins and Tyler, The Creator all gracing stages across the city. Not a bad lineup.   The good news? 2026 is looking just as packed. Alright, Oasis might not be on the cards just yet, but there's still a serious roster of artists lined up to play Bangkok stadiums and arenas over the coming months. And rumour has it even more big names are yet to announce tours like BTS.   Givēon, Central Cee, Taeyong, Kraftwerk... the list goes on. Whether you're into R&B, grime, K-pop or electronic legends, there's something coming your way. Here are the best major gigs heading to the capital this year.   RECOMMENDED: Confirmed: Tomorrowland Thailand officially debuts on December 11-13 After 12 years, Studio Lam is closing with an epic 49-night farewell party

It dictates cravings, stretches lunch breaks and tests bravado. Once a year that fiery obsession takes centrestage at Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok, which transforms into a roaming kitchen for Chilli Fest, now in its fourth round. Michelin-calibre names cook alongside neighbourhood favourites, each interpreting heat through their own lens. Thai curries sit beside Mexican aguachile, Korean spice meets Punjabi street fare and Southern Thai fire shares space with Spanish-Japanese tapas. You wander, taste, compare notes. As sunset nears, attention shifts to the Chilli Eating Contest. Contestants climb towards peppers measuring 2.2 million on the Scoville scale. The crowd winces, laughs and waits for the final, tearful triumph. March 28. B250-B800 via here. Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok, 2pm-9pm

Taeyong, leader of NCT, brings his first solo tour to Bangkok, fresh from completing military service and quietly reintroducing himself with a special video for H.E.R last December. The 2026 run begins in Seoul in late January, then moves through Jakarta, Yokohama, Macau and Kuala Lumpur before reaching Thailand.This marks his debut solo performance here, a milestone that feels personal rather than procedural. The set list leans on his individual catalogue, allowing sharper edges and softer notes to surface without the cushion of group choreography. Each stop is carefully constructed to reflect his own musical identity. Bangkok finally sees the full picture, not just the idol, but the artist steering his own narrative. March 28-29. B2,600-5,000 via here. Thunder Dome, 6pm

MOCANA began in New York in 2022 and now travels as a multi-disciplinary pop-up that treats culture as something lived rather than labelled. Built around five pillars, fine art, film, functional art, fashion and food, it gathers international and local names under one shifting roof. Exhibitions sit beside performances and workshops, each designed less for polite observation and more for participation. This edition frames culture as an archive you carry in your body. It lives in music, photographs, half-remembered conversations and objects kept for reasons you cannot quite explain. You listen, you move, you interact. Meaning forms through sound and shared experience, not wall text. March 21. B1,111-1,666 via here. ASVIN, 2pm onwards

Darker Than Wax turns 15 and decides Bangkok is the right place to celebrate. The collective unites for DTW15, led by Dean Chew, Dexter Colt and Pam Anantr, with guests Isaac Aesili performing live and Ziggy Zeitgeist joining the bill. Expect DJ sets and live sessions that travel through soulful house, electronic textures and world grooves without feeling like a history lesson. They partner with Ritual Rhythm Weekend, founded in 2023 at Baan Trok Tua Ngork and later hosted at The Standard Bangkok. Crafts, food, design workshops and ambient performances round out a full-day gathering where music and movement share equal footing. March 21. B300-500 via here. The Warehouse Talat Noi, 4pm onwards

You know that moment when a performer holds a room and not a single word is spoken, yet you follow every beat? That is the quiet triumph of the Silent Theatre Festival. No subtitles, no linguistic gymnastics, just storytelling carried by movement, rhythm and the sort of physical comedy that leaves your ribs aching. House of Mask and Mime curates the programme, inviting artists from Japan, Czechia and Thailand who treat the body as both script and stage. Four productions feature this year, each with its own temperament, from tender absurdity to playful mischief. It feels refreshingly direct. You watch, you laugh, you feel slightly disarmed. Children sit beside adults, equally captivated, which perhaps says everything. March 21-22. B490 via here. ​​Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC), check timing here.

After a globe-trotting 2025 run across Europe, North America and Australia, West London’s Central Cee sets his sights on Thailand with a debut solo show that feels long overdue. The rapper turns sharp observation and clipped delivery into an international calling card, with tracks like BAND4BAND, Sprinter, Obsessed With You and Let Go streaming from bedrooms in Shepherd’s Bush to Sukhumvit condos. He returns to Bangkok after Rolling Loud 2023, though this time the spotlight stays firmly on him. Expect full production, a headline set and that cool, self-assured presence that makes him one of the most sought-after touring names right now. March 20. B2,500-5,500 via here. UOB LIVE, 6pm

Skyline Film Bangkok waves goodbye to winter with a March programme that lingers on love in all its awkward, hopeful forms. Romantic dramas sit beside soft-centred rom-coms, the kind you quote years later without admitting it. The line-up reads like a well-thumbed diary: Past Lives, The Fault in Our Stars, The Perks of Being a Wallflower and Vicky Cristina Barcelona. Even The Hangover slips in. Thai favourite Seasons Change brings a rush of campus nostalgia, while How to Train Your Dragon and The Theory of Everything round things out. Swap the multiplex for open air, bring a friend and let the evening unfold gently. March 19-21. B500 via here. River City Bangkok, 5.30pm and 8.30pm

For three days, Cloud 11 joins forces with Looker to take over Bangkok’s largest rooftop park, stretching across 16,000 square metres. The space transforms into what they call a Cultural Floor, which in practice means film folk, fashion upstarts, designers and musicians sharing the same patch of grass. The curation leans thoughtful. Independent labels and emerging names replace the predictable rail of copy-paste trends. You wander, you chat, you probably buy something you didn’t plan to. Best of all, it unfolds in an actual park, high above the traffic. The city hums below while dogs trot happily beside their owners.    March 13-15. Free. Cloud11 Bangkok, 3pm-11pm

Bangkok does not always demand skyscraper gazing. Sometimes it hands you a pocket-sized booklet and suggests a long walk. The BAC Passport returns with its Winter Edition 2026, turning the city into a living sketchbook where each stamp is an achievement. You pick up the passport, roam between art spaces, collect marks and trade them for souvenirs created by actual artists. It plays out like a cultural scavenger hunt, only with better stories to tell afterwards. This season gathers 27 destinations and splits them across four routes, from Old Town corners to riverbank hideouts. Pick up your passport at one of seven locations, including Ratchadamnoen Contemporary Art Center, Bangkok City Library, Chula Museum, River City Bangkok, Princess Galyani Vadhana Institute of Music, Asvin or Numthong Art Space. You have until May 31 to complete the journey.   Until May 31. Free. Art spaces across Bangkok.

Clear your diary and text the group chat because the glass you talk about all year waits patiently here. What once answered only to beer now drops the label and widens its scope. The festival shelves Thai craft brews alongside natural wines, sharp little cocktails and small-batch spirits poured by the people who actually make them. Each stallholder arrives with a backstory, which makes wandering from table to table feel oddly intimate. You sip, you chat, you learn why that citrus note matters. A mini-election runs throughout the weekend, inviting everyone to vote for favourites and crown crowd heroes. It’s a neighbourhood gathering with better lighting and far better drinks.   March 6-8. Free. ChangChui, 11am-11pm

Bangkok’s family theatre scene receives a welcome treat as The Tiger Who Came to Tea pads back onto the stage. Presented by a dedicated family theatre curator, the production arrives direct from the West End, adapted and directed by David Wood and based on The Tiger Who Came to Tea by Judith Kerr. An Olivier Award nominee, it brings a professional touring cast to local audiences without anyone needing a flight to London. The story stays deliciously simple: the doorbell rings, Sophie and her mum expect nothing unusual, and a large stripy guest drinks the teapot dry. Songs invite sing-alongs, jokes land gently and visual gags keep adults amused. Running 55 minutes without interval, the show suits ages three and up, offering a friendly first step towards live performance. March 5-8. B1,275-2,500 via here. M Theatre Bangkok, check timings here.

Pet expos often mean fluorescent halls and polite clapping for pedigree winners. This one rewrites the script. The weekend plays out as a full-tilt hangout where you browse smart feeders and wearable tech, stock up on treats, watch dogs strut and cats judge everyone silently, then wander over to adoption booths and donation drives before catching a live set without leaving the venue. Phase 1 of the line-up reads like a festival poster: Jaonaay–Jaokhun, Gavin, Twopee Southside, Safe Planet and Better Weather lead more than 30 acts. Between sets, celebrity pets such as Jum Meng and Moo Too make guest appearances. You come for the animals, stay for the music and leave wondering why every fair doesn’t feel this lively.   March 5-8. B20 at the door. Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal Station, 10am-9pm

Another soft power has arrived. The Tuk Tuk Challenge 2026 creates a new phenomenon as MotoGP 2026 brings in superstar riders to show drifting on three wheelers, and placing Thai soft power before the eyes of the world. Yes, Thailand's iconic tuk tuk is finally getting its moment on the global stage, and it's happening in the most brilliant way possible. The PT Grand Prix of Thailand 2026 is ditching the traditional parade lap format for something wild. Photograph: Chang International Circuit   The whole thing kicks off on Sunday March 1 at 11am when 12 specially designed tuk tuks hit the track. One sports full MotoGP livery while the other 11 rock designs from different racing teams, each one looking absolutely mint. Two top riders share each tuk tuk as they tour the stands and distribute limited-edition souvenirs you can't buy anywhere else. Photograph: Chang International Circuit It's a far cry from the usual setup where riders cruise around in cars waving at fans. Chang International Circuit wants to go bigger this time, and honestly the whole concept is chaotic in the best way. These world-class athletes normally attack this track at 300km/h on their formula bikes. Now they're grappling with the quirks of Thailand's legendary three-wheeler. Got tickets? Bring your camera. Watching from home? Fire up the livestream because this might be a one-time thing. Prepare to make some noise when speed demons tackle Thailand's most famous mode of transport.

Anyone who misses the show of the brooding young man who creates beautifully melancholic songs that tug at the heartstrings, get ready to immerse yourself once again in his signature sombre sound. Joji, the beloved alternative R&B artist, has recently announced a new world tour titled 'OLARIS TOUR 2026', organised by Live Nation Tero, with a confirmed stop in Bangkok on November 24. View this post on Instagram A post shared by JOJI (@sushitrash) After leaving Thai fans listening to his old playlists on repeat for nearly four full years after his Smithereens Tour, Joji  has been consistently active, working on music behind the scenes and gradually releasing new work that's created buzz in the online world. Photograph: LiveNation Asia   Especially his latest album project, 'Piss In The Wind', a new body of work that's received an overwhelming response both in terms of visuals and unique promotional strategy. He's used a lookalike model to represent himself in music videos, whilst the musical direction has intensified while maintaining that melancholic atmosphere and emotionally resonant content. It's the signature that's earned him a dedicated fanbase worldwide. Photograph: LiveNation Asia This comeback isn't only about bringing new work to perform live on stage. It also reinforces his continuously soaring popularity in Thailand, after he previously posted a brief message on his personal social media saying 'tour' to signal what was coming. Today, Thai fan

Shop for home decor, books and art at a craft market held in the courtyard of old buildings in Yaowarat. As the final round of The Luenrit Street Crafts, this is your last chance to browse the Book and Bed-themed market before it wraps up. Photograph: The Luenrit   Vintage shophouses along Luenrit Street become the backdrop for stalls selling everything from handmade crafts to books you'll actually want to display on your shelves. There are workshops too if you fancy making something yourself, and the whole thing has that neighbourhood vibe. Photograph: The Luenrit Walk Wander runs heritage tours that show you Yaowarat from angles most people miss. You explore building facades you've walked past countless times without really looking, learn the stories behind shopfronts you thought you knew and see the neighbourhood through the eyes of someone who pays attention to these details. It's the sort of walk that makes you realise how much you've been missing. Photograph: The Luenrit After you've shopped and explored, there are free movie screenings to cap off the evening. Friday February 28 brings 500 Days of Summer, Saturday March 1 is Forrest Gump. Both films start at 7pm in the courtyard. No tickets are needed, you just have to register here. You can win popcorn and commemorative movie tickets during the event too. The Walk Wander tours require a B100 deposit when you book, but you get it back on the day at the registration desk.   The Luenrit Street Crafts, Yaowarat. Febr

Bangkok's dining scene has seen its fair share of French-Japanese restaurants come and go. Hippopotoshi, the newest opening on Soi Ruamrudee near Ploenchit, takes a different approach entirely. The chef behind it, Hitoshi Komatsu, has spent years in the kitchens that make grown men cry. We're talking three Michelin-starred restaurants in France and those notoriously impossible-to-book Tabelog Gold rated places in Tokyo's Ginza district. But here's the thing about Bangkok diners. We've become pretty savvy about what good food should taste like, and we can spot someone trying to charge Michelin prices for mediocre cooking from a mile away.  Photograph: Karina Samoilenko Komatsu seems to understand this. Instead of recreating that high pressure fine dining experience, he's opened a place that feels refreshingly normal for the neighbourhood. Soi Ruamrudee has always been that area where embassy staff, expats and local Bangkokians mix, where you can find everything from street food to hotel restaurants within a five minute walk. This fits right into that energy. Classic French techniques, Japanese precision, but served in a way that feels like it belongs in Bangkok rather than trying to pretend it's somewhere else. What the place feels like The atmosphere is casual in the best possible way. No white tablecloths making you nervous about spilling something, no waiters hovering ominously over your shoulder. Just a comfortable space where you can actually relax and focus on what mat

Bangkok’s cocktail lovers are raising one last glass to a beloved tropical hideaway. Tropic City, the bar that helped put Charoen Krung and Talat Noi on the map as the city's coolest neighbourhood for nightlife, has announced it will close its doors at the end of April after eight years of slinging rum punches and tiki cocktails. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tropic City™ Cocktail Bar (@tropiccitybkk) What started as a small dream of opening their own bar became something much bigger. Tropic City wasn't just another spot for drinks, it was one of the pioneers that brought energy and life to an area that's now buzzing with bars, cafes and creative spaces. Photograph: tropiccitybkk The team behind the bar says this isn't goodbye forever though. New projects are already brewing for the future, which should soften the blow a bit. Photograph: tropiccitybkk Before the final curtain call, Tropic City goes out with style. There's a brand new cocktail menu to work through, a series of events lined up and a massive three-day farewell party running from April 24-26. Along with fun events that will be continuously held during this final stretch. If you've ever fancied a trip to this tropical Bangkok gem, now's your chance to experience it before it becomes another cherished memory of the city's ever evolving bar scene.

This opera tells the story of a woman clinging to undying love, and it hasn't graced a Thai stage in over a decade since its last appearance in 2011. Photograph: Opera Siam   Mae Naak, Thailand's most notorious spirit, haunts audiences again this March in what sounds like a spine-tingling evening. The show fuses the bone-chilling Thai legend with Western opera, and honestly, it's quite the combination. Composer S. P. Somtow knows exactly what he's doing here. He wrote this opera back in 2003 and it's become his most acclaimed work, having spooked audiences in Bangkok three times already and even making it to London once. Now it comes back for a fifth run, and this time he's directing it himself. Photograph: Opera Siam National Artist Sumet Jumsai handles the design work, creating something that bridges Thai horror and operatic grandeur. Trisdee na Patalung, Thailand's leading opera conductor, takes charge of the music direction. The whole thing gets performed in English with Thai and English supertitles, so everyone gets the full dramatic impact.   Mae Naak takes the stage at the Great Hall, King's College International School Bangkok, on March 4 and 5 at 7.30pm. Tickets are B500-2,000 via here.

Ever feel like your weekends need a splash of colour and creativity? Bangkok's green heart hosts an open-air art studio where you can paint, chill and soak up some serious good vibes. Paint in the Park takes over Chulalongkorn University Centenary Park from February 27 to March 1, bringing outdoor art workshops, handmade treasures from over 20 indie makers and live music as the sun goes down. Entry is completely free and the park stays open from 3pm to 9pm each day. Photograph: Chulalongkorn University Centenary Park The event divides by three main areas. Park of Paint and Play teams up with Adjust Studio, Wa Wad Fun and Jergun Project for hands-on workshops where anyone can create something special. No experience needed, you just turn up ready to get stuck in. Green Craft and Coffee lets you browse artisan pieces while sipping proper coffee amongst the greenery. It's the kind of spot where you'll want to linger, taking in the blend of nature and creativity around you. Photograph: Chulalongkorn University Centenary Park As evening arrives, Paint Your Voice opens up the stage to budding musicians and singers. Picture yourself relaxing on the grass as local talent fills the park with sound. There's an Art and Craft Market packed with everything from homeware and jewellery to pet accessories. Your furry mates are welcome too, since the whole thing is pet-friendly. Street food vendors serve up both sweet and savoury bites to keep you going. The event will be held on February

Bangkok does a lot of things brilliantly. Traditional folk music from the hills of Appalachia and the pubs of Ireland? Not typically on that list.  The Bangkok Trad Social happens on Saturday February 28 at Royal Oak Pub, and it's basically a jam session disguised as a gig. More than 10 bands take part, but here's the twist. Musicians form temporary duos and trios specifically for this one night, so you watch people who've never played together before figuring it out live on stage.  Photograph: Bluegrass Underground Bangkok If you're wondering what 'old-time' music actually means, it's folk, bluegrass, Irish and Scottish tunes that all come from the same traditional roots. With so many styles in the mix, something catches your ear eventually. The real draw is the instruments. Bangkok doesn't exactly overflow with live banjo and mandolin performances, so this is your chance to hear them up close. Fiddles, harps, the lot. All acoustic, all raw, all in a cosy pub where you can actually chat to the musicians between sets. Photograph: Bluegrass Underground Bangkok Doors open at 7pm and music starts at half past, and it’s free entry. The whole thing runs as a continuous session with no repeated songs, so you get fresh performances all night long.   Royal Oak Pub, Saturday February 28. Free entry, just turn up.

Bangkok does not always ask you to look up, sometimes it hands you a small book and tells you to start walking. The BAC Passport returns this season with its Winter Edition 2026, and the idea is simple. When Bangkok becomes a large canvas, you become part of the composition. If you've never done this before, here's how it works. You grab a passport book, visit art spaces around Bangkok, collect stamps at each spot, and score souvenirs from actual artists along the way. It's basically the most sophisticated scavenger hunt you'll do all year. Photograph: River City Bangkok The Winter Edition 2026 launches now with 27 art and cultural destinations spread across the capital. The organisers split everything into four routes to make your life easier. Heritage Quarter covers the old city area where traditional meets contemporary. Urban Quarter plants you in the bustling city centre. Then Upstream and Downtown divide the scene by the river's north and south banks. You're not just ticking off the obvious galleries. The route weaves through museums, libraries, old communities, independent bookstores and creative hideouts you probably walk past daily without noticing. One minute you're in a sleek contemporary gallery, the next you're discovering an art space tucked away in a historic neighbourhood. Photograph: Bangkok Art City You have until May 31 to complete your cultural pilgrimage, which gives you a chunk of time to explore without rushing. Pick up your passport at one of seven

Dogue, the boutique canine fashion mag that treats pups like the royalty they are, throws a two-day gathering where your canine mate gets to strut their stuff, make new friends and generally live their best life. Dogue Days Out takes over Emsphere's Paw Yard on February 28 and March 1 from 11am to 8pm. There's play equipment for the pups to zoom around on, chill corners where you can swap training stories with other dog parents, live music in a garden setting and photo ops everywhere you look. Photograph: Emsphere at EM District The lineup is basically a who's who of Bangkok's pet scene. Jay Dice brings Choice, his beloved companion, while mini celebrities Mootoo and Metoo show up alongside Chang the cat and Bobby the capybara (yes, really). Pet Omakase restaurant rocks up too and serves specially curated meals because your pampered pooch deserves dining. Photograph: Emsphere at EM District The Dogue Studio has famous photographers ready to snap your furry friend, artists sketch portraits of you both together and the Therapy Dog Thailand team runs a healing station for any pups needing a breather. You can check out the Cover Star Exhibition showing off competition winners from the Dogue Cover Star competition campaign, browse carefully picked pet supplies and grab food and drinks while your dog makes the rounds.   Dogue Days Out, Paw Yard, G Floor, Emsphere Shopping Center. Free entry means the only thing stopping you is whether your pup's calendar is free. 

There’s another market to look forward to this year, and this one's got a bit more going for it than your usual weekend browse. MEK Music and Market lands at Cloud 11 from March 13 to 15, taking over Bangkok's biggest rooftop park for three days of independent brands, live music and creative types mingling about. The 16,000 square metres space becomes what the organisers call a Cultural Floor, which basically means film people, fashion makers, designers and musicians all show up in one place. Photograph: pong_photographer Cloud 11 and the Looker team have picked out independent creators and emerging designers across fashion, design and various other creative corners, so you're not just wandering through endless stalls of the same old stuff. Photograph: pong_photographer What makes it particularly nice is you're doing all this in an actual park. The green space sits right in the heart of Bangkok, and they've made it pet-friendly too, so your dog gets a day out as well. Everything runs from 3pm to 11pm each day, which gives you plenty of time once the heat backs off. Getting there is easy on the BTS to Punnawithi, exit 6.   MEK Music and Market, March 13-15, 3pm-11pm. Cloud11 Bangkok.

This weekend, you can stroll down a Bangkok street where artists paint right in front of you, jazz plays in the background and you can actually stop for a chat about the work you fancy. Bangkok Art Walk returns for round two, and this time it takes over Nang Loeng after bringing life to Khlong Ong Ang last year. The event happens across two weekends (February 21 to 22 and February 28 to March 1) from 4pm to 10pm, turning the stretch from Lan Luang Road to Chakkraphatdiphong Intersection as an outdoor gallery. Photograph: L’On bangkok L'On Gallery leads the whole thing, bringing together Thai and international creators who paint live on the street. You get to watch them work, have conversations about their pieces and shop for collectible art alongside crafts and local specialty goods. The music ranges from jazz to pop, soul and folk. Photograph: L’On bangkok This round gets more meaningful as photographer artists join to shine a light on the conflict in the three southern border provinces through their work. Part of what artists and L'On Gallery make goes to the Children's Hospital Foundation to help sick children and those with brain disabilities, and Soi Dog Foundation gets a share for animals.   The event runs on February 21 to 22 and February 28 to March 1 from 4pm to 10pm along the stretch from Lan Luang Road to Chakkraphatdiphong Intersection. Entry is free.