Your ultimate guide to Bangkok
Discover the best events, attractions, restaurants, bars, clubs and more in the city
The ultimate guide to Chinese New Year in Bangkok
Get ready for one of the biggest festivals in Bangkok — the Chinese New Year!. Celebrations to welcome the Year of the Rooster will take place everywhere around the city, but the grandest event can be found in the Chinatown, where you will offer a prayer at sacred Chinese shrines as well as feast on some of the best Chinese food in Bangkok.
The best Chinese restaurants in Bangkok
Fans of succulent dim sum or crispy Peking duck need not worry—Chinese cuisine is always served in the best Asian restaurants around the world. In Bangkok, the range of Chinese cuisine spans various regions that you won't need to travel to China to experience authentic Sichuan or Cantonese fare. We zero in on the best Chinese restaurants in the city.
What to do in Bangkok
Find more things to do in Bangkok this week
![[REVISIT] Thiptara](https://media.timeout.com/images/105542819/630/472/image.jpg "[REVISIT] Thiptara")
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Frozen II
It’s pretty weird to think that Disney used to recycle its own animations to save a few bucks. So, Baloo from ‘The Jungle Book’ magically became Little John in ‘Robin Hood’ with a little sleight of hand by its toiling animators. Of course, that was long before the Mouse House became a world-conquering animation behemoth on the back of Pixar’s success and smash hits like 2013’s ‘Frozen’. That made $1.3 billion, so around one dollar for every time your kids have made you watch it. Happily, this long-anticipated sequel feels entirely fresh. The world it creates is charming, the wit sparkles and – one brief burst of ‘Reindeer(s) Are Better Than People’ aside – the songs are all new. So let go of ‘Let It Go’ and clear some room for a new batch of earworms. As you’d expect, the self-contained Elsa (voiced by Idina Menzel) remains at the heart of the story, but ‘Frozen 2’ also belongs to her exuberant sister Anna (Kristen Bell). She’s very much a co-conspirator here, sharing ‘When-Harry-Met-Sally’-ish tiffs with lovestruck Kristoff (Jonathan Groff, blessed with a genius ’80s-style power ballad from songwriters Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez) and helping to guide the scene-stealing Olaf (Josh Gad) through a very funny coming-of-neige plotline. The hilarious ‘When I Am Older’ and some philosophical musings on the nature of existence are an absolute delight. If there’s a flaw, it’s the slightly fiddly plot that has more folky symbols and elemental runes than a Hoxton tattoo
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Best hotels in Bangkok
Waldorf Astoria Bangkok
The stunning, brand-new Waldorf Astoria Bangkok shoots up from the bustling Rachaprasong intersection like a flower; in fact, it was designed to look like one—a magnolia, to be exact. Inside, design elements by Hong Kong-based architect Andre Fu—such as wrought iron sculptural panels and an assortment of intricate chandeliers—pay homage to local Thai culture as well as the Waldorf legacy. The property boasts 171 rooms and suites, each with interactive entertainment systems, well-stocked mini bars and sprawling bathrooms with rainfall showers, high-tech toilets and toiletries by Salvatore Ferragamo. Guests have access to three restaurants, two bars and a tea room lounge; our favorites are the Front Room, a lobby-level eatery serving innovative Nordic-Thai fare, and the top floor Champagne Bar, offering flutes of bubbly to be enjoyed on plush green velvet couches overlooking the city below. A small (three rooms) but lovely spa sits next to the open air, rooftop pool, scattered with giant wicker chairs and affording one of the best views from the property. There's also a 24-hour fitness center, as well as the aforementioned lounge, Peacock Alley, perfect for whiling away the hours between city exploration and dinner—look for the clock behind the bar, a quiet nod to the storied hotel brand's first property in Manhattan (every Waldorf Astoria has a version of the first location's beautiful wall clock). Time Out tip: Book ahead at the spa and the Front Room, both popular must-d
SO Sofitel Bangkok
Gorgeous views and unique designs are the key reasons you’ll love SO Sofitel Bangkok. Located a few blocks away from Lumpini Park, the enclaves lush greenery can be spotted from most rooms. Room styles are crafted around four different themes: earth, water, wood and metal. The Earth rooms are embellished with playful, curvy walls inspired by prehistoric cave paintings found in Pha Taem National Park in Ubon Ratchathani. Metal rooms are decked out like an urban refuge with minimal, modern decor and pristine white furniture. The Wood room, on the other hand, is inspired by a traditional Northern Thai wooden house, while the Water room—the sexiest room of all—features concrete walls and semi-transparent glasses partitions.
Out of town
Check-in: Renaissance Koh Samui
If you’re looking to experience an extraordinary holiday, Renaissance Koh Samui might just be the place for you. Though you have the option to indulge in your usual tropical holiday activities, like sunbathing or chilling by the pool, Renaissance’s new global marketing campaign, titled “Discover This Way,” may just convince you to venture outside of your comfort zone—and even outside of the hotel—for an entirely unique travel experience. The Discover This Way program features activities within and beyond the hotel led by a Samui-born and raised navigator who knows every best bit of the island. Renaissance Koh Samui, located on the picturesque Lamai beach, has been a staple for many travelers for decades—not so surprising since the accommodations, facilities and impeccable service have never failed to impress. Deluxe rooms offer views of the 50-meter Leelawadee lap pool (said to be the longest pool on the island) and the resort’s lush grounds, while pool villas offer the ultimate privacy and spacious rooms consisting of 4-poster king-size bed. Your Renaissance journey starts soon as you check in, with Punchbowl Rituals, a cocktail-making session by the beach. A mixologist will guide you through the process of making a unique drink using only Thai ingredients —we’re talking lemongrass, galangal, Thai chili, hot basil, kaffir lime, and fresh cane syrup, all of which are mixed with renowned Phuket spirit, Chalong Bay Rum. After the session, you’ll be seated at the Navigator’s