Jim Thompson Art Centre

What is it? A four-storey, 3,000-square-metre art centre planted in the middle of the city, a stone's throw from BACC. Inside the Jim Thompson Art Center you find a cafe, a library, a gallery and a restaurant, all pulling together to make art feel a little less daunting for the rest of us.

Why we love it: The place wears its mission lightly, setting out to bring both contemporary and traditional work within easy reach without ever lecturing you about it. It's grown into a proper community hub for central Bangkok, the sort of spot where you can catch a rotating exhibition, settle in with a coffee and lose an afternoon without really meaning to. The real charmer is the rooftop, a leafy, photogenic perch that's as good for a quiet sit-down as it is for a sneaky photo or two. Add the easy access and the genuine range on offer and you've got somewhere that suits the dedicated art lover and the casual drifter alike.

Time Out tip: The galleries need a ticket, but plenty of the building doesn't. The open-air plaza, the rooftop garden, the design shop and the lovely William Warren Library on the second floor are all yours for free.

Kasemsan 2, Rama 1 Road. Open daily, 10am-6pm. Entry is B50 for adults (or B250 for a combined ticket with the Jim Thompson House Museum).