Our picks for the best things to do in Bangkok this weekend

Marc Butler’s latest solo show, disappear here stepping through a cracked mirror. He builds a world shaped by human appetite, where spectacle teeters on the edge of collapse, never quite settling. Sculptures appear raw, almost unsettled, filled with distorted figures, hybrid symbols and fragments that feel oddly familiar. His material language stays direct, refusing polish, which gives each piece a kind of restless energy. Installations spread outward, forming spaces that feel immersive yet slightly uneasy, as if everything exists on repeat. References to consumerism, power and stylised violence slip through without announcement. Moments of dark humour sit beside something more pointed, asking quiet questions about participation.  April 21-May 23. Fakafei Gallery, 10.30am-6.30am

Songkran wraps, but not everything disappears with the last splash of water. Thai art stays put, holding the centre a little longer than expected. Towering sculptures by internationally recognised Thai artists remain scattered across the city. Earlier moments of artist talks and hands-on workshops pass, leaving behind quieter encounters with each installation. What lingers now is space to take your time, to look properly, to notice details that might have slipped by during the rush of the festival. Even the stamp-collecting frenzy fades, replaced by something slower, more reflective. April 16-30. Free. Entertainment Plaza, Lumpini Park, 10am-8pm

sits firmly in the category of places you keep having to return to. But this time, it feels different. The concept leans on the ocean after dark, when sunlight disappears and whole ecosystems carry on unseen. You wander through shifting light, sometimes above the waterline, sometimes beneath it, with bioluminescent creatures flickering softly around you. Details keep catching your eye. A neon wall answers your touch with imagined marine life. Seahorses glow under tinted light, rainforest corners bloom with luminous flora, and a quiet full moon hangs over goldfish. In the shark tunnel, silver ripples mimic night tides, while Gentoo penguins stand beneath drifting northern lights. Even the familiar route feels refreshed, with a small stamp trail guiding the way. Until September 20. Starts at B449 via here. SEA LIFE Bangkok

Noo Monthip moves across disciplines with quiet ease, shaping voice, music, fashion and image without ever insisting on attention. This exhibition gathers what she leaves behind, assembled by family and friends who understand that her work speaks best when given space. ‘Wind’ becomes a gentle thread. You don’t see it, but you feel its presence in motion, much like memory that lingers, shifts and returns in unexpected ways. The ground floor, Baan Sailom, invites a slower pace, a place to sit and reflect. Upstairs, her life unfolds through sound, images and objects that feel deeply personal. A music corner hums beside fragments of writing. Another level brings fashion and collaborations, offering a fuller sense of how she connects with others, softly but unmistakably. Until April 30. Free. Museum Pier, 10am-6pm

Vinyl Palooza takes over The Warehouse Bangkok for a three-day Record Store Day stretch with the pace shifting naturally from afternoon crate digging into late-night dancing. The headline moment lands on Friday at Clutch, where DJ Spiller steps up, joined across the weekend by a rotating local lineup. Friday brings DJ Soisipsee and Dave Soul, Saturday hands the booth to Tom FKG and Ruggero, while Sunday closes with DJ Vim and JDJ. Alongside the music, Mahajak rolls out audio gear from AlphaTheta, JBL and Denon, giving you the chance to test  serious sound while digging through records. April 24-26. Free. The Warehouse Bangkok. 2pm-10pm

What is it? The Mandarin Oriental's khao chae is led this year by Chef Pom Patchara, who draws on family recipes passed down through generations. The jasmine rice is smoked with ob tien – a traditional Thai aromatic candle used to infuse a delicate, smoky, floral fragrance – before being floated in cool, flower-scented water. The side dishes follow a classical royal-court sequence: luk kapi, pounded yison fish caramelised to a deep sweetness, stuffed green pepper in its delicate egg-net wrapping and sweet shredded pork.  Why we love it: The presentation across both available formats – a gift box and a traditional pinto lunch carrier – reflects the hotel's understanding that the experience of khao chae extends well beyond the table.  Time Out tip: Advance orders are required. If you're giving this as a gift, the pinto carrier is the move – it travels beautifully and arrives looking considered. Four branches are available if one location doesn't suit you. The Mandarin Oriental Bangkok. Available at four Bangkok branches – Siam Paragon, Gaysorn Village, The Emporium and Park Silom. Daily from March 16-May 15.

Thanwa Huangsmut takes familiar expectations and quietly pulls them apart, piece by piece. His paintings rely on instinct as much as discipline, balancing assured brushwork with colour that feels almost unruly at first glance. Figures seem caught mid-shift, held between movement and control, as if testing how much space they can claim for themselves. The question lingers without insisting on an answer: do we truly own our lives, or simply perform within inherited limits? Each canvas suggests a different response, shaped through texture, rhythm and carefully measured composition. What stays with you is less a conclusion and more a feeling, a quiet encouragement to stand firm, to choose deliberately, and to carry that choice with a certain grace. Until May 3. Free. Joyman Gallery, 11am-6pm

A familiar name lands at The Warehouse Bangkok as DJ Spiller takes over the decks. More than two decades since Groovejet (If This Ain’t Love) helped redefine disco-house, its influence runs through dance floors worldwide – and yes, it still hits. Spiller arrives from Italy with a catalogue that sits comfortably between classic and current, built on warm basslines and clean, uplifting hooks. Expect a set that moves naturally, weaving recognisable moments with deeper cuts. The stripped-back space and proper sound system at The Warehouse give the music room to breathe, keeping the focus exactly where it should be.  April 24. B800 via here. Clutch. 6pm onwards

Thanwa Huangsmut’s Self-Sovereignty turns away from the familiar framing of the female form as something simply admired. His paintings reclaim that space with a sharper sense of agency, shaped by instinct and a confident, deliberate hand. Figures hold their ground, not posed for approval, but fully aware of themselves. Colour carries much of the weight, vivid yet controlled, moving across the canvas with a kind of contained intensity. The question lingers throughout: do we ever fully own our lives, or do we negotiate that idea daily? What stays is a sense of self-possession, expressed without spectacle. These works suggest strength not as performance, but as something steadier, built from within and held with care. Until May 3. Free. Joyman Gallery, 11am-6pm

Record Fest BKK returns just in time to test your self-control. Framed around Record Store Day under the banner ‘Spin the Culture’, it brings crate diggers, collectors and casual listeners together under one roof. The Collector Garage leads the charge, with more than 40 booths stacked with vinyl, tapes, CDs and music-adjacent finds, alongside labels dropping fresh pressings. Whether you’re hunting for something rare or just  browsing, it’s easy to lose track of time. Elsewhere, DJ sets, mini gigs, fan signings and talk sessions led by DJ Sonny keep the energy moving. Hands-on options include crafting NFC keychains or painting old records, while the Vinyl Library lets you test turntables and dip into a 500-strong archive. Come light – you won’t leave empty-handed.  April 24-26. B200 at the door. NEX HALL. Siam Paragon. 10am-10pm