The best things to do in Bangkok this weekend (November 12-15)

Life doesn’t always come with a script, and MMAD invites you to write your own. Running from November 12 to January 10 2027, four exhibition explore how we navigate everyday life. LIFE THEATRE, by illustrator PYH, looks looks at dreams and purpose through paintings and a walk-in Toy Theatre. Korrakot Lordkam’s 1,080,000 Seconds asks what makes our time valuable, while TAMSTER’s MAD MASK uses 16 distorted mask sculptures to explore difficult emotions, memories and the subconscious. Finally, HAVE A GOOD TRIP turns life’s choices into a game of possibilities. Expect playful ideas and plenty to think about afterwards.

November 12-January 10 2027. Free entry. MMAD Gallery, 2/F, MunMun Srinakarin, Seacon Square Srinakarin. 11am-7pm

Fancy a taste of Italian cocktail culture without booking a flight? Penthouse Cocktail Bar brings five Italian bartenders together for Goodfellas, a one-night takeover on November 12. The line-up includes Fabio Brugnolaro of Penthouse Bar + Grill, Davide Sambo of AVANTCHA, Diogo Da Silva of Fat Chili Group, and Francesco Moretti and Pasquale Viscito of Bar Crew. Each brings a different approach to the bar, with cocktails drawing on contemporary Italian drinking culture. Five bartenders, one evening and a chance to see what happens when Italian cocktail traditions meet Bangkok’s bar scene.

November 12. Free entry. Penthouse Bar + Grill, 35/F, Park Hyatt Bangkok. 7pm-11pm. Drinks charged separately.

South Korean trio wave to earth return to Bangkok with the pieces tour, bringing their blend of indie rock, jazz, lo-fi and surf rock to UOB LIVE. Led by Daniel Kim's soft vocals, the band have built a devoted following with songs that seem made for late-night listening and quiet moments. Expect familiar favourites alongside new material, with the understated, melancholy sound that's become their calling card. Bangkok fans will also get a set from supporting act Milena.

November 12. B2,800-3,800; VIP packages B6,000 and B8,000. UOB LIVE, 6/F, EmSphere. 8pm. Tickets: here.  UOB LIVE.

Talking about death might not be everyone’s idea of a weekend well spent, but MEMENTO MORI hopes to change that. Presented by Carenation at Slowcombo, the three-day event explores life and mortality through 15 mainstage talks, seven art therapy workshops and a free exhibition titled Life Like a Dream. Expect conversations about living well, facing difficult questions and making sense of mortality, alongside hands-on sessions that give visitors something to take away beyond food for thought. One workshop even invites participants to record their life stories on cassette tape.

November 13-15. Free exhibition entry; workshops B499; Death Ticket B399. Living Space, 1/F and Creative Space, 3/F, Slowcombo, Sam Yan. 10am-7pm daily. Advance registration recommended.

A typical test drive takes place on a quiet road with a salesperson pointing out the cup holders. This one takes place above One Bangkok. MINI Go-Kart on the Roof returns with a specially designed driving course that puts the brand’s much-touted ‘go-kart feeling’ to the test. The idea is to experience the sharp handling and responsive steering that MINI likes to make a fuss about, without having to negotiate Bangkok traffic crawling along below. Reservations are required.

November 13-15. Free registration. MINI Roof Track, Amphitheatre, One Bangkok Park. 4pm-10pm. Register online or call MINI Contact Center on 1397.

Bangkok’s riverside gets its annual glow-up as Vijit Chao Phraya returns for a month of illuminated landmarks, projection mapping, fireworks and light-and-sound displays along both banks of the river. This year’s programme includes drone formations over Wat Arun, cultural performances at Wat Kalayanamitr and fireworks at several bridges. The opening weekend is particularly promising: catch drones over Wat Arun at 7.50pm on November 12 and 13, or fireworks at Memorial Bridge at 8.45pm from November 12-15. Hop between public riverside viewpoints after dark, but check the programme before setting off: displays vary by location and date, and some sites are best viewed from the opposite bank.

November 13-December 13, with selected opening performances on November 12. Free public viewing. Various locations along the Chao Phraya River. Main light shows generally 7pm–9.30pm; special performances vary. Programme here.

Fancy a night of stand-up with a comedian who’s performed in 41 countries? American comic Joel Bryant brings more than 30 years of stage experience to The Comedy Club Bangkok for his first appearance at the venue. His credits include The Comedy Store, Hollywood Improv and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, as well as screen appearances alongside Henry Winkler and Maria Bamford. Known for his high-energy delivery and unpredictable humour, Bryant will be joined by special guests. Expect a fast-moving evening of stand-up from a comic who’s spent decades working rooms around the world. November 13. B600-B900. The Comedy Club Bangkok, above The Royal Oak, Sukhumvit 33/1. 8pm. Tickets via Megatix

Eleven years calls for more than a quick toast, so Le Café des Stagiaires is making a weekend of it. The Sathorn favourite celebrates with live music, ceramic painting with Eyes Studio, foam-printing workshops and a bartender contest, alongside a boozy brunch, photo booth and special anniversary menu. Spritzers Hours provide another excuse to drop in, whether you’re there for the activities or simply catching up with friends. Pick your favourite event, claim a table and raise a glass to 11 years.

November 14-15. Free entry; individual activities and food and drinks may be charged separately. Le Café des Stagiaires, Sathorn Soi 12. Bar open until late. Weekend kitchen: 11am-4pm (brunch), 4pm-midnight (dinner).

Bangkok’s theatre scene gets its annual get-together as the Bangkok Theatre Festival returns for its 24th edition. The programme brings emerging artists and established performers together for 103 performances, with theatre, movement and music sharing the bill with puppetry, likay and contemporary experiments.Shows take place at Bangkok Art and Culture Centre and TK Park at centralwOrld, as well as T. Namcharoen Playhouse in Bang Pho and Tai Siam at Siam Square. It’s a chance to catch work that doesn’t always reach the city’s mainstream stages.

November 14-29. Ticket prices and showtimes vary, with selected free performances. Various venues across Bangkok. Check the festival programme, including its ‘Foreigner Friendly’ labels, before booking.

Book lovers, consider this your excuse to make a little room on the shelf. The Neilson Hays Library Book Sale returns to Bang Rak with pre-loved fiction and non-fiction, mostly in English, starting at B20. Familiar classics and contemporary reads come from community donations and books withdrawn from the library’s collection, with a smaller selection in other languages. Proceeds support the upkeep of the historic Surawong Road library and its educational and arts programmes. Bring a tote bag, leave time to browse and see what turns up.

November 14-22, 9.30am-5pm; closed November 16. Free entry. Neilson Hays Library, 195 Surawong Road, Bang Rak. More details.

Another Yard, the latest project by Subsolum, turns the 39th floor of T-One Building into a simulated lawn, complete with artificial grass, carefully adjusted lighting and air-conditioned comfort. The installation asks an amusing question: do we actually enjoy nature, or just the version we can control? Visitors can take a seat, linger and make up their own minds. Newstand. also serves functional drinks and snacks inspired by the project. All the pleasures of lounging on the grass, minus the heat, insects and threat of an afternoon downpour

November 14-December 9. Free entry. 39/F, T-One Building, Sukhumvit Road, near BTS Thong Lo. 10am-10pm.

Bengali food, a long communal table and live music make for a good Sunday plan. Mustard & Memories Vol 7 brings its supper club series back for one final gathering of the year, serving a seven-course menu inspired by Bengali culture and culinary traditions. Isaac Aesili provides the evening’s music, while guests share a meal and learn a little more about the food and its cultural roots. Come with friends or take a seat beside someone new. Just make sure you arrive hungry.

November 15. B2,000 per person. FV39, Sukhumvit 39. 7pm. Reservations via LINE Official Account @fvevents or WhatsApp +66 91 949 6366.

If your knowledge of Thai beer starts and ends with a big bottle of Leo in a bucket of ice, ICONSIAM has a good reason to broaden your horizons. Flavors & Glow by the River brings together 15 craft breweries, 15 community distilleries and more than 50 other local producers across two weeks, with makers running their own stalls. November 1-8 focuses on craft beer, cider and fermented drinks; November 9-15 switches to community-made drinks including sato, gin, rum and cocktails with Thai ingredients. Mahidol University’s College of Music supplies the live soundtrack. students, too.

The separate Blessing Tree light show runs at 6.30pm, 7.30pm and 8.30pm at River Park on the ground floor. November 1-15. Free entry. ICONSIAM Park, second floor, ICONSIAM. 4pm-10pm daily.

DIAGE Festival’s October 31-November 1 music programme has finished, but its post-festival installation exhibition is listed to continue at Cloud 11. The highlights include NONOTAK’s 66 beams of light cutting through fog to a percussion soundtrack, Fabrizio Di Salvo’s rotating musical machine and Wit Pimkanchanapong’s woven structure playing with light and shadow. Other installations tackle air pollution and the pace of modern life. Go on, have a play – check which of the seven advertised works remain available before visiting. 

November 2-15. Cloud 11, second floor. Listed as free entry, noon-10pm.

What do butterflies and fish have in common? Butterfly & Fish, a collaboration between illustrator and storyteller Pi-near and papercut artist papeterie,looks for connections between creatures from very different worlds. Through drawing and cut paper, the artists explore growth, change, memory and the stories gathered along a journey. Butterflies transform above ground while fish navigate beneath the water’s surface; the works bring those separate paths together through the small moments and shared experiences that connect them.

October 29-November 24. Free entry. Soko Gallery, Sukhumvit Soi 32. Thursday-Tuesday 11am-6pm; closed Wednesday.