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

Tea Lounge at Capella Bangkok has joined forces with Valrhona for Éclat de Cacao, a limited-run afternoon tea by Executive Pastry Chef Paulo Bairan and Valrhona Regional Pastry Chef APAC Guillaume Lopvet. The menu explores chocolate in different styles and intensities, served in classic afternoon-tea form against a backdrop of Chao Phraya River views. It begins with a chocolate-and-citrus welcome drink before moving through scones, pastries, petits fours and mignardises. The creations range from bright cacao flavours to richer dark chocolate, accompanied by tea and herbal and floral infusions. Bringing together Capella’s pastry kitchen and Valrhona’s chocolate expertise, the menu plays with cacao through contrasting flavours and textures. August 8-October 9. Éclat de Cacao Afternoon Tea B1,800++ per person or B3,500++ for two. Tea Lounge, Capella Bangkok

Mooring examines how memories, beliefs and personal histories shift as they move between people, languages and generations. F four artists approach storytelling through their own experiences and practices, asking what happens to truth when a story changes with every retelling. The answer may depend as much on who speaks, who listens and what is remembered as on the facts themselves.  Until September 29. Free entry. Bangkok Kunsthalle. 2pm-8pm 

JWD Art Space marks 100 years since the birth of poet-artist  Angkarn Kallayanapong with Ash and Alteration, an exhibition shaped around his papers, sketches, letters and other surviving traces.Ashes, ruins and decay recur throughout Angkarn’s poetry – his name itself alludes to what remains after destruction – and here those fragments offer a way into both his work and the world around it. Artists Chulayarnnon Siriphol and Tada Hengsapkul revisit the Buddhist ideas and natural imagery found in Angkarn’s work, while scholars Jirat Chalermsanyakorn, Prapan Jangkitchai and Artit Srijan consider his place in Thailand’s literary and visual-art history. August 8-October 25. Free entry. JWD Art Space. 10am-7pm

Bangkok’s growing secondhand scene has another reason to gather as Use Loop Repeat 2026 returns to Open House at Central Embassy. Organised with Loopers, this year’s edition, ‘Designed by Her: Discover Stories Made to Matter’, celebrates women-led creativity through practical ideas rather than lofty statements. Opening day brings talks with Pancake Khemanit, Samich Petdee and Aim Phumipat, alongside workshops turning bottle caps, food waste and discarded packaging into everyday objects. More than 30 sustainable brands also set up shop. The three-week programme makes an easy stop whether you’re hunting for thoughtful design, browsing secondhand finds or escaping the afternoon heat. August 3-23. Free entry. Open House at Central Embassy. 10am-9pm

The Siam Tea Room at Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park has launched Ocean Fish: Essence of Thai Flavors, a menu inspired by Chef Aoi Supattra Kammai’s home-style recipes. Fresh ocean fish meets Thai herbs, spices and sauces across everything from light appetisers to hearty curries and soups. Highlights include spicy sea bass salad with mixed herbs and seasonal vegetables; baked golden snapper with herbs and fermented-fish chilli dip; and giant trevally stir-fried with red curry paste, fingerroot and baby aubergines. There’s also a hot-and-sour soup with silver mullet and young tamarind leaves. Dessert takes a more unexpected turn: snow-white palm juice served with candied makrut lime and smoked fish powder for a sweet-savoury finish. Until September 30. Daily, 11am-10.30pm. Dishes from B190. The Siam Tea Room, Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park

Siam Paragon celebrates Thailand’s long-standing ties with Japan this August with Siam Paragon The Wondrous Japan Heritage 2026, a cultural festival running from August 20-30. Head to Parc Paragon from August 20-23 for live samurai swordsmanship, ninja performances and hands-on workshops, with plenty to see even if you only have an hour between shopping stops. From August 20-23, the main stage hosts Awaken the Samurai between 2pm and 5pm, featuring sword school Shidenryu Tokyo and performers from Iga, known for its association with Japan’s ninja tradition. There are also demonstrations exploring the discipline and techniques behind these historic warrior cultures. Craft sessions cover origami, maneki neko making and the strategy board game Samurai. For something quieter, Living Hall presents A Living Legacy of Time, a bonsai exhibition featuring seven prized masterpieces, including one more than 500 years old. Guided tours happen on weekends, while bonsai workshops take place on August 22 and 29. The wider programme also brings Japanese food, fashion, books and design to the mall, with familiar names such as Kinokuniya, Loft and Nintendo alongside Japanese restaurants and cafes. Admission to the main festival activities is free. August 20-30, 10am-8pm at Siam Paragon

Japanese craftsmanship has long balanced painstaking technique with a playful streak, and The Superlative Artistry of Japan shows how little that has changed over the past 150 years. After touring internationally since 2017, the exhibition finally arrives in Thailand, bringing together Meiji-era masterpieces and contemporary design in one thoughtful survey. Rather than separating tradition from pop culture, the exhibition shows how the same careful approach continues to shape Japanese creativity across generations. July 25-August 23. Free entry. First floor, TCDC Bangkok. 10.30am-7pm

Three decades after Detective Conan first arrives on television, the long-running mystery series gets its first Southeast Asian anniversary exhibition. The show traces the anime's history from early sketches and storyboards to voice recording, music and final animation, offering a closer look at the work behind one of Japan's biggest franchises. Highlights include life-sized recreations of memorable scenes, a storyboard wall spanning 30 years and a screening room showing an exclusive anniversary film. Pick up an assigned collectible ticket on arrival, then finish with a browse through exclusive merchandise made specially for the exhibition. July 23-November 8. B250-900 via here. FreeAttraction Hall, ICONSIAM. 10am-9pm

Jelly Roll Jazz Club turns Lumphini Hall into a classic swing ballroom, with international jazz acts, beginner classes and some friendly competition. Never danced before? This is your chance to give it a go, with free beginner classes led by professional instructors – who knows, maybe you’ll even be ready to enter the competition later (but no pressure).  The night features live jazz from Thai and international artists, including Thailand’s Yusu Jazz Band, Japan’s Clap Stomp Swingin’, Eyal Vilner from the US, The Brothers Arntzen from Canada and Steven Coombe representing the UK, with the ‘Swing Era Cadets’ closing out the night with one final swing performance. Entry is on a first-come, first-served basis, so arrive early before the hall fills up.  August 23. Free. Register here. Lumphini Hall, 4pm-7pm

Thailand’s underground electronic scene gains an international platform this August as Dudesweet, supported by the Department of Cultural Promotion, launches ThaiBeats. More than 380 tracks arrived from artists nationwide; 12 made the final vinyl compilation, which will be distributed to DJs and music-industry figures overseas. The launch lands at Speakerbox Livehouse on August 20, opening with a panel titled ‘What’s Next for the Thai Electronic Music Scene?’ featuring Maft Sai, Tul Apartment Khunpa, Note Dudesweet and Pascal Karier of Germany’s Kerala Dust. Two selected artists perform before Tapejam closes with a cassette-only set. Further showcases follow at Melt Livehouse and Cloud 11 on August 21, then The One on Khaosan Road on August 22. August 20-22. Free. Tickets here. Speakerbox Livehouse, Melt Livehouse and The One.