Aydan Stuart

The FIFA World Cup is back, and this year's tournament is bigger than ever. Hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico, the 2026 edition is the first to feature 48 teams and a whopping 104 matches. That's more football, more drama and unfortunately for us in Thailand, a lot more late nights. Whether you're planning to watch every game, follow Thailand's favourite teams or simply want somewhere lively to catch the final, here's everything you need to know about watching the World Cup in Bangkok. Who's qualified? A record 104 matches will be played in 16 host cities across this World Cup. The expanded format means 48 nations will compete for football's biggest prize, with debut appearances from teams including Jordan, Uzbekistan, Cape Verde and Curaçao.  Traditional powerhouses such as Argentina, Brazil, England, France, Germany and Spain will all be there, alongside hosts USA, Canada and Mexico. Sadly, Thailand did not qualify this year, dropping out after a very close head-to-head tiebreaker following a 2-1 defeat to China. Photograph: UnsplashThe FIFA World Cup 2026 What time are the world cup matches in Thailand? With matches being played across North America, Bangkok viewers will be dealing with some fairly anti-social kickoff times.   Expect most matches to fall into one of these windows:   Host city time Bangkok time Afternoon games Midnight-3am  Evening games 5am-8am Prime-time games 9am-11am That means some fans will be heading to bed at sunrise, while others

Every year, Time Out publishes the results of its international survey ranking the world’s best cities. Our team then dives deeper into the data to uncover other fascinating insights, like the world’s best cities for culture, the coolest neighborhoods and—the one I look forward to most—our ranking of the world’s best food cities. To get there, we surveyed thousands of city dwellers and asked them to rate their city’s food scene across 18 different criteria, including quality, affordability and diversity. Then we tapped our global network of chefs, editors and food critics to provide local insight into what makes their particular cities such wonderful places to eat—and not just right now. Our global network of food writers shared knowledge about the history of food in their cities, the dishes each place is known for, and the influence of different cultures on the local food scene. We’re serving up all this delicious intel in the tastiest list you’ll read all year, filled with nuggets from folks who frequent the bars, are restaurant regulars and know their city’s food scene inside and out. Ready to dig in? Here are the greatest cities for food on the planet.

Northern Thai cuisine has never enjoyed quite the same spotlight in Bangkok as Isan food, seafood or the country's famous central dishes. But that's exactly what makes finding a great northern restaurant feel so rewarding.  From rich bowls of khao soi and fiery nam phrik dips to herb-packed salads and seasonal delicacies that rarely venture beyond the mountains, the north's culinary traditions are among Thailand's most distinctive – and increasingly, some of its most exciting. Not long ago, tracking down truly authentic northern food in the capital required a fair amount of luck, local knowledge or a plane ticket to Chiang Mai. But how times have changed.  As diners have developed a taste for the region's bold flavours, several of northern Thailand's most respected restaurants have expanded south, opening Bangkok outposts  while keeping their northern counterparts still open and operational. This list celebrates these few, so whether you're craving a steaming bowl of khao soi, a full tweel of spicy sai ua or some of the north's more adventurous specialities, these are the places in Bangkok that bring a legit taste of northern Thailand to the capital.

Bangkok isn’t always known for drab office wear. In fact, it’s one of the more colourful and creative cities I’ve worked in over the years. Yet behind the corporate machine, the suit and tie matchup still stands strong – a demonstration of fitting in.  But one, rather arty fellow, is pushing for the exact opposite. Why settle for a plain silk tie when you could rock up to a meeting wearing a sardine dangling from your neck? Or a lobster? Or a monkey mid-swing?  Tie A Knot founder, Thai designer Kanatach Intarakaow – better known as Tortarn – asked just this. Launching his own necktie brand that breaks the rules with truly ‘bonkers’ designs, he’s now behind one of Thailand’s most delightfully absurd and fastest-growing fashion exports – making it to Selfridges and collabing with Disney in a matter of months.  Photograph: Tie A KnotThe Thai designer making officewear wonderfully weird   It started with a sardine At first glance, the ties look like novelty gags dreamed up after too many office coffees. But with Thailand’s love of the avant garde, there couldn’t be a better time for Tortan to, quite literally ‘tortan’ (resist in Thai) the office fashion rules.  It started when I was going to a party, and needed to dress up as a robot. Tortan explained as he opened a sack of his neckties in the Time Out office for us all to try on. ‘I had no top to go with my robot trousers so I made a robot-themed necktie.’  The tie was a hit with his fashion-forward friends, but was that just

One of the greatest advantages of living in a city is having world-class art and culture right on your doorstep. On any given day, you can spend the morning seeing world-famous works of art, the afternoon browsing bookshops and poking around indie galleries, and the evening at a comedy night (or the theatre, or a gig). Then there’s all the other stuff, like neighbourhood cinemas, street art, traditional festivals and museum lates. The best bit? In many of the world’s best cities, you can experience all that wonderful human creativity for free.  Every year, Time Out sets out to find today’s cultural capitals, where enviable art collections, brilliant theatre, music and cultural celebrations are accessible and affordable to locals and visitors. To create the list this year, we asked 24,000 locals in over 150 cities to rate the quality and affordability of the culture scene where they live, and to tell us exactly what their city does best, from comedy and carnivals to live music and literature. We then combined their responses with the insight of Time Out’s culture panel – editors, writers and local experts – who voted for the cities they think are particularly exciting places to visit for culture and the arts right now. To ensure the list reflects the best cities for culture globally, we included only the highest-scoring cities for each country. In every city on this list, you’ll find legendary arts venues and absolutely jam-packed cultural calendars. Time Out’s local experts a

Stepping off the ferry onto the firm ground of Koh Phangan, I couldn’t help but notice the change. Last time I was there, I was just 18 – sunburnt, eager and chasing the island’s infamous Full Moon Parties with a kind of reckless enthusiasm only young backpackers possess. Back then, the island felt untamed. Dusty roads. Cheap buckets. Half-broken beach bars stitched together from driftwood and optimism. Around me, travellers and foreigners who had made the island home, all with the same wide-eyed stories to tell – all convinced they’d somehow discovered the island in its ‘better days’. Seventeen years later, the island feels a lot different. Wellness cafés sit where old traveller joints once stood. Boutique resorts climb steep hillsides once hidden behind jungle. The parties remain, but they no longer feel like the whole story. And that’s why I came back. With just a few weeks to go before Julian Marley & The Uprising lands on the island’s sandy shores, I arrived, knee deep in water, flip flops in hand, to meet those who are bringing him here: a tight-knit mix of reggae scene veterans with decades of experience in the UK’s reggae events and festival scene, working alongside a family of Thai rastas who have called Koh Phangan home for more than 20 years. This is the story behind the show Reggae Rumble, a massive, reggae event held across Koh Phangan, Phuket and Bangkok. Headlining is Julian Marley, the son of late, great Bob Marley, playing alongside local legends Job 2 Do, Ma

Updated April 2026: We revisit this list to make sure our modern wellness stays, well, modern. A new addition to this year’s content is YingYang Wellness Clinic, a cool spot in Asoke that proves traditional medicine doesn’t need to be old.  Bangkok may be famous for its buzzing streets, late-night energy and constant motion, but beneath all that noise lies a softer, more grounded side – one that’s quietly growing. Beyond its food scene and fitness studios, the city has become a place where wellness isn’t just about what you eat or how hard you sweat, but how you take care of your whole being. Because let’s be honest: balance isn’t only about kale salads and spin classes.  True wellness weaves together body, mind and everything in between – the emotional, the spiritual and even the social. It's both new and data-driven, yet somehow still rooted in traditional practice. Sometimes that means slowing down enough to hear your own thoughts in a sound bath, or testing your limits in an ice-cold plunge. Other times it’s simply choosing not to spend another hour scrolling through TikTok in bed, convincing yourself it counts as ‘rest’ (we’ve all done it, and no, it’s not the reward we think it is). What’s exciting is how holistic wellness is finally stepping into the spotlight here. It’s not about extremes or quick fixes – it’s about reconnecting with yourself in ways that go deeper than the surface. Whether that’s with an acupuncturist's needle or the mystical under-skin warming of an

It’s that time of year once again to dig out your old floral shirt, buy a new water gun and hit the streets of Chiang Mai for another round of water splashing fun. Sure, the diesel shortage may hinder some of the more 'drivable' circuits (the Old City moat is of greatest concern), but word on the street is no crisis will stop the inevitable.  Chiang Mai Municipality has confirmed a whopping 12 days of official Songkran festivities this year, from April 6-17, making it one of the most expansive Songkran celebrations the city has seen.  Often topping lists of best cities to ‘do’ Songkran, you’ll find water fights happening on just about every street in Chiang Mai during the week-long event; there are a few key spots where the fun levels really peak.  Officially, Songkran runs from April 13-15 but with things starting early this year, things really kick off around the 10th or 11th – depending on how eager you are. So take your fun to the absolute next level with our top picks for free places to jump into the action this year, Chiang Mai style. Click here to find the best Songkran parties in Chiang Mai this year.

If you put Lalisa ‘Lisa’ Manobal in front of a camera, the world pays attention. And not to just her, but everything around her too.  You’ve probably seen the Thai rapper and singer who shot to fame with South Korean girl band Blackpink plastered on billboards, featuring in ads, standing atop mountain tops or walking wistfully through glowing moss-covered forest trails.  That’s the ‘Lisa effect’, and the Tourism Authority of Thailand is tapping into the actress’s seemingly endless allure. As the newly appointed official ambassador for Thai tourism under the banner of the ‘Feel all the Feelings’ campaign – a glossy, fast-moving series that follows Lisa across 12 destinations nationwide – she is starring in her own tribute to Thailand. Postcard moments with celebrity glam – a familiar playbook but that doesn’t make it any less effective. Each one a fleeting, cinematic moment. Each one an invitation to see Thailand in a different light.  From mountain peaks to centuries-old Lanna temples and wide natural scenes, it leans surprisingly into northern Thailand’s beauty, so naturally, we’re zooming in.  If you're curious to follow in her footsteps – fancy outfits and all – here’s all you need to get started as we trace the northern locations featured in the campaign. Where to go, what to see and how to experience each one in classic Lisa style.    Check out the eight flavours that Lisa put on the map

Right now, it feels like a great time to celebrate our cities. What cities do best is bring people together – everything we love about urban life, from the galleries and bars to the neighbourhood parks, exists thanks to the communities that make it all happen.  That’s why, every year, we raise a toast to the city with our definitive annual ranking, created on the back of a comprehensive survey of city-dwellers worldwide. Our survey asks not only what people love about their cities – the food scene and nightlife, the shops and museums, the parks and people – but also how it feels to live there. We asked you about happiness, affordability and quality of life, among a variety of other criteria. And, in order to dig deeper into the everyday lives of locals, this year we expanded our survey to cover aspects like love, romance and community feel. Time Out’s Best Cities with Intrepid Travel spotlights the destinations that offer the best of both worlds: an endlessly exciting catalogue of reasons to visit, as well as all the good stuff that makes a place feel like home. The 50 cities that made the list this year did so thanks to the insights of more than 24,000 people across 150 cities worldwide. To determine the final Best Cities ranking for 2026, we combined their thousands of responses with the votes of more than 100 Time Out city experts. Then we tapped up our network of local writers to tell us exactly what makes their city worth a visit right now. The result? A rundown of the m

While we all love a bit of theatre, we also know that student-led shows can be a funny thing. Sometimes they’re gloriously rough around the edges; sometimes you catch a glimpse of people who will end up running the city’s creative scene in 10 years’ time. Often it’s both. To Find The White Elephant, staged this weekend at WEAVE Artisan Society, firmly sits in that intriguing middle ground. Created entirely by final-year students from the Faculty of Fine Arts at Chiang Mai University, the production is the culmination of their studies – and a chance to see what happens when a group of young theatre-makers are handed the keys to the whole process. Photograph: Lakorn White Elephant Project Brought to audiences this weekend by Lakorn White Elephant Project, with 7pm showings March 13-15, the story centres itself around two curious folks wrestling with some rather large questions: what is truly good, what is true beauty and simply ‘what’ could all this mean? View this post on Instagram A post shared by ละครเวที ช้างเผือกอยู่ในป่า (@lakorn.whiteelephant.project) Their answer (or perhaps their escape) is a quest to find the mythical ‘White Elephant’ – a vague, possibly unreachable concept where truth and fulfilment collide. A topic that feels particularly fitting for a final-year student. Almost half philosophical search, half emotional unloading. While the performance is delivered primarily in Thai, international audiences haven’t been forgotten, with English

This list is from 2025. Our latest ranking for 2026 is live here. People who don’t live in cities will tell you they’re busy, lonely and expensive places. But there’s a reason so many people choose to live in them: with world-class art and culture, unbeatable food and nightlife, buzzing neighbourhoods and a dizzying amount of stuff to do and see, there’s simply no better place to be.  Every year, we take the pulse of city living by quizzing thousands of locals across the planet about life in their hometowns. This year, more than 18,500 city-dwellers shared their insights on everything from food, nightlife and culture to affordability, happiness and the overall city vibe. When urban living can sometimes feel isolating and costly, this year we wanted to get a sense of what, exactly, makes a city feel like home. Sure, the nightlife is great, but is the city safe and walkable? Is good quality food and art available at a reasonable price? Is it easy to make friends, find love, and access nature?  Livability was a key factor in our ranking this year. But a great city to live in is, naturally, a great city to visit. So, along with the thousands of responses from locals around the world, we asked Time Out’s global network of city experts to vote on the places they think are particularly exciting right now. After crunching all that data, here we are: Time Out’s definitive ranking of the world’s best cities in 2025. Read on to see how your hometown fared… RECOMMENDED:🛍️ The coolest n

Golf gets a gourmet upgrade at this friendly 18-hole tournament in Hua Hin, where the usual round comes peppered with food, drinks and wellness stops from some of the region’s top hotels, restaurants and lifestyle brands. Send the day whacking balls and enjoying signature dishes, cocktails and refreshments as you make your way around the course, plus welcome drinks, prizes and an après-golf social with a DJ to finish. Open to all skill levels, you can sign up individually or as a team of four, with a portion of proceeds supporting food rescue initiatives by SOS Foundation Thailand. If you want to stay longer, complete your Golf & Gourmet 2026 experience with a night at Hilton Hua Hin Resort & Spa – partnered especially for this event with one- and two-night stay packages available. Sep 5. Pineapple Valley Golf Club Hua Hin, Tambol Thap Tai. B2,000 for members, B4,250 for guests, inclusive of green fee, caddie fee, food and drinks along the course, as well as prizes for the winners and live entertainment. 10am-7pm

Ninh Binh is a special place. Head a few hours south of Hanoi and you’ll emerge into a beautiful landscape of karsts, rice fields and ancient-city culture – a hotspot for backpackers on the trail and local tourists looking for a getaway from the capital. It was my first time visiting the city. A regional capital that, at its heart, ebbs and flows with the day – its surroundings, a natural and cultural treasure trove with a collection of UNESCO World Heritage-listed wonders.  Hosting my stay was the towering Pullman Ninh Binh, a 29-storey landmark that has, this year, taken over the city's skyline as its first internationally branded hotel. From its lofty perch, it looks out across Ninh Binh's dramatic karst landscape while offering a level of comfort and sophistication previously unseen here – all within easy reach of the region's most remarkable sights. But it’s what happens inside that also redefines what Ninh Binh has on offer – setting a new standard for the northern Vietnamese provinces. Why stay at Pullman Ninh Binh?  Quite simply, there's nowhere else quite like it. Ninh Binh itself is a sprawling place, with a provincial capital that is packed with restaurants, cafés and easy transport links. The hotel, on the other hand, remains somewhat set back from the chaos, standing just a short drive from nearly every major attraction Ninh Binh is famous for.  Far from the usual backpacker hangouts of Tam Coc – where accommodation is spread among rice paddies and riverside lan

INDDEE, a two-Michelin-star Indian fine dining restaurant in the heart of Langsuan, holds a special title as one of Bangkok’s leading flavour houses of the city. Earning recognition as Restaurant of the Year and for Excellence in Service at Thailand's Favourite Restaurants 2025, it’s well respected for culinary talent and unparalleled service. Additionally, Head Chef Sachin Poojary was awarded the One Knife of Excellence at The Best Chef Awards in Milan, and named Chef of the Year 2026 by Koktail Thailand Restaurant Guide.  Time Out delves deeper into INDEE's story to discover how they set themselves apart from the rest.   Feeling good on the inside Hidden down a quiet offshoot of Langusan Road, the restaurant spans two floors, each offering a different ambience and a whole lot of character. At ground level, dine beneath a glass roof with views into two open kitchens where Chef Sachin and his culinary team prepare all 10 courses, several over live fire.   Upstairs, a more intimate space accommodates smaller private gatherings, with its own petite open kitchen ensuring the culinary journey carries through both floors. The warm and comfortable décor, coupled with the fantastic waft of spicy aromas, heightens appetite and anticipation, giving every visit that pleasurable ‘I'm here to enjoy great food and entertaining conversation’ vibe.    Every dish tells a story INDDEE’s menu takes you on a journey across India, with each course rooted in a specific region, ingredient and stor

A major highlight of green season in the north, the musical fest takes over multiple stages and mixing desks across Pai’s town centre – changing the soundtrack from sleepy hippy hangout to an international, multi-venue jazz affair. Jazz of all shapes and sizes is humming from street corners, for three full days and nights packed with talent from Thailand and beyond. But fear not, it’s still the same small scale, intimate event it ever was – and that’s just how Pai likes it.  Read our full guide, featuring an interview with the founder and timetable here July 3-6. Free entry. Jazz Up & various venues around Pai, Mae Hong Son. 4pm-10.30pm

Techno fellows Cheeky Mountain Festival are back at it again, this time in the cooler climbs of Mon Jam. With a melting pot of international DJs and producers playing afrobeat, house, techno and psytrance (which does sound better with your shoes off), this open-air knees up should be pretty special. This sunset until sunrise party surrounded by Mon Jam’s gorge mountain views is bound to be memorable. Practicalities wise, there will be BBQ for when hunger strikes and transport to and from the venue is provided with your ticket.  6 June. From B500. Amazing Mountain, Monjam. 4pm-6am

One of our picks of Chiang Mai’s best art exhibitions this month, perfectly timed for Pride Month, is photography exhibition In-Between: Behind the Mirror that invites us to step behind the curtain of Chiang Mai’s drag cabaret scene through a series of black-and-white images by David Gentil. Opening night this Saturday, the space welcomes three live drag performances, making this opening feel closer to a show than a standard exhibition launch. 6 June. Free. Alliance Française Chiang Mai, Chang Khlan. 5pm-9pm

The best neighborhood for arty markets and make no mistake, Pong Noi’s the place to head on this Saturday as LANDIN cafe relaunch their rather lovely Joy Market. Expect artisans selling their homemade clothes and textiles, paintings, photography and crafts, plants and local souvenirs, which you can grab after chowing down on one of Landin’s irresistible cakes and pastries. Some vendors even run impromptu workshops so give yourself more time than you’d think.  6 June. Free. Landin Cafe, Pong Noi. 9am-5pm

Chiang Mai’s thriving Latin dance scene is back with a bang this weekend, with Pura Vida hosting two nights of Fiesta Latina on their pulsing dancefloor. Whether you’re craving dancehall, afrobeats, reggaeton, Latin pop or some good old fashioned salsa, the high energy DJs are guaranteed to get you moving. But which night to pop in? Friday welcomes Mimao and DJ Baby Paper to the decks while Saturday is going hard with Beth Stone in residence, supported by DJ 2Guys. Vamos! 5-6 June. B250 per day. Pura Vida, Top Floor One Nimman. 7pm (Friday) 9pm (Saturday) 

Global broadcasters and celebrators of all things printed, Hello, Print Friend Studios present a new exhibition titled ‘Monsoon’, opening this weekend as one strand of their Chiang Mai residency. It’s all part of their exchange programme between local artists and Southern Graphics Council International, showcasing cross-cultural dialogue through printmaking. Local curator Kitikong Tilokwattanotai has put together an exciting show of different perspectives and techniques, so do pop by, or give them a shout to find out more about their tours and artist residency programmes. 5 June. Free. Light Bulb, Santitham. 6pm-late

This weekend’s top gig is one for all the indie fans – the squad at Yoda’s have bagged what promises to be a dreamy show from Tokyo’s psychedelic pop outfit Xiexie, who are out on the road for their first ever South East Asia tour. Think cascading world building riffs and you’re probably half way there. Bringing up the helm, support comes from local heroes Me and My Sandcastle, Echo Resort and Tichu, so absolutely one not to miss.  5 June. B250 (inc one drink). Yoda’s CNX Gallery. 7pm-late

Whether you’re a seasoned lens wielder or an aspiring clicker, the good folks at the Lifelong Learning Payap Centre want you for their group, Chiang Mai Photographers who are relaunching and focusing on ‘The Elements’ this season. Join their meet up this Thursday to get busy on a photography roam of the city and make plans for future creative challenges and useful workshops on equipment, techniques and post processing. They promise a supportive and non-judgy environment to swap tips and improve your skills. All you need to bring is your camera.  4 June. For free tickets book here. Lifelong Learning Payap Center. 10am-12pm

What is it: Chiang Mai has a number of farm-to-table restaurants that are of big-name, and Ginger is probably the most colourful. Known for home-style veg-forward food, it has spent decades gaining a loyal following in the north before seeking new audiences in the capital.  Why we love it: Serving up a generous range of northern and Thai-adjacent dishes (alongside some Western favourites) that take heavily from their own farm supplies in Saraphi, the menu is bursting with flavour and some healthy goodness besides. Popping up in malls across the city, it’s one you can take the whole family to and keep everyone happy, while also fulfilling your need for some northern favourites without the expensive air fare. Fresh veggies are obviously abundant, with pages of stir-fry and soups to choose from. Although if you want your taste buds tingled, go for the salty crab paste or young jackfruit ‘soups’ for a proper punch of nostalgia.  Time Out tip: While their menu serves a lot of the usual fare you’d expect, some of their more off-piste dishes are actually worth the risk. Take the chicken taco for example – not something you’d expect from a northern farm restaurant, but it dances around Mexican and Thai flavours in a (good) way that’s hard to explain.  Eight outlets across Bangkok. Usually open 10am to 10pm

There are few reasons I’d willingly brave the traffic through Mae Rim in pursuit of a good meal. Le Manoir Botanica, it turns out, is one of them. Opening its grand hallway doors in July this year, I turned up with an invite to check it out. Now, I’m already planning my next visit. But back to the point. To celebrate its launch, I sat down for a special tasting menu – a choose-your-own-adventure through the French classics that make up Le Manoir Botanica’s bistro offering. Things began communally, with marinated olives, chicken mousse toast and a cheese selection landing on the table to pick at while the wine started flowing. Then came the difficult bit: choosing. Tomato salad with Comté and croutons or escargots swimming in garlic-parsley butter? Beef bourguignon or steak frites? Crème brûlée or tarte tatin? This was unapologetically French bistro food, the sort that doesn't need tweezers or lengthy tableside explanations to make you hungry. Time Out – Aydan StuartTime Out – Aydan Stuart So, what exactly is Le Manoir Botanica? Le Manoir Botanica is the latest project from French chef Olivier Elzer, whose career has taken him through some formidable kitchens in France and Hong Kong. For context, he led Pierre by Pierre Gagnaire when it held two Michelin stars and L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon when it held three, before going on to establish restaurants of his own. In Mae Rim, however, the interesting part isn't how much French culinary pedigree he can squeeze onto a CV. It’s w

Fine dining is always a treat. And as a travel writer, I get to try my fair share of fancy restaurants. That’s not a brag; I’m setting the scene. Crisp cloth napkins, too many forks, hushed voices and a low-level anxiety about where exactly I’m supposed to put my wine glass as a left-hander. There are few fine-dining restaurants I can truly relax into, and that’s completely on me. The other day, that experience was turned upside down. An email came in with another invite, another restaurant visit kindly offered by those who want their food noticed. But this one had an air of quirkiness that I simply couldn’t ignore. And as a quirky person myself, how could I turn down such an opportunity. So I turned up, purposefully flying blind in anticipation of something I could tell was different.  I’m talking about Bisou. A self-described ‘simple and sexy’ modern French cuisine house tucked away in a small dead-end lane just off Soi Lanusan. For full disclosure, this was an invite and I didn’t have to pay. But there was no expectation of a write up or review. My experience, however, must be shared, because my goodness… I think I'm in love.   Photograph: Time Out - Aydan StuartBisou, Bangkok Starting with a peck on the cheek Stepping inside, the dark, red-gold hue of the restaurant welcomed me in. No bright lights, no white gloves. Music in the background played a curated loop of funky house and party beats that felt more at home in a bar. Although not too loud to drown out my voice,

Stop the presses. Cancel the awards ceremony. Chiang Mai has once again been declared the best city in the world – although this time it has absolutely nothing to do with food, culture, mountains, or affordability. It’s our toilets. According to the newly released Global Restroom Index from bathroom retailer QS Supplies, Chiang Mai has taken the porcelain throne for having more public toilets per capita than any other large city surveyed anywhere in the world. Okay, this achievement might not make it onto the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s next billboard, but anyone caught short after a particularly aggressive khao soi will surely appreciate the accolade. Their dedicated ‘researchers’ worked out the winning score by counting every public toilet listed on OpenStreetMap across more than 500 major cities around the world, before comparing those figures against population.  And when all the flushing, counting and presumably very serious spreadsheet work was complete, Chiang Mai emerged triumphantly from the cubicle with 92.7 public toilets per 100,000 people.  And frankly, perhaps we should have seen this coming.  This is a city where you're rarely too far from a petrol station, shopping centre, market, temple, café or other establishment containing somewhere to relieve yourself – although whether every toilet mapped in the study meets your personal definition of ‘public’ may be another matter. So while most of these ‘public toilets’ may not fit a more traditional European crite

Glen Hansard’s sudden death, aged 56, in a motorcycle crash outside Dublin on July 29 was felt far beyond Ireland. The singer-songwriter’s battered guitar and raw, unmistakable voice gave Once (2007) much of its beating heart, so there could hardly be a more fitting tribute than putting the film back on the screen. That’s exactly what microcinemas across Thailand are doing throughout August. While the movie will be screened across the country (check out the full list here), local film communities Wednesday Shine and Panya Movie Club have brought it on themselves to bring the cult indie favourite to the microcinema for two screenings, on August 11 and August 20. Photograph: ONCE (2007)ONCE re-screening   Directed by John Carney, ‘Once’ follows a Dublin busker – played by musician Glen Hansard – whose life changes after meeting a Czech flower seller, played by Markéta Irglová. Their shared love of music quickly brings them together, setting in motion a beautifully understated story about creativity, relationships and the complicated space between falling in love and actually being together. Music sits at the heart of it all, which is why the Chiang Mai screenings are making a little more of the occasion with live musical performances accompanying the film. From 6.30pm, settle in for live busking performances from artists connected with Chiang Mai Original before watching Hansard do much the same thing on screen. Tickets cost just B120, although with Wednesday Shine holding on

Film screenings are becoming more and more common in Chiang Mai, especially when you look beyond the usual Major and SFX screens. This weekend is no exception, with the launch of Hearing the Voice of the Absence – a three-day screening weekend bringing some seriously thought-provoking Thai and Japanese cinema to Suan Anya, all completely free. The three-day programme covers film screenings, talks and even a historical walking tour around town, bringing together the art and culture of eight critically acclaimed Thai and Japanese filmmakers, each known for their explorations of memory, history and the voices often left unheard in more traditional narratives. Taking place at Suan Anya (Northern people Historical Museum) from August 7-9, the free event is organised by the incredibly cool folks at Dude, Movie with support from The Japan Foundation in Bangkok.  Across documentaries, essay films and experimental cinema, the programme examines how landscapes, objects and people preserve traces of the past – and how film can recover stories that have been forgotten, erased or overlooked. The screenings are divided into three themed programmes, each approaching ‘memory’ from a different perspective. Hearing the Voice of the Absence – Thai and Japanese screening full schedule Local Sensations – Dude, MovieDude, Movie Friday, August 7 5pm – Curator Talk Nattakun Khamphinit (Dude, Movie) and Gohey Miyoshi (Asian Film Joint) discuss how Hearing the Voice of the Absence came together, fr

Forget white-walled galleries – one of Chiang Rai's busiest markets is about to become the city's most exciting art space. From July 24 to August 2, Pagad Festival: Awakening Chiang Rai's Market Through Art returns for its second year, transforming the century-old Chiang Rai Municipal Market 1 (Gad Luang) into a sprawling ‘living art museum’ where contemporary art, performance, culture and community all collide. And while Chiang Rai is no stranger to art – it is, after all, a UNESCO Creative City of Design – this event focuses on everyday life as an artform itself. Artists are here in the droves, all doing their part to turn the market into a canvas.  This year's theme, ‘Playing with Things’, has inspired many of them to take ordinary objects found around the market and transform them into contemporary artworks that tell the stories of Chiang Rai's multicultural heritage. Pagad FestivalPhotograph: Pagad Festival What’s on at Pagad Festival? View more than 30 art installations created by over 40 artists Snap photos of street art and hidden photo spots Taste local food ‘Made in Gad Luang’ – a food experience redesigned for international visitors Ride the ‘Rod Noi’ little truck, tour around the market and join a variety of workshops Cheer for more than 20 Chiang Rai street shows, including market-centre stage plays, open-air film screenings, a song contest and a Northern Thai fashion show Share your ideas for developing markets through the ‘My Creative Kitchen’ activities  B

If you've ever tackled the 1,864 curves on the Mae Hong Son loop and thought, ‘there has to be an easier way to get to Mae Hong Son,’ good news: there soon will be. Thailand’s small-plane regional carrier, EZY Airlines, is set to launch regular direct flights between Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son, making one of northern Thailand's most spectacular provinces far quicker – and a whole lot less twisty – to reach. Until now, getting to Mae Hong Son has usually meant either a very long drive through the mountains or a combination of buses, minivans and carsickness. Now, the airline gives us a new lifeline, with the inaugural commercial flight departing on September 17, before ramping up to full operations by October 1.  EZY AirlinesPhotograph: EZY Airlines The flights will operate using a 12-seat aircraft (a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX for all you nerds out there), leaving you up-close-and-personal with the pilot and the views. According to the airline, large panoramic windows make it ideal for mountain gazing, while comfortable seating and a charter-style departure process that skips the usual airport queueing comes part-and-parcel.  Flights to Mae Hong Son will take off daily by October 1, with two to three flights per day. Flights to Pai will run three days a week – with flight departures depending on the bookings. Tickets will start from around B3,000-B3,500 per passenger, which isn’t cheap. But it isn’t expensive either. A charter flight usually costs in excess of 60k, so it

If you grew up belting out Flying Without Wings, Swear It Again or My Love (just like our editors) it's time to warm up those vocal cords.  Irish pop icons Westlife are bringing their 25th Anniversary World Tour to Bangkok, with a one-night-only concert at Impact Arena, Muang Thong Thani, on January 25, 2027. Photograph: WestlifeBangkok The Bangkok stop forms part of the band's Southeast Asia tour, which also includes Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Manila, Jakarta and Hong Kong. The tour celebrates 25 years since Westlife first burst onto the music scene, with a setlist expected to span the group's biggest hits alongside newer material from their anniversary celebrations. The anniversary tour arrives alongside 25 – The Ultimate Collection, a landmark release celebrating Westlife's record-breaking 25-year journey, which includes their latest release “Your Love Amazes Me,” a soaring emotional pop ballad produced by Jamie Scott, Daniel Bryer and Martin Hannah. The album also features ‘Chariot,’ which will no doubt make an appearance live as well – released as a special moment for fans to mark 25 years of music and memories, the track celebrates love, family and the moments that truly matter. Photograph: Live Nation TeroWestlife Westlife in Thailand Westlife have always enjoyed a devoted following in Thailand, having previously visited the city in both 2019 and 2023. Now, four years after their last Bangkok performance, they're back to celebrate a quarter-century of chart-topping b

Just before midnight on July 12, a deadly fire erupted in a Lad Phrao evening eatery and beer house, Rong Bia na Lad Phrao, leaving 27 dead and many more people critically injured – a devastating case for all of Thailand as one of the worst incidents in recent years.  According to initial reports released this morning, July 13, emergency responders attended the scene and immediately categorised it as a ‘Red Case’ by the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation. A ‘Red Case’ refers to a critical, life-threatening emergency requiring an immediate response. Those injured have been rushed to nearby medical facilities, while families rush to the scene to find their loved ones. Many identities are still yet confirmed.  According to local news reports, a musician performing that night said the fire started after an electric sign short circuited, followed by an explosion. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul visited the scene in the early hours this morning, where he reviewed the scene and noted a lack of clear and unobstructed fire exits.  Bangkok is a city famed for its nightlife and lively neighbourhoods in almost every district, and while an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the fire and the sheer loss of life, we hope that the Bangkok Metropolitan Authority (BMA) take this as a sign to do more to safeguard people in the city and ensure venues are consistently up to code.  Our sincere condolences are with the families and all those affected by the fire. We

The northern capital is burning! But not with fire this time, but awards! Adding another notch to the bedpost, Chiang Mai has just been ranked as the third-best city in the world in the Travel + Leisure World's Best Awards 2026. The annual readers' poll saw Chiang Mai finish behind only San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, and Kyoto, Japan, while beating tourism heavyweights including Hoi An, Oaxaca, Siem Reap, Tokyo and even Bangkok (which still came sixth, mind you).  And while many awards come and go (some more reputable than others), this annual award is one of the big dogs, with 31 years under their belt reviewing and ranking the best of the world.  Travel + Leisure’s annual awards are based on over 661,000 reader votes across destinations, hotels, airlines, cruise lines and travel experiences around the globe. Cities are judged on criteria including their landmarks, culture, food, friendliness, shopping and overall value. Votes are impartial and from real people, so these rankings tend to track real-world opinion over other more ambiguous awards. Sitting firmly within the top three, Chiang Mai earned an impressive reader score of 91.88, placing it among the world's elite travel destinations. Interestingly, out of the top 10 cities in the world, six are in Asia (Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia), with Mexico and Israel claiming the remaining four.  Bangkok also secured a place, ranking sixth, while Koh Samui claimed the title of Best Island in the World, proving that Thailand still

If you’ve yet to check out The Bottle Club, there’s no better time than now. As one of Chiang Mai's few dedicated all-day drinking destinations, The Bottle Club has quickly made a name for itself by combining a bottle shop, cocktail bar and community space under one roof.  Inside, walls are layered with bottles of wines and spirits – all sold at retail prices – as well as a buzzing bar energy that mixes cocktails to match with an almost fine-dining style menu of bites, meals and bar snacks.  But aside from the drinks and the food, the space aspires to be one of the city’s coolest collaborative spaces, making it an ideal host for SEII's latest Bites & Neighbours takeover. Teaming up with SEII, this Saturday the club is taken over for an evening dedicated to life's greatest pleasures.  Taking over the bar for one night only, Bites & Neighbours pairs The Bottle Club's signature drinks menu with exclusive pours from SEII, featuring Bumbu rum at the heart of the experience.  To match the drinks, chefs Blackitch and Blackano have created a specially curated menu of eight sharing dishes and a dessert, each designed to complement the night's pours. Beyond the food and cocktails, expect a laid-back neighbourhood atmosphere soundtracked by vinyl all evening, with OG Street Coffee Crew behind the decks alongside Fangnary.  Whether you're dropping by with friends or looking to meet a few new ones, this is one of those nights where the conversation flows as easily as the drinks.   July 11

On an unassuming street corner in Wat Ket, Fringe cafe and restaurant launched their Coffee Rave a year ago and the (pretty much) monthly event is going from strength to strength.  ‘It started with a small crowd, maybe one or two tables of people at the first event’ manager Kay Pimmada Somthana tells us, ‘but as word spread and the months go on it's getting bigger and bigger’ she smiles. At Time Out Chiang Mai, we are big fans of Fringe; its unpretentious and laid back atmosphere give it an effortlessly cool ambiance, only added to by the decor. Flooded with natural light, dotted with cool mix and match sofas and armchairs in the chunky space of exposed concrete, Fringe is always occupied by people socialising, working or reading, on any given visit. Throwing a party in here makes sense. It’s somewhere you want to hang out. Photograph: Fringe.thCoffee Rave So what do they mean by Coffee Rave exactly?  Well their signature brews are impressive. Trust us on the ‘TiraLatte’ – as much tiramisu as it is coffee – or go big with the matcha caramel pudding if you're into the green stuff. And of course the menu features just about every regular coffee, tea and cocoa incarnation under the sun.  But do people have to stick with the caffeine programme? ‘It's up to the individual,’ Kay laughs. ‘Some people order a few coffees, others want to get a bit tipsy and order a beer or two, I'd say it's pretty equal. Everyone's here to dance.’ As we say, this cafe is perfect for a party thanks t