Tita Honghirunkham

Photograph: Wanghin Lab There is a stick insect on the table. It is dead, but it doesn’t look it. Long and twig-brown, legs angled outward like dropped from a branch, it has the quality of an animal simply resting. The hindwings are spread flat on washi paper, broader and more ornate than the forewings, faintly iridescent under the light. In life they stay folded out of sight. They only open to startle.  Kawin Sirichantakul twists an entomological pin carefully between his fingers, with the ease of someone who has done this a thousand times – because he has. He tilts his head, finds the spot just to the right of centre on the thorax and pushes down with confidence. The pin goes in cleanly. 'You never pin through the middle,' he says. 'That destroys both sides. You want to leave one side intact for study.' Photograph: Time Out Bangkok This is Wanghin Lab, a home studio and learning space in a residential corner of Bangkok where insects are not pests, not curiosities and not decoration. They’re something altogether more serious: a window into a natural world that most city people might have stopped noticing. Led by two brothers, Kawin and Kavee Sirichantakul, the lab blends art, science and technology to create large-scale insect models, DIY exhibits and hands-on workshops grounded in real research and genuine curiosity. Photograph: Wanghin Lab By any standard, it is an outlier. Strange in shape, rare in spirit. And depending on who you ask, maybe the only one moving like

Saw that piece Tyla had on? It traces back to a Thai coastline and a sleeping toddler – and to a designer building something global without losing the thread. There’s a small coastal town in Thailand where a woman sews clothes that now turn up on festival grounds in California, on major music figures and in wardrobes across more countries than she's probably counted. Photograph: CHALAY Chaninporn ‘Cha’ Hess didn’t set out to build a label. She set out to do something with her hands while her son slept. That instinct – simple, practical, personal – grew into Chalay, a globally shipping brand with two artisan production teams, a sell-out track record and a story that still feels grounded. It starts with a self-timer and a handmade crop top, and somehow scales without losing its centre. Photograph: CHALAY Leaving Thonglor behind Before Chalay, life sat firmly in Thonglor. Cha was an accountant by day, orbiting bar culture by night, married to a professional DJ and constantly making things on the side. It worked – creative, social, a little chaotic. Then her son arrived, and the whole setup shifted. Bangkok gave way to the coast. Full-time motherhood replaced the old rhythm, and the pace slowed to something salt-lined and open. It didn’t read as a big pivot at the time. In hindsight, it was the reset that made  everything possible. Photograph: CHALAY A crop top, a wall and a nap window The first Chalay image wasn’t a campaign. It wasn't even planned. It was Cha, wearing a c

Thonglor isn’t a strip. Sukhumvit Soi 55 stretches for around three kilometres, and instead of a single nightlife cluster, you get a sequence of hidden doors, unmarked lifts and bars in hotel corners you could walk past for years without noticing. That’s the appeal.   Photograph: Time Out Bangkok This route keeps things simple: start near BTS Thonglor and move steadily deeper into the soi, stopping in order. Each bar sits about 5-10 minutes apart, so you’re never rushing – just drifting. Exit BTS Thonglor (Exit 3), head into Thonglor Soi 1 and you’ll hit your first stop in under 10 minutes. From there, follow Sukhumvit Soi 55 north, dipping in and out of side sois as needed. Total walking distance comes in at roughly two kilometres, all doable without taxis if you pace it right. One thing to know before you go: Bangkok nightlife changes fast. Hours shift, doors close early, dress codes appear out of nowhere. Check Instagram before heading out, especially on weekends, and bring ID – the legal drinking age is 20 and it’s enforced more often than you’d think.

Updated and expanded for 2026 – the city’s best Pilates studios get a remix to match the growing demand. Club Pilates takes the top spot with their trusted brand presence across the US and beyond, while other studios explore new and trusted practices across reformer, mat, hot, clinical and hybrid Pilates.  Pilates. A workout that, to the uninitiated, looks like a complex, contraption-based workout that only fitness experts can master. And while Pilates does go heavy on the ‘contraptions’, the workout is surprisingly simple, getting into the smaller muscles most workouts miss.  In a nutshell, Pilates is about building strength, stability and control without beating up your joints. Low impact but the results are high. You walk out standing a little taller, moving a little better. For Bangkok, the trend crept in quietly. Physio clinics, a handful of low-key studios, places you’d find out about by word of mouth dominated for a time. Recovery over aesthetics. Small classes, specific clientele, not much to shout about. That's very much not the story now. What started as a niche has become a lot of Bangkokians' non-negotiable. A big player on the workout scene, and something more and more accessible as the trend develops. Reformers fill light-washed rooms across Sukhumvit. Heated classes push past 37°C with playlists that wouldn't feel out of place on a Friday night. Clinical setups run by actual physiotherapists sit alongside high-energy hybrid concepts and bilingual sessions that

Cookies, comics and collectibles collide one evening at the Time Out Bangkok office. The Super Cookie Friends boxes materialise. Peeking into the bag, the first thing we saw was the top of the box: 'Out here, just trying to be the best cookie I can be.' We went – who said that? Photograph: Super Cookie Friends We took the box out and followed the artwork around. Then this round, beaming Chunk guy showed himself. Oh, it's Chunk. Cookie Town below him. And if you look closely there are clues – products and lines not yet out, hiding in plain sight. Then Chunk again, flying back through space with his gingerbread friend. Photograph: Super Cookie Friends Open it up and you're back with Chunk(s). 'Hello, Friend. You're the proud owner of a special box of cookies, created by hand for you.' Illustrated instructions for getting the most out of them. Then you notice the side flaps – open those and the scene keeps going, extending outward, which is a fun thing to find. Look inside the box itself: Take Me Down To Cookie Town and the link to the rewards community – Super Cookie Friends Friends. We'll get to that. Then the cookies. Lined up left to right at a very deliberate angle, what their creator calls 'tasty soldiers.'  Reader, we demolished them. Chuck got early access to our February 19 to 25 edition of Table Talk in Bangkok, our weekly roundup of the capital’s must-know culinary happenings. But here’s how deep the Chuck cosmos really goes. Photograph: Super Cookie Frien

The heat at street level in Bangkok can be punishing at times. Rise above it though and the skyline turns genuinely spectacular. Crucially, the rain rarely shows up at sunset either, which means the city stays dry most evenings throughout the year. In many ways Bangkok feels almost engineered for drinking outdoors at height. The scene has been building for a while. Moon Bar at Vertigo opened back in 2002 and has been considered one of the world's great high-altitude bars ever since. Then The Hangover Part II landed in 2011 and put Sky Bar on just about every bucket list going. Dozens more rooftop bars followed in its wake. Two decades on, Bangkok's rooftop culture is less a passing trend and more an entire ecosystem – sky-high spectacle venues, design-led cocktail lounges, lively party bars, river-view terraces and even a few quieter park-facing spots. So whether you're after a landmark experience, a serious cocktail above the green lung of Lumphini Park or a full evening of Nikkei cuisine 60 floors up, the city has a version of it waiting. The only real challenge is deciding which one to start with. Here's where to go.

While a bouquet of flowers may bring a smile, a thoughtfully crafted dish has the power to touch the heart. From classic Western cuisine to modern Thai or Asian fusion, the perfect meal creates a lasting impression – especially when shared in the right setting with someone special. This Valentine’s Day, if you’re seeking a memorable culinary experience to share with your love, explore our handpicked suggestions for dishes that exude passion and romance.

If you needed proof that Thai drag has arrived on the world stage, Gawdland just handed it to you. The first Thai queen to win RuPaul's Drag Race: UK vs the World. Before her, Pangina Heals had already been laying the groundwork – hosting Drag Race Thailand Season 3, then stepping up to compete on UK vs the World herself. Every think piece, every ‘watch this space’ moment has been building to this. Gawdland feels like the exclamation mark at the end of a sentence  years in the making. Photograph: Pangina Heals What makes these looks land isn’t just the concept. It's the craft hiding inside it: rhinestones sewn on one by one, fittings that happen six or seven times before a seam is signed off, and the instinct to get the brief before it even exists. That person, for many of these looks, is Veed, the Thai designer behind some of the most striking pieces in Thai drag and performance fashion, built on obsessive craftsmanship, a theatrical eye and a clear refusal to play it safe. Alongside him is Fam, known as three_theofficial, the headpiece designer whose sculptural creations sit right at the top of a look. Veed builds the silhouette, Fam quite literally crowns it.   Photograph: davidelaffe   We had Gawdland drop by our office just months before she went on to make history. There was something sweet in the air that day, though no one knew yet she'd be carrying the Thai flag all the way to the top. Read more here. Now, as the win settles in, we're turning the spotlight onto t

GAWDLAND is loud, proud and RuPaul-approved.  The Northern-born, Bangkok-based queen stormed Drag Race Thailand season 3, became a Silom staple and is now the only Thai queen on RuPaul's Drag Race VS The World season 3 – the international all-stars showdown in front of Mama Ru herself. Here's her gag on Thai pride, Gen Z fire and what going versus the world really means. So, GAWDLAND – where does the name come from? Photograph: Laliphat Bumrungkarn   It's from my real name! Tharathep, which in Thai means 'god of the land' – like the big boss of the earth. And then I thought, you know what? Let's make it queer. So instead of 'God' (G-O-D), I made it 'GAWD' (G-A-W-D). Just GAWD-ed it up. What makes GAWDLAND... GAWDLAND? What's your signature? "Loudness. Volume. I'm like a firecracker – you know those little ones we see when Chinese New Year comes around? Small, compact, but the impact is massive." Every time I step into a space, people have to turn and look. Some love it, some find it annoying, some find it jarring – but you will notice me baby! That's guaranteed. People define drag in so many ways – art, activism, entertainment so what is it to you? Photograph: Laliphat Bumrungkarn "All of it. And more. It's art, it's entertainment, it's activism – it's life itself." My entire life is driven by drag. I wake up thinking about it, I go to sleep thinking about it. It's always: how do I become a better drag queen? It's in my head constantly. It's my life force, honestly. It's

Bangkok’s book scene is having a quietly excellent moment. Beyond the usual shop-and-go routine, the city is leaning into more social, more experiential ways to read: bilingual book clubs, thriller discussions over wine and heritage spaces turned into treasure hunts for pre-loved finds. Whether you’re trying to clear a long-neglected reading pile or just want an excuse to be around people who actually finish books, there’s plenty happening right now. And with the year’s biggest fair still to come, this is just the warm-up. Here’s our reading radar for 2026 so far. 

Each year, the travel world looks to TIME’s World's Greatest Places – a curated list of 100 standout destinations, from hotels and trains to national parks and restaurants, selected by its global network of editors for what’s new, newsworthy and genuinely worth your time. The 2026 edition (released Mar 12) puts Thailand firmly on the map – five times over. According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the line-up spans a striking mix: DaiDib DaiDee in Nan, Mandarin Oriental Bangkok, The Blue Jasmine Train, Khao Yai Art Forest and Dib Bangkok all made the cut. As TAT Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool notes, the selections ‘reflect the breadth of the country's tourism appeal, spanning heritage hospitality, luxury rail travel and contemporary art.’  In other words: Thailand's travel story is looking a lot more layered than just sun and sand.  

To stay sane in Bangkok heat during Songkran, you've got options. Shaved ice, juice bars, even the fleeting seasonal flex that is khao chae. But here we are spotlighting a different kind of internationall cool – Italian gelato! It arrived on the back of Thailand's Italian restaurant boom, settled into the mall food halls and boutique side streets and never left. Gelato is churned slower and served at a slightly warmer temperature than standard ice cream, giving it a denser, creamier texture and a more intense flavour hit – exactly what you want when 40-something-degree heat is trying to end you. Here are ten spots across Bangkok and the greater metro area with the greatest scoops.

What is it? A Sathorn-based studio run by Master Instructor Apittiya – known as P'Bom – a Balanced Body Faculty Member with over a decade of teaching experience. Set behind greenery along Soi Phra Phinit, the studio occupies four rooms and holds one of the most impressive equipment collections in Bangkok: Cadillac, Reformers, Wunda Chair, Ladder Barrel, Bodhi Suspension System, MOTR, TRX and more. The whole space has a calm, almost garden-villa quality to it. Why we love it: P'Bom's depth of knowledge is rare. This is classical, principled Pilates taught by someone who has spent serious time understanding the body and serious time understanding how to teach it. The small reformer groups mean you get coaching-level attention at group-class frequency and the equipment range ensures your practice can keep evolving. Time Out tip: New students are required to complete a private session before joining group classes. It sounds like an admin hoop but it's genuinely a service – by the time you're in a group session, you actually know how to move on the equipment rather than spending the whole class catching up. Pilates by Apittiya Soi Phra Phinit, Sathorn. Book via website. Hours vary; check website for current schedule.

What is it? A premium studio brand running three Bangkok locations – the flagship inside Rain Hill on Sukhumvit 47, plus studios on Sukhumvit 31 and Sukhumvit 10. All three operate under the Swiss Pilates method, which prioritises precision, body-mind connection and long-term movement quality over volume. Group classes are capped at around seven people, all instructors hold Swiss Pilates Institute certification and the Sukhumvit 47 location adds a dedicated aerial room for BodyFly (aerial yoga).  Why we love it: Every session is delivered in English so it's the obvious choice for expats and visitors who want professional instruction without a language barrier.The aerial room at the flagship location makes it worth visiting even for experienced practitioners who want to try something different. Time Out tip: Start at the Rain Hill flagship on Soi 47 – the aerial room alone is worth the trip and the space is beautiful.  Swiss Pilates Rain Hill, 777 Sukhumvit 47 (flagship); also 235/10 Sukhumvit 31 and 27 Sukhumvit 10. Book via website or LINE. Hours vary by branch

What is it?: A high-energy hybrid studio in The Column Tower on Sukhumvit 16, where reformer Pilates collides with mat work, functional training and cardio intervals in a single 45-minute class. Sessions run with 10-12 people; the workout sequence plays on screens around the room while the instructor moves through the group giving real-time corrections.  Why we love it: You get the core engagement and alignment benefits of Pilates inside a cardio-intensive session that leaves you actually sweaty. The community here is tight-knit, the early-morning slots have an almost cult-level following and the regulars are the type who make you want to show up more. Time Out tip: Not a place to start if you've never touched a reformer – come with at least some basic experience. The early morning slots are worth the alarm if you want the full FS8 atmosphere. FS8 Asok The Column Tower, 48 Sukhumvit 16. Book via Instagram @fs8_asok or ClassPass. 5.30am-8pm

What is it? Bangkok's original Hot Pilates studio and it's been at it long enough that the credentials are real. Based in Fifty Fifth Plaza in Thonglor, the loft-style space heats its mat room to 37-40°C for challenging, sweat-inducing sessions that work deeper into the muscles than standard temperature training. Beyond the hot room, the classes have grown considerably over the years – reformer classes, Barre Plus and private sessions are all on offer, with full apparatus including Cadillac, Stability Chair, Spine Corrector and Ladder Barrel. Why we love it: Hot Pilates is a different experience to air-conditioned mat work and Pilates Plus has been doing it long enough to have refined the format properly. Instructors are motivating and professional, the class schedule suits multiple levels and the specialist prenatal programmes are among the best-considered in Bangkok. There's also ample parking, which in Thonglor is definitely worth noting. Time Out tip: Bring two towels and arrive hydrated – the room gets properly warm. Two things to know before you go: latecomers are not admitted under any circumstances and grip socks are mandatory. Both rules are enforced without exception. Pilates Plus Bangkok Fifty Fifth Plaza, Thong Lor Soi 2, 2nd Floor, Thonglor. Book via ClassPass or LINE. 7am-9pm

What is it?: A private reformer studio in a residential building on Sukhumvit 20 offering one-on-one and duo sessions only. The space is pared-back and immaculate – air purifiers running in every room, no clutter, no noise from neighbouring studios. Instructors spend real time understanding your body and your goals before designing a session, which means training here feels genuinely considered rather than off-the-shelf. Why we love it: The quietness of the whole experience. There's no group energy to lean on, no ambient distraction – just focused work with an instructor paying complete attention. It's ideal if busy studios feel overwhelming, if you use Pilates as a mindfulness practice as much as a fitness one or if you simply want sessions that move at your own pace. Time Out tip: Morning slots are particularly good here – the space has a calm, meditative quality in the early hours that sets the tone for the day. It's also one of the few private studios in Bangkok that doesn't require a large package commitment upfront, making it accessible for visitors as well as residents. Flex Your Abilities GM Service Apartment, 47 Sukhumvit 20. Book via Instagram @flexyourabilities. 7.30am-7.30pm

What is it? An intentional, intimate reformer studio inside the Circle Sukhumvit 31 building. The entire concept is built around learning properly – instructors here are precise, patient and consistently focused on form. Owner Bella is a warm, knowledgeable presence who's often on-site, and the studio has a thoughtful finish to it, including a small edit of Pilates clothing stocked in-house if you inevitably want to leave with something. Why we love it: The small class size means corrections are consistent, progress accumulates visibly and the instructors know your body's patterns within a few sessions. That level of individual attention at a group-class price point is a real find. Time Out tip: Particularly good if you've been practising for a while but suspect you've built up some bad habits. With small groups of people per class, there's nowhere for sloppy form to hide – and the instructors will flag it – gently mind, there’s not here to call you out.  Reformed Pilates Bangkok Circle Sukhumvit 31, 55 Sukhumvit 31. Book via Instagram @reformedpilatesbkk. 8am-8pm

What is it? Club Pilates may be the best value for money Pilates studio in Bangkok, but don’t take that to mean it’s sub-par. Imported from the US, their Thailand flagship in Grande Centre Point Lumphini follows one of the most proven models to get people into (and successful) at Pilates. Low-impact, full-body workouts take many forms here, in group or private classes that fit everyone – from absolute beginners to seasoned reformer regulars. Oh, and did we mention the view? Why we love it: What’s most obvious at Club Pilates is how the classes and courses here are unlike other Pilates spots in the city. Starting at B500 a pop (not of your joints, one would hope), it’s incredibly accessible and so easy to get into. The Reformer based group Pilates classes in Bangkok are complemented by TriggerPoint, TRX® springboard, EXO-chair and other equipment designed to build strength, mobility and stability. Private Pilates classes in Bangkok go more in-depth, focusing on injury, training or just for those who prefer a more personal start to the practice. Trainers are highly experienced with over 500 hours of comprehensive Pilates training (at a minimum), and then undergo special Club Pilates training to ensure they lead classes right. Add on plans to expand fast across the nation, this is the one to watch. Time Out tip: New to Pilates? Club Pilates offers free 30-minute, full-body sessions with their talented Instructors – a perfect introduction into all their state-of-the-art equipment

What is it? A boutique reformer and mat studio set inside the YARD 49 complex on Sukhumvit 49 – a tree-lined creative hub that already has decent brunch options, which is frankly ideal. Owner Pang has recently expanded the space to include eight reformer machines and a private room fitted with a Cadillac, giving the studio a lot more flexibility than its relaxed vibe might suggest. Classes are small, staff are warm and first-timers are welcomed like regulars from day one. Why we love it: It’s encouraging without being patronising. The instructors are attentive and genuinely invested, the energy in class is social and upbeat and the setting makes it easy to turn a 7am session into a full morning out.  Time Out tip: If you're brand new to reformer, ask about their beginner slots – Pang's team will walk you through the mechanics properly rather than throwing you in at the deep end. The new Cadillac private room is worth booking for a one-on-one if you want something more targeted. Stretch Studio Pilates Parks YARD 49, Sukhumvit 49. Book via Instagram @stretchstudio.pilates. 7am-8pm

What is it? A word-of-mouth studio on Sukhumvit Soi 26, run entirely by its owner. The studio is well-equipped, including a full Cadillac setup she'll walk you through from your very first visit. Each session is built around what you actually need that day, not a fixed template. Why we love it: The personal nature of it is hard to replicate. Sessions feel less like a class and more like working with a particularly skilled, particularly fun friend. She's technically rigorous and also easy company. And the Cadillac work, in particular, is a highlight. Time Out tip: A great choice if you're coming back from injury, dealing with something specific or just want full attention. The Pilates Club The Twenty Six, Sukhumvit 26. Book via Instagram @thepilatesclub.bkk. 8am-9pm

What is it? A clinical Pilates and physiotherapy studio with two Bangkok locations – the original at the Interchange Building in Asok (B2 floor, directly connected to BTS Exit 6 and MRT Exit 2) and a newer Chidlom branch. Sessions are led by qualified physiotherapists who weave myofascial release and movement rehabilitation into the Pilates work. The class roster covers group reformer, private appointments, Kids Pilates (posture and scoliosis), pregnancy Pilates and programmes for seniors. Why we love it: The clinical credibility sets it apart from most studios in the city. This is where you come when something is actually wrong – office syndrome, chronic lower back pain, post-injury recovery – and you want someone who understands the full picture. The Asok location is about as convenient as Bangkok studios get, the group sessions (maximum 12 people) are thoroughly supervised and the Chidlom addition means the brand now covers two of the city's key wellness corridors. Time Out tip: If you have a specific condition or injury, book a private session first so a physio can assess you before placing you in group classes. Walk-ins are welcome but booking in advance is strongly recommended. The Balance Pilates & Physio B2/F, Interchange Building, Asok (BTS Exit 6 / MRT Exit 2); also Maneeya Building 2nd Floor, Chidlom. Book via LINE. 7.30am-10pm

Turn into Soi 10 and BLU hits like a reset button – louder, brighter and built for movement. Where the earlier stops lean intimate, this one goes all in on energy: a packed, well-dressed crowd, rotating DJs across hip-hop, house and techno, plus regular live sets from Thai artists that tip the room into full party mode. It earns its reputation the straightforward way – strong music, solid cocktails and a crowd that actually wants to dance. After a couple of hours of speakeasy pacing, the switch feels earned. Weekends fill fast and the door can tighten, so groups should book ahead before 9pm. 308 Thonglor Soi 10, Sukhumvit 55. Open daily, 7pm-2am.

Take the lift up from a parking garage on Soi 13 and you land somewhere that doesn’t quite match the address – a rooftop bar with warm brown tones, mirrored surfaces catching the skyline and a live singer most nights from around 8pm. It feels more like a regulars’ spot than a headline venue, the kind of place that fills through word of mouth rather than algorithms. After the precision of the earlier stops, this one loosens things up: good cocktails, genuinely strong food (the dry-aged beef and pad krapao both hold their own) and a pace that lets you settle in. Tables with a view go quickly before 9pm, so time your arrival if you want to end the night properly. 6/F, Thonglor Soi 13. Open daily, 6pm-1am.

If you're still lingering somewhere in your Coachella feelings – or just need a solid excuse to get out of the house – Songwat First Vibe is worth penciling in. Inside Tuk Khaek, the old trading building that once sat at the centre of Songwat Road’s multicultural bustle,the three-day pop-up folds together music, art, craft drinks and workshops with the kind of loose, easy energy this neighbourhood does particularly well. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Songwat First Vibe (@songwatfirstvibe) The main pull is the Coachella Listening Party, which runs through highlights from this year’s festival via a curated playlist that moves from golden-hour sets into late-night territory. Cinemagica handles the sound setup using a Waterfall Audio XT1 system, which means cinema-grade audio bouncing around a heritage shophouse instead of a sterile event hall. Beyond the listening party   Photograph: Street Star Gallery   Elsewhere, Street Star Gallery hosts You & Me, A Thousand Tomorrows by Thai artist Pu Rawiwan, a quietly warm exhibition built around the small rhythms and fleeting moments of two people sharing a life together. Photograph: Co-Drinking Space Drinks lean local. At the Co-Drinking Space, Onson pours craft spirits distilled from coconut blossom nectar in Sakon Nakhon, while Longbeach runs a matcha party using ceremony-grade leaves that work equally well neat or spiked. Photograph: Black is the only Color Studio If you’ve been flirting with t

Some bands you grow up with. Others grow up alongside you. For Thai fans who had  ‘She Looks So Perfect’ on repeat and walls covered in posters, 5 Seconds of Summer fall firmly in the second camp – which makes this return feel long overdue.  After ten years away, the Sydney four-piece – Luke Hemmings, Calum Hood, Michael Clifford and Ashton Irwin – head back to Bangkok with their Everyone’s a Star! World Tour, landing at UOB Live at EmSphere on November 9. Photograph: livenationth First breaking out in the early 2010s (yes, via those One Direction support slots), the band have since moved well beyond their scrappy pop-punk beginnings into bigger, slicker, stadium-ready territory. The songs hit differently now – less teenage angst, more lived-in nostalgia – but the hooks still land.   Expect a setlist that leans into the full catalogue, from early breakout tracks to later, more polished material. For anyone who’s stuck with them over the years, it’s less a comeback show and more a time capsule – just with better production. When: Monday November 9  Where: UOB LIVE, EmSphere, Bangkok Photograph: livenationth Tickets start at B2,800 and go up to B6,800, with a VIP ‘No.1 Obsession’ package at B8,900(. Presales run May 6-9 ahead of general sale here.  Fan club presale: May 6, 10am-10pm. Mastercard presale: May 7, 10am-11.59pm. Live Nation Tero presale: May 8, 10am-10pmGeneral sale: May 9 from 10am. An ‘Upgrade bite the Apple’ add-on (B3,400) is also available from May 9 — no

Bangkok doesn’t get many nights like this. On May 23, The Royal Oak hosts a full-evening banjo session that pulls in serious talent from overseas and pairs it with a local scene that’s been quietly building momentum. It’s intimate, it’s focused and with just 100 seats, it won’t hang around. Catch Takumi Kodera live in Bangkok View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bluegrass Underground Bangkok (@bluegrassbkk) Headlining is Takumi Kodera, a Tokyo-based five-string player who’s been at it since he was 11. He placed second at the 2018 Winfield Banjo Contest – one of the toughest competitions going – and has since moved comfortably across bluegrass, jazz and classical. The draw here isn’t just technique (though there’s plenty of that) – it’s how he keeps that driving, old-school banjo feel intact while pushing things forward. Photograph: bluegrassbkk The local line-up holds its own. Bluegrass Underground Bangkok started as casual jam sessions and has grown into a tight community, with international Bluegrass Unlimited magazine recognition and a key role in launching the South Eastern Old Time Gathering in 2024. If you’ve not dipped into the scene before, this is about as direct an entry point as it gets – one room, one stage and players who actually know each other’s rhythms. On May 23, those two worlds meet. Doors open at 7pm, the show starts at 7.30pm and tickets run B900 in advance or B1,100 at the door – if there are any left. Grab yours here.

There's a version of Bangkok that never sleeps – and increasingly, it's running. What was once a city defined by street food and nightlife has quietly, then very loudly, become one of Southeast Asia’s most energetic wellness hubs. Run clubs, reformer Pilates studios, trail loops through Lumphini Park – fitness here has gone fully mainstream. So when HYROX arrived in Thailand in May 2025, the city was ready. More than 8,000 athletes turned out at BITEC. By March 2026, that number had surged to 17,500 – a record for Asia. If you’re new to it, HYROX sits somewhere between endurance race and functional fitness showdown. Founded in Hamburg in 2017 by Olympic champion Moritz Fürste and event specialist Christian Toetzke, it fills a gap: a standardised competition forf people who train in gyms but never race. Expect eight one-kilometre runs, each followed immediately by a workout station – sled pushes, rowing, wall balls – designed to test strength, stamina, speed and grit. Take on the race at a new Bangkok venue Photograph: hyroxtha The third Bangkok edition lands at Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC), moving into a larger, more central space with direct MRT access. Think easier logistics, bigger crowds and a more electric race-day atmosphere. The event runs August 14-26, with race waves scheduled until around 8pm on Friday and Saturday, and 3pm on Sunday. Athletes' can access the venue only on their race day, so if you’re planning to soak up the atmosphere across t

Thailand's annual book pilgrimage is back. Book Expo Thailand 2026, the 31st edition of the National Book Fair, takes over Halls 5 to 7 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre from Oct 23 to Nov 1, bringing ten packed days of browsing, discounts and new discoveries. It has a strong act to follow. The 30th edition, held earlier this year, drew more than 1.5 million visitors across 11 days, smashing previous records with total sales topping B474 million. Gen Z made up over 70% of attendees, with horror and detective fiction leading the way. Photograph: Thai Book Fair Organised by the Publishers and Booksellers Association of Thailand (PUBAT), the fair brings together publishers from across the country under one sprawling roof. The layout spans seven dedicated zones: general titles, fiction and literature, Y fiction (under the Wonder Y banner), comics and teen reads (Book Wonderland), children's and educational books, second-hand books and foreign-language titles. Special discounts and publisher-led promotions run throughout the event — making this  one of the better times of year to stock up without too much justification required. You can come with a list or just browse; either way, it’s easy to lose a few hours moving between shelves. Getting there is straightforward. Take the MRT to Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre and head out through Exit 3. Event Details Oct 23-Nov 1.  Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre, Halls 5-7 (LG Floor).  MRT Queen Sirikit Nat

If the idea of standing in the street getting soaked for three days doesn't  thrill you, Bangkok can offer a more inviting option on the water rather than in it .  The Bangkok Water Festival 2026 is running free boat rides across 10 cultural stops in the old town, right along the Chao Phraya. The festival runs April 13-15, with two routes threading through some of the river's most storied neighbourhoods. You can hop on and off as you please, switching between routes at Tha Tien Pier (Wat Pho Pier) on Soi Pratunokyung. Route 1 runs from 9am to 4.30pm, taking you from Wat Rakang Pier through Wat Arun, Wat Kalayanamit, Wat Prayurawongsawat and Yodpiman before finishing at Wat Pho. That stretch of riverbank is dense with history – temples, old communities and the kind of riverside scenery that still manages to feel unhurried even in the middle of a busy city like ours. Route 2 picks up from 10am to 5.30pm, looping from Tha Tien Pier out to SookSiam at ICONSIAM, across to the Kuan Yu Shrine Pier in Khlong San, then back again. A nice contrast – ancient and contemporary sharing the same stretch of water. A couple of extras worth knowing. There’s a paid ferry between ICONSIAM and Sathorn Pier by the BTS running all day for eight baht. There’s also a free shuttle boat from Sathorn Pier to Asiatique, running from 10am to 8pm if you want to stretch the day a bit.

Photograph: livenationth/sonymusicthailand If you missed The Kid LAROI last time round, here's your chance to make up for it. Born Charlton Howard in Sydney, the 22-year-old first broke through with Stay, his monster 2021 collab with Justin Bieber – and has kept busy ever since with a string of singles and a world tour.  Earlier this year he returned with Before I Forget, his first full-length album in two years – a raw, emotionally candid record of wistful R&B ballads written in the aftermath of a breakup. The tour takes its name from one of the album's lead singles and Bangkok gets its date on Monday June 29 at Samyan Mitrtown Hall. Photograph: livenationth/sonymusicthailand Tickets Prices range from B2,800 to B3,500 across two standing zones: Zone A and Zone B. The fan club presale opens on April 22 from 10am to midnight via tkl.world.  Live Nation Tero members get their window on April 23, 10am to midnight – sign up free here before then.  General sale follows on April 24 from 10am via here. Six tickets maximum per transaction. Note that each ticket requires a unique full name in English – no duplicates across an order. The Kid LAROI – A Perfect World Tour plays Samyan Mitrtown Hall on Monday June 29. Tickets B2,800-B3,500 via livenationtero.co.th.  

Always, always, there was a time before you had it all figured out. Before you were competent, before you were composed. Photograph: galileoasis On April 18-19, GalileOasis and Film I Trust invite you back to that version of yourself with Summer of Youth, a two-night outdoor screening series. Tickets are priced at B250 and include a free ice cream courtesy of Baan Pad Kajeen. Photograph: galileoasis Kicking things off on Saturday April 18 at 7pm is Billy Elliot (2000): the story of a boy from a working-class mining family who discovers ballet, a pursuit his world tells him is decidedly not for him. Raw, funny and devastating, it's a film about desire, dignity and the courage to want something no one around you understands. Photograph: galileoasis On Sunday April  19 at 7pm, it's The Breakfast Club (1985): five teenagers – the rich girl, the hothead, the jock, the nerd and the loner – are thrown together in Saturday detention and forced to actually see each other. John Hughes at his sharpest. Whatever your story is, come sit in the garden, watch the classics, grab your ice cream and lift it high – for the misfits, the dreamers, the ones who grew into their own rhythm. Tickets are available via the registration link here. Note that all sales are final – no refunds after payment. April 18-19. GalileOasis, 535 Wat Phraya Yang Alley, Thanon Phetchaburi, Ratchathewi, Bangkok.

Photograph: Sansiri Some homes are built. Others are composed – note by note, material by material – with the kind of obsessive care that turns architecture into autobiography. The Sansiri Luxury Collection is the latter. A curated body of work four decades in the making: flagship residences and ultra-luxury homes conceived alongside world-class architects and designers, appointed with furnishings chosen for their artistry and finished with materials selected for their permanence. Every detail is deliberate. Every surface, considered. Nothing is accidental, because nothing is left to chance. Here, a home transcends the ordinary. It becomes a living work of art – one that reflects a singular sensibility, deepens in value with time and stands as a testament to the craft behind it. Something rare enough to be cherished. Enduring enough to be passed down. Photograph: Sansiri Three principles define the Collection: World-Class Design that transforms space into genuine experience; Materials & Craftsmanship that set an entirely new standard; and Sansiri Luxury Collection Life Curator - an unparalleled living service that anticipating every wish, attending to every detail, down to the desires you hadn't yet thought to name such as a professional art piece restoration,space management, flower arrangement service, pet customization dress, even a small event preparation for your beloved family members.  

Sea Life Bangkok is one of those places you always mean to revisit – and Glowing Ocean: Discover the Magic of the Sea at Night, on now until September 20 2026, might just be the nudge that finally makes it happen. Photograph: Sea Life Bangkok The whole inspiration draws from the mystery of darkness at sea – the hour when the sun drops below the horizon and the parts of the ocean where light simply never reaches.  Move through the space and you'll find yourself above (and below) moonlit water, bioluminescent creatures glowing as they dance through the currents and an atmosphere that feels genuinely otherworldly. Photograph: Sea Life Bangkok To add to the allure, a series of light installations and interactive moments are scattered across the aquarium. An interactive neon fire wall responds to your touch by conjuring sea creatures; mood lighting adds a new dimension to the seahorse zone; glowing florals in the rainforest section; a full moon hovering above the goldfish tank; simulated moonlight rippling across the water in the shark tunnel; and in the Gentoo penguin zone, projection-mapped northern lights cast over an ice sculpture. Photograph: Sea Life Bangkok There's also a sea creature stamp-collecting trail running throughout. Once you've collected one, just ask a staff member where to head next! If you're already a Sea Life regular, this is genuinely worth coming back for – the familiar route feels entirely new. And the Gentoo penguin zone has just finished its renov

From April 22-26, the Ministry of Culture is throwing a massive five-day celebration across three very different corners of Bangkok in celebration of the Rattanakosin –  the period that began in 1782 with the founding of Bangkok and, 244 years on, continues to define both the city’s historic heart and Thailand's cultural identity. Living Rattanakosin – that's the name they've given it and it says everything. Not ‘remembered’ or ‘preserved’, but ‘living’ – 244 years old and still with a pulse.  The full billing in Thai is ’The Rattanakosin Cultural Festival 2026’ (มหกรรมวัฒนธรรมรัตนโกสินทร์ 2569) and the Ministry of Culture has clearly decided that a city this old deserves a birthday party that actually feels like one. For five days in April, contemporary stages and night-time museums come alive, as well as temple fairs and architecture that looks its most beautiful once the sun goes down – all of it happening simultaneously across three corners of the city. Chulalongkorn University Centenary Park Photograph: Chulalongkorn University The massive urban park of Chulalongkorn University becomes a creative playground for the week. An outdoor multimedia exhibition marks 244 years of Rattanakosin, setting the mood with plenty more to get stuck into besides. Dress up in royal Thai costume and have your portrait rendered through generative AI, browse the cultural market for local products, food and drinks, or join the creative cultural courtyard for Thai heritage demonstrations, tra

If you've ever watched one of those old films or music videos with a packed ballroom and thought – God, I wish I could actually be there – well, now you can. Clear the evening of April 5, because Jelly Roll Jazz Club is throwing ‘Lumpini Swing Station’, a night that takes the grand and storied Lumpini Hall and turns it into what might just be Bangkok's most electric dance floor right now. The music comes courtesy of Yusu Jazz Band and the Silpakorn University Jazz Orchestra, both bringing the kind of live swing that gets into your chest and moves your feet before your brain has any say in the matter. Woven in between are special dance performances that'll keep the energy high all night long. Photograph: Swing Era Thailand Photograph: Swing Era Thailand Never swung a day in your life? Not a problem. The event is genuinely beginner-friendly, with free introductory dance classes on the night – no prior experience needed and no, you don't need to bring a partner! Just come with good energy and your finest vintage outfit. It all kicks off from 5pm at Lumphini Sathan, right in the heart of Lumphini Park. Jazz obsessive, dance floor regular or just vintage-curious – you're going to want to be there.