Tita Petchnamnung

The competition for your thirst this year has never been fiercer. Bangkok's juice bar scene has evolved from simple refreshment stops into full-blown lifestyle destinations – popping up across hip community malls and planting flags smack in the middle of the CBD. With the self-care wave that's swept through 2026 showing absolutely zero signs of slowing, the battle isn't just being fought on flavour anymore. Juice bars are bringing their A-game on value, from wildly Instagrammable glassware to packing every single order with serious nutritional firepower. So Time Out has done the rounds – and pulled together 10 juice bar landmarks that cover all the bases: healthy, refreshing and downright cool.

As summer reigns supreme, this one's part of our ongoing Beat the Heat series – and if any city has earned a series on keeping cool, it's Bangkok. The Thai sun can be aggressive, so people here have turned eating frozen water into a whole culture – specifically, sweet (and sometimes savoury) flavoured bowls of towering  shaved ice. From old-town shopfronts dishing out nam kang sai (Thai for shaved ice) in a style your grandparents would recognise, to Michelin-connected kakigori bars applying French fine-dining logic to a pile of frozen fuzz, the city has it all.  Rather than a straight ranking, look at this as a curated selection. From Japanese kakigori and Korean bingsu to Thailand's own nam kang sai and the Southern o-eaw, each style brings its own texture and tradition. The list is organised by style and geography, with every venue recognised for its strength within its category. And as everyone in Bangkok is chasing ice right now, these are the spots worth saving, and more importantly, stepping out in the sun for.

There’s another way to navigate Bangkok – a niche one, for sure – and you'll need your balancing skills! But if you're feeling brave enough to drop a board and roll, come on in. Skaters have been mapping Bangkok on four wheels longer than most people realise – finding flat ground and ledges no one else clocks, back-alley concrete that just works for landing. It’s a different kind of city guide. Arguably a more fun one. Thai skateboarding has been serious for a long time. The scene started taking real shape in the late 80s and early 90s, imported through VHS tapes and whatever magazines made it across the border, reinterpreted through a local lens and built into something that genuinely belonged here. By the 2000s, homegrown brands such as  Preduce were cementing the culture with proper roots – shooting local videos, championing Thai skateboarders, collaborating internationally and defining what Thai skating actually stood for, not just selling boards. DIY spots started appearing. A community formed. Not too loudly, but consistently. That consistency is still the defining quality. Bangkok's skate scene is tight-knit without being cliquey, proud without being territorial – the kind of place where locals wave you into a session before you've even figured out where to drop in, where the spots feel earned rather than curated. We caught up with Mattias Wyatt of Solo Skate Travel, who's spent years moving through scenes like this one, documenting spots and the people who hold them d

In a world of apps and algorithms, Subhas Kandasamy is betting that four people around a square table – tiles clacking, strangers becoming friends – is still the most compelling thing a city can offer. It started with his grandmother in Singapore. Now it's everywhere, Bangkok included. Photograph: mahjongpalace There is a particular kind of household that stays with you. The kind where the door is always open, where something extraordinary is always being cooked and where, if you look through the right window on the right evening, four people are hunched over a square table, fingering tiles against a wooden surface like a low, insistent percussion.  Subhas Kandasamy grew up in one of those houses – in Singapore, with his grandmother Dolly, in a different era of the city-state, when multi-generational living was simply how things were done and the veranda looked onto a garden of mango and guava trees. That house, those evenings, that grandmother: they followed him everywhere. And eventually, they became a business. Photograph: anoukdbrouwer/mahjongpalace Mahjong Palace, the social club that Subhas founded in New York in September 2023, is not your usual Mahjong club, even for the US, and it’s certainly not a gaming den. It is not a Chinese cultural centre or a wellness concept or a members' club either – although it does borrow something from all of these.  It is, at its core, a reimagining of what it means to play mahjong in the 21st century – stripped of the money, fill

We update this article regularly to ensure the information remains accurate and current. Please check back for the latest updates. Updated March 2026: We’ve refreshed our list of the best book cafes in Bangkok to include some newcomers to the city. Recent additions include Balzac Bangkok, Nielson Hays Library Garden Café, Open House at Central Embassy. Watching the city's under-35s spill out of the MRT at Queen Sirikit for the annual Book Expo tells you plenty about how book reading is going in Bangkok. Sure, we’re not quite Tokyo, with its Jimbocho book district, nor Paris with its Seine-side bouquinistes – but there are more spines cracked, more pages turned and more people ready to fight you about their favourite genre now than ever before. But don’t take it from us. The numbers speak for themselves. In October 2025, 1.5 million people turned up to the Book Expo over just eleven days. 70 percent were reportedly Gen Z. Sales reached B474 million. Call Bangkok chaotic, humid, relentless – but a ‘city that does not read’ it is not. Then there is @bkk.bookdistrict. In early 2026, the collective of independent bookshops, publishers and book people began mapping Bangkok's first proper book district across the historic printing hubs of Phra Nakhon, from Phan Fa to Tha Tien. It is still taking shape, but the foundations are there. Understandably, The book cafe scene has moved with this trend. New spaces line the Charoen Krung-Phra Nakhon corridor. Old favourites now feel like inst

A few weeks back, a new Afrobeats R&B Amapiano album dropped in Bangkok: Mr. Saxo Love. A genre the city is only just warming up to, Tobii – the artist behind this homegrown soundtrack – debuted its release at a poolside party, banana floats and all, the standout track Banana tying it all together. After the party, we sat with the full album, speakers positioned perfectly, and  came out the other side a little sound-drunk. A little melody-soaked. One song bled into the next, just as you’d expect from good Afrobeats, until the final track. But we were left with questions – quite a few, actually. Next thing we knew, Universal Music Thailand office had Tobii – the man, myth and legend himself – sitting right across from us. Tobii (Tobias Phuwanai Mattmueller) split his childhood between Swiss mountain air and the sweaty, electric sprawl of Bangkok. He taught himself to record music on a borrowed computer running cracked software, which is either very punk or very resourceful. Probably both. Photograph: tressatobii Fast forward a decade or so and Mr. Saxo Love is his latest, freshest, most danceable album yet. Undeniably sexy, his melodies drift somewhere between your hips and your better judgement – teasing, playful and fully aware of their effect. The virality it brought with it was never really a surprise. This is Tobii. To the T. Who exactly is Tobii? Photograph: Universal Music Thailand There's a particular kind of ease about people who've had to reinvent themselves

The tuna melt has a more storied past than its modest reputation suggests. Born in American lunch counters and greasy-spoon diners sometime in the mid-twentieth century – the exact origin is contested, though a 1965 diner in South Carolina is often cited – it was always a practical sandwich: canned tuna, mayonnaise, cheese, heat.  Bangkok's relationship with the tuna melt has followed the city's broader love affair with Western cafe culture. Through the 1990s and early 2000s, tuna melts were largely the preserve of hotel coffee shops and expat haunts, serviceable but rarely memorable. The shift came with the sourdough revolution – when a new generation of Bangkok bakers started obsessing over fermentation schedules, imported grain varieties and slow-proofed loaves, suddenly the bread underneath the tuna started to matter as much as what was on top of it. Today, the city's best tuna melts are genuinely worth seeking out: inventive, technically precise and occasionally spectacular. If you're eating your way through Bangkok's sandwich scene more broadly, our guide to Bangkok's best sandwiches covers the city's most compelling offerings across every style and bread type. And for a spin on the classics with a chewier canvas, our best bagels in Bangkok guide is worth bookmarking before your next lunch run. Now, back to the matter at hand. Many lunches went into this. We ordered widely, asked the people with strong sandwich opinions and returned when something pulled us back. These

It's hard to argue with a really good doughnut. Sweet finish, sugar fix, midday reward – call it what you like. Doughnuts rarely need an excuse.. What’s easier to argue about is where to find the best ones. In Bangkok, the city's sweet tooth is being well served by a growing wave of doughnut shops, each with their own personality – from reassuring classics to genuinely inventive takes on the form. But which ones are actually worth the detour? Time Out has done the legwork. Here are 12 that hit the spot for our (slightly) sugar-addicted editorial team.

Bangkok's chess scene is a thriving mix of sharp strategy and easy camaraderie. On the same evening you might find a Grandmaster deep in a rated blitz game while, a table away, someone is learning their very first opening over a cold drink. Casual yet serious, often all in one place – which is to say, very Bangkok. Believe it or not, the city's relationship with the game runs deep. Thailand's own Suchart Chaivichit brought home individual gold from the 1988 Chess Olympiad and today Prin Laohawirapap – the country's first and only International Master – carries the flag for new generations.  Meanwhile, Bangkok’s very own open – aptly named ‘The Bangkok Open’ – has drawn the likes of Nigel Short and Jan Gustafsson, with the latter calling it ‘by far the best tournament in the world.’ So beyond the bars (and in them too), the city’s chess scene is officially thriving, with the infrastructure growing as much as  the ambition. Here are eight venues to know if you’re looking to get back into the world’s most timeless board game.

'Coffee might be the reason we walk into a cafe, but community is the reason we want to come back.' Last year, we invited Khun Wa (Thananop Eimsunthorn), a cafe curator with a radar for cool spaces all across Bangkok, to reveal his map of must-visit spots. So many that you cafe hoppers could barely keep up, quite honestly.  This year, he’s back by popular demand with a 2026 update on new openings and must-trys – because it seems that 'just good coffee' no longer cuts the mustard.  'I feel honoured and excited every time,’ says Khun Wa. ‘It's like getting to explore the city all over again. Every place I visit sparks new conversations and ideas that really help refresh my creative energy.' From 'technique' to 'lifestyle,' he sees this year's vibe as cafes moving away from showcasing technique (think roasting profiles or latte art) and toward creating living spaces that connect more deeply with specific communities. We've seen the rise of cafes for runners, matcha cafes and spaces with clearly defined workshop areas. Today's cafes aren't just selling drinks. They're selling a worldview and creating a shared sense of belonging. When we asked why food, baked goods and various activities have become central this year, Wa offered a sharp insight. 'Great coffee is the core that gets people through the door. But craft menus like homemade sourdough, activities like run clubs and design events, are the tools that make people want to come back. These elements give a cafe its story and t

There's a version of fashion week that ends at the afterparty, spilling into some hotel corridor at 2am. And then there's this – something more considered and frankly more interesting.  Venue hire is no longer enough. Bangkok’s hotels want creative credit – a seat at the creative table, a point of view, a sense of place stitched into the fabric, sometimes literally. What's been building across Bangkok's luxury properties is a different kind of collaboration entirely. Not a venue hire with a press release attached. Not a runway moment borrowed from a ballroom. We're talking co-designed capsules, guest experiences built around the clothes.  Internationally recognised names and homegrown designers are arriving at the same conclusion from opposite ends of the map. The right hotel offers something no showroom, runway or concept store can. Specificity. Atmosphere. A fully formed world you can step into and linger in. It signals a new fashion status symbol. The most compelling pairings do not feel like collaborations at all. They feel inevitable, as though the brand and the property were always meant to meet. Right now, Bangkok is making a convincing case for itself. Here are five we have been loving.

Making a 'best of' list for Bangkok is a particular kind of hubris.  With roughly 30.3 million international visitors in 2025, according to Euromonitor International’s 2025 index, the city sits at the top of the global arrivals chart. On any given Saturday night, you are dancing among strong opinions. Everyone has a favourite. Everyone has a story. So we did the rounds and stayed late. Bangkok’s nightlife has a reputation for spectacle. Spectacle and energy, though, are not the same thing. Let’s be precise about what this list is and is not. If you have read our 12 Best Nightclubs in Bangkok, think of this as the tighter sibling. Not the most Instagrammed rooms. Not the longest guest lists or the hardest push on bottle service. This one is about dancing – floors that fill, nights that run long and leaving with sore feet and no memory of checking your phone. In a city this size, that is a narrower brief than it sounds and it took real fieldwork to get right. Some were logged across multiple visits. Some came from a single night that ran longer than planned. A few required going back to confirm the first time was not a fluke. What they share is simple: the floor fills, people move and you leave actually spent. The eight clubs below are the ones that left us with sore hips.

What is it? Grow Tea Studio made its name on tea. The kakigori menu arrived later as a natural extension of that obsession, but now it’s a favourite. Every bowl is built around the same premium teas used in the drinks menu.  Why we love it: This is a kitchen that thinks in flavour pairings rather than toppings lists. The current seasonal lineup shows how far the kitchen has come: the Meron Midori leads with a Yabukita-Saemidori matcha espuma; floral and delicate, hiding a core of sweet Japanese melon, black sugar beans, seedless green grapes tossed in a flavour-amplifying sauce and a grey-toned special crumble that adds texture and intrigue. The kuriio – named after the colour of chestnut – goes in an earthier, smokier direction: charcoal-roasted chestnut, wood-fired cashews sourced by the owner's mother, Chumphon forest honey and roasted Tieguanyin oolong, all designed around the principle of harmony. Time Out tip: Kuriio is a Phrom Phong exclusive this summer – and not a permanent one, so don’t wait to try it, it’ll be gone before you know it. Phrom Phong branch: Sukhumvit Soi 39, Khlong Toei Nuea, Watthana. Open Thurs-Tues 11am-7.30pm

What is it? Cheng Sim Ei is a classic Thai-Chinese dessert shophouse in Phra Nakhon, close to the Giant Swing, and it has been doing the traditional thing – shaved ice, sweet coconut milk, a choose-your-own selection of toppings – for as long as anyone can remember. This is not kakigori. It's not bingsu. It's the original: crushed ice, fragrant coconut milk, a ladle of sweet syrup and whatever combination of taro, jackfruit, lotus seeds, water chestnuts, coconut jelly and pandan noodles you're craving for. Why we love it: Because some things don't need to be improved upon! The coconut milk here is properly coconut milk – rich, fragrant, just sweet enough – and the toppings, arrayed in an impressive spread behind the counter, are fresh and well-prepared. Choosing your own bowl is part of the ritual: you point, they pile, the ice goes on top and sweet syrup follows. The ruam mit (mixed) version is the path of least resistance and rarely disappoints. Prices are comfortingly cheap by any standard, the room is open-fronted and breezy and the street outside feels a world away from the malls of Sukhumvit.  Time Out tip: The ruam mit bowl lets you go all-out on the toppings. Add the pandan-green lot chong noodles if you see them – they're the best. 212/1 Dinso Rd, Sao Chingcha, Phra Nakhon. Open daily (hours vary, best visited mid-morning to mid-afternoon)

What is it? Southern Thai desserts don't get nearly enough credit in Bangkok's sweet scene, which is part of what makes Juitee so very welcome. A sibling-run cafe that started in Phuket and brought its best ideas north, Juitee's Bangkok outpost sits inside the Corner House – a converted old building in Charoenkrung – and serves a menu of contemporary and rare southern Thai sweets. Why we love it:  The standout for shaved ice lovers is the o-eaw: a Phuket staple built around the bouncy, almost gelatinous jelly extracted from the seeds of creeping figs, served with shaved ice, red syrup and a tumble of tropical fruit. Juitee's o-eaw is a tropical iteration – peach, pineapple and mango alongside the classic.  Time Out tip: Start with the tropical versions, then stay for a tao sor bun and a coffee. There’s also the o-eaw Charoen Krung – a localised take that swaps in ingredients found around the neighbourhood the cafe calls home. 951/35 Charoen Krung Rd, Bang Rak. Open daily 11am-8pm

What is it? In Thai, sai means both ‘shaved’ and ‘honest’ – and Sai Sai brings the ethos at this shaved ice cafe in the old city near Rattanakosin island. Sourcing ingredients seasonally from local farmers and treats the kakigori format seriously, the menu rotates around whatever produce is at its best. They've tried everything from palm sugar and buffalo yoghurt to the tartly compelling mafai (garcinia cowa) fruit – all work incredibly well. Why we love it: The seasonal tropical bowls, when the combination lands, can be revelatory: a recent blend of jackfruit, pineapple and garcinia cowa was sweet, sour and refreshing all at once, like the best fruit salad of your life but colder. The room is low-key and unpretentious, the vibe is local and unhurried and the prices won't freeze your account.  Time Out tip: Ask what's in season and let the staff guide you – but if the watermelon and crispy fish bowl is on, order it without hesitation. The crunchy fish comes from Sai Buri in Pattani, the kind traditionally eaten with southern Thai rice salad and fish sauce. Sweet, salty, crunchy and cold – it's the most interesting bowl on the menu and the one that best shows what this kitchen is actually about. 242-244 Maha Chai Rd, Samran Rat, Phra Nakhon. Open daily 12pm-10pm

If there's one spot in Bangkok that felt like home the moment Mattias rolled up, it's this one. 'My personal favourite in Bangkok,' he says. Phirom DIY lives inside Vachara Phirom Park – a Bangkok Metropolitan Administration public park tucked beneath the Ram Intra-At Narong Expressway in Bang Khen – which gives the whole place an odd, brilliant energy. Above you, the flyover rumbles. Around you, joggers and cyclists loop the park's dedicated tracks, kids tear around the playground and somewhere nearby a dog is doing something important in the designated dog park. And right in the middle of all that ordinary Bangkok park life, there's a DIY skate spot doing its own thing entirely. The spot itself is rough around the edges in the best possible way – simple obstacles, nothing too precious, nothing trying too hard. For anyone who grew up skating DIY spots, the familiarity is instant. But it's not just nostalgia doing the heavy lifting. The atmosphere here is genuinely good. Locals hold it down without making you feel like an outsider and the whole place has that lived-in energy that no architect could design on purpose. 'It's less about perfection and more about the vibe,' Mattias puts it. Then there's the food. The nearby market with seemingly endless options means you're never far from a solid meal between sessions. That combination – good skating, good people, good food – is what put Phirom at the top of the list for Matthias. Vachara Phirom Park (Wachiraphiram Park), Ram Int

Even if you never touched your board the whole time, this one would still be worth the visit. Preduce was Thailand’s first skateboard company Thailand. Founded in 2002 by a crew who were already building the scene through videos before they even had a shop, Preduce put Thai skating on the map in a way that still echoes today. When Swiss transplant Simon Pellaux took the reins and opened the flagship store in Siam Square in 2006, it became what many describe as the home of Bangkok's skate and street culture. The videos alone tell the story. From Smooth in 2005 through to Sambai, Chaiyo, Sawatdee, Selamat and beyond – Preduce built a catalogue that inspired generations of Thai skaters and drew international attention. The OGs who came up through those videos – Geng Jakkarin, Lert Saeri, Tao Kitpullap – are still talked about as some of the best to come out of Bangkok. Walking into a Preduce shop means walking into that lineage. The current location, Baan Preduce, carries all of that weight and then some. The park attached to it punches well above the square footage it's working with – a covered street section keeps things usable when the Bangkok heat can make outdoor skating feel like a punishment – and a fun little half bowl rounds things out nicely. Mattias calls it ‘a must visit if you're in Bangkok on a skate trip' – and that's not a throwaway line. Preduce is the kind of stop that gives a skate trip its context. You don't just go to skate. You go to understand where all of

For street skating specifically, Dreg is probably the strongest purpose-built park Bangkok has to offer. The obstacle lineup is genuinely comprehensive: stairs, rails, ledges, manual pads, hips, banks and great flat ground. There’s a skate shop on site, which keeps the whole thing feeling like an actual skate destination rather than just a concrete installation. What makes Dreg more than just a solid park is the story behind it. Founded by skater-turned-coach Kai and his partners, DREG holds the distinction of being the first privately-owned skatepark in Thailand to open completely free of charge – no entry fee, no catches. Kai built it on borrowed money, driven purely by the need to give local skaters somewhere proper to skate near home. That spirit has stuck. The park runs with seven resident coaches, all old skating friends and has become a genuine community hub – families, beginners and serious skaters all sharing the same concrete. The results speak for themselves. Thailand now has an Olympic skateboarder in Vareeraya "ST" Sukasem, who came up through the Dreg community and made it to Paris in 2024. Not a small thing for a free park in Nonthaburi. The one honest gripe Mattias raises is the bowl, which 'could definitely use a rebuild'. Fair enough. But if it's the street you're after, Dreg delivers. Few parks anywhere cover the bases this thoroughly – and knowing what this place has produced, there's a weight to skating here that you don't always find. Unnamed Rd, near Ma

Bangkok at midday in full sun is not a joke and Red Bull Park earns a spot on this list partly for solving that problem. Opened in November 2024 at the Benjakitti Sports Centre in Khlong Toey, this is now the largest indoor public street skate park in Thailand – more than 1,400 square metres of concrete built in collaboration with Preduce, which gives it an immediate stamp of legitimacy.  The design takes inspiration from real street spots across Thailand, remixed into a single space that runs from a beginner zone all the way through to sections that'll genuinely test advanced skaters. The interior gets extra points for its bold 3D murals and geometric colour work, courtesy of Russian graffiti artist Pasha Wise – it's the kind of place that looks good even when you're not skating. The setup itself is solid: great flatground, a mix of ledges, rails, a hip and some transition make it a well-stocked session. Centrally located and fully covered, it's the kind of place you’re grateful exists when the heat outside is genuinely brutal. Mattias is upfront that the overall vibe 'wasn't my personal favourite,' but he's equally clear that it's a strong option and the practical advantages are real. Oh! and it's free. Sometimes the right spot is just the one that lets you skate when nothing else does. Benjakitti Sports Centre, Khlong Toey, Bangkok 10110. Open daily 4.30am-10pm. Free entry.

RK69 earns its place with smooth ground, concrete obstacles and a setup that feels thoughtful without being overthought. It's more traditional in its layout than some of the other spots on this list, but that's not a knock – there's something solid about a DIY that knows what it wants to be. Sitting at Bangkok's southeast end, the whole thing sits under an elevated highway, which does two things: gives it that raw, urban underpass atmosphere that DIY spots thrive on and keeps the midday sun off your back. That shade matters more than it sounds! The mix of street features and transition – banks, vertical walls, quarters and arched grind rails – makes it well rounded in a way that most spots aren't and the local feel keeps it grounded. 'A super cool DIY with a nice local feel,' is how Mattias sums it up. Local vendors post up outside with drinks and the lights mean the session doesn't have to stop when the sun goes down.  One heads up though: no public bathrooms on site, so if you’re in it for a while, plan ahead – the nearest spot is Bangchak Gas Station on Sukhumvit 77 Rd, about an 11-minute walk away. 3 Patthanakan Rd, Prawet, Prawet, Bangkok 10250. Open daily, 24 hours (floodlit). Free entry.

Mattias happened to land at Mooneyes during their annual contest, which meant his first impression came with a crowd, a buzzing atmosphere and a session that stuck in the memory. Context shapes everything and that visit left a mark. He's clear about where it earns its stripes: 'If you like bowls, it's definitely worth the trip – they have one of the best in Bangkok.' That's a specific, honest endorsement from someone who's skated enough parks to know the difference. If transition is your priority, Mooneyes belongs on your itinerary. What makes it worth the trip south of the city is the concept behind it too. Mooneyes Skatepark holds the claim of being the world's first Mooneyes-themed skate park – for the uninitiated, Mooneyes is the legendary California-born hot rod and custom culture brand that's been an unlikely touchstone for skate and street culture for decades. That heritage sits in the bones of the place and it's housed within FBD Skate Shop, so there's a proper skate retail setup on site when you need it. It's not the most central stop on this list, sitting out in Samut Prakan, but for bowl skaters especially, the journey is worth it. 666 Moo 7, Phraek Sa, Mueang Samut Prakan, Samut Prakan 10280. Opening hours to be confirmed – check Mooneyes Skatepark's Facebook page before visiting.

Suan Luang Backyard is the one Mattias pushes hardest out of the three. 'A must check if you're in Bangkok and love skating transition – it's a really unique place.' And he's not wrong to lead with that. What Rainny has built in his backyard is genuinely something else: super smooth concrete, vert walls, flowing transitions, bowl sections, a spine and pool coping that all connect into one continuous skate-utopia. The park draws comparisons with Pizzey Park on the Gold Coast and was built with the kind of pure passion that no budget can manufacture. The catch is that it's a private spot, so showing up unannounced isn't really the move. That said, the owner Rainny is, by all accounts, 'extremely nice and welcoming' – the kind of host who treats every skater like family, whether you're a local regular or just passing through Bangkok for a week. Entry is free, the lights stay on until close and if you need a place to crash, word is you can message Rainny directly and he'll sort you out. The vibe here runs on community and the straightforward belief that skating should be accessible to everyone. Reach out before you roll up. A DM on Instagram or a message to +66 82 957 1532 goes a long way. 546/1 On Nut 17 Alley, Lane 16, Khwaeng Suan Luang, Khet Suan Luang, Bangkok 10250. Open Mon-Fri 8am-10pm, Sat-Sun open 24 hours. Free entry. Private park – contact Rainny via Instagram (@suanluangbackyard) or call ahead before visiting.

This one came highly recommended by multiple people in the Bangkok scene, even though Mattias didn't get to skate it himself on this trip. And honestly, that kind of consistent word-of-mouth from people who know their spots carries weight. Sitting under the elevated highway over Somdet Saranrat Maneerom Public Park in Ekkamai, it's got a natural shelter going for it – which in Bangkok means you can skate it from morning through to late without the sun turning the session into a survival exercise. The setup is proper too: pyramids, flat banks, rails, ledges and kickers, with a range of ramps that works for both beginners finding their footing and experienced skaters looking to put in a solid few hours. It might not have the raw DIY soul of some of the other spots on this list, but it earns its reputation as one of Ekkamai's more accessible and well-rounded public parks. One to put on the research list, especially if you're based on that side of the city. New Petchburi Rd, Khet Ekkamai, Bangkok 10310. Open daily, all hours. Free public park.

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.

Open-air cinema, wine sipping and Bangkok have been getting very cosy of late – and Sam Yan community space Slowcombo is leaning right into it with the second instalment of Cut, Action, Sip! Movie Night. But this is no normal film screening. This is a live-dubbed take on the original script masterpiece courtesy of legendary outfit Master Studio, guaranteeing a night that's as funny as it is action-packed because who knows what might get thrown in when everything's dubbed on the fly. Photograph: Slowcombo The headline act is Panda Plan (2024), the gleefully chaotic Chinese action-comedy starring Jackie Chan – and it won't be screening in any ordinary fashion.  And while the film and ridiculous dubbing is what everyone’s here for, wine lovers are also generously catered for: Happy Drinks is on hand with a curated pairing offer, so you can sip something excellent while Chan does what Chan does best.  And if you'd like to make a full evening of it, there's plenty to keep you hanging around after the credits roll – Movie Scene Colouring, Wine Glass Painting and a Trading Card 101 workshops hosted by CardWorld BKK offer something a little more interactive for anyone curious about getting into the collecting world. Photograph: Slowcombo Tickets: Adult B600 (screening plus two glasses of wine) or B450 (screening plus one glass of wine). Students (13-19) B275 (screening and popcorn). Children (3-12) B150. Under-3s free. Book via LINE OA: @slowcombo. March 28. Living Space, G/F, S

Photograph: S2O Songkran Music Festival S2O Songkran Music Festival hits its 11th edition from April 11-13 at its shiny new home, S2O Land on Ratchadaphisek – bigger venue, bolder production, 360-degree water cannons firing in sync with the drops, fireworks and a lineup that goes very deep into the A-list. And because three days apparently wasn't enough, the team has launched K2O: a brand-new spin-off festival running the day after.   S2O Songkran Music Festival Photograph: S2O Songkran Music Festival 'The world's wettest party' is, for once, not hyperbole – and for 2026, it's getting wetter. Running April 11-13 under the theme 'Party in the Universe', S2O has moved to a new purpose-built venue with a bigger footprint for both production and water play.  The signature 360-degree cannon system, firing in sync with the drops, remains. As does its complete unpredictability.  Quick heads-up before we get into the lineup – tickets are already flying and the lower tiers are pretty much gone. If you’ve been thinking about it, this is your sign.   Early Bird 3-Day Pass – B3,500 Tier 1 3-Day Pass – B4,300 Tier 2 3-Day Pass – B4,500 Tier 3 3-Day Pass – B4,800  Single-Day Pass (April 11, 12 or 13) – B2,100 VIP 1-Day Pass – B3,600 (Fast lane, VIP bar and dry zone platform) VIP 3-Day Pass – B7,900 (Full run, all VIP perks)   The line up: Day 1 (April 11): Lonely Club (Alan Walker x Steve Aoki), Lost Frequencies, I Hate Models, William Black, AC Slater. Day 2 (April 12): Zedd, Don Diabl

Bangkok is full of spots made for losing yourself in a good atmosphere. Looking at the cosy book cafe scene that we covered recently in Bangkok's 14 best book cafes for avid readers and the National Book Fair from March 26 to April 6 at Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, the city is going book-mad.  Now, one of the city's great green spaces is getting transformed into a meeting point for book lovers and curious minds of all kinds. Put it all together and it's pretty clear: the reading habits of city people have forever shifted. A new generation of bookworms are proving that a patch of public green space in the heart of the capital can be just as good a place to crack open your favourite title as any trendy cafe in town. So if your weekend is wide open, here's a plan worth having. Swap the air-con for a shady tree and come settle in at BKK Read & Learn Festival 2026 – Bangkok's reading festival, themed ‘Different Ages, Learning Together’ – held at the Sundial Plaza in Lumpini Park. Photograph: Bangkok Learning City The programme is packed with activities designed for every generation: panel talks swapping perspectives on how we learn at different stages of life, alongside creative activity zones where kids and families can let their imaginations run completely free.  It's a reminder that knowledge doesn't live only between the covers of a textbook – it lives in conversation and laughter, out in the open air, right in the middle of the city! March 21-22. Free. Lumpini

That grain, that colour tone, the warmth of a film photograph no filter can quite fake. The crackle of a needle finding its groove. There's a reason people keep coming back to analogue life – it's not nostalgia for the sake of it, it's about keeping something tangibly close and physically owned. Photograph: Outdoor Bkk time If any of that speaks to you, clear your weekend – because Lido Connect is about to transform into a full-on retro paradise. Film Day Craft & Indies Market is the kind of market worth wandering: thoughtfully curated, unhurried and stacked with personality. Photograph: Outdoor Bkk time Whether you're hunting for a rare film camera, eyeing up a Y2K digital point-and-shoot for that crunchy throwback look or just want to flip through crates of vinyl, cassette tapes and collectible books – it's all here. Photograph: Outdoor Bkk time There's live drawing, DIY craft workshops, a rail of both new and second-hand clothes, homeware and even accessories for your dog. When your legs give out, a matcha café with fresh-baked croissants is standing by. And to seal the whole vibe properly, DJ Ball is spinning 90s records live on March 21 from 5-8pm. Off a real deck, naturally. March 20-22. Free. Lido Connect, Siam Square, 11am-8pm

Isaan is Thailand's vast, spirited northeast: the region that gave the country its fiery food, its most infectious music, and a word for carefree, wholehearted fun – muan – that simply doesn't translate. That's the heart of Muan Muan Market, a cultural celebration that’s lifting the warm, wonderfully chaotic joy of an Isaan festival and dropping it into one of Bangkok's most storied corners: the grand historic precinct of Na Phra Lan Road. Photograph: Silpakorn University The weathered, beautiful bones of Silpakorn University’s Wang Tha Phra campus. The smell of pla ra on the breeze – a fermented fish staple at the heart of Isaan cooking. The twang of a phin, the region’s three-stringed lute. And everywhere you look, handmade goods from a younger generation proud of their roots. Food-wise, expect handpicked Isaan dishes – the sweating-and-grinning kind. Live music serenades you: folk rhythms laced with something more contemporary, perfect for a slow wander as the afternoon softens and the old palace walls catch the last of the sun. There are workshops too, if you want to get your hands to work – the kind that offer a real, felt sense of what muan means. Carefree, wholehearted fun. Bangkok locals, curious wanderers, or Isaan exiles chasing that full-body feeling of home – this one's got your name on it. April 2-4. Free entry. Silpakorn University, Wang Tha Phra (Na Phra Lan–Suan Kaew), 2pm-8pm.

จากผู้ตอบแบบสำรวจกว่า 2,600 คนทั่วภูมิภาค กรุงเทพฯ ติดท็อป 3 ถึง 4 ใน 5 ตัวชี้วัดด้านความโรแมนติก ตั้งแต่ความถี่ในการมีเซ็กซ์ การออกเดต การจีบ ไปจนถึงจำนวนคืนที่พัฒนาความสัมพันธ์ พูดง่ายๆ คือเมืองนี้ไม่ได้แค่มีคนออกไปข้างนอก แต่มีอะไรเกิดขึ้นจริง และกรุงเทพฯ ไม่ได้เป็นแบบนี้เพราะ ‘คน’ อย่างเดียว แม้ว่าสถิติจะบอกว่าพวกเขามีเสน่ห์และเปิดรับโอกาส แต่ ‘เมือง’ เองก็มีส่วนสำคัญ ตั้งแต่บาร์ที่เซ็กซี่ที่สุดออกแบบมาให้บทสนทนาไหลลื่น หรือร้านอาหารที่เหมาะกับเดตแรก ไปจนถึงจังหวะชีวิตที่เปิดพื้นที่ให้การพบกันเกิดขึ้นได้อย่างเป็นธรรมชาติ นี่คือเมืองที่ไม่ได้บังคับให้ความสัมพันธ์ต้องเกิดขึ้น แต่ทำให้มันเกิดขึ้นได้อย่างง่ายดาย แน่นอนว่าตัวเลขเหล่านี้สะท้อน ‘ปริมาณ’ ไม่ใช่ ‘เคมี’ เพราะแต่ละเมืองมีภาษาของแรงดึงดูดเป็นของตัวเอง บางเมืองเคลื่อนไหวเร็ว บางเมืองใช้เวลา แต่กรุงเทพฯ ชัดเจนว่าอยู่ในจังหวะที่แอกทีฟกว่าใครส่วนใหญ่   กรุงเทพฯ อยู่อันดับไหนบ้าง อันดับ 2: สำหรับความถี่ในการมีเซ็กซ์ กรุงเทพฯ เฉลี่ยอยู่ที่ 9.1 ครั้งต่อเดือน เป็นรองมาเก๊าเพียง 9.2 และมากกว่าเมืองอื่นทั้งหมดในเอเชีย อันดับ 2: สำหรับจำนวนคืนที่นำไปสู่ความสัมพันธ์โรแมนติก เฉลี่ยอยู่ที่ 7.4 คืนต่อเดือน เป็นรองเพียงมาเก๊า แต่ยังนำหน้าเมืองใหญ่อย่างกัวลาลัมเปอร์และปักกิ่ง อันดับ 3: สำหรับการออกเดต กรุงเทพฯ เฉลี่ยอยู่ที่ 6.9 ครั้งต่อเดือน ติดท็อป 3 ของภูมิภาค อันดับ 3: สำหรับการจีบ กรุงเทพฯ อยู่ในอันดับต้นๆ ของเอเชียในเรื่องการจีบ ไม่ใช่แค่พบกัน แต่มีการส่งสัญญาณบางอย่างต่อกันอย่างลึกซึ้ง อันดับ 6: สำหรับแนวโน้มการพบคนที่น่าดึงดูด แม้อาจจะไม่ใช่อันดับ 1 แต่เมื่อดูจากอันดับอื่นๆ กรุงเทพฯ เป็นเมืองที่ชัดเจนว่า ‘ไม่ปล่อยโอกาสผ่านไปเฉ

Time Out Loud's latest dating and romance survey has Bangkok sitting sexy at the top of the rankings – and we've got the juicy breakdown. Based on over 2,600 Time Outers across Asia (plus 1,300 in Australia, analysed separately), the data identifies the spiciest cities in the region for dating and desire. A little tease before we show the whole ranking: Bangkok ranks in the top three across four of five romance metrics – we're talking categories that measure real romantic momentum: how often people are having sex, flirting, dating, nights out with steamy action potential. It's partly the people here – the stats say they're attractive and game – but the city creates the conditions too. Bangkok's infrastructure works in your favour: the spaces, the social rhythms, the sensory pull. Dim-lit spots that feel inherently sexy, first dates that don't default to bar stools. And this shows, to an extent, how Bangkokians actually date, flirt and build romantic lives, a vital slice of the full spectrum of human connection. The scoreboard tracks volume, not voltage. Every city writes its own erotic grammar, its own clockwork and courtship dance. Some pounce, others prowl. Statistics tally encounters, not electricity!   Bangkok’s rankings Have sex: Second place  Again just behind Macau (9.2 times monthly versus Bangkok's 9.1) and ahead of every other Asian city listed. Have a night out that might lead to romance: Second place  Only Macau ranks higher. Bangkok clocks in at 7.4 nights per mo

Just when you thought Lisa couldn’t possibly squeeze anything else into her schedule, she’s gone and bagged herself a lead role in a Netflix Notting-Hill-style romantic comedy, according to sources. And yes, we’re absolutely holding out hope that Thailand might just sneak its way into the frame. Netflix dropped the news on February 5 that Lisa will star in an as- yet- untitled rom-com penned by Katie Silberman, the writer behind Set It Up and Booksmart. Translation: – this one’s going to be good. Lisa is also reuniting with David Bernad, the executive producer she bonded with on the set of The White Lotus season three, which, let’s not forget, was filmed right here on our gorgeous shores in Koh Samui, Phuket and Bangkok. Photograph: ShutterStock According to reports, the entire concept for the film was born during those six months of filming in Thailand. Lisa and Bernad apparently spent their downtime gushing over Notting Hill, the 1999 Julia Roberts classic about a famous actress falling for a regular bloke who runs a bookshop. They loved it so much they decided to create their own version, tapped Silberman to write it and now here we are. So the big question – will any of this film actually be shot in Thailand? Netflix is keeping plot details locked down tighter than a vault, but the inspiration tells us plenty. If they’re riffing on Notting Hill, we’re looking at a celebrity meets normie romance. And where better to set that than a country that’s already proven itself as