Aydan Stuart

While Valentine's Day events take centrestage in Chiang Mai this week (check out our more comprehensive Valentine’s Day event list here), the city’s events calendar is working overtime to bring you far more than hearts and flowers.  The Chiang Mai Flower Festival bridges the gap as the city breaks into full bloom, filling Nong Buak Haad Park and Tha Phae Gate with floral displays, parades and live music, while the artists at KOSMOS Exhibition Festival share their contemporary art, performances and creative programming over four full days. If high-culture is your thing, head to High Note’s rooftop setting to catch pianist Myriam Ayari as she offers a quieter, more classical counterpoint to the weekend buzz.  Elsewhere, Shambhala in Your Heart is still in full swing for those keen to catch the second (and arguably most exciting) weekend of the 10-day hippie marathon, as well as a strong helping of inner city nightlife and community-led gatherings that keep things moving after dark.   Brand new Bar 828 serves up a double whammy of events this weekend to draw new crowds, or if you prefer to go all in, Yok Yek’s midnight-to-midday party in Chiang Dao will scratch that techno itch if you have the stamina.  Prefer your plans a little more mindful? Great Spirit Festival offers a three-day blend of cacao circles, yoga, ecstatic dance and riverside downtime just outside the city, while hands-on creatives can spend Valentine’s Day making perfume and prints at attika Studio. Whatever you

We’re well into February now and there’s lots going on this weekend despite the Saturday election booze ban. So as you’d expect, a lot of water-themed things are happening in place of the cocktails – whether that’s socials on the harbour or surfing inland at Phuket Surf House.   For party addicts, the momentum is not letting up with a number of big names like Sam Supplier and wAFF taking to the stage to top and tail the weekend. And for those who want to see a new side of Phuket, we’ve dug out the best go-to scavenger hunt organiser we could find, with a ton of races, competitions, hunts and self-guided tours that get you seeing new parts of the island you never knew existed.    Whether you’re here visiting or a regular to the city – it’s your calling to move, mingle, sweat or simply sip something cold by the water as Phuket expands its comfort zones over the next few days.

It may have taken a decade or so but the Chiang Mai festival season is well and truly back. If you like sweat-free camping, friendlier ticket prices and a crowd that leans a little… unconventional, then you’re in the right place.     Chiang Mai and its neighbours are leading the charge this year with an almost back-to-back lineup of parties that range from family-friendly Glastonbury-style long weekends to one-day techno raves that go well past dawn and in-your-face events that turn the tables on what makes a festival good.    Sure, this isn’t the land of mega-EDM blowouts like EDC or Wonderfruit – but that’s kind of the point. Northern Thailand does things differently, with music, art and culture leading the way. Below, we’ve rounded up the festivals in the north that are genuinely worth clearing space for on your party calendar this year. We’ll see you there, in costume of course.

Ok, we know New Year’s Eve is still not over but, if you’re like us, you’ll be wanting to spy out the best recovery options before the hangover arrives – after all, there’s nothing like pre-party clarity to help you ease into a day of bed movies and electrolytes.    So, while you pour yourself another drink, browse through our top picks for the best hangover cures for January 1 – we’re talking saunas, ice baths, IV drips, slap up breakfasts, massages you can fall asleep in and a big list of other ideas that should help soothe you right into the New Year. For now, bottoms up! But keep this list in your back pocket for when tomorrow comes.   

New Year’s Eve in Chiang Mai doesn’t stick to just one script – and that’s why we’re sharing a bit of everything to get you in the mood.    You can do the full movie-style moment under fireworks, lanterns and stage lights, dance your way into 2026 in a sweaty club corner, clink glasses over a long dinner or head for the hills to chant your way into a calmer, more enlightened version of yourself. Either way, Chiang Mai delivers every option for an end-of-year send-off that’s as varied as it is memorable – second only to the Thai New Year just a few months down the line.   From big-ticket countdowns and neighbourhood festivals to lantern-lit rituals and rooftop celebrations, here’s how Chiang Mai is welcoming 2026. Choose wisely. Or don’t. It’s only New Year’s Eve. 

If there’s one rumour about Chiang Mai that refuses to die, it’s that the city has somehow lost its digital-nomad magic. The reality? Quite the opposite. New coworking spaces are popping up every month, laptops are still hogging cafe tables and a steady stream of nomads continues to roll into town – many of them deciding to stick around rather than move on.   And if you’ve ever toyed with the idea of basing yourself in Chiang Mai – even temporarily – you’re in very good company. This weekend marks the return of Nomad Summit 2026, one of the city’s biggest digital-nomad meetups and, frankly, the closest thing laptop lovers have to their own Coachella.   More than a decade deep, this annual summit has long drawn founders, indie hackers, thought leaders, freelancers and the perpetually curious to the northern Thai capital to learn, connect and – let’s be honest – have a very good time while doing it.    Sure, the main focus is clearly about networking, big ideas and the odd late-night conversation about the good and evils of AI, but there’s way more to this event than just business. Here’s our run down of what’s on, how to sign up and where to go for the biggest pool party in the city.  Photograph: Nomad Summit What is the Nomad Summit?   This ‘aint no sterile corporate shindig – speakers and attendees join from a range of backgrounds and countries, from remote pros and founders to freelancers, investors and people who just really love the vibes.  This week-long event is desig

If you hadn’t already noticed, the north is in full ‘brrr’ mode as a chilly weather surge has rolled into town. Since early this week, the mercury has dropped a fair few notches, leaving city mornings with crisp low-teens and mountain tops like Doi Inthanon going full ice age – with grass-level lows hitting a record-breaking -5C and air temperatures hovering around 2C if you can believe it! Needless to say, things are getting frosty.   City minimums are said to reach 11C this weekend, as cold air from China sweeps across the country. And while this is all fine and lovely – we all love a break from sweating – the government has issued warnings to keep warm as a 75-year-old man has become the first reported fatality linked to the almost-Baltic chills.    But with winter properly here and the smog still keeping its distance, there’s no better moment to see the cooler side of Chiang Mai. If anything ever called for adventure, it’s cold mornings, rolling mist and a perfectly legitimate excuse to finally wear that jacket you’ve been eyeing in your wardrobe for the last fifty-so weeks. 

Christmas in Chiang Mai might lack snowflakes and woolly jumpers, but it makes up for the lack of frost with sunshine, cocktails and a calendar bursting with events. Sure, the midday heat is real and Santa has likely swapped his red suit for a Hawaiian shirt, but the city is firmly in festive mode. Get ready for a packed few days of feasting, drinking, dancing and zero excuses to stay home.   You can absolutely do Christmas the classic way – piling plates high at indulgent spreads at Skugga Estate, Anantara or Melia – but that’s just the starting point. Elsewhere, Christmas Eve spills onto rooftops, into tiki bars and across dancefloors, with DJ-led blowouts, jungle parties, fire shows, markets and Chiang Mai-style celebrations that are far more exciting than sitting through another rerun on the sofa.   We say skip the stay-at-home movie marathon and lean into the tropics. Whether it’s refreshing rooftop cocktails, basslines till late, Christmas dinners with a twist or playing bar games into the night, this is December in Thailand – and Chiang Mai is doing it its own way. 

For years, Thailand’s cocktail crown sat firmly on Bangkok’s head, a city that’s saturated with rooftop bars and hidden speakeasies. But, in more recent years, energy has been shifting further afield, with a number of out-of-the-capital bars capturing the interest of drinkers and critics alike.    While Phuket’s beach-side cocktail scene has a wealthy market ready to sip on gold-infused martinis, Chiang Mai is taking a more creative approach that’s more in tune with its own audience. And out of the many Chiang Mai cocktail bars we’ve reviewed and shared along the way, a little speakeasy-style spot hidden up a flight of bright orange stairs is pushing the city onto the national (and now international) map: Bar Not Found.   In just over a year, this bright, quirky, colour-soaked cocktail den has snagged spots on multiple awards rankings and produced mixologists now making waves on the competitive circuit – from World Class Rising Star Thailand to the Sip Supernova finals in China.   Not bad for a bar that opened its secret living room lair for the first time in September 2024.   Photograph: Time Out – Apiwat Singharach Colour first, then the cocktails   The Bar Not Found story is disarmingly humble. Before launching a venue together, Foam, Game, Jane and Amber were already friends – bartenders, chefs and industry folks moving around Chiang Mai’s growing drinks scene.    Lockdowns, hidden bars and late-night ‘what ifs’ eventually solidified into a plan and the idea for Bar Not

Long before hashtags, influencers and TikTok, there was a small blue book that could be found tucked inside every backpacker’s pocket. Its author? Joe Cummings – the man who wrote the first ever Lonely Planet guide to Thailand and lifelong Thaiophile who introduced a generation to the kingdom’s best temples, towns and tuk tuk rides.  As a writer myself (with a few Lonely Planet books under my own belt, as it happens) I couldn’t help but jump at the opportunity to interview the legend himself on a recent Time Out Thailand podcast episode. Before I knew it, we were sat together in the podcast studio inside Sukhmuvit 31’s Public House. As planned, we switched into Thai – a second language for both of us – to begin unravelling the stories, surprises and side-quests of a writer, musician, actor and accidental cultural icon.    Photograph: Joe Cummings His first calling to Thailand was spiritual  Cummings’ story starts far from the tropics. Born in New Orleans and raised everywhere his army father was stationed, he grew up without a hometown – ‘we moved every two or three years,’ he recalls as we discuss his father’s role in the Army.  With travel in his blood, it’s little surprise that when he finally flew the nest, his compass pointed due east. Landing in Bangkok in 1977, he arrived just as Thailand was entering one of its most fascinating eras – a time where stories were just waiting to be told. Thailand in the late ’70s, he says, was ‘slower, quieter, and the air was worse.’

ก่อนจะมียุคออนไลน์ในปัจจุบันที่เต็มไปด้วยติ๊กต็อก เหล่าอินฟลูเอนเซอร์ และแฮชแท็กสารพัด โลกของนักเดินทางในสมัยก่อนนั้นมีเพียงหนังสือเล่มเล็กปกสีน้ำเงินที่แบ็กแพ็กเกอร์ทุกคนต่างพกติดกระเป๋าไว้เสมอ แล้วใครกันที่เป็นผู้เขียนมันขึ้นมา หากไม่ใช่ชายหนุ่มผู้หลงใหลในมนต์เสน่ห์ของสยามเมืองยิ้มอย่าง ‘โจ คัมมิงส์’ชายผู้จับปากกาเขียนไกด์บุ๊ก Lonely Planet Thailand เล่มแรก และเป็นผู้ที่หลงใหลในเมืองไทยแบบสุดหัวใจ ผู้พาคนทั้งยุคออกเดินทางไปรู้จักเสน่ห์ของอาณาจักรสยาม ตั้งแต่วัดที่งดงามที่สุด เมืองที่มีชีวิตชีวาไปจนถึงการนั่งตุ๊กตุ๊กที่ไม่มีวันลืม ตัวผม ในฐานะนักเขียนที่บังเอิญมีหนังสือ Lonely Planet อยู่บ้าง จึงไม่พลาดโอกาสที่จะได้พูดคุยกับตำนานที่ยังมีลมหายใจคนนี้ ในพอดแคสต์ตอนล่าสุดของ Time Out Thailand เรานั่งคุยกันที่ สตูดิโอ Public House ซอยสุขุมวิท 31 และตามแผนที่วางไว้ เราเริ่มต้นสนทนาเป็นภาษาไทย ภาษาที่สองของเราทั้งคู่ ซึ่งกลายมาเป็นสื่อกลางในการคลี่เรื่องราว ชีวิต และการเดินทางของนักเขียน นักดนตรี นักแสดง และ ‘ไอคอนทางวัฒนธรรมโดยบังเอิญ’ คนนี้   Photograph: Joe Cummings ‘จิตวิญญาณ’ เสียงเรียกแรกที่นำพาเขามาสู่แดนแห่งสยาม เรื่องราวของคัมมิงส์เริ่มต้นไกลจากดินแดนอาคเนย์อันร้อนระอุ เขาเกิดที่เมืองนิวออร์ลีนส์ สหรัฐอเมริกา แต่เติบโตตามทุกพื้นที่ที่ผู้เป็นพ่อถูกส่งไปประจำการในฐานะนายทหาร นั่นจึงเป็นเหตุผลที่เขาไม่เคยมีบ้านเกิดอยู่ที่ใดเลย ‘พวกเราเปลี่ยนที่อยู่ทุกสองถึงสามปี’ โจย้อนเล่าถึงวัยเด็กที่เต็มไปด้วยการเดินทางของเขาและพ่อผู้รับใช้ชาติ ดังนั้นการเดินทางจึงเหมือนอยู่ในสายเลือดของเขา และไม่น่าแปลกใจเลยเมื่อกนกตัวนี้ได้บินออกจากรังตามเข็มทิศที่ชี้ตรงไปทางทิศตะวันออก เขาโผยบินลงที่

It turns out, Thailand isn’t just a holiday hotspot, it’s a dream destination for many from all walks of life. Just this week, Chiang Mai ranked 14th on a list of the happiest cities worldwide, while in January, it reached 28th on Time Out’s 50 Best Cities in the World 2025 list.  Now, it’s the retiree’s time – with Forbes’ ‘Best Places to Retire Abroad in 2025’ list placing four Thai cities in the global shortlist: Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Phuket and Koh Samui. The list is unranked, leaving readers and those looking to retire without the pressure of aiming for number one. However, after some serious research Forbes identified 24 countries and 96 recommended spots for the best retirement out there – based on costs, amenities, health care, language, crime and climate risk. And, given it’s a US publication, the rankings also take into account whether American retirees are welcome – so we expect some bias based on this metric.  Either way, it’s hardly surprising that social media is already dubbing Thailand ‘the world’s retirement hub,’ with a growing desire for people to enjoy its unbeatable food and culture on a more long-term basis. Add a cost of living that still undercuts most of the West, and it’s easy to see why so many are trading in their drab morning commutes for fresh lunchtime coconuts. Here’s the cities that made the list and why we think they’re great for retirement. 

What is it? If your idea of a beautiful dog is eye-poppingly slobbery, you’re very much in luck. Forget the good looking breeds, we’re all about the pug here.  Why we love it: Originally a compact spot in the NapLab project, this breakaway pug haven focuses surely on the quirky, affectionate nature of the breed, offering a therapeutic experience filled with wrinkled comedians.  Pugs are ‘velcro dogs,’ meaning they will happily sit on your lap for hours. It’s the ultimate spot for low-energy snuggling in the heart of the city, if you don’t mind the odd sneeze or patch of dribble on your shirt.  Time Out tip: Seating is limited, so booking via their social media in advance is a requirement.  759 NapLab Project Pathum Wan. B169 for 90 minutes, includes snacks and a drink. Fri-Sun 12pm-7.30pm

What is it? The newest urban outpost from the Dog Country team, bringing the ‘petting zoo’ energy into the Rama 3 area. Sure, there’s only 50 dogs here (compared to the 400 in Watcharaphon) but that’s still enough wagging tails for any dog addict to get their fix. Why we love it: With the exception of some small boutique spots found in the inner city, it’s by far the most accessible ‘mega-cafe’ for those who don't want to commute to the far suburbs but also want a lot of dogs at their disposal.  The space is smaller than their club out of town (number two on our list) but offers the same experience with dozens of dog breeds, great coffee, snacks and even the odd paint and charm workshop to keep you busy between pets.  Time Out tip: If you’re unlucky enough to be in the company of ‘cat people’ then fear not – there’s a special room dedicated to those who prefer their pets with a side helping of tuna.  682-1, Rama 3. B199 for two hours. 11am-9pm

What is it? The massive newly-renovated flagship branch of the Dog Country empire. This sprawling space is a legitimate canine resort, featuring a dedicated ‘Big Dog’ zone, a swimming pool and professional grooming services for their massive pack of over 400 residents. Why we love it: Quite simply, the scale is unmatched. It’s a total immersion experience where you can see everything from giant Leonbergers to tiny poodles in one afternoon. The massive area is divided into several zones so you can pick your best playdate vibe. Start at the Center Zone, where small and big dogs mingle in one lively playground. Next, head to the Tiny Paw Zone, designed for those who melt at pint-sized pups you can cuddle or feed unlimited treats. The Dog Gallery showcases medium-sized dogs, with a few fluffy models. Upstairs, things get wilder: rabbits, cats, goats and pigs add a petting zoo feel for extra fun.  And it’s not just about the four-legged friends. The cafe also comes with a dining area and live music stage, making it an all-day hangout spot for families and friends. Time Out tip: Don’t worry about your nice shoes getting chewed up, you’ll be wearing shoe covers to keep the place clean and the pups healthy.  82, 39 Phutthamonthon Sai 2. B300 (unlimited play in all zones and one free drink). 9.30am-9pm

What is it? A boutique dachshund-centric cafe tucked away in Thonglor, featuring a cosy olive-green, vintage-inspired interior. It feels more like a chic living room than a commercial pet space, serving high-quality single-origin coffee alongside its resident ‘owners,’ Bobby and Billy. Why we love it: It’s one of the few spots where the coffee is actually as good as the company. Coffee lovers will be happy too, since Benkoff sources quality beans for both house blends and single origins. Whether you prefer bold, smooth or well-balanced, there’s something for every taste. But if we could recommend one to try, their signature Toffee Koffee – a milk coffee infused with salted caramel – is off the charts.  For non-coffee drinkers, there are also teas, milk, smoothies and freshly baked homemade pastries available every day. Another corner that wins people over is the little gift shop full with cute trinkets, from dachshund keychains and playful printed T-shirts to hats and small souvenirs you can take home. Cute enough for ya?  Time Out tip: Don't rush in at opening time if you're there for the pups; Bobby and Billy usually start their ‘shift’ around midday. 195 NT Tower Thong Lo. 7.30am-4pm (Closed on the 16th of every month)

What is it? The name says it all – Big Dog Cafe is the kingdom of kind giants. A curated sanctuary for rare and giant breeds. This is where you’ll find the ‘walking rug’ komondors, elegant Afghan hounds and Alaskan malamutes.  Why we love it: The cafe is home to more than 50 dogs from a wide variety of breeds – some familiar and others so unique you’ll hardly ever see them in Thailand.  The cafe organises doggy playtime into five sessions a day (to ensure the dogs stay happy and rested), each featuring up to 10 different packs rotating in to meet visitors. That means every time you come, you’ll meet a new crew of furry friends almost every time. We call it dog roulette! The space is roomy and welcoming, great for both grabbing a coffee break or settling in for a full meal while enjoying your unlimited dog cuddle time.  Time Out tip: The B590 package is the best value as it covers your entry, a full meal and a drink, letting you settle in for a long afternoon. 358/21 Soi Ruam Nam. 9.30am-7.30pm (Closed Wed)

What is it? A quintessential Ari hangout where the resident dogs – huskies, samoyeds, and goldens – are all named after BTS stations. It’s a bright, airy space that feels like a backyard party. Why we love it: The ‘BTS Station’ naming gimmick is genius. Don’t be surprised when you’re suddenly calling out ’On Nut’ or ‘Mo Chit’ while a giant ball of fur comes running your way. The vibe is also super laidback and friendly, like you’ve just dropped in to see friends who happen to have way better hair. Staff will help line you up for photos with the pups, some of whom are trained to pose like pros. You’re guaranteed to walk away with Instagram gold (and probably a new favorite station on the BTS line). Time Out tip: Ask the staff to help you with a group photo – they are experts at getting the ‘BTS crew’ to pose for the perfect Instagram shot. 11/4 7 Phahonyothin Road. B350, includes one drink. 11am-8pm

What is it? A corgi-centric dog cafe home to over 30 ‘bread-loafs’. The cafe itself is cozy and cute, decorated like a warm garden home – best for snapping photos, sipping coffee or just chilling on a lazy afternoon.  Why we love it:  It all started when the owners, already corgi parents themselves, decided to share their joy by opening a space where everyone could experience the same fluffy happiness. And for that we’re very grateful.  Corgis are famously playful, cheeky and extra cuddly so prepare to fall head over heels the moment you come in. On the menu you’ll find coffee, homemade pastries and ice cream – ideal for cooling down on a hot Bangkok day. Time Out tip: Go on a weekday if you want extra cuddle time. It’s less crowded, which means more corgi love for you. 240/1, Soi Charoen Nakhon 10. B350 for adults, B450 for one drink and cake or ice cream, discounts for kids. 10am-6pm

What is it? A dual-zone cafe and breeding farm dedicated to the spirited Japanese shiba inu. One side is for dining, while the other is a high-energy playground filled with adult Shibas and their tiny puppies. Why we love it: Shiba fans, this one’s for you. Shibainu Story is a cafe where the stars of the show are an entire pack of these cheeky, fluffy pups. You’ll meet everything from full-sized, bouncy daddy-os to teeny-tiny puppies so cute they might just break your heart. Shibas are also famous for their playful (and slightly mischievous) personalities, so you can expect lots of laughter or maybe a bit of a headache.  Time Out tip: Because Shibainu Story is also a shiba farm, the experience doesn’t stop at cuddles and playtime. Fall for a pup here, and you might just be starting a whole new chapter with your very own shiba companion. Chula Soi 5 (Dragon Town). B250, no time limits. 11am-10pm

What is it? A golden retriever paradise run by a veteran breeder. It’s a specialised space where you can interact with high-pedigree ‘champion’ Goldens and their incredibly soft puppies in a tropical-themed setting. Why we love it: Golden retriever lovers, listen up! Bangkok Dog Cafe is a golden paradise. Born from the passion of a professional breeder with over 25 years of experience, this cafe is home to a curated pack of champions-in-the-making. You’ll meet goldens that aren’t just adorable – they’ve got the pedigree of winners.  The fun here comes in rounds, with packages to match every dog obsession. Starting out at a comfortable B199, the Variety Round is perfect for a casual sniff-around. B350 gets you the Combo Round, where you can hang out with the cafe’s champion goldens for a full hour, sip a free drink then have unlimited free play afterwards.  Time Out tip: If you’re a sucker for puppers like us, the Puppy VIP (B590) option gets you a full hour with the fluffiest baby golden retrievers and comes with a free drink and a pair of dog-themed socks.  521 Thanon Kanchanaphisek. B199-B590, courses vary. 10.30am-8pm

What is it? A high-end, session-based husky experience. With over 30 perfectly groomed Siberian huskies and samoyeds in residence, it’s a meticulously run operation focused on animal welfare and guest interaction. Why we love it: The real magic here is that you don’t just meet one or two but you get to dive right into the whole pack for playtime and group photos. The cafe itself is styled like a spacious garden so you can actually run around and play with the dogs instead of being cooped up. Before heading out, wander through the souvenir corner where you’ll find paw-some merch and doggy-themed goodies to take home as a memory of your visit. Time Out tip: Entry is strictly session-based so be sure to plan around traffic and arrive early to clear the mandatory health and safety briefing. Soi Ari Samphan 2. B350-500, includes a drink. Two sessions daily: 11am-2pm and 3pm-6pm

Sometimes a bit of culture is in order to keep the soul enlightened. Thankfully, High Note have you covered with a Sunday evening classical piano recital with Myriam Ayari, a highly-regarded music professor at the Conservatoire royal de Bruxelles. Known for her clarity and musical depth, this intimate event takes you on a journey through some of the genre’s best – from Bach to Rachmaninov.  With the city below and the open sky above, this is a rare chance to hear timeless works in a relaxed, close-up environment. Limited seating keeps the experience personal, but with just a few pews left, pre-booking is essential.  Feb 15. B600, tickets here. High Note. Doors 5.30pm, concert starts 6pm

We’ll be honest, The Great Spirit Festival has kept a very low profile, but consider the cat now very much out of the bag. Targeting those in the know, as well as those keen to be enlightened, the festival brings together movement, music and nature for a multi-day escape set among the rivers and forested groves of Hang Dong. While there is music (and the odd DJ), the main focus is wellness and personal development through the ‘channeling of our great spirit energy to honour life and deepen our connection to the earth’ – or so they say. These connections are built around cacao circles, ecstatic dance, sound baths, cactus meditation and yoga. But to ensure it’s accessible to those just starting out on their spiritual journey, there’s also a fair helping of fun too – with everything from ATV mountain rides and arrow shooting to river swimming and music circles on the cards. It’s definitely one of those ‘choose-your-own-pace’ kind of gatherings, designed for those craving connection, consciousness and a bit of adventure. Feb 13-15. B6,300 early bird, B7,000 on the door. Tickets and info here. Lanna Resort.

Cantonese cuisine has long shaped the way Bangkok eats – from the city’s love of roast meats and clear, aromatic broths to the everyday rituals of dim sum, noodles and stir-fries that have quietly woven themselves into the capital’s food culture. And while generations of Chinese-Thai kitchens have happily blurred the lines between the two, one new opening is giving classic Cantonese flavours a sharp, modern-city polish. Enter Xian Yuan, a sleek newcomer perched on the fifth floor of Central Park, with leafy views across Lumpini Park and a clear eye on Bangkok’s business crowd. Inspired by the idea of creating a ‘heavenly sanctuary’ in the city, the space leans into modern Chinese Zen – calm, considered and quietly luxurious with hints of blue willow on the clean upholstery – while the menu brings finesse to familiar comforts. Dim sum gets a contemporary upgrade, from har gow enriched with ankimo (monkfish liver) to warming soup dumplings filled with tender black-bone chicken. Photograph: Xian Yuan At the barbecue station, dishes light up with the kiss of applewood. Smoked Peking duck and rich suckling pig are served with fragrant sweet and savoury chestnut filling, while a live seafood counter keeps flavours clean and textures pristine.  For bigger moments, there are steamed red grouper with soy, and fish har gow and fragrant rice wrapped in lotus leaf and oven-baked with a whole Japanese abalone that are sure to impress. And with seven private dining rooms accommodating ev

While election weekend gets underway, many of us who can’t vote (or would rather not doom-scroll the results) may be wondering how exactly to fill the time. With bars and restaurants understandably dry for the duration, distraction becomes a little harder to come by – unless you’re willing to swap a drink in hand for something a bit more cerebrally enriching. If that’s you, you’re in luck. Long a capital of creativity, Chiang Mai is turning to performance this weekend, as the Chiang Mai Performing Arts Festival (CMPAF) takes over theatres and public spaces across town – starting right now.  From Friday to Saturday, CMPAF offers a timely reminder that entertainment doesn’t have to come with a bar tab (note to self), and instead, a lineup of contemporary performance rubs shoulders with tradition and international artists, sharing the floor with local creatives and audiences who know this city inside out. Now in its 2026 edition, CMPAF has grown from a tight-knit artist-led initiative into one of Northern Thailand’s most exciting platforms for performance. A mini-Fringe Festival if you will, under the theme ‘Lives in Rhythm’. Here’s what to expect and where to find performances all weekend – our best solution to avoid the election chatter. Mostly. Photograph: Cozomia Performing Arts Archive What’s on at the Chiang Mai Performing Arts Festival this year? Major shows will be hosted across the city, many with multiple performances to catch across the three days. Artists from acr

While competition for the nomad dollar is fierce across Southeast Asia, Thailand is still very much winning the remote-work popularity contest. In the latest global rankings, Bangkok swaggers confidently into the number-one spot as the world’s favourite city to plug in, power up and get that remote-work brain firing, with Chiang Mai right behind it in a very respectable second place. The rankings come courtesy of nomads.com – the world’s largest digital nomad platform and community – whose users have collectively crowned Thailand’s two heavyweights above cities like Melbourne, Buenos Aires, Da Nang and Tokyo. Not bad company to beat. Thailand scores particularly high for affordability, safety and overall likeability, with just one minor blemish on the scorecard: internet speeds – which, frankly, says a lot. Turns out there’s more to the digital nomad dream than just the Mbps.  While busy Bangkok tops the ranks, given its connectivity and fast-paced lifestyle with literally everything at your fingertips, the quieter, more culturally-minded Chiang Mai is hot on its heels, with a calmer, creative vibe that happily trades a few megabits for peacefulness and good coffee. Just read our off-duty guide for digital nomads in Chiang Mai, and it’ll all make more sense.  Last week’s Nomad Summit only adds weight to these rankings. The gathering brought in close to a thousand digital nomads from across the globe to participate in a conference of digital minds, in the flesh.  The news also

If your idea of a good time involves great cocktails and seven bars in one night, keep reading. Our friends up in Choeng Doi Distillery are officially rolling out ‘Sonklin Weeks’ – a citywide cocktail crawl that shines a spotlight on their contemporary rice spirit, one glass at a time.  From January 18-31, Chiang Mai’s most respected cocktail bars including Bar Not Found, BRINE, The Continental, Bar Foucault, Bar San, THUUB and The White Rabbit are each serving a one-off signature cocktail using Sonklin as the star ingredient. And the distillery wants you to try them all – with prizes involved of course.  So, what’s the challenge? Well, as this is a bar crawl (of sorts), grab yourself a Sonklin Passport from any of the participating venues, order the Sonklin cocktail, collect a stamp and move onto the next. Five stamps unlock a complimentary distillery tour at Choeng Doi Distillery; collect all seven and you’ll score the tour plus exclusive Sonklin merchandise and special distillery-only rewards. Photograph: Choeng Doi Distillery And for those of you (like us) that may not handle seven cocktails at seven bars in just one night, you’re in luck – these stamps can be collected at your own pace over the next two weeks. All you need to do is find a few friends to share the bragging rights with.  In short, drink local, collect stamps, get a craving for contemporary rice spirit and discover Chiang Mai’s bar scene one cocktail at a time. Cheers to that, we’ll see you on the crawl. 

Wherever you are in Thailand, fine dining has a tendency to show off. Big statements, rigid rituals and concept-heavy menus can sometimes leave diners more puzzled than pleased. And while I’m always open to having my horizons expanded, Cuisine de Garden’s latest seasonal revamp does something far more interesting: it lowers its voice and introduces a touch of sweetness instead. And while a few moments may make you second-guess your choices, a few mouthfuls in, you’ll be glad you didn’t.   Chiang Mai’s OG fine diner  Photograph: Aydan Stuart – Time Out Cuisine de Garden has built its reputation quietly over the years, emerging as one of Chiang Mai’s pioneering fine dining spots – appearing way before the local audience was ready.    From its outset, the restaurant set out to explore a ‘Lanna Nordic’ identity – pairing local Thai ingredients and culinary memory with Nordic techniques, playing into fermentation and a respect for seasonality.    Chef Rinnameth ‘Nan’ Thaisuchat leads the operation from the semi-open kitchen. With no formal training, they’re completely self-taught – an impressive feat in the face of big kitchen names that most fine diners pass through.    This gives way to some exciting quirks that I personally think only make the place better. Cuisine de Garden turns its back on strict plating and planning, instead allowing its menus to evolve in response to what’s available, with tasting menus that ebb and flow with the seasons, or whatever is found in the mark

If you’ve been following Chiang Mai Design Festival 2025 this year, you’ll know there’s been tons of local and international guests showing off their best all around the city. From music to art, fashion to technology, the north is buzzing and alive – making this one of the busiest and most exciting Of all the venues, Three Kings Monument may be the most interesting. There’s back-to-back happenings at both the Lanna Folklife Museum and Chiang Mai Arts and Cultural Centre just behind, but it’s what’s on the courtyard itself that has caught our attention.  Slap bang in the middle you’ll find the Russian-Thai Business Council (RTBC) pavilion – a bright white and orange display of Russian heritage, art, craft and contemporary design.  From Gzhel porcelain to contemporary fashion and design, the Russian Soul Pavilion brings three cultural landscapes of Russia into the heart of Chiang Mai. Discover it for free and try your hand at the creative workshops until December 14.  Photograph: Time Out Thailand Local Plus – Design Week theme with a Russian twist   For Vladimir Kovalev, Executive Director of RTBC, the decision to debut here was obvious. ‘Chiang Mai was our clear choice,’ he tells Time Out. ‘It’s not just a city; it’s Thailand’s creative capital.’    Visit on any given day and you’ll find Vladimir’s team – many having flown in specially from Moscow – keen to share their best. With design at the heart of the city this week, he adds ‘this philosophy perfectly matches what we w

At the end of the year, Chiang Mai turns into a living, breathing open-air playground with festivals, events, parties, expos and hangouts that mark the city’s highest season. And from December 6-14, Chiang Mai Design Week takes over the city, with over 300 events, workshops, galleries, pop-ups and concerts that feels equal parts creative conference and street festival.  Now 11 years strong, this year’s theme is all about ‘Local Plus’ – a powerup week where everyone – from designers, musicians and students to travellers, entrepreneurs, neighbourhood aunties – gets involved. It’s no doubt one of the best times to be in Chiang Mai, and to help you navigate the ocean of opportunities, here’s our lowdown on what to see and do this creative week.   Photograph: Chiang Mai Design Week So, what actually is Chiang Mai Design Week? At its core, it’s a festival that spotlights local creative talent – from designers and architects to artisans, technologists, food innovators, sustainable-living champions and emerging makers. The official mission (and they've stuck to it brilliantly) is simple: share ideas, build community and show how design can solve real-world problems. From December 6-14, you can expect to see:  Design exhibitions and installations  Hands-on workshops (ceramics, textiles, printmaking, woodworking – you name it, it's got it) Talks and panel discussions Live performances, music and full-blown concerts Experimental food and craft programmes Photograph: Chiang Mai Desi

Anyone who keeps an eye on Chiang Mai’s live-music undercurrent has almost certainly stumbled into a Terror Terror set. Maybe you caught them shaking things up at Mycelium last year, tearing through the stages at Thantawan Festival or perhaps blasting through the 2am haze at Yoda’s CNX Gallery.  Formed in Chiang Mai in 2023, Terror Terror has quickly become one of the city’s most popular homegrown alt-rock bands. The musicians, hailing from local and international homes, fuse Western post-punk urgency with Thai indie sensibilities – a combo that strikes hard among those in the local scene. Their single ‘Wasted’ hit number one on Bedroom Radio and climbed to number 13 on Cat Radio’s Top 100, later becoming one of Bedroom Studio’s 50 Most Played Tracks of 2023 among Thai listeners. Photograph: Terror Terror   Chiang Mai’s alternative music scene is rising The band sits within a rapidly shifting Chiang Mai soundscape. As Rosie, the lead singer, puts it, ‘Chiang Mai has a strong lineage of folk rock sound, but most people only see that sort of stuff performed at holiday celebrations or walking streets.’  So, over the last decade, indie, experimental and DIY venues have flourished among local music enthusiasts, reshaping the landscape – powered by pioneers like Chiang Mai Originalive, Minimal Records, North Gate, Tempo Wave, Punk Rock Chiang Mai, as well as a hometown festival circuit that is now booming.  The band’s identity spans genres – ‘a bit indie, punk and garage rock’ –

From all the restaurant’s I’ve visited in Chiang Mai, few come close to having a clearer mission than &Then. Walk inside and you might mistake it for just another wine bar, but as soon as you open the menu, you’ll find something different – and dare I say, deeper inside.  But before we get to the food, let’s take a step back and share the story of how &Then came to be, and then some (see what we did there?). Behind the fancy yet casually approachable restaurant and wine bar sits three partners – each of different heritage (this becomes important later).  Photograph: &Then Trish is the chef, and with a mixed Burmese heritage, she spends her time exploring the region discovering new food and reviving old ones too. ‘I grew up eating lots of Burmese food. Kapi, fish sauce – all Burmese,’ she said over a glass of wine when we visited to hear the story. ‘This influences a lot of the menu, but we don’t want to frame today’s Burmese community as the only group of migrants in Chiang Mai. Rather, we believe that all of us are migrants who have come to live in this place in different ways and at different times.’ Flicking through the menu, this is made more apparent. Some pages more recognisable than others, the options dart between Thai, Burmese, Chinese and Muslim dishes – all deeply connected to the roots of each partner.  Kanwara ‘Ben’ Huangsuwannakorn, another founder and creative director of &Then adds, ‘I grew up in a Chinese family, with many children, aunties and uncles under

Jazz fans (and music fans for that matter), prepare yourselves as Chiang Mai enters full swing. And by swing, we mean jazz, folk and all kinds of funky music played across the city as, for one full week, the mountainside city transforms into a living, breathing jazz stage as the Chiang Mai Street Jazz Festival returns for its 7th edition.  This citywide celebration of brass, soul, improvisation and good music reaches far and wide. From street corners inside the old city moat to intimate club sessions and a grand finale on the Chiang Mai Cultural Center’s main stage, this festival is where Chiang Mai shows exactly why it’s one of Southeast Asia’s fastest growing music hotspots. Whether you’re a diehard jazz listener, a casual genre-hopper or simply someone who loves an excuse to visit Chiang Mai, this is one of the most exciting citywide festivals of the year. And to make it extra easy to navigate the busy schedule, here’s everything you need to know before you go.     Photograph: Chiang Mai Street Jazz Festival   What exactly is the Chiang Mai Street Jazz Festival? Think jazz everywhere – performed in temples, cafes, parks, cultural spaces, clubs, bars, co-ops and on actual street corners. It’s a week where musicians spill out into the city, where locals and visitors wander between pop-up sets, and where you’re just as likely to stumble upon a late-afternoon sax solo as you are a midnight jam session. The festival’s theme for 2025 – ‘Chiang Mai Jazz City: Let the City Play

Chiang Rai turns up the volume this cool season as the Chiang Rai Jazz Festival 2025 makes its encore, sending trumpets, basslines and brassy bursts out across the north. Under the theme ‘Analog Pulse,’ the Chiang Rai Contemporary Art Museum (CCAM) shifts from quiet gallery to full-bodied music playground, celebrating all things analogue. From vinyl to live instruments, acoustic sets and physical art, this year’s ‘jazz’ feels more eclectic than ever before. Sure, it may be a ‘jazz festival’, but this year’s lineup is anything but narrow. Headlining this year is the internationally-acclaimed Paradise Bangkok Molam International Band (we can’t get enough of them, honestly), supported by Chiang Mai’s own Rasmee Isan Soul – another one of our faves.  They’re joined by Natt Buntita x PYC, PETITE, Jūji, Nice Guys, Groovy Doopy, Khela, Overload and a wave of other rising northern talent pushing the festival into bolder, more eclectic territory. Throw in some vinyl DJs spinning warm grooves and you’re all-set this weekend. Plus, for the more proactive of us out there, hands-on art workshops, kinetic gallery installations and food stalls all add up to be the most ‘more-than-jazz’ jazz festival the region’s seen to date. And, if you’re flying in specially, why not pair the weekend with a high-energy ‘90s-themed brunch at Le Méridien Chiang Rai – their Italian restaurant, Favola, is to die for.  With its mix of international acts and homegrown talent, Chiang Rai Jazz Festival is quietly

A new global poll by Time Out has named Chiang Mai the 14th happiest city in the world, ranking it ahead of dozens of major world cities, underscoring its appeal as one of the best places to live. The survey, which polled more than 18,000 city-dwellers, asked urbanites across the world how their city makes them feel – including whether they find joy in everyday life, perceive neighbours as happy and feel their sense of happiness has grown recently. From that, we compiled a definitive list of the top 20 happiest cities, with Chiang Mai emerging as Thailand’s sole entry and the highest-ranking city in Southeast Asia. The happiness index was based on the percentage of positive responses to five key statements: ‘My city makes me happy’; ‘I feel happier here than in other places I’ve lived or visited’; ‘People in my city seem happy’; ‘I find joy in the everyday experiences my city offers’; and ‘The sense of happiness in my city has grown a lot recently’. This latest ranking follows Time Out’s 50 Best Cities in the World 2025 list, published earlier this year, where Chiang Mai placed 28 thanks to its growing reputation for excellent cuisine and third-most affordable place to eat out at a restaurant in all 50 cities.