23 things to look forward to in 2017
Bangkok's biggest new openings and events of the year, and everything else we already know.
7 years ago
See also: 18 events you don't want to miss in Bangkok this January
EVENTS
Keep on the Grass
The indie music festival takes place in the countryside a two-hour drive outside of Bangkok, featuring artists like Rasmee, Srirajah Rockers and Desktop Error. Tickets are B1,500 through ticketkeeponthegrass@gmail.com.
Jan 14, Phu Uthai, Pak Chong, Nakhon Ratchasima
E-San Music Fest
The music festival dedicated to real Isaan folk returns for its fifth year. No lineup has been announced yet but expect to hear traditional Northeastern sounds. Tickets are B300 at fb.com/esanmusicfestival.
Jan 28, Ubonrat Dam, Khon Kaen
Mystic Valley Fest
This brand new three-day music festival in the mountains features four stages of music including EDM, trap, house, techno, indie and trance from more than 40 international DJs. Diplo will play the launch party in Bangkok on Jan 11. Tickets B2,990 at Thaiticketmajor.
Feb 3-5, at Mountain Creek Resort, Khao Yai
Goo Goo Dolls
The American rock band formed in 1986 will make their Bangkok debut as part of their world tour. Tickets go for B2,000 from Thaiticketmajor or B2,200 at the door.
Feb 13, BCC Hall, Central Plaza Ladphrao
Wonderfruit
After postponing its original dates in December, the four-day festival of art, music, food and wellness confirms it will return in Feb with almost the same lineup. Highlights include Rudimental, Shura and Isaan sensation Rasmee.
Feb 16-19, Siam Country Club outside Pattaya
Winter Market Fest #4
Though details are still to be announced, arguably Bangkok's most popular winter market has confirmed a date. Expect the city's best pop-up shops and food stores to take over the T77 Sansiri community. If it's anything like previous years, also expect huge crowds strolling through the stalls.
Feb 18-19. Habito, Sukhumvit Soi 77
Guns N’ Roses
The legendary rock band first formed in 1985 and best known for the songs "Sweet Child 'O Mine," "Welcome to the Jungle" and "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" will take the Bangkok stage as part of their Not In This Lifetime world tour. Tickets start at B3,500 and go up to B24,000 for a VIP package at Thaiticketmajor.
Feb 28, SCG Stadium Muang Thongthani
Bangkok Underground Film Fest
Returning for its second year, the four-day film festival aims to support independent, DIY and first-time filmmakers. This time it will include not only short films but also video arts, too.
Feb 25-26, Arunkarn, Chareonkrung Soi 67 (Soi Don Kuson 1)
March 4, Bridge, Chareonkrung Rd.
March 5, Gallery Ver, Narathiwat Soi 22
Kolour in the Park
No news on the lineup yet, but previous years have featured big international names like Sven Vath and Booka Shade. This year is spread over two days with three stages. More ticket information at kolourinthepark.com.
March 18-19, Thai Wake Park, Liab Khlong 6 Rd., Phathum Thani
Coldplay
The rock band best known for “Yellow,” "Viva La Vida," "The Scientist" and many more have confirmed they’re coming to Bangkok this summer. Tickets are on sale at Thaiticketmajor, starting at B1,800.
Apr 7, Rajamangala Stadium, Huamak
New Restaurants
Canvas
This new fine-dining spot for Thonglor will set up shop near Rabbit Hole bar, where American chef Riley Sanders is already testing out experimental new dishes for the restaurant. The uni toast, for example, bursts with flavors of shoyu, brown butter, roast garlic and slices of kaffir lime leaf. Set to open by the end of February.
Khao
The chef’s table-only Thai restaurant Khao will close down its current venue on Sukhumvit Soi 51 and move to a bigger project. Chef Vichit Mukura’s new spot sits on almost one rai of land on Ekkamai Soi 10, where he’ll serve chef’s table dinners and an a la carte menu as well as run a cooking school. Set to open in Sep-Oct.
Arno’s Bistro
The Arno’s name is known for exceptional dry-aged beef. Following on from the original butchery and steak restaurant, French chef-butcher Arnaud Carre recently opened a burger place not so far away on Narathiwas Road. For his next project in the same ‘hood, he opens a French bistro with a nice wine list in Suan Phlu, expected in the first quarter of 2017.
Banh Mi Bo
The banh mi specialist is leaving its current space for a bigger home. They will close down the Sukhumvit Soi 33/1 shop in February and reopen on the main Sukhumvit Road (between Soi 30/1 and 32) in April. It will still stick to a takeaway concept but with more space to sit and longer operation hours.
Chilito
The people behind Farmfactory salad joint are presenting a new Mexican fast food venture. Expect the likes of burrito bowls and nachos to hit Silom Complex sometime in January.
Central Embassy’s Sixth Floor
They’re calling it a ”co-living space,” a combination of a co-working space, kid’s playground, and design, art and book shops. But we’re most excited about the F&B openings from big names like Rocket, The Raw Bar, Broccoli Revolution, Peppina and Paris Mikki. Siwilai will also expand on the 5th floor with a dining and drinking complex, though details remain sketchy.
Art Complex
Chang Chui
Thonburi hipsters are about to get a brand new creative hub. Taking over a large 11-rai plot on Sirindhorn Road, the 18 separate buildings of Chang Chui are all made from reused materials. Projects include a theater that will host performances by Pichet Klunchun and other renowned artists, a cinema that will accommodate screenings by the Documentary Club, as well as workshop spaces and art galleries. Another highlight is an old disused plane, which will carry the owner’s private collection of stuffed animals under a Noah’s Ark theme and also feature a restaurant-slash-bar by the Seven Spoons team. Set to open in February.
OTHER FOODIE HAPPENINGS
Alain Passard visits
Issaya Cooking Studio welcomes one of the most important French chefs in the world. Alain Passard of the three-Michelin-starred L'Arpège, a vegetable-focused restaurant where dinner commands B15,000, will lead two cooking classes as well as host two chef’s tables on Feb 8-12. www.issayastudio.com
Uber Eats launches in Bangkok
Uber’s food delivery service has confirmed it’ll be branching out to Bangkok for the first quarter of 2017. The app is much like Foodpanda, offering on-demand food delivery from a host of partner restaurants—though for now we can’t tell you which ones. www.ubereats.com/bangkok
Upcoming Films
Saiduean Ta Bod Nai Khaowongkot (Blind Earthworm in a Labyrinth) by Pen-Ek Ratanaruang
Veeraporn Nitiprapha’s SEA Write award-winning debut novel gets the film treatment from some of the biggest names in the business this year. The director will be none other than Pen-Ek Ratanaruang (Last Life in the Universe, Funbar Karaoke) and the screenplay will come from Kongdej Jaturanrasamee (P-047, Tang Wong). Exploring the idea that people are blinded by modern world values, the novel tells the story of a cheating father and a mother who never hugs her daughter again after finding out about his affair. Filming will start in March.
New Hotels
137 Pillars
Born in Chiang Mai (and where Owen Wilson stayed when he was in town shooting 2015’s No Escape), 137 Pillars began as a hotel revamp of an old colonial villa. The new Bangkok property features 34 guest suites as well as 179 private residences on Sukhumvit Soi 39. Opening in February, its room rates will start at B4,500.
Park Hyatt
The finishing touch to Central Embassy shopping mall takes residence in the Amanda Levete-designed building’s spiraling tower. Having fallen behind schedule by over two years, Park Hyatt is finally almost ready, and committed to an opening date of April. We can’t show you the interiors just yet, but knowing they’re done by New York’s hotel design power duo Yabu Pushelberg, we’re sure they’ll look just lovely.
Edition
Edition is Marriott’s boutique brand conceived by legendary hotelier Ian Schrager—the first guy to ever coin the phrase “boutique hotel.” Bangkok’s Edition has been long-anticipated, opening next year as part of the ultra-luxe MahaNakhon Tower development at Chong Nonsi. There are only four others in the world right now, all glamorously well detailed and frighteningly expensive.
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