What’s Happening in Bangkok from 17-30 June, 2025
By Lifestyle+Travel
A guide to what’s happing in Bangkok in the last fortnight of June 2025.
Exclusive 4-Hands Dinner ‘Intro Night’
Date: Thursday, June 26 2025, from 6:00 PM onwards
Place: La Tavola Restaurant, Renaissance Bangkok Ratchaprasong Hotel
Renaissance Bangkok Ratchaprasong Hotel will launch a dining experience at the exclusive 4-Hands Dinner ‘Intro Night’ at La Tavola. This special evening brings together creativity, expertise, and inspiration from two exceptional culinary talents — Chef Attakrit Sithiwaykin (Chef Lek) and Chef Tiansawang Pattrai (Chef Noi) of La Tavola, who will collaborate on a specially curated menu that reflects their rich culinary journeys, showcasing their grand talents that far exceed the modest meaning behind their names.
This exclusive 4-course dinner is available at exceptional value:
• THB 1,990++ per person for the 4-course dinner
• THB 2,800++ per person for the 4-course dinner with curated premium wine pairings
For more information
Tel: +66 (0) 2125 5000
Website: www.renaissancebangkok.com
Chef Tiansawang Pattrai (Chef Noi)
IGNIV Party
Date: Sunday, June 29 2025, 8:00 PM until midnight
Place: IGNIV Bangkok, The St.Regis Bangkok Hotel
IGNIV Party returns! This edition partners with two of Bangkok’s hottest dining venues: 80/20 and Cento, alongside two acclaimed bars from Asia: Vender from Taichung, Taiwan and Artesian Bar from Jakarta, Indonesia. To make this party s special also the tantalizing bite-sized creations from IGNIV Bangkok’s Arne Riehn and his team, as well as specially crafted bites from 80/20—a one-Michelin-starred restaurant on Charoenkrung helmed by European-born Lao chef Thav Phouthavong—and from Cento, the Italian-style dining room in Saladaeng headed by chef Ferran Tadeo Domènech plus two award-winning visiting bars: Vender from Taiwan—currently ranked No. 30 and named Taiwan’s Best Bar on Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2024 list—and Artesian Bar Jakarta, the Indonesian outpost of London’s iconic Artesian Bar. Enhancing the night’s atmosphere will be immersive lighting and live DJ sets.
For more information
Tel: +66 (0) 2207 7822
Email: igniv.bangkok@stregis.com
Website: www.ignivbangkok.com
Chef Arne Riehn
Only Faces On My Mind
Date: now til 30 July 2025
Place: Agni Gallery, Soi Ruamrudee, Bangkok
‘Only Faces on My Mind’, a curated exploration of portraiture in contemporary art. Dedicated to one of the oldest yet ever-evolving genres in art history, the exhibition asks: “What does a portrait mean today? How do contemporary artists engage with the idea of the face — not just as a likeness, but as an emotional, symbolic, or conceptual presence?”
The exhibition presents a spectrum of works, ranging from pieces that echo the compositional and emotional gravitas of classical portraiture, such as those by Andre Schulze (Germany) and Lino Lago (Spain), to boundary-pushing interpretations exemplified by Celio Koko (Belgium-Lebanese), and faceless portraits by famous artist Adriana Oliver (Spain) and Chance Cooper (USA), whose work reflects the fractured and hyper-personal dimensions of identity in the 21st century.
For more information
Tel: +66 (8) 2219 5122
Email: contact@agni.gallery
By Lifestyle+Travel
5 Inspiring Road Trips to Take Around Asia
Spectacular scenery, smooth stretches of blacktop, winding mountain roads, and dramatic coastal routes—what’s your dream road journey? Discover five unforgettable driving holidays across Japan, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines—easier than ever to explore. Is there any travel style more empowering than a road trip? With your loved ones by your side and the open highway ahead, your adventure has no limits. Each bend reveals new discoveries, and every hilltop offers a fresh, breathtaking view. As the holidays approach, it's time to pack your bags, take the wheel, and hit the road on an unforgettable journey. Asia is home to some of the most scenic routes in the world—ribbons of pavement that wind through incredible landscapes and open up panoramic vistas. So, buckle up and get ready! Here’s BWH® Hotels’ guide to the best driving vacations across Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines. ━━━━━━━━━━━━👇━━━━━━━━━━━━ 1. Drive Across the Sea in Okinawa, Japan Imagine cruising across a smooth, straight road surrounded by sparkling aquamarine waters. Kaichu Road is a stunning 5km-long bridge and causeway connecting Okinawa’s main island to Henza Island, leading onward to the secluded beaches and bays of Miyagi Island. Begin in Naha and enjoy a dreamy daytime drive with dazzling photo stops along the way. Where to Stay: BWH Hotels offers a selection of beachfront accommodations in Okinawa. Best Western Okinawa Kouki Beach is set on a white-sand beach in Nago, with private balconies overlooking the ocean. Best Western Okinawa Onna Beach is a serene, low-rise resort just steps from the soft sand and shallow waters of the island’s sunset coast. ━━━━━━━━━━━━👇━━━━━━━━━━━━ 2. From Beaches to Rice Fields in Bali, Indonesia Bali, the “Island of the Gods,” is perfect for a driving adventure. Leave the coastline behind and journey into the island’s green heart, where tropical jungles and cultural wonders await. After exploring Ubud’s heritage-rich streets, head deeper into the hills past emerald rice paddies, tranquil lakeside temples, and spectacular viewpoints. Where to Stay: Best Western Kamala Jimbaran is the ideal base to begin or end your journey, offering an outdoor pool, spa, and romantic restaurant near the beach. In Ubud, Best Western Premier Agung Resort Ubud immerses you in the island’s cultural capital, with two infinity pools, a standout restaurant, and lush natural surroundings. ━━━━━━━━━━━━👇━━━━━━━━━━━━ 3. Head South Along Thailand’s Gulf Coast Road With turquoise seas on one side and jungle-clad hills on the other, Thailand’s Gulf Coast promises a scenic drive like no other. Begin in the royal beach resort town of Hua Hin, then follow the curving coastal road past national parks, hidden beaches, golden temples, and bustling markets. End your trip with a ferry to Koh Samui or continue south to the tropical paradise of Phuket. Where to Stay: Best Western Plus Carapace Hotel Hua Hin offers a serene beachfront escape with flowing design and lagoon pools, while Best Western Chaweng Samui puts you in the vibrant heart of Koh Samui. In Phuket, choose from three BWH Hotels, including Best Western Patong Beach with its rooftop pool and prime location. ━━━━━━━━━━━━👇━━━━━━━━━━━━ 4. Explore the Coastal Wonders of Vietnam With over 3,200 km of coastline,
By Lifestyle+Travel
The Top 5 Must-Do’s in Koh Samui
Known for its tropical charm, Koh Samui has elevated its reputation to a world-class destination, offering an authentic local essence fused with luxury experiences. With endless palm-fringed beaches, lush mountainous rainforests, and a selection of high-end resorts and villas, Koh Samui has everything to fulfill your dream tropical getaway. This laid-back island appeals to travelers of all budgets and offers a wide range of activities for the whole family. Whether you're craving amazing food, charming local markets, island tours, nature activities, or cultural sites, Koh Samui delivers. With so much to explore, it can be hard to plan the perfect itinerary. Here are the top 5 must-do experiences when visiting Koh Samui: 1. Must Taste For lovers of Thai cuisine, fresh seafood is abundant, and local restaurants serve southern specialties alongside beloved classics. Be sure to try Wai-Kua (squid with herbs in coconut milk), Moo-Ko (braised pork belly), and sweet treats like Kanom-Ko (sugar dumplings with young coconut) and Kalame (a Thai caramel-like toffee). Koh Samui is also home to several fine dining restaurants—many recognized by the Michelin Guide—perfect for a memorable holiday meal. 2. Must Try Koh Samui is a premier destination for spa and wellness. Unwind with signature coconut oil treatments, refresh your mind and body, or find inner peace through meditation in stunning natural settings. Samui offers a rejuvenating experience like no other. Animal lovers shouldn't miss the award-winning Koh Samui Elephant Sanctuary, where you can interact with rescued elephants in an ethical and respectful environment. 3. Must Buy Visit OTOP (One Tambon One Product) markets for a unique shopping experience. These local markets offer traditional crafts, handmade goods, Thai snacks, and coconut oil. Supporting OTOP means supporting local communities while discovering authentic cultural products. 4. Must Seek For thrill-seekers, Koh Samui offers plenty of adventure and excitement. Try the Samui Zipline Adventure, embark on a Wild Jungle Safari Tour, or explore iconic attractions like Grandfather and Grandmother Rocks, Namuang Waterfall, Buddha’s Magic Garden, and the Big Buddha Temple. 5. Must See Ang Thong National Marine Park is a breathtaking escape just off Koh Samui’s coast, featuring over 40 idyllic islands surrounded by crystal-clear waters. Hike to the Pha Jan Jarus viewpoint, kayak through hidden lagoons, or snorkel among vibrant marine life. With a bit of luck, you might spot a Bryde’s whale or a southern dusky leaf monkey. How to Get to Koh Samui Koh Samui is accessible by air, bus, and ferry. The fastest and most convenient way to get there from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, or Krabi is by direct flight, with multiple daily flights available. Tourism Authority of Thailand: Koh Samui Office 370 Moo 3, Tambol Angthong, Amphoe Koh Samui, Surat Thani 84140 Email: tatsamui@tat.or.th Tel: +66 (0) 7742 0504 Facebook: TAT Koh Samui x Koh Phangan x Koh Tao
By Lifestyle+Travel
Botanical Grandeur
The ultra-luxury lifestyle in Phuket knows no limits. Botanica Luxury Villas unveils Botanica Grand Avenue to complete Phuket's premier ultra-luxury hub. Botanica Luxury Villas, the leader in Phuket's luxury pool villa market, is transforming the high-end real estate sector with significant progress on its premier development, Botanica Grand Avenue. This flagship project, situated in a prime location in the heart of Laguna Phuket, has already completed over 40% of construction and continues to attract strong reservation numbers. The uniqueness of this iconic project goes beyond offering luxurious residential pool villas and comprehensive facilities for sophisticated lifestyles. Botanica Grand Avenue is also home to HYTHE by Botanica, an ultra-luxurious condominium representing Botanica's first venture into the vertical segment. HYTHE features villa-style functions and designs that have already created a buzz with recently revealed project renderings. In response to exceptional demand from High-Net-Worth Individuals (HNWIs) and investors, Botanica Grand Avenue has unveiled a state-of-the-art Sales Gallery featuring plans for all projects in the area, models of every villa style, and, for the first time, three show units of the HYTHE condominium, alongside two pool villa show units – "Signature Tropical Balinese" and "Grand Forest" – now completed and ready for viewing. The Cherngtalay area, particularly in the Laguna zone, is recognized internationally as a prime location offering one of Thailand's most comprehensive luxury lifestyle ecosystems. It stands out for its world-class resorts, golf courses, renowned restaurants, and upscale beach clubs, along with premium facilities catering to both tourists and high-end residents. With continuous development, Laguna Phuket is emerging as Southeast Asia's center for luxury living. For details about HYTHE by Botanica and all projects: Tel: +66 81 324 2999 and +66 94 636 2836 Website: botanicaluxuryvilla.com