Develop new skills and discover Bangkok anew with these lesser-known gems.

By Ashima Sethi and Nafisa Singhsachathet

COOKING CLASSES

There’s a never-ending selection of cooking classes available in Bangkok, ranging from Thai classics to heritage cuisine and indulgent desserts. Here are some that come highly recommended: Chef LeeZ Thai Cooking Class has held the top spot on TripAdvisor as the country’s best cooking class since 2011. Vegetarians and vegans welcome, the experience begins with a street market tour followed by a step-by-step guide on making 12 traditional Thai dishes (each priced at less than THB 200). Every student also receives free access to the school’s online recipe book for use down the line.

A little further out of the city, the Baipai Thai Cooking School is set inside a beautiful Thai-style building that sits among lush gardens, the perfect setting to do some serious cooking. In addition to being taught full recipes start-to-finish, the class begins with a crash course on the herbs and spices often used in Thai cuisine and ends with how to present your plate in an elegant manner.

If you love baking, Le Cordon Bleu Dusit offers a 1-Day Bakery Workshop where you can learn basic techniques over the course of six hours, covering how to make croissants, baguettes, chocolate cookies, and more. The workshop is held for small groups to make sure all participants have the chance to work closely with their talented chefs.

BOUTIQUE CINEMAS

Bangkok is home to some of the boujiest movie theatres imaginable, some complete with queen beds, a champagne reception, and a personal butler. But if you’re looking for something a little scaled back but still totally unique, opt for one of the city’s pop-up or boutique cinemas. The Hive Thonglor hosts a popular Open Air Cinema Club each month on their rooftop with movies spanning genres like horror, action, and rom-coms. Similarly, rooftop bar Vanilla Sky have also been hosting Weekend Movie Nights priced at only THB 590 for two inclusive of free-flow popcorn. Series cinephiles should consider joining The Friese-Greene Club, a private members club that offers exciting monthly programmes filled with nightly screenings in their intimate cinema hall and a bar area for mingling.

ESCAPE ROOMS

Perfect for friend groups, parties, or even team-building between colleagues, try your hand at an escape room. At Puzzle Room Bangkok in Asoke, you can pick between several themes including the WWII-inspired ‘Prison Break;’ the ‘Bank Robbery,’ that’ll let you live out your Ocean’s Eleven (2001) fantasies; the Star Wars-style Space Adventure; and more, where you’ll have to put your brains together to crack codes and figure out the clues before the clock runs out. Another game room with tempting options like ‘The Mummy Returns’ and the horror themed ‘Overlook Hotel: Room 13,’ is Escape Room Thailand located inside MBK. At both locations, adventures are priced at approximately THB 500 per person.

DANCE CLASSES

There are a plethora of dance studios across Bangkok specialising in all types of dance from all around the world, so if you’re looking into learning a new style, you’ll be spoilt for choice. Many offer one-off classes so you can try before you buy and classes are also available on platforms like ClassPass. For example, at Rumpuree you can learn the basics of K-Pop choreography, Latin dancing, belly dance, and even slow ballet. They also offer a special dance workout class if you’re looking to burn the calories. At Groove Studio Bangkok, street jazz and hip hop classes for all skill levels are available, and the studio holds classes every day so you can easily fit them into your schedule.

PAINT BAR

Located in Sukhumvit Soi 49, Paint Bar Bangkok boasts high ceilings and large windows that allow
you to overlook the busy streets below. Welcoming creatives of all skill levels, Paint Bar provides an inviting space for those who want to paint, mingle and indulge in a tipple or two. Each session centres on a different painting that you’re expected to emulate (don’t worry, their instructors are there to guide you) and lasts for approximately two hours. The fee is THB 799 per person, which includes the studio space and canvas but is not inclusive of any drinks or snacks. If you’re planning on getting a big group together, the bar is also available for private events!

For a comprehensive list of unique one-off workshops check out ClassBento (www. classbento.co.th). From flower arrangement to jewellery making and printing, there’s plenty on offer that’ll keep your weekends busy. Here are a few that have tempted us!

EMBROIDERY SEWING

If you’ve always wanted to learn how to embroider and add a little personality to your own clothes or personalise your gifts, Bigknit offers a class where you can learn all eight basic embroidery methods that can be used to create various embroidery patterns. The class lasts for about six hours with prices starting at 1,800THB++ per person, inclusive of all the equipment you’ll need.

LIPSTICK MAKING

Craftereria Workshop offers three workshops where you can craft your own lipsticks and lip glosses. All classes last about an hour and prices range from THB 290 to THB 590. The classes are ideal for those who want to personalise their beauty products and if you have a friend, significant other, or family member who loves the same, these workshops would be an excellent gift.