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Time Out
06-08-2025
- Time Out
Alone in a city of 10 million? The cure might just be a walk in the park
In a big city where people constantly surround you, it's strangely easy to feel alone. According to a recent survey by Thailand's Mental Health Department, 40.4% of Thais report feeling lonely. That's nearly half the country. And if you're one of them, you're definitely not alone. Whether you're a Bangkokian, someone who just moved to the city or an expat starting over in Thailand – loneliness can hit when you least expect it. And sometimes, it makes you feel smaller than you think. That's why I was so intrigued when I heard about Walk and Talk, an event hosted by Crimson Cat Events, a social group on Meetup. They regularly gather people in the city to join in simple, low-pressure activities that help ease isolation and encourage connection without language barriers. Walk and Talk invites strangers to do exactly what the name promises: walk and talk. I was curious. And honestly, a little nervous. What if it was awkward? What if I said something weird? The event took place at Benchakitti Park from 7pm to 8pm. The sun was already low, the heat had lifted and that calm early-night vibe was settling in. I arrived early – one of the first people there. I noticed two others nearby and even though no one was holding a sign, I could instantly tell they were here for the same reason (maybe it was the familiar 'lonely but open' aura). Soon, more people started arriving almost out of nowhere, and we became a small group. The host mentioned that 36 people had signed up. Fewer actually showed up, but it was still a good number. Enough to feel like a gathering, but not so many that it became overwhelming. We officially started about 15 minutes later. Before the walk, we stood in a circle, shook hands and introduced ourselves. Then the show began. And I'd describe it as more of a fast-paced stroll because once the conversation started, our steps naturally sped up to match. We talked about everything and nothing. Where we're from, our work, favourite neighbourhoods, even the best massage spots in the city. One lady had just walked out of her Thai language class because the teacher told her she looked too overwhelmed. She came to clear her head. Another guy talked about buying second-hand antiques and reselling them for double the price. Even funnier, two members of the group realised they had both matched the same guy on a dating app. (Neither of them are not seeing him, in case you're wondering.) Most of the group were expats, which gave me an interesting perspective – one that's rarely voiced but deeply relatable. We didn't use phones, we didn't take selfies. But for those 45 minutes, we were fully present with each other, and with ourselves. The plan was to walk two laps around the park. But just as we finished the first round, a soft drizzle started to fall. The host made a call to end the walk early and head over to Emsphere for dinner. Some people peeled off, heading home or grabbing food elsewhere. A few of us walked to the mall together, which kind of felt like an unofficial second lap. There's something powerful about doing something small with intention. Walk and Talk isn't therapy. It's not a dating event. It's not even designed to be memorable. But in a world that's constantly rushing toward the next big thing, one quiet lap around a park with a stranger can feel like a radical act. I left that evening feeling lighter – not because anything profound was said but because someone genuinely listened. And in a time when loneliness is being called the new epidemic, maybe the antidote isn't more followers or group chats. Maybe it's just a walk. One lap. One stranger. One simple conversation.
Time Out
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
World's 50 Best Restaurants 2025: Here are the 14 Asian Entries
In March, we reported on Asia's 50 Best Restaurants 2025, which includes culinary giants like Gaggan (Bangkok), Wing (Hong Kong), and Odette (Singapore). But how do these restaurants stack up against other prestigious venues worldwide? Well, we now have an answer. On Thursday (Jun 19), the cream of the culinary crop gathered in Turin, Region of Piedmont, Italy for the unveiling of The World's 50 Best Restaurants 2025. Top honours went to Maido, a restaurant run by chef-owner Mitsuharu 'Micha' Tsumaru, which has been serving up some of the finest Nikkei cuisine in Peru (and the world) for 15 years now. Out of the 50 laureates, 14 restaurants from Asia were recognised – the region's top dog being (who else?), Gaggan from Bangkok, slotting in at No. 6 on the global list. Many of the entrants in the Asia's 50 Best Restaurants list are also represented, including Tokyo's Sézanne at No. 7, Hong Kong's Wing at No. 11, and Seoul's Mingles at No. 29. In a stunning debut on the global list, Bangkok's Potong slides in at No. 13, bagging it the Highest New Entry Award. Congratulations to its fellow Bangkokian, Nusara, for also making its debut, at No. 35. Having said that, we'd recommend a trip to the Thai capital if you'd like to try as many restaurants on the list as possible – the city has six entrants, the most of any Asian city. And talk about comebacks – two restaurants from Japan made a triumphant re-entry this year. They are Narisawa from Tokyo at No. 21 and La Cime from Osaka at No. 44. Check out the full World's 50 Best Restaurants list here. World's 50 Best Restaurants – the winners from Asia: Gaggan, Bangkok (#6) Sézanne, Tokyo (#7) Wing, Hong Kong (#11) Potong, Bangkok (#13) – Highest New Entry Award Sorn, Bangkok (#17) The Chairman, Hong Kong (#19) Narisawa, Tokyo (#21) – re-entry Sühring, Bangkok (#22) Odette, Singapore (#25) Mingles, Seoul (#29) Le Du, Bangkok (#30) Nusara, Bangkok (#35) – debut Florilège, Tokyo (#36) La Cime, Osaka (#44) – re-entry
Time Out
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Eat, learn, unwind and nourish your soul at Soul Food, Good Life this weekend
In a city where wellness is often synonymous with fluorescent-lit gyms or overpriced smoothies, an open-air park on Banthat Thong Road is offering something different: a weekend where health doesn't come in a bottle, but in the form of second-hand denim, vegan curry and guided self-reflection. On May 24-25 from 10.30am-8.30pm, Chulalongkorn University Centenary Park hosts a free gathering that falls somewhere between a sustainability fair and a collective existential check-in. Organised by Vtopia, a group advocating for plant-based living, alongside Loopers, a platform for second-hand fashion. Food stalls sling drinks made with oat milk so velvety they might briefly repair your relationship with your parents. Goodmate is offering those. Then there's POHSOP, an outfit slinging meat-free comfort food with the kind of deliberate cosiness usually reserved for rainy afternoons and existential doubt. Elsewhere, there are cafes for caffeine-dependent introspection, plus what appears to be a minor army of lifestyle vendors, all ready to tell you how a scented candle can fix your soul (or at least your condo). Photograph: Still, the most quietly intense feature may be a workshop called Satir Iceberg Workshop, led by a coach trained in the Satir method – a therapeutic approach so niche that fewer than thirty people in Thailand are certified in it. Participants are encouraged to plumb the murky depths of childhood, internalised shame and whatever else might be crowding the psychic basement. A moment of collective reckoning disguised as a weekend activity. Photograph: And just in case all that introspection gets too stifling, there's a run. Saturday evening will see the Banthat Thong City Eat-Run-Love, a name that would be insufferable if it weren't quite so literal. Hosted by SarDine Run Club, the event invites people to jog through the neighbourhood while sampling food from selected vendors. The route is digestible (distance-wise, at least), and lasts from 5.30pm-7pm. Whether it's wellness, wokeness or just a weekend out, the festival invites a certain breed of Bangkokian to momentarily believe in the possibility of change. Visit for the full schedule.
