Saturday 28 Feb 2026

Good morning Bangkok. We're looking at 29–30°C (84–86°F) today with scattered clouds and sticky 80% humidity it’s proper hot season behavior now. PM2.5 is sitting at 67 µg/m³ (moderate/yellow), so sensitive types might want to limit outdoor exertion. Inside: a dodgy Pattaya robbery, noodle bragging rights, and your weekend sorted.

Three hooded robbers stormed a townhouse in a gated Pattaya community late Thursday night, tied up a British chef and his Thai girlfriend, and made off with a safe containing over 2 million baht in cash. The gang knew exactly where to find the safe and seemed familiar with the property layout, leading Pattaya police to suspect someone with inside knowledge tipped them off. The victim, who works as a chef, told authorities the robbers were armed with knives and struck around 11 PM in Nong Prue. A manhunt is underway.

Bottom line: Keeping that much cash at home in Thailand is asking for trouble, but the inside-job angle is the real story here. Gated communities aren't as secure as the marketing brochures suggest, and somebody clearly knew this bloke's routine. If you're keeping serious money anywhere, diversify your hiding spots, or better yet, use a bank.

Thailand's northern curry noodle treasure, khao soi, has landed at number two on TasteAtlas's 2026 "Best Rated Noodle Dishes in the World" list. The coconut curry-laden Chiang Mai specialty beat out hundreds of competitors globally, cementing its status as one of Thailand's finest contributions to carb culture. It's a rare win for Northern Thai cuisine on the international stage, which typically sees pad thai and tom yum hogging the spotlight.

Bottom line: Khao soi deserves this. It's everything a noodle dish should be crispy, creamy, spicy, complex, and criminally underrated compared to Bangkok's usual suspects. If you haven't had a proper bowl in ages, this weekend's your excuse. Head north or hit up a decent Lanna restaurant here in town.

Khao Soi Mae Sai — Ari

Given today's noodle news, it'd be rude not to point you toward proper khao soi without leaving Bangkok. This low-key Northern Thai spot near BTS Ari does the real deal: rich coconut curry broth, tender chicken, crispy noodles on top, and all the correct condiments (pickled mustard greens, shallots, lime). It's the kind of place where half the customers are homesick Chiang Mai natives, which tells you everything. 80–120 baht a bowl.

TIP: Go for lunch rather than dinner, they occasionally run out of the good stuff by evening, especially on weekends.

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Friday, 27 Feb — Chatuchak Weekend Market opens (morning through evening) — perfect for aimless browsing and street food

Saturday, 28 Feb — Muay Thai at Rajadamnern Stadium (~6:30 PM) — proper fights, tourists and locals alike

Saturday, 28 Feb — Talad Rot Fai Ratchada Night Market (evening) — vintage gear, bar bites, people-watching central

Sunday, 1 Mar — Jodd Fairs Night Market, Rama IX (~5 PM onwards) — newest iteration of Bangkok's favorite night market formula

Sunday, 1 Mar — Sunday Brunch at various rooftop bars (check your favorites for bookings) — because it's hot season and you deserve air-con and booze

On 27 February 1991, Thailand's stock market crashed spectacularly as the Gulf War ended and speculative bubbles popped across Asia, a reminder that even Bangkok's endless property boom has seen some proper faceplants.

See you tomorrow morning. — Devon