Thursday 2 July 2026

Good morning Bangkok. Happy Thursday.

🌡️ Weather: 28-35°C (82-95°F). Hot and humid with scattered thundershowers from mid-afternoon. TMD severe weather warning continues through today with heavy rain across upper Thailand. Morning is the outdoor window.

🌫️ AQI: 68-131 (Good to Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups). At the lower end, decent air. Check your sensor at the upper end. Morning remains the best window.

Thailand has been ranked 27th globally and seventh in Asia in the Best Countries for Starting a Business released by the U.S. News & World Report Best Countries 2026. Deputy Spokesperson Lalida Persvivatana confirmed the government welcomed the result. The ranking evaluates factors including regulatory environment, infrastructure, workforce availability, cost of doing business and access to capital. Finishing seventh in Asia places Thailand ahead of most of its ASEAN neighbors and positions the country as a credible destination for entrepreneurs and small business operators.

The timing lands perfectly against the reform momentum we have been tracking. The Foreign Business Act overhaul, described as the most significant in 27 years, is moving through Cabinet. The ฿45 unified rail fare launches January 1, 2027, improving transport infrastructure. The immigration app rolls out in August. And the nominee crackdown, while disruptive in the short term, is clearing space for legitimate foreign businesses to operate without the grey-zone structures that defined the previous era. For any expat in the readership who has considered starting a business in Thailand, the picture is clearer than it has been in years: the legal pathway is being reformed, the infrastructure is being upgraded, and an international ranking body just confirmed that Thailand is competitive at the global level. Second in the world for retirement. Third best city to visit. Seventh in Asia for starting a business. The data keeps stacking.

Bottom Line: Rankings are marketing. But three separate international rankings in three months, all placing Thailand in the global top tier, tell a consistent story. If you have been thinking about starting something in Bangkok, the environment is shifting in your favor. The FBA reform, when it passes, will be the practical test of whether the ranking reflects reality.

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British heavyweight Tyson Fury will face Polish veteran Mariusz Wach in Thailand on July 24, a day before Anthony Joshua fights Kristian Prenga in Jeddah. The announcement puts one of the most recognizable names in global boxing on Thai soil for the first time. Fury, the former WBC heavyweight champion known as the "Gypsy King," has headlined pay-per-view events in Las Vegas, London and Riyadh. Thailand has never hosted a fight at this level. The venue has not been publicly confirmed, but the scale of the event suggests either IMPACT Arena or Rajamangala National Stadium.

For Bangkok's expat community, this is an event that crosses every demographic line. Whether you follow boxing or not, Tyson Fury fighting in Thailand is the kind of headline that makes people ask "is this real?" It is real. The fight sits alongside a stacked second half of 2026 for Bangkok entertainment: The Weeknd on October 11-13, BTS on December 3, 5 and 6, Tomorrowland in Pattaya on December 11-13, and EDC in Phuket on December 18-20. Thailand is positioning itself as a serious destination for global-scale events, and landing Tyson Fury, even for a non-title bout against Wach, is a statement.

Bottom Line: Tyson Fury. In Thailand. July 24. Three weeks away. Ticket details and venue confirmation expected in the coming days. If you want to see a former heavyweight champion fight live, you will not need to fly to Vegas or Riyadh. He is coming to you.

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Steve Group runs four locations across Bangkok, including a river-view original that Pailin Chongchitnant of Hot Thai Kitchen recommended as one of her top picks for visitors. We chose this one. The Ban Phan Thom branch is the newest in the group, tucked inside a quiet alley in Bangkok's Old Town, and it is the location that best fits the Thursday hidden gem rotation because it is genuinely hidden. You walk past the wooden facade twice before realizing the restaurant is behind it. The menu covers Thai classics done with care: panang curry, pineapple fried rice, stir-fries and rice dishes at ฿200-300 per person, which for a full meal in Phra Nakhon is the kind of value that only Old Town can deliver. They also have a full breakfast menu and pizza is an option as well. "Great food, great service, cheap price," one reviewer wrote. The 4.7-star rating across 55 Google reviews is a small sample, but at that score the consistency is clear.

TIP: Reserve ahead as the space is small. The panang curry is the first order. Visit stevegroupthailand.com for all four locations including the river-view original.
Address: 186 188-190 Trok Sathien, Ban Phan Thom, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200. Near Khao San Road area. Phone: 02 166 9592. Hours: Open daily, closes midnight. Live music Wed-Fri from 7PM. Rating: 4.7 stars, 55 Google reviews. Price: ฿200-300 per person.

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Have a great Thursday, and see you tomorrow morning.

— Patrick