12 fun creative workshops and classes in Bangkok for a meaningful holiday beyond shopping and eating

Is a trip to Bangkok synonymous with retail therapy for you?

Have you always been of the opinion that there’s not much to Bangkok beyond spas, shopping and pub hopping? Sorry to pop the bubble, but that couldn’t be further away from the truth!

Bangkok, undoubtedly, is the go-to place for every shopper, but there’s also another side to the city that may have gone unnoticed.

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Bangkok has been seeing a growing number of personalised and unique workshops, that allow visitors to get a taste of the real Thailand.

Love cooking up a storm in the kitchen with exotic ingredients? Or maybe you’re the crafty kind?

Your next trip to Bangkok will open up a new world of possibilities with our handpicked list of classes and workshops.

Now you can learn a new skill while on a holiday!

1. Master the craft of leather designing – Craftsmangus

Have you ever felt intrigued by how leather products are made? Now you have a chance to experience it first hand and also learn basic leather craftsmanship.

Craftsmangus is your one-stop destination for learning all about leather – tools, skills, techniques and a lot more!

As a beginner, the Light Stationary workshop will be your perfect choice to explore the art and getting warmed up for more intensive courses in the future.

This 1-day workshop enables you to make your own leather stationery items like notebook cover, zipper pocket etc.

The focus of this course is to teach students how to use the various leather crafting tools and how to hand-stitch leather goods.

Alternatively, if you have more time in hand and would like to extend your skills further, Craftsmangus also holds more extensive workshops ranging from a few days to a few weeks.

Probably one of the most unusual workshops on our list, if you are a lover of leather goods, this is a must-try in Bangkok!

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2. Learn to stitch together more than just a puzzle – Needle Work

Learning how to create intricate embroidery and other kinds of threadwork has never been easier!

Whatever kind of embroidery interests you, whether it is lace stitching or cutwork or even crochet, Needle Work has a workshop to fit all your needs.

Using your newly-acquired stitching skills, you will be able to design and make your own bags, Christmas tree decoration or even a crochet bikini!

The instructor at Needle Work, Prin, is known to be extremely helpful and friendly so even if you are a complete novice, you are sure to get a lot of support from her.

Stitching and embroidery work may not be everyone’s forte, but Needle Work ensures you come out of their workshop feeling fulfilled and enriched with a new skill!

3. Learn a new skill for a social cause – Paper Ranger

Here’s your chance to not only attend a workshop and master a new skill, but contribute to the local community as well.

Paper Ranger is a project that upcycles unused A4 sheets of paper into handmade notebooks for children who have no access to school stationaries.

Don’t you think it’s a lovely way to help a good cause and conserve natural resources at the same time?

If you have some free time during your trip to Bangkok, volunteering with Paper Ranger would be the perfect way to utilize that time.

And hey, you also learn how to make notebooks in the process, definitely a unique skill to posses!

4. Fuel your creativity and get artsy with watercolour and more – Olive Creative Laboratory

If cooking is not your thing, how about tapping into your creative side? Olive Creative Laboratory in Bangkok is your one-stop destination for all things artistic.

If you’ve always wanted to pick up new skills in watercolour or calligraphy, this art school has at least 10 different courses you can choose from.

Looking for something unusual and offbeat? Learn the art of stringing Thai garlands or even creating paper sculptures to fuel your inner artist!

All this and much more in an environment of fun and group learning, makes Olive Creative Laboratory one of our top choices for a workshop during your Bangkok trip.

5. Explore the fascinating world of ceramics and pottery – Charm-Learn Studio Thailand

Are you worried that there won’t be much for your kids to do on your trip to Bangkok? Then you can let your fears rest in peace!

At Charm-Learn Studio, there are not only workshops and classes for adults, but specialised classes for the young minds as well.

Channel your kid’s inner creativity and enroll them in a fun ceramic workshop or a natural tie and dye class. But why stay left behind and not join the kids and pick up a skill or two yourself?

Love to paint? Learn how to paint ceramics and you could even take your own unique pieces home with you!

And if you happen to have more than 1 day and are looking for a more immersive experience, Charm-Learn Studio’s 3-day pottery workshop is the perfect way to get your hands dirty!

6. Witness the magic of Thai silk weaving – The Loom

Ever wondered how those beautiful Thai silk scarves are woven? Or where they come from?

The Loom is your ultimate silk weaving destination in Bangkok, that is attempting to keep the rich heritage of Thai silk weaving alive by teaching interested learners.

The school is an initiative of a family that has run a Thai silk business for several decades, and knows the art inside out.

Because there are a lot of techniques involved in silk weaving, The Loom has divided the learning process into several incremental levels of learning.

If you are a beginner, you have to start with level 1 before you can take up further courses.

Additionally, they also hold special workshops for kids above the age of 6 years to bring out their creative potential.

Kids can either choose to make a bag or a scarf out of the fabric they weave in the class. If that’s not your child’s cup of tea, The Loom also has an option for young children to learn freestyle weaving!

So the next time you’re in Bangkok, don’t just leave with a ready made Thai silk scarf, make one yourself and truly take home a part of Thailand with you.

7. Get inspired by nature – Bangkok Soap Opera

If you have ever wondered about the skin care products you use and how they affect your body and our environment, Bangkok Soap Opera’s range of workshops is what you need to attend.

For all you environment and health-conscious peeps, this is a unique opportunity to learn the art of soap making using all natural ingredients, free from any chemicals and preservatives.

In addition to soap making, you can also learn how natural perfumes are made.

Bangkok Soap Opera is also well known for running workshops on natural face and body care where participants not only learn how to take care of their skin and body, but they are also taught to prepare the natural skincare products themselves.

Imagine having your own personalised skincare kit at home? Can’t beat that, can you?

8. Have fun with art – Attic Studios

Ever wanted to channel your inner artist but didn’t know how? Attic Studios in Bangkok will handhold you on that journey of tapping into your creativity!

A widely popular art studio for kids and adults alike, you will be tempted to explore more than one medium of art here.

Don’t hold yourself back and take a plunge into a world of mosaic, acrylic, pastel and many other forms of art.

If that’s not interesting enough, Attic Studios even holds a life drawing event every week where students learn to sketch and paint a live model.

There are special classes and workshops designed for young children above the age of 5 years that includes oil painting, sketching and a lot of other fun activities.

Run by an internationally acclaimed art instructor, Attic Studios is one place where you wouldn’t mind losing track of your time!

9. Customise your own silver jewellery – Shannta

Who doesn’t love a piece of customised jewellery? And what if we tell you that you can now make your own customised and unique silver jewellery by yourself?

Shannta, located in the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre allows you to do exactly that! Learn the art of moulding pure silver clay and transforming it into any jewellery of your choice.

Simple techniques are taught to the learners without the complications involved in the traditional jewellery making process.

And at the end of a 2-hour session, you are going to come home with a self-designed pendant, earring or even a ring.

Imagine gifting your loved one with jewellery hand-made by you? It doesn’t get more personal than this, does it?

10. Bring your favourite Thai dishes home! – Cooking with Poo

Probably one of the most popular cooking classes in Bangkok, Cooking with Poo is owned and run by a lady named Khun Poo. She has even cooked her Thai recipes alongside the likes of Jamie Oliver!

The cooking classes are designed such that the menu changes every day of the week. So, if on Monday, the main course dish is Pad Thai noodles, on Friday it is Stir fried chicken.

This gives you an opportunity to choose what you’d like to learn to cook.

At Cooking with Poo, your authentic Thai cooking experience starts even before you actually get to the kitchen.

Once you are picked up from the nearby landmark, at 8.30 am, you are directly taken to the local wet market. This will give you an understanding of the fresh local produce and ingredients unique to Thailand.

A futuristic venture that was started by one person inside a small slum in Bangkok, has now grown to be a 12-member strong team and is starting a new chapter in the outskirts of the city.

If authentic Thai culinary skills is what you are after, a cooking class with Poo and her well-trained team will give you just that.

11. Immerse yourself in Thai food culture – Silom Thai Cooking School

If you are looking for an immersive experience of Thai cooking, food and culture, Silom Thai Cooking School is where you should head to.

It’s based on the philosophy that food is a lot more than just putting a few ingredients together. This cooking school paves way for visitors to understand Thai culture and customs, through a traditional cooking and learning experience.

Learn to cook 6 different dishes from your chosen menu and feel like a chef in your own right!

You will be a part of a small group of learners (1-9 people), and experience cooking traditional Thai dishes in an open kitchen.

Personalised attention and an all encompassing cultural experience sets this cooking class apart from the rest.

12. Experience Thai cooking and learn Thai massage techniques – May Kaidee

Another cooking school on our list, but this one’s with a twist! May Kaidee is one of the very few schools that combine the art of cooking with therapeutic massage.

Students are not only taught to cook authentic Thai recipes, they are also given hands-on training to pick up a few practical massage tricks.

By the end of the workshop, you would have learnt the basic tenets of Thai massage and cooking. But that’s not all!

May Kaidee offers at least 15 different types of cooking classes to suit a variety of individual requirements.

Are you keen to know more about Thai culture? Then why not opt for the Thai culture and cooking workshop here?

This workshop is the perfect way to get introduced to authentic Thai culture and customs as your trainers take you on a market visit and a walking tour through the streets of Bangkok. Does it get any better than this?

Fortunately, at May Kaidee, it does! If you are a raw and vegan food enthusiast, there are special classes to cater for that too!

We did tell you, there are so many courses to choose from, you’ll be spoilt for choice here, didn’t we?

We hope this list inspires and motivates you to challenge yourself and learn something new.

Have you ever attended a workshop during any of your leisure trips?

Which ones out of this list excites you the most? We would love to know!

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PLEASE NOTE: All the above information is correct at the date of publication. If you come across any changes or updates, please let us know and we will update the information accordingly. Thank you! Tell us

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