Where to unwind in between/after your APEC meeting

APEC has certainly been an inescapable buzzword in 2022 as Thailand plays host to the year-long Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings. Countless conferences under this year’s theme of “Open. Connect. Balance.” will be wrapping up in November, with state heads around the world coming to join the Economic Leaders’ Week at Queen Sirikit National Convention Center. If you’re part of the APEC entourage (or any business conference, for that matter) and are looking to experience more of Thai culture post-meeting, here’s a cheat sheet of places for recreation and relaxation designed with the business traveler in mind.

Rest the eyes and mind at Benjakitti Forest Park

It’s right next door to Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC), so if you need a breather from conferences, this patch of green won’t disappoint. The newly expanded park was completed this year and features an amphitheater, walkways through the marshes and elevated tracks for biking. Behind the artificial lake, the backdrop of Bangkok’s skyscrapers remind one that the park is situated right in the heart of the city, despite the lulling sounds of birds and frogs. Wetlands across this 41-hectare park showcase a range of Thai flora and fauna, all photogenic and soothing for the soul.

Unwind during your massage at Panpuri Wellness

For an exquisite spa and massage experience without the kanok-patterned clutter or décor that’s trying to be Marrakesh, visit Panpuri Wellness. Decked in minimal yet slick interiors, this homegrown body and skincare brand has opened a quiet and upscale oasis on the 12th floor of Gaysorn Village. Their onsen with views of skyscrapers are the main draw, but there is also a solid spa menu of body massages, scrubs and facials. Treatment rooms awash in white make for a highly private and tranquil setting for popular picks such as Panpuri Signature Holistic Massage. This blissful treatment is a mixture of both traditional Thai massage and Swedish therapeutic massage. If you’re short on time, the brand has just launched their Mini Massage packages, which come with access to their onsen for THB 1,500. Half-hour treatments are the perfect quick fix, with options such as the sleep-boosting head massage; shoulder, neck and hand massage; or foot massage to choose from. But for the full-on experience — with multi-sensory showers and whirl-pool Jacuzzi — head to Panpuri Organic Spa, Panpuri’s ultra-elegant branch at Park Hyatt Bangkok.

A vinegar-infused taste of nightlife at Tax

Continue your discussions on economic policies at the fittingly-named bar, Tax. It has a rather interesting backstory — Tax was born out of the frustration that the bar and nightlife industry received little government support during the pandemic in 2020. Tax offers a more novel experience than other drinking spots with its homemade vinegars and shrubs, which make their way into cocktails. It’s not as weird as it sounds and will definitely give your tastebuds a playful kick. Expect tangy and salty taste profiles in savory cocktails such as Shrimp, which tastes just like miang kham (a betel leaf snack), with its ingredients of rum, coconut nectar, coffee, lager vinegar, dried shrimp and celery bitters. Across the street is a whole strip of bars that includes sister establishments Teens of Thailand and Asia Today, both of which are well-known for their extensive range of gin as well as their use of local ingredients such as wild honey. This drinking neighborhood behind Chinatown has loads of bars with very niche offerings, so for a taste of edgy and groundbreaking Thai nightlife, squeeze a visit into your post-meeting calendar.

Grab gifts at ICONSIAM

Need to grab some Thai gifts and souvenirs for colleagues and family back home? Even if you aren’t a mall person, you’d be amazed to see how Thailand’s retail game leads the pack when it comes to creating stunning spaces. The luxury behemoth by the river, ICONSIAM, is home to glossy high-end flagships, but also to the famed Sook Siam floor. A walk through this retail wonderland is like taking a trip through all the four different regions of Thailand, each zone adorned with their region’s cultural heritage and decorations. Where else can you jump from Bangkok floating markets to enthralling Peranakan shophouses of the south in seconds? Lots of regional snacks and fancy kitsch souvenirs are on sale here, but if you are looking for very swanky and contemporary Thai handicrafts, visit ICONCRAFT on the fourth and fifth floor for high-quality homeware.

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