Bangkok Art and Culture Centre
BACC, a free contemporary art center opposite MBK.
About Bangkok Art and Culture Centre
The Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, usually called BACC, is a public contemporary art centre at 939 Rama I Road in Pathum Wan, at the corner of Rama I and Phaya Thai roads, opposite MBK and next to Siam. It opened in 2008 in a nine-storey white building designed by Robert G. Boughey and Associates. Its central atrium has spiral walkways that lead you up through the building, and the main galleries sit on floors 7 to 9.
The exhibitions change through the year and cover painting, photography, installation, digital art and student work, so there is no fixed collection. Entry to exhibitions is free, with fees only for some concerts, shows and special events. The lower floors hold small cafes, smoothie bars, design and craft shops known as artHUB, and a free Art Library on the ground floor. Plan on 60 to 90 minutes.
BACC is an easy, low-cost date: it is air-conditioned, calm compared with the malls around it, and gives you something to talk about as you walk up the ramps together. Guides suggest weekday late morning or early afternoon for fewer people. It stays open until 8pm, so it also works as an early-evening stop before dinner in Siam. Check the website first to see what is on.
Why it works for a date
- Free entry
- Air-conditioned, calm escape from the Siam malls
- Striking atrium and spiral walkways
- Regularly changing exhibitions
Good to be aware of
- Some visitors found too little art on show compared with shops and food kiosks
- Closed on Mondays
- Quality depends on the current exhibition, so check before going
Don't miss
More date spots in Pathum Wan
Bangkok's central park, good for a morning walk or a paddle boat.
Aquarium on the basement floors of Siam Paragon.
Traditional teak houses and gardens of the silk entrepreneur Jim Thompson.
Five-star design hotel on Soi Ton Son near Lumphini Park.
Luxury hotel beside Siam Paragon with a big garden pool.
Electric go-kart track near Chula 28.
See all date spots in Pathum Wan
More art galleries & museums in Bangkok
Riverside center for art galleries and antiques.
Interactive museum about Thai identity in a colonial-era building.
Museum of Contemporary Art, a large private collection of Thai art.
Old warehouses turned into shops, galleries and cafés.