Bangkok's legendary skyline is full of unique places for a date night. From the stunning viewing platform at the top of the incredible King Power Mahanakhon tower, to the serenity of the Golden Mount or the infamous "Hangover" bar at the top of the State Tower, across the Thai capital, bars, clubs, sports arenas and swimming pools light up the rooftops, but for a few months in the high season, another set of stars joins the skyline...

Skyline Film's rooftop cinema sets up on top of the River City Art Centre in downtown Bangkok. Its location rubs shoulders with the achingly cool neighbourhoods of Talad Noi, Song Wat and Chinatown. Towering above the cinema screen is the very swanky balconies of the Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel. From the rooftop cinema you have a stunning view of the river and Bangkok's ever evolving skyline.

We were looking for a date night. We wanted something with a great view but also something with classic "date night" vibes. Skyline Film's rooftop cinema seemed to be the perfect match. So, to break up the Netflix and Prime boredom, we booked ourselves into Bangkok's newest rooftop cinema.

This is how our night unfolded.

In This Article:

Disclosure: This article may contain affiliate links. We will earn a small commission from any purchases made through these links. We were not paid or otherwise compensated by Skyline Film for this article.

Black wooden deckchairs sit in horizontal rows in front of a cinema screen on top of the Rivercity rooftop in Bangkok. Behind the screen the Sheraton Hotel rises up and to the right of this, the Chao Phraya river stretches away.

River City - The Perfect Backdrop

We have wandered past the outside of the River City complex many times without ever nosing around inside. It is listed as an "Art Centre" on Google and, whilst you could describe it this way, it seemed to us to be more of an "Art Shopping Centre" with galleries, antique dealers and craft shops. There are dedicated galleries with rotating exhibitions but the majority of the space is given to art dealers, antiques, statue sellers and, inexplicably, a Pokemon centre!

This time with the cinema as our goal, we were going in to River City. We made our way up layers of escalators to the top floor, it was late in the evening and most of the shops and art spaces were closing around us. The whole place was nearly deserted and had that strange vibe that busy places get when they are empty. We reached the top floor, and knew we were in the right place when we found ourselves in a gaggle of people milling around a registration desk. A quick check-in, an armband and a token for a free drink and we boarded one final escalator to the roof. Now, we had arrived at Skyline Cinema.

The roof was spectacular, an odd word to use for a shopping centre we know but it is true! The lights of the day were beginning to shift from blue to gold and all around, the city was being bathed in the warm light of sunset. The Chao Phraya River was positively sparkling in the late afternoon sun and we were surrounded by the incredible architecture of modern Bangkok. On the opposite bank sprawled the glass, steel and fountains of the gigantic Icon Siam shopping mall, its layers looking like a collapsed cybernetic wedding cake (in a good way!). Towering over us were the balconies and bedrooms of the Royal Orchid Sheraton whilst off in the far west we could still see the golden figure of Wat Paknam Phasi Charoen's humongous golden Buddha. It was an amazing location.

As the sun began to set the selfies began in earnest, every cinema goer (us included, we aren’t sitting on any high horses here!) was snapping photos and posing in the golden light, it really is a magical place for a movie night!

A bright orange sun sets over the rooftops of Bangkok. In the foreground, in silhouette are rows of deckchairs and people sitting on the roof of Rivercity, Bangkok.

Skyline Film - More Than Just a Cinema Screen

The set up was almost as impressive as the location; an army of comfy deckchairs reclined in front of a large screen. Besides the cinema was a mini-food court selling popcorn (of course) soft drinks and beer. The event was partnered with / promoting Singha Reserve Supreme Beer and our ticket included a drink of our choice. Being avid beer enjoyers, we chose two large cans of Singha. In addition to the bevvies and popcorn there were freebies from other companies (Ellie nabbed a large tote full of skincare things) as well as selfie spots, a 'photo bus' and even a gatcha machine dispensing hand drawn film scenes! It was busy, lively, friendly and really well put together.

Two gold cans of Singha Reserve beer are held up in a cheers position in front of a huge square screen at the Skyline Film Bangkok event at Rivercity.

The Main Event - The Film

As the sun started to fully set, its orange and gold rays sliding down the side of the surrounding skyscrapers, the cinema screen glowed into life. We had all been given over-ear headphones when we had emerged onto the roof top and as the screens light became stronger against the incoming night, a speaker advised us how to use them.

There is a full range of films shown at the rooftop cinema but when we looked, we spotted a classic, an old-school feel-good film from another era. We had bought tickets to see "10 Things I Hate About You". We aren't film critics and you aren't here for a description of Heath Ledger's curls so we won't spoil the film, suffice to say; it is so 90's that it nearly hurts but it is still such a fantastic film.

Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles appear on a cinema screen next to red writing which says "10 Things I Hate About You" at a film screening on top of Rivercity. In front deck chairs sit in rows and behind the Sheraton Hotel rises up

The sound was great. From the opening bars of Barenaked Ladies "One Week" (such a great band name) and Heath Ledger’s iconic rendition of Frankie Valli's "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" all the way though to the closing chords of Letters to Cleo's "I Want You To Want Me" (you might not know that you know it, but you do in fact, know it) the headphones blared out the punchy and atmospheric soundtrack. Even in the sweaty humidity of a Bangkok evening they didn't get uncomfortable.

The screen was perfect, "10 Things I Hate About You" is not a new film and does not need 4k, UHD, crystal-quality resolution (1999 was a little more analogue), so the rooftop projector was absolutely up to the task.

The deckchairs were super comfy and a great choice for seating, everyone was reclined back so it didn't matter if you were sitting behind a giraffe, you still got a good view! The only provisos we would give here would be:

Get your seat early, the ones closest to the screen may involve a bit of neck ache and once the selfies are done the seats go fast!
Bring and use a lot of mosquito repellent, you are riverside in Bangkok and those floating bastards are hungry!

Was It Worth It?

Overall it was a fantastic evening. There was something really special about watching the sunset from a Bangkok rooftop surrounded by temples, modern malls and hotels, then settling back with a cold Singha and watching a classic rom-com. A rooftop cinema is a unique and great thing to do for an evening in Bangkok, it makes an inventive date night and combines the best of rooftop panorama’s of an amazing city with the comforts of a cinema trip.
Would we go again? Well, we are already looking at their next schedule of films.

Ellie smiles at the camera whilst sitting in a black deckchair on top of Rivercity ready for the Skyline Film event.

Practical Information: Where, When and How Much Does Skyline Cost?

Okay, so enough waffling about how great it was! This is the part of the article where we actually tell you how to go yourself!

Where is Bangkok’s Skyline Film Rooftop Cinema?

You can find the cinema on the roof of River City Bangkok (here on Google Maps). You reach the check in by riding the escalators to the top level where you will find a little desk near a final escalator to the rooftop.

Getting There:

To get to Skyline Film and River City you have lots of choices:

Ferry to River City Bangkok

The easiest and cheapest way is via the river. The Chao Phraya Express docks practically next door at the Si Phraya Pier (here). During the day the Yellow flag ferries are the most common ones and they stop all along the river (Phra Arthit for Khao San Road, Tah Tian for Wat Pho / Wat Arun and then all the way north to Nonthaburi or south to Asiatique). The ferry is super cheap and runs roughly every half hour (sometimes faster sometimes slower, sabai sabai!). A ticket on the Yellow ferry will only set you back 21 baht per person, regardless of distance. In the mornings and the evenings the Yellow flag is replaced by the Orange flag, which is even cheaper at 16 baht! To get a ticket, just board the ferry and an attendant will come round to sell you one. Some stops have counters to purchase before you get on but most do not.

At River City there are two piers, do not get them confused! The pier directly next to the centre itself is for tours and private boat transfers and will cost you and awful lot more money than 21 baht to cruise along the river. Check the map above for the correct pier as often tuk tuk drivers and taxis will take you to the private boat pier rather than the public ferry.

The sun sets behind Bangkok's iconic Icon Siam shopping mall. The sky is lit up orange behind the sky scrapers and high-end hotels that line the Chao Phraya River.

MRT to River City

The nearest MRT station is Hua Lamphong (find it here), a sixteen minute walk away. Hua Lamphong is on the Blue MRT Line and connects together a huge amount of Bangkok. Fares are dependent on how far you travel but are very reasonable. As an added bonus, if you have a contactless Visa or Mastercard, you can use it instead of buying tickets (like in London), which is very handy considering how much ATM’s cost in Thailand!

Buses to River City

There are a plethora of bus stops around River City, each serving multiple bus lines. We recommend downloading the Via Bus App (Android or Apple) and checking the routes for what goes near to where you are. As with all motorised transport in the city - beware of Bangkok’s legendary traffic!

Taxis and Tuk-Tuk

Arguably the least effort way to get anywhere! Download Bolt or Grab and summon a taxi. You can book normal cars or motorbike taxis (sometimes a good way of dodging traffic). It obviously costs more than public transport but sometimes it is nice to have a little air conditioned break in the city! If you are not using a ride hailing app, make sure you ask for the taxi to use the meter.

If you are on holiday and haven’t yet splashed the cash on a tuk-tuk, this could also be a fun choice of chariot for the evening. Tuk-tuk’s do cost more than regular taxis (especially if you are obviously a tourist) but you should experience them at least once!

If you are looking for an easy data solution when travelling Thailand, make sure you check out Holafly for their range of eSIMS!

Walk

This is our preferred method of getting anywhere. River City is near some amazing Bangkok neighbourhoods and it is always fun to wander through the city. You can start up in Chinatown (maybe sampling some of its world class street food), swing down through Song Wat (picking up some craft coffee at the same time) and then down through the art covered alleyways of Talad Noi. Bangkok is a great, safe and a fascinating city for pedestrians and you will nearly always be rewarded for taking a stroll!

When is Skyline Film’s Cinema Open?

The cinema has two different films shown each night. The first shows at 17:30 and the second at 20:30. The exact listings change month on month so we recommend checking out their Instagram, Facebook page or Ticket Melon (just enter “Skyline” in the search box) for more details.

Skyline Cinema Other Locations

Skyline Film sometimes shows films in Phuket, Pattaya, Nakhon Pathom and other locations around Thailand check out their socials for more details.

Attendees at Bangkok's Skyline Film event sit in black wooden deckchairs in front of a blank cinema screen. Behind the screen the glass fronted 5-star Sheraton hotel rises up.

How Much Does Skyline Film Rooftop Cinema Cost?

Tickets for the films need to be booked in advance and do sell out quickly! We booked through Ticket Melon (see above) and paid 500 baht per person (plus a small booking fee). The ticket got us entry and a free drink (beer or a soft drink). Coming from the UK this is fantastic value. 500 baht would barely rent you a film at home let alone give you a rooftop cinema experience with a beer thrown in!

Are the films in English?

Yes, the films are generally shown in English with Thai subtitles but check the listings before going as depending on the film, this may not always be the case.

Facilities at Skyline Film Cinema

On the rooftop there are toilets, a bar serving soft and alcoholic drinks as well as a popcorn stand. Outside River City there are loads of street food vendors for larger meals and a 7-Eleven. Just remember you cannot bring any outside food or drink in with you!

Happy viewing all!

Thanks for reading,

John & Ellie x

#adventuresofjellie