Seoul
With live jazz, bands and acoustic music, great Korean food (clam and tofu stew; apple bbq pork) and beer (or bottles of berry makgeolli), this place,…
Must-see entertainment in Asia
Philippine Educational Theater Association
Manila
This ‘open’ theatre group does both comedy and tragedy, most of it original. Arguably Manila’s best troupe, but check whether performances are in English…
Ko Kut
This semi-open-air stage and music venue hosts live music from local and visiting bands nightly in season. It's a fine initiative from music-loving locals…
Fukuoka
Held for two weeks at the Fukuoka Kokusai Centre. The main ticket sale is in October, and spectators start lining up at dawn for limited same-day tickets …
Mumbai (Bombay)
The stunning art deco Liberty was once the queen of Hindi film – think red-carpet openings with Dev Anand. It fell on hard times in recent years, but is…
Colombo
The top sport in Sri Lanka is, without a doubt, cricket. You can buy tickets for major games from Sri Lanka Cricket, at the office near the oval. Major…
Southern Higashiyama
This is a quaint and charming geisha dance put on by the geisha of the Gion Higashi geisha district. It’s held from 1 to 10 November at the Gion Kaikan…
Bengaluru (Bangalore)
This popular warehouse-style venue has bands (starting around 9pm), DJs and a rooftop terrace. The cover charge is anything from zero to ₹300. There's a…
Delhi
A restaurant and bar with comedy nights every evening, usually from around 7.30pm. Some nights are free. Bigger names bring a cover charge (from ₹500)…
Delhi
This is an important Delhi cultural address, with art exhibitions, performances and concerts, mostly free. Check the website for events.
Siam Square, Pratunam, Phloen Chit & Ratchathewi
A flagrantly 1960s-era cinema in central Bangkok, the Scala's one screen shows a mix of contemporary Hollywood and films from the past.
Bistaar Chittagong Arts Complex
Chittagong
Bistaar is Chittagong's home of the arts. Come here for regular film screenings, art exhibitions, talks and live music performances.
Bengaluru (Bangalore)
A mecca for cricket-lovers, hosting many matches per year. Check online for the schedule of tests, one-dayers and Twenty20s.
Gwangju
This mellow basement hideaway features live jazz from 10pm every Friday and Saturday night. There's no cover charge.
Beijing
The most atmospheric Peking opera house in town (it was undergoing refurbishment at time of research, so fingers crossed it stays that way...), Huguang…
Shinjuku & Northwest Tokyo
This is Tokyo’s premier public performing-arts centre, with state-of-the-art stages for drama, opera and dance. The plays are in Japanese and the operas…
Lijiang
Attending a performance of this orchestra inside a beautiful building in the old town is a good way to spend an evening in Lijiang. Not only are all two…
Kochi (Cochin)
In an intimate, wood-lined theatre, this recommended long-running arts centre provides a useful introduction to Kathakali. It also hosts performances of…
National Academic Drama Theatre
Ulaanbaatar
During most of the year this large, red-hued theatre shows one of a dozen or so Mongolian-language productions by various playwrights from Mongolia,…
National Theater & Concert Hall
Taipei
Located inside Liberty Sq, the National Theater & Concert Hall hosts large-scale concerts and cultural events including dances, musicals, Chinese and…
Beijing
Beijing's premier acrobatic show is a rapid-fire fiesta of youthful acrobats, gymnasts, contortionists and daredevils, who between them pull off some…
Kampot
Founded by Julien Poulson of legendary band Cambodian Space Project, this social enterprise has moved into a large new creative space on the outskirts of…
Bishkek
Classical and local productions are staged in this elegant building, usually starting at 5pm Friday to Sunday, autumn to spring. Check the billboards…
Osaka
The big fellas rumble into Osaka in March for this major tournament, held in the EDION Arena (Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium (府立体育会館) in Namba. Tickets (from…
Yangon
Although the buffet meal served here is universally slated, the stage inside this concrete replica of a Burmese royal barge is the only place in Yangon…
Beijing
One of Mao's '10 Great Buildings' erected in 1959 to mark a decade of the People's Republic of China, the Workers' Stadium was built to hold 80,000 people…
Bishkek
This smart exhibition space hosts a wide variety of events and rotating exhibits, and the Georgian restaurant on the second-floor terrace makes a great…
Bishkek
Features Western and Kyrgyz orchestral works and the occasional Kyrgyz song-and-dance performance. The kassa (ticket office) is on the west side.
Ulaanbaatar
Built by the Russians in 1932 (look for the Soviet stars on the columns), the State Opera & Ballet Theatre is the salmon-pinkish building on the southeast…
Ueno & Yanesen
The Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra and the Tokyo Ballet both make regular appearances at this Ueno-kōen landmark, designed by Maekawa Kunio, an…
Shinjuku & Northwest Tokyo
This Kabukichō spectacle has hit it big with its vision of 'wacky Japan': bikini-clad women ride around on giant robots against a backdrop of animated…
Tokyo
This chic lounge stages short acts (40 minutes) of traditional Japanese performing arts, including nō, kagura (sacred dance) and Kyo-mai (Kyoto-style…
Taiwan Traditional Theatre Center
Shilin
This spanking-new theatre complex plays host to traditional operas and music but looks entirely futuristic – three grey polygonal buildings with coloured…
Sapporo
Built for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, Sapporo Dome is home to both baseball's Hokkaidō Nippon Ham Fighters (www.fighters.co.jp) and J-League soccer's…
Macau
Towering over Cotai like a sci-fi palace out of Star Wars, the ginormous gold-and-white Galaxy is one of the most extravagant megacasinos in the city (and…
Malang
Malang’s cultural and recreational park has a hectically busy swimming pool and children’s playground and some quirky events. Kuda lumping (horse trance)…
Ulaanbaatar
As the name suggests, this is a dedicated jazz club – the only one in Ulaanbaatar. There's live music nightly at around 9pm. A rotating group of bands…
Macau
Despite the outdoor Performance Lake, which gives a fountain show every 15 minutes to the tune of 'Money Makes the World Go Round' or Chinese tunes, the…
Seoul
This former post office turned art centre focuses on the theme of sharing and communication. With many exhibitions, concerts and seminars put on by and…
Hiroshima
This stadium is a good place to catch a baseball game and see the beloved local team, the Carp. It's a short walk southeast of Hiroshima Station – follow…
