A Flooded Restaurant Near Bangkok Becomes A New Sought-after Dining Spot

Daniel Figaro
Oct 12, 2021
Oct 12, 2021

Near Bangkok, Thailand, a flood-hit restaurant thrives in difficulty. It's thought that the flood could force the business to shut down, but the flood, on the other hand, brought a new dining experience to customers at this restaurant. And quickly, fun-loving foodies flock to this restaurant's waterlogged deck to enjoy its special "hot-pot surfing" experience.

Customers of the riverside Chaopraya Antique Café enjoy themselves despite the extraordinarily high water levels in the Chao Phraya River in Nonthaburi, near Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021

Source: AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit

The Chaopraya Antique Café is a riverside restaurant located in Nonthaburi, Thailand. Opened in February this year, the restaurant's prevalent style is antique architecture and décor. And its prime location near a river truly complements the overall vintage theme of this place.
As a recent tropical storm hits the mainland of Thailand, combining with heavy monsoon rains, the water level of many rivers has risen, threatening to flood the adjacent areas. As the water tops the parapet, the first diners arrive at Chaopraya. And as quickly as the water floods its deck, all the tables are filled with carefree customers happily tucking in amid the lapping tide. At some points, the water rises as high as 50cm (20 inches), and the wait staff have to use rubber boots while moving around.

Source: AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit

“This is a great atmosphere. During this flood crisis, this has become the restaurant’s signature attraction. So I wanted to challenge myself and try out this new experience,” 24-year-old Siripoj Wai-inta said as he enjoyed his food while relaxing his legs in the water.

Source: AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit

The owner has dubbed the experience “hot-pot surfing,” and customers will soon know why. There's a passenger boat passing by every 15 minutes, and everyone waits for this exact moment. The delighted scramble to avoid a soaking from the coming waves is the new thrill that is exclusive to this place. And like the fact that customers need to make reservations if they want to dine at Chaopraya Antique Café, customers have to like this so much.
Keep scrolling down to see more photos of this new dining hotspot.

Source: AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit

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