Tep Bar, the Chinatown establishment known for incorporating traditional Thai culture into the nightlife scene, finally unlocked its doors last December 1 after lockdown regulations forced it to shut down for eight months.
Patrons have looked forward to this reopening, hoping to once again revel in the bar’s unique offering: the combination of the modern drinking experience with authentic Thai hallmarks, from music, to art, to cuisine.
2021 was supposed to be a golden year for the bar, which was hoping to celebrate eight years of pioneering the nocturnal scene in Chinatown’s Soi Nana, along with other cool establishments like Ba Hao and Wallflowers. But as you can imagine, the untethered coronavirus prevented any kind of celebration.
While waiting for the opportunity to reemerge, Tep Bar kept on every single one of their staff, overcoming financial burdens despite a lack of support from the government. The bar also made the most of its hiatus—parts of the venue were refurbished and upgraded for when it’s time to reopen its doors.
Upon its return to Soi Nana and after not operating for so long, the bar admitted that it feels like they’re starting all over again with this relaunch. The coronavirus threat is far from over and could potentially ruin everything again, but Tep Bar has gone off and dusted its furniture anyway as it welcomes back guests with renewed hope and excitement. It has been worth it so far going by the number of reservations coming in.
