'Flood dining' goes viral in Thailand, wins hearts of tourists

A flood-hit riverside restaurant in Thailand has become an unlikely dining hotspot after fun-loving foodies began flocking to its waterlogged deck to eat amid the lapping tide. Now, instead of empty chairs and vacant tables, the Chaopraya Antique Café is as full as ever, offering an experience the canny owner calls “hot-pot surfing.” If you like your food washed down with plenty of water, this is the place for you.

A flood-hit riverside restaurant in Thailand has become an unlikely dining hotspot after fun-loving foodies began flocking to its waterlogged deck to eat amid the lapping tide. Credit: Reuters Photo

Riverside restaurant owner Titiporn Jutimanon was convinced a bout of flooding in Thailand could be the end of a business already struggling from the pandemic. Credit: Reuters Photo

But with the rising tide of the Chao Phraya river this week came an unexpected opportunity. Credit: Reuters Photo

Instead of closing for the floods, Titiporn's eatery is making waves in Thailand, staying open for customers who are revelling in shin-deep dining, and the thrill of avoiding the rush of water set off as boats go by. Credit: Reuters Photo

Now, instead of empty chairs and vacant tables, the Chaopraya Antique Café is as full as ever, offering an experience the canny owner calls “hot-pot surfing.” Credit: Reuters Photo

The wait staff — some clad in rubber boots — step gingerly through the swirl that quickly rises to more than 50 centimeters (20 inches). Credit: Reuters Photo

The restaurant, in Nonthaburi near Bangkok, opened in February in a riverside location that perfectly complements its antique architecture and decor. Credit: Reuters Photo

The owner has dubbed the experience “hot-pot surfing.” The delighted scramble to avoid a soaking from the wave is the moment everyone waits for, and with one passing every 15 minutes, no one goes home disappointed. Credit: Reuters Photo

But a recent severe tropical storm and heavy monsoon rains combined to raise the river's water level. Add in the tides and the result has been daily inundation. Credit: Reuters Photo

Coming straight after a month-long coronavirus shutdown, it could have spelled disaster. Instead — boosted by publicity in the Thai media — it's now so popular that customers need to make reservations. Credit: Reuters Photo

If you like your food washed down with plenty of water, this is the place for you. Credit: Reuters Photo