Thai restaurant group, Busaba Eathai, is opening its most ambitious site in its 15-year history in Shoreditch, the throbbing heart of London’s creative East End. Following on swiftly from the group’s successful launch at The O2, the highly anticipated Busaba Eathai Shoreditch will open its doors this February.
Opening just in time for the brand’s 15th birthday, the new Busaba Eathai Shoreditch is spread across two floors, accommodating 164 covers in the iconic dining room, new Kinnaree bar and two terraces. The space is a testament to Busaba’s evocative and ambitious design ethos, and most importantly of all, its authentic and flavoursome Thai cuisine.
The Shoreditch branch will introduce the modern Thai Kinnaree Bar (pron. Khin-NAH-rah) to the Busaba Eathai brand. The Kinnaree is an angelic half-woman, half-swan creature that adorns many temples and palaces in Thailand; she is a graceful, admired beauty that travels between the human and mystical worlds; Thailand’s celestial messenger.
The Kinnaree Bar in Shoreditch will be adorned with a hand-picked selection of Thai art, from khon dance masks and bronze temple bells to the centrepiece – a hand-carved kinnaree statue created by craftsman ‘Lert’ from the far north of Thailand.
Connecting the Kinnaree Bar and the classic Busaba dining room is a tropical courtyard with soaring living walls, a statuesque staircase, a serene reflection pool and the quintessential Busaba Buddha shrine.
Jason Myers, CEO of Busaba Eathai, comments: “This launch marks a pivotal moment in the Busaba Eathai story. Our new site here in Shoreditch brings together all of the magic of its predecessors as well as representing our evolution as we celebrate our 15th birthday and look forward to our expansion across the UK.”
To celebrate the opening and Busaba Eathai’s 15th birthday, Busaba will be hosting a succession of free live events starting in mid-February. On Friday and Saturday nights Shoreditch locals Hoxton Radio will be joining the Busaba team as resident DJs in the Kinnaree Bar. Busaba will also host six weeks of Sookjai events, focusing on creating a ‘happy heart’. Free yoga classes, meditation sessions, CookThai miniseries and wellbeing talks will be hosted at Busaba Eathai Shoreditch.