By now you may have realised that I am more than a little obsessed with themed restaurants.
There was the hospital and Hello Kitty themed restaurants in Taipei, the dog cafe and cat cafe in Seoul and the Obama and midget themed restaurants in the Philippines.
It’s safe to say that themed restaurants have now become my “thing” and upon arriving at a new destination the first thing I do is scout out a list of crazy and unique things to do.
Bangkok was no exception.
After checking into my hostel, I grabbed my bag and headed out to what was about to be my craziest themed restaurant experience by far.
Cabbages and Condoms.
Yes, a condom themed restaurant.
So, why the bizarre name? Simply put, the founder believes that “birth control should be as accessible and as easy to buy as vegetables in the market!” The restaurant uses jokes and fun visuals to overcome reluctance to discuss issues such as sex, family planning, and HIV/AIDS.
It was amazing.
The restaurant is set in a beautiful courtyard filled with trees and low-hanging vines that were adorned with hundreds of fairy lights. Everywhere I looked I spotted more and more condoms – the lights hanging from the trees, the lamp on our table, the flowers in the bathroom – they were all covered in condoms!
With an extensive menu of over fifty pages of Thai food, my friend and I opted to try the green curry, papaya salad and chicken wings (my safety option).
According to my friend the food was much less spicier than the versions you would normally find elsewhere in Thailand. However, as I find anything that contains even the slightest bit of flavour too much to handle, I hyperventilated silently at the table and stuck to the chicken wings.
After paying for the meal, we were given a free condom in place of an after dinner mint.
I didn’t want to leave so I grabbed my camera and spent the next half an hour strolling around the restaurant taking photos of the ingenious statues and decorations.
I even found my future wedding dress.
The level of detail used to create the statues was astounding – the small studs that can be seen on the costumes were actually birth control pills!
As well as the restaurant, there was a bar called The Captain Condom, which featured condom lamps, condom flowers, a condom ship and amazing condom flower decorations on the walls.
I visited close to Christmas and the restaurant was decorated accordingly with lots of Santa statues and even a condom Christmas tree!
My favourite statue had to be the one of Tiger Woods. It came complete with a condom golf club and sign saying “Did you use them Tiger?” Genius.
Every single statue was incredible and I can’t even begin to imagine how long it would take to plan and create one of them.
As I ran out of statues to take photos of it was sadly time for me to leave, but not without taking a free condom from the box by the exit, available in Republican and Democrat size.
Cabbages and Condoms was without a doubt the best themed restaurant I’ve ever visited.
Whilst not the cheapest food option in Bangkok by far, Cabbages and Condoms is a fun and unique way of getting people talking about development, birth control and safe sex – something that not many restaurants can claim to do!
I’ve found most themed restaurants to be gimmicky with terrible food, but Cabbages and Condoms didn’t fit this stereotype. I’d definitely return whenever I next find myself in Bangkok.
Cabbages and Condoms is located at 10 Sukhumvit Soi 12, Bangkok and is open daily from 11am to 10pm.
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In July 2011 I left England for what was supposed to be a one year trip around the world. Within a few months of leaving I knew that a year would never be enough. I now work online and travel permanently, seeking misadventures in unique, beautiful and fascinating places. Read more.
I'm here to show you how not to travel. Since I've been on the road I've been "poked" during a massage in Bangkok, punched a scammer in Shanghai, been attacked by monkeys in Bali, sat next to a dead woman on a boat in Laos and so much more. I call these The Incidents and you can see a full list of them here.
Ha ha, oh my gosh. Such a creative and considerate idea :-) Erm… what was for dessert?
Alison recently posted..A Snowy Day in Lincoln and “Pointless Weather Photography”
Hahahaha, isn’t it brilliant?! :)
What a brilliant idea to get people talking about otherwise taboo topics. Defusing the conversation with a bit of humour certainly helps!
John recently posted..Five Can’t Miss Restaurants in Atlanta, Georgia
Definitely! I was surprised to see the restaurant was full of families too.
This place looks awesome!!! Those statues really are amazing. I would totally go here!
Amanda recently posted..The South Pacific I Have Yet to See
It was SO amazing, I kinda want to go back in a few weeks :)
Looks pretty awesome, I wish I could eat there…
Yeah, it was pretty badass!
brilliant :D and out of the themed restaurants i read about on your blog, definitely the best and most creative!
Someday I’ll Be There – Mina recently posted..Sucking on Pebbles
It will definitely be hard to top this one!
I was planning to go there but unfortunately never made it there. Next time then. Sounds very interesting :D
crazy sexy fun traveler recently posted..WHERE TO GO IN SUMMER – GREECE?
Definitely go next time, it was one of the highlights of my time in Bangkok!
I LOVE that you went there!
That sounds and looks awesome! I wish I had known about it when I was in bangkok. I especially like how their food is guaranteed not to cause pregnancy, always good to know!
Jarmo recently posted..Late for the Chinese New Year in London
LMAO how do you find these place – those statue things are AMAZING xxx
Jen recently posted..…And Then He Got His C*ck Out!
Omigod, that’s amazing Lauren! How the hell do you find these places?! Haha
Beverley | Pack Your Passport recently posted..Seven Travel Bloggers Make One New Super Blog
Haha! This is hilarious and brilliant at the same time. Love it!
This places looks AMAZING. Seriously amazing. Must. Go. Soon! =)
Toni recently posted..Jumping into the Devil’s Pool, Victoria Falls
Ahh, this place sounds so awesome! I cannot wait to check it out when I’m in Bangkok soon.
Not sure if it would rank better than The Hobbit House in Boracay Island though… ;-)
Kate recently posted..Round the World Traveling in 2012
Was super weirded out by the name, but what a cool concept! All for more talk of safe sex and family planning–and yes, condoms SHOULD be as easy to buy as cabbages!–but the statues are actually incredibly cool. Thanks for highlighting!
Christine recently posted..What Mimi taught me about traveling
I was here a few years back and loved it!
This is one of the most hilarious things ever!
Ali recently posted..How Much I Spent in Southeast Asia for Two Months
HAHAHA ohmygod Lauren, this is AMAZING.
Now, I don’t mean to sound naive but…Republican and Democrat size? Which is the bigger one? I’m not too tuned in to that aspect of US politics.
If you ever make it back to Taipei, they have a toilet themed restaurant there. You eat ice cream out of things shaped like toilets!!
If only they had these in the UK, maybe we wouldn’t have the highest teen pregnancy rate in Europe lol!
Tom Stockwell recently posted..5 Ideas for Prague
I had the same thought about the Republican vs. Democrat condoms… what was the difference? I have my own guess but, well… I don’t want to give away my political leanings on here. ;)
Christy @ Technosyncratic recently posted..Strange Street Foods in Thailand
Freakin’ awesome! I’ve heard of all sorts of odd restaurants in parts of Asia like eating out of toilets. But this is wild! Love the photos! You are right, the Tiger Woods one is hilarious!
Ryan recently posted..New Zealand’s got some Mood Swings!
I’m totally going there next month!
I love this restaurant! Tried to take my family there when they visited, but for some reason it was vetoed for a family meal.
I’m with you on the flavor thing. It took me a looong time to find my staple dishes here in Thailand. Try chicken cashew nut and massaman curry- much more mild!
Alex recently posted..The Baackeses Take Bangkok Part V: Museums and Galleries
Oh, I love this! So quirky, and those condom art pieces around and amazing! AND with a message within the theme! Brilliant! Ha!
Tash recently posted..Gorgeous Sentinel Building in San Fran
I am SO going to try and visit this place when I get to Thailand in a few months time! Lovely, funny article Lauren!