Ribbed, Dotted, Lubed and Safe: The Condom Themed Restaurant of Bangkok
When considering restaurants, most people look into the menu, the drinks, the location, the ambiance, you know? The usual. If you were to come across (pun fully intended) a restaurant where the main theme was condoms you’d probably question it. See what’s in store and on the menu in our guide to the condom restaurant of Bangkok.
The actual restaurant is called Cabbage & Condoms but everyone in the local area knows it simply as the condom restaurant. The place itself has a strong message at heart. A message of safe sex and sensible family planning.
You’ll find it on Sukhumvit Soi 12 placed right next door to the Asian Centre for Population and Community Development. Obviously, this isn’t accidental and the restaurant works closely with the local family planning clinic to promote contraception. The Population and Development Association (with the brilliant acronym PDA) is one of Thailand’s more successful not for profit organisations. It was formed with the aim of curbing Thailand’s rapidly rising population rate when the average hit a mighty 7 children per family average!
What’s in a name?
Cabbages and condoms aren’t usually found together. We’re not profiling here, everyone has their thing but most people wouldn’t associate them. The reason behind the name is the founder’s belief that contraception, namely condoms, should be as freely available as vegetables. The depth of thought behind this name belies the serious intentions behind a tongue in cheek front.
Not only that, when you visit and spend money, it doesn’t go into an owner’s pocket. All profits from sales go directly in the association and straight into community projects.
The Place Itself
From the outside it looks like a nicely decorated typical Thai restaurant. Twinkling lights hang from plants growing over a courtyard, nicely decorated tables are laid waiting and the staff are attentive.
Look across the menu and it reads like most Thai restaurants. The difference comes in the presentation. Before you panic, condoms themselves are strictly off the menu. The dishes are often served with beautiful style and often contain a colorful dye to make them look even more vibrant. Furthermore, there are some really unusual dishes available such as Cotton Fish to compliment the standard Pad Thais.
That said, this place is called the condom restaurant of Bangkok, so we’d be remiss not to discuss the décor. There are posters everywhere with pro-contraception slogans. The main events are the statues dressed entirely in condoms. There’s no easy way to describe them. Imagine a shirt made from fish like scales but the scales are condoms. That’s as close as we can get.
Fancy a quick drink rather than a full meal? Head on down to the Captain Condom Bar. You’ll be able to enjoy comic style posters festooned with Condoman shouting, “Don’t be shame. Be game!”
Details
10 Sukhumvit Soi 12, 10110 Bangkok
Open Daily 11.00 am – 10.00pm
Bodegan Insider Tip
There are lots of ways to support this great cause. Eat and drink your fill to continue their good work, enjoy the ambiance and remember… don’t be a fool, cover your tool!
