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Vichayuth Chantan
25 Aug 2022
[This story first appeared in Koktail Magazine Issue 3.]
Located amongst the classic architecture of Bangkok’s Nang Loeng area, Buddha & Pals is an adorable café by day that offers signatures like Americano with honey and cold brew tea to go with dishes like seafood spaghetti or avocado toast. By night, however, neon signs are turned on, tables are rearranged, and the sounds of jazz fill the air.
The owner of Buddha & Pals, Peerasith Seemoolsathien, notes, “I don’t want jazz to be just the little live band sitting in the corner while people chat over them. Instead, I want it to be at the centre of attention, and let it be heard clearly by people visiting us.” In fact, one of the first things you may notice as you walk into the building is how the tables are arranged to face the stage, to ensure that you see the live bands in their full glory.
“I was inspired by the building,” says Peerasith, also known as Mac. “The building that we’re sitting in is pretty old, and as I was renovating it, I knew right away that it had to be a jazz bar. There’s a rustic atmosphere here and this feeling of authenticity.” Said building, Kanvela House, is an establishment with more than a hundred years of history, housing businesses for four generations.
Mac wanted the bar to be a destination for jazz and lovers of the genre. “Music is for everyone,” he says, “and jazz doesn’t have to be a luxury. I don’t want the bar to be a place where people feel the need to dress up glamorously and sit still as they listen. I think jazz is already classy in itself; no need to play it up any further.”
Perhaps that’s the reason why the bar has become such a beloved space for so many different people. Buddha & Pals’ patrons range from university students and local Thais to international visitors and even jazz-loving celebrities.
Live bands can be found on Wednesdays to Sundays, with Blues on Thursdays. “I like it here because I can sing whatever kind of jazz I want,” says Nurse of Nurse & Her Jazz Cats, one of the house bands. “I’m not limited to singing pop jazz or anything. There’s nothing wrong with that, and we can still play it, but it feels free to not feel that confinement.”
With the name Buddha & Pals—Buddha as a symbol for happiness—the passionate owner wants it to be a spot where people can feel the joy with their friends. “No matter what kind of day you’re having, good jazz will be able to hit that sweet spot in your hearts,” says Mac. Of course, everything else has to be well-curated too, from the food to the drinks. The drinks menu, managed by an experienced bar team, has everything from spirits and wine to classic cocktails. Signature drinks are also available, named after iconic jazz songs, such as Summertime and Un Poco Loco.
As great as his bar already is, Mac continues to look for ways to improve. “I’m talking to some swing dancers to perhaps join us on Wednesdays and maybe bring in some records to play for the guests,” Mac discloses. With Buddha & Pals constantly evolving due to its operators’ creativity and passion, one thing remains: there’s never a dull moment once you step into the building.
Buddha & Pals
712 Krung Kasem Road
Cafe: Open 10am-7pm (Closed on Monday)
Jazz Bar: Open 7pm-midnight (Closed on Monday)
fb.com/buddhaandpals, 061-585-9283
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