Goodbye to Thai restaurant
Baht restaurant on Castle Hill. Photo by Michael O'Rourke.
A POPULAR Thai restaurant in Carlow town has announced that it will be closing down on 30 November.
In a statement posted to their social media channels, the owners of the award-winning Baht restaurant said that the “the burden of rising costs” made sustaining the quality of their fare without raising prices simply impossible.
Baht opened its doors in June 2024 and quickly gained acclaim from locals along with national media attention.
The published a glowing review of the restaurant in August 2024 where it praised Baht for its “tasty fare, stylish décor and delightful staff”.
The restaurant won the Best Thai Restaurant in Leinster award at the 2024 Asian Restaurant Awards and last March won the Best World Cuisine at the 2025 Leinster Regional Irish Restaurant Awards.
Despite its success the restaurant said that the combination of the “upcoming minimum wage increase in January, the VAT rate unchanged until July 2026, mandatory pension contributions and the constant rise in overhead costs” made it impossible for them to “sustain the quality and care we have always promised” while keeping prices fair for customers.
In their statement they gave thanks for the warmth and support of the Carlow community and regulars and friends from neighbouring counties.
Baht is a family affair for the Srakhunthod family and they said that they may one day return to the restaurant industry “when the time is right”.
They said: “You welcomed us, shared your stories and made us feel at home. Saying farewell to you is the hardest of all.” A spokesperson for Carlow Chamber of Commerce said that while the restaurant was not a member of their chamber, “it’s very sad to see any business close” and wished them all the best in the future.
