In some cases, the biggest thing restaurants would prefer to bank on is the experience of their customers. Setting aside the food and beverages they offer, one of the more minimally discussed assets of an establishment is the atmosphere or vibe guests would most likely feel. 

A lot of questions come into play as well: Will the customer feel hungrier with this specific interior décor? What emotions will most likely trigger if a darker wallpaper is installed than a brighter one? True enough, these elements combined are in favor to curate the best experience for everyone.

This is not the case with a café restaurant in Bangkok, Thailand. Instead of allowing its guests to enjoy their food over the gothic backdrop, a lot of them left the establishment questioning different aspects of existentialism. 

The Death Café has been popular for installing a full-sized coffin beside the tables. While a fun concept, a lot of people who go inside it – completely closed and fully dark – felt like they were dead for a moment, terrified and shaken by the brief stay. While they are given a 10% discount to some items on the café’s menu as a way to lure them inside this big box, it has no plans to return.

“I’m freaking out! It’s comfortable, but I could not sleep in there or relax, because I feel, for a while, that I am dead,” a guest who goes inside Death Café’s coffin revealed.

The Death Café, as it turns out, is a Buddhist “exhibition,” encouraging its customers with sweet dessert treats and cold refreshments in exchange for a “death awareness” experience.

The owner, Veeranut Rojanaprapa, formed this café as a thesis for his Ph.D. in philosophy and religion. Customers are also invited to write about their death awareness experience in a special notebook provided by the café. 

What are your thoughts on the Death Café in Bangkok, Thailand? Are you including this in your next travel agenda? Share your reactions in the comments section below.