Bourke Street Staple Thai Tide Is Closing

Bourke Street has become the city’s unofficial Thai Town, with restaurants including Nana Thai , Thai Baan and Thong Thai all within a stone’s throw of each other. But the area will soon lose a staple as Thai Tide , formerly named Fomo Thai, will close at the end of the year. The closure comes as the landlord looks to sell the building.

“After over 15 years at 171 Bourke Street, we’re preparing for a new chapter,” Yuliana Arifin, who runs the restaurant with Merica Charungvat, tells Broadsheet.

“Melbourne’s CBD is now home to so many vibrant, cheerful Thai eateries, and we feel it’s time to pass the baton and make space for something new at 171 Bourke,” she says. “That said, we’re not quite done yet – we’re planning to finish the year strong … before we turn the page in January and embrace a new adventure.

“It’s a bittersweet moment. The hospitality landscape is constantly shifting, dynamic, thrilling and full of unknowns. But change also brings opportunity, and we’re excited for what’s next.”

Thai Tide has been instrumental in showcasing the diversity of Thai cuisine to Melbourne city dwellers. “Thai food is so much more than just pad thai and tom yum goong, it’s vibrant, layered with history, filled with meaning, and full of delightful surprises.”

Before the restaurant closes, the team will continue to host its Rising Tides dinner series, working with a changing roster of chefs to highlight the diversity of the cuisine.

While Arifin and Charungvat don’t have plans to open another restaurant, they insist they’re not leaving the hospitality industry. “Let’s just say, we’ll be seeking new ways to continue elevating and sharing the depth of Thai cuisine beyond the four walls of a restaurant,” says Arifin.

Thai Tide is expected to close at the end of the year.