Tucked away on a quiet stretch of Soi Prommitr in Phrom Phong, a different kind of gathering place is taking shape to open its doors for the first time today, Sunday, Jan 25. SoBar Wellness is built around clarity, balance, and connection, offering an alternative to the city’s alcohol-led social culture without preaching restraint or abstinence.
Founded by Bangladeshi entrepreneur Samir Obaid, SoBar grew out of his own journey out of addiction and into a more intentional way of living. For Obaid, sobriety was never about giving things up. It was about creating a life that feels sustainable, social, and genuinely enjoyable. That philosophy runs through every part of the space, which welcomes everyone from people in recovery to the sober curious, as well as those simply choosing health and presence over excess.
Set inside a restored townhouse on Sukhumvit 39, SoBar feels more like a small urban retreat than a fitness or wellness centre. The space includes a private training gym, sauna, and ice plunge area, surrounded by greenery that softens the edges of city life. It functions as both a place to reset physically and a social hub where people train, relax, and build community without alcohol being the default.
On the ground floor is Curried Away, a South Asian food concept created in collaboration with Arifeen Mahmood Khan, whose background spans media, branding, and food culture. Curried Away challenges the idea that wellness food has to be bland or restrictive, serving bold, spice-forward dishes that lean into comfort and flavour while still fitting into a mindful lifestyle. For those who prefer to stay in, the menu is also available on Grab and Lineman.
Completing the ecosystem is Hummingbird Studio, founded by Sukchada “Fang” Buranaarepong, a well-known name in Bangkok’s aerial yoga and movement scene. With more than six years of experience, Hummingbird brings aerial yoga, mat yoga, and specialised movement sessions into the SoBar space, tying together strength, flexibility, and mental focus.
Looking ahead, the team behind SoBar has ambitions well beyond a single townhouse. Plans include expanding into wellness centres and residential-style retreats that combine training, recovery, sauna and ice therapy, sports, and creative studios for music, podcasting, photography, and film. Curried Away is also set to branch out through pop-ups around Bangkok, with longer-term plans to move into cities such as Singapore, Vietnam, Mumbai, Bangladesh, and Dubai.
At its core, SoBar Wellness, Curried Away, and Hummingbird Studio all share the same idea: that living well does not have to mean opting out of enjoyment. Community, creativity, good food, and real connection can exist without losing control or checking out. In a city that rarely slows down, SoBar is quietly making space for something different.
12 18, Sukhumvit Soi 39, Khlong Tan, Watthana, Bangkok 10110. Phone: 092 293 9172
