Nightmarket Restaurant Dublin

Where It All Began

The story of R, her childhood, her learning, finding her way to Ireland, working, meeting Conor, getting together and deciding to open this new restaurant.

R was born in Hua Hin. She lived there for the first few years of her life before moving to Chiang Mai where she lived until she was 13. It was in Chiang Mai in which her love for and understanding of food was formed. Her grandparents were a big influence on her life, they had a stall at a food market in Chiang Mai, so she spent many early mornings firstly going to buy food from the local markets with them, taking it back to home to cook with her grandparents, and then help sell it at their market stall, all before heading off to school.

She moved back to Chiang Mai before going to work at the renowned Monarch Lee Garden Hotel, one of Bangkok’s best 4-star hotels, before moving to the internationally recognised 5-star Shangri La Hotel in Bangkok. R said that "working in the Shangri-La hotel was a fantastic experience for me. It was my school of life, and taught me everything that I need to work to my full potential in the hospitality industry”.

R moved to Ireland with some friends in 2001. Initially she worked in The Weeping Tiger Thai Restaurant in Carlow, and Tiger Becks on Dawson Street. R met Conor, the other half of this restaurant, when she was working as a duty manager in Koh in 2008.

Conor, who is originally from Kildimo, Co. Limerick, started his journey in the hospitality industry with the Fitzgerald family in the Woodlands House Hotel in Adare, Co. Limerick. He then attended the Shannon College of Hotel Management and UCG. After college Conor worked with the Great Southern Hotel Group for 5 years in Parknasilla, Sneem, Co. Kerry & Eyre Square, Galway. He then helped to open and managed Diep Noodle Bar in Ranelagh from 2002 until 2007.

In 2008 he opened and was Managing Director and shareholder of Koh Restaurant and Cocktail Bar, in Dublin 1. R & Conor have been looking around Ranelagh for the last few years for a suitable premises to open an authentic, regional Thai restaurant in, and were delighted to eventually secure No. 120 Ranelagh earlier this year.

R & Conor believe that Ranelagh is a wonderful neighbourhood and as the Financial Times recently noted, it can be compared to 'the Notting Hill of London' with its thriving restaurant scene.

The pair have received great support and good wishes from the local community in general, the business community and particularly from other restaurateurs and local publicans.