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Deets: Speedboat Bar, the acclaimed Thai brand from Chef & Founder Luke Farrell’s Chaiyo Restaurants - in partnership with JKS Restaurants - will make its highly anticipated U.S. arrival in New York City this October, taking over The Otter restaurant inside The Manner in SoHo for three nights only, October 22–24, 2026. Hailing from the same group behind one of New York's buzziest recent openings - Ambassadors Clubhouse - Speedboat Bar is a transportative recreation of the Thai-Chinese canteens of Bangkok’s Chinatown, and beyond. A cult favorite in the British capital, Speedboat Bar has locations in London’s Soho and Notting Hill neighborhoods, set to bring its irreverent spirit, bold flavors, and high-octane late-night energy stateside for the first time.
The three-night takeover marks the convergence of two distinctly vibrant hospitality concepts: Speedboat’s Bangkok-meets-London sensibility and The Otter’s coastal, seafood-driven approach, set within The Manner, a 97-room hotel in the heart of Manhattan’s SoHo neighborhood, blocks away from New York’s very own Chinatown.
For the occasion, The Otter’s intimate rear dining room will be transformed into a little slice of Bangkok’s Chinatown, marrying Speedboat’s punchy Thai-Chinese cooking with the restaurant’s relaxed, coastal seafood aesthetic. Guests can expect an experience designed as much around atmosphere and social energy as the food itself, with shareable plates, Thai hyperpop, and a distinctly celebratory late-night sensibility.
Inspired by the supercharged world of Bangkok’s speedboat racing, Speedboat Bar channels the frenetic energy of Bangkok’s Chinatown through Thai-Chinese dishes, maximalist flavors and a lively bar program. For its New York debut, the restaurant will serve a menu of punchy dishes built for the ride, including crispy pork & black pepper curry, minced beef with holy basil, and chicken skins with zaep seasoning.
The Speedboat Bar takeover extends that cultural positioning into the culinary space, bringing one of London’s most talked-about Thai concepts into an equally design-forward and socially driven downtown setting.
The takeover by Speedboat at The Otter arrives at a moment when The Manner and its hospitality destinations have emerged as a hub for New York’s fashion, entertainment, sports and creative communities; following a lively US Open run and bustling New York Fashion Week.
The pairing between Speedboat and The Otter brings together two SoHo neighborhood favorites, an ocean apart, but with a shared commitment to exacting produce, bold cookery and a good time.
Hint for the Average Socialite: The collaboration initially debuted with in-demand membership platform Dorsia, offering the Speedboat pop-up reservation slots initially and exclusively to Dorsia Members, before releasing select table offerings on OpenTable. https://www.opentable.com/r/the-otter-new-york
Reservations opened on October 1, 2026 on Dorsia, with select availability on OpenTable followed on October 3rd. There will be two dinner seatings on the 22nd at 7pm and 9pm, and three dinner seatings on the 23rd and 24th beginning at 6pm, with 8pm and 10pm to follow.
What’s Trending: @theottersoho @chaiyorestaurants @jks_restaurants