Eden, former Candy, Soi 11 Nightclub Sold to Nana Plaza’s Largest Tenant

Eden Bangkok, the former Candy x Bobo nightclub on Bangkok’s Sukhumvit Soi 11, has been sold to Nana Plaza’s largest tenant and operator of the Nana Nightclub.

News of the sale emerged Friday night.

Candy Changed Name to Eden

Eden shut down in February last year after changing formats and names from Candy, which had opened in 2022.

Despite rebranding efforts, locals continued calling the club “Candy”, a reference maintained by the vibrant red candy-themed signage still prominently displayed.

The nightclub originally opened to considerable excitement, quickly becoming known for its lively blend of hip-hop and electronic dance music. But, ultimately, it could not compete against the much better Levels and Sugar clubs.

Eden regularly drew significant crowds with performances from notable local acts like Bangkok Invaders, along with frequent appearances by international DJs. The club’s bold decor, characterized by its red exterior resembling a giant candy shop, immediately set it apart on the bustling entertainment street.

Candy was Hot, Until It Wasn’t

Candy x Bobo, prior to becoming Eden, established a reputation as one of Soi 11’s distinctive nightlife spots. It hosted a variety of themed events, including cabaret performances, ladies’ nights and special DJ events that attracted diverse crowds … for a while.

Guests enjoyed two floors of entertainment, although the first floor was the primary attraction, featuring a DJ booth, standing tables and a spacious dance floor.

Despite its initial popularity, Eden Club faced persistent criticism over operational practices that eventually contributed to its downfall. Visitors regularly complained about high entry costs, restrictive VIP policies and lackluster customer service.

Eden Excoriated for VIP Practices

A particularly critical TripAdvisor review from February 2023 by a man with more than 1,100 reviews for venues around the world proved prophetic, accurately predicting the club’s closure within two years.

“Don’t waste your time or money,” he wrote. The reviewer recounted being charged an excessive fee upon entry, only to find himself restricted to an empty upper floor unless he agreed to purchase expensive bottle service.

He also criticized the venue’s security team for their poor handling of the situation, calling the overall experience disappointing and exploitative.

Further issues noted in the review included overcrowding, loud and unpleasant music, and the presence of unwanted elements often associated with Soi 11 nightlife.

“As I drank my beer completely isolated from everyone else,” he continued, “you could see the other disappointed foreigners who got suckered into Candy slowly trickle in and then be disappointed.”

Despite attempts by management to rejuvenate the club through rebranding to Eden and focusing specifically on techno and house music, issues persisted.

Eden quickly developed a dedicated but niche fan base attracted by its sophisticated lighting system, featuring impressive spotlights and laser effects, and its energetic techno-focused events. Yet the club failed to regain broader appeal.

Nana Nightclub Boss Gets 2^nd Venue

The recent sale now places the venue under new ownership by the managing director for the Rainbow Group in Nana Plaza and Nana Nightclub across Soi 4 in the Nana Hotel.

The new owner previously operated the short-lived Harlem nightclub located in the basement of the Times Square building on Sukhumvit Road in the Asok area. Harlem was sold to the group behind Insomnia and Myst in Pattaya and reemerged as The Basement in December.

With this latest acquisition, industry insiders speculate whether Eden — or Candy, as patrons continue to call it — will undergo significant changes to avoid past mistakes.

Expectations are high given the new owner’s established track record.

Regular patrons of Soi 11 nightlife venues remain cautiously optimistic, hopeful the once-popular Eden can regain its footing.