Thailand's ant man spreads passion for world of tiny creatures

Most café owners worry about ants getting into their food, but for 35-year-old ant keeper Karn Romyasai, the insects have become the main attraction.

The Ant Keeping Cafe in Bangkok—the first of its kind in Thailand—is designed to resemble the underground world of ants. The space is lined with transparent tubes and glass enclosures that mimic the organized, layered structure of ant colonies beneath the surface. Inside, leafcutter ants move in steady lines, carrying pieces of flower petals back to their nest, where they cultivate fungus as their primary food source.

Karn, who has been keeping and studying various ant species for nearly 20 years, said the café was created to help people see and appreciate the hidden complexity of ant societies.

“Over the years, my ant colonies grew into something very large, and when friends or visitors saw them, they were always amazed,” he said. “I wanted to open this café so anyone—especially children—can come in, observe, and learn from a real working ant colony.”

One of the café’s most unusual attractions is a living queen ant on display, a rare sight for most people. The queen, originally from southern Thailand, can live for up to 30 years. However, she was never able to mate during her only opportunity in the wild, meaning she cannot produce offspring. She is now kept in isolation for the rest of her life.

The café features a range of ant species from around the world, including giant bull ants from Australia, harvester ants from East Africa, and honeypot ants, which store food in their abdomens for later use.

Visitors say the experience is unexpectedly calming and fascinating.

“When I come here, I feel very relaxed,” said 26-year-old customer Wasin Laobandit, who regularly visits the café when he is in Bangkok. “I really like how ants work together. Each one has a role, and they are all hardworking. It feels like an ideal society.”

For families, the café has also become an informal learning space. Parents often bring their children to observe ant behavior up close and understand how colonies function.

“Children should come here more often because it’s not every day we get to see a world like this underground,” said 49-year-old visitor Pichet Chingtongkham, adding that he was impressed by the experience.

What began as a personal passion project has now turned into a unique educational attraction, drawing both curious newcomers and returning visitors eager to watch the quiet, organized world of ants at work. 

-Production: Artorn Pookasook, Juarawee Kittisilpa/Reuters