The Destiny Café and Restaurant in Chiang Rai, Thailand has reopened after a two-week refurbishment.

The café has expanded its indoor seating area, thanks to the Hair Salon moving to a pre-vocational training model back at the main rescue property, and also opened a new outdoor seating area facing the street – a perfect little place to watch the world go by!

The menu has also been revamped, with some new drinks and Western and Thai dishes added to the already comprehensive offering. A children’s play area has also been added in the rear.

“I’m blown away by what our guys have done,” says Founder and International President Tony Kirwan. “I love the new design, it’s a lot more open, brighter and feels a lot more welcoming than before.

“The new outdoor seating at the front makes our café a lot more noticeable, it stands out a lot more, which is great. I’m confident these changes, plus an exciting new menu, will bring in a lot more clientele, which means we can employ more of our girls and give them work experience for exciting careers.”

The café originally opened in November 2012, and has seen dozens of rescued children train and work in the cafe before moving on to further employment.

All proceeds from the café go to supporting Destiny Rescue. If you’re in Chiang Rai, come check us out! We also have a Destiny Café in Kampong Cham, Cambodia.

Check out some photos from before, during and after the renovation.