For Singaporean entrepreneur Gavin Koh, moving to Thailand was more than a change of location. It marked the beginning of a journey filled with creativity, entrepreneurship and personal discovery. With a background in communication design and a passion for food and hospitality, Gavin has spent years building, growing and selling businesses in Bangkok, learning valuable lessons about resilience, relationships and what it truly means to succeed.
Today, Gavin and his wife, Khae, are the driving forces behind Madame K Kitchen & Bar, a Bangkok restaurant that brings together bold Thai and Southeast Asian flavours, creative cocktails and a welcoming atmosphere. Beyond creating memorable dining experiences, Gavin believes that success is not simply measured by business growth or financial achievements, but by the freedom to pursue meaningful work while making time for the people who matter most.
As a Singaporean, what first brought you to Thailand, and what inspired you to build your life and business in Bangkok rather than Singapore?
I was looking for a different kind of life. Singapore will always be home, but I was drawn to Thailand by its culture, people, food and more relaxed pace of life. Thailand gave me the opportunity to explore my creativity, take risks and build something of my own. Food has always been a passion, and living here allowed me to combine it with my interests in design, hospitality and creating memorable experiences.
Over the years, Thailand became much more than a place to do business. I built a family here, experienced incredible highs and difficult lows, and learnt a great deal about myself. I have built, grown and sold businesses, suffered setbacks and started again. Through it all, I have discovered that I’m happiest when creating something new.
For me, it isn’t about choosing one country over another. It’s about finding a place where you can build a life that feels right.
You and your wife are also business partners. How do you balance your personal and professional relationships, especially when you have different opinions?
First, you need a wife who is as crazy as you are! Khae and I have worked together for years. We have different strengths, which complement each other. I focus more on the overall concept, business direction, branding and customer experience, while Khae contributes her creativity, culinary expertise and perspective.
Of course, we disagree, sometimes quite strongly! But we have learnt that disagreements don’t always require a winner. Sometimes her idea is better, sometimes mine is, and occasionally we discover an entirely different solution.
The biggest challenge is knowing when to stop being business partners and start being husband and wife. You can’t spend every waking hour discussing food costs, staffing and whether a dish needs more seasoning! Ultimately, our relationship matters more than the business. Restaurants may come and go, but the person standing beside you through everything is what truly matters.
And our number one rule is never to go to bed angry.
Madame K combines dining, creative cocktails and an immersive atmosphere. What inspired you to create an experience that goes beyond simply serving good food?
For me, a restaurant is about more than food. I want guests at Madame K to enjoy a memorable experience through its ambience, music, cocktails and cuisine. My background in communication design shapes how I approach hospitality, where every detail contributes to the overall experience.
Khae and I remain hands-on, creating a welcoming atmosphere where guests feel at home rather than in a formal fine-dining restaurant.
Our philosophy is simple: Come as strangers, leave as friends. If guests remember how we made them feel as much as what they ate, we have succeeded.
What has Thailand taught you about life, relationships and happiness that you might not have learnt had you remained in Singapore?
Thailand has taught me that happiness and success are different things. You can run a successful business yet remain unhappy, while someone with very little can be perfectly content. I have learnt to appreciate life’s simple pleasures, especially spending time with family, children and friends.
Thailand has also taught me resilience. Having built, sold and restarted businesses, I have learnt to adapt, accept setbacks and move forward.
Ultimately, you don’t need to appear successful or wealthy to live well. I’m now more focused on creating a fulfilling life than impressing others.
What qualities do you believe make a successful entrepreneur?
Resilience, adaptability, creativity and understanding people are essential. You must be willing to learn, make decisions and take responsibility when things go wrong.
Behind every successful business are sleepless nights, financial pressures and difficult decisions. Creativity attracts customers, but understanding costs, staffing and financial sustainability keeps a business running.
Knowing when to let go is equally important. Having built and sold several businesses, I believe success can mean creating something valuable and passing it on. Entrepreneurship is about learning from failure, adapting and having the courage to start again.
If you could go back five years with the knowledge you have today, what would you do differently?
I would tell myself to slow down, focus on what truly matters and stop believing I could do everything alone. When you are passionate about creating businesses, it’s easy to pursue too many opportunities simultaneously.
But not every opportunity is worth pursuing, and not every good idea needs to become a business. I would be more selective about business partners, establish better systems and build businesses that could operate effectively without my constant involvement.
Most importantly, I would protect more time for my family. Restaurants can consume your entire life if you allow them to. There’s always another problem to solve or project to pursue, but you can never recover the years you miss with your children.
Nevertheless, I wouldn’t change everything. Some of my most difficult experiences taught me lessons that success never could. My advice would be: Take risks, make mistakes and keep creating. Just remember that the ultimate goal isn’t building a bigger business, but building a better life.
What’s your vision for Singapore in the next five years?
I hope Singapore continues creating opportunities for future generations, particularly in entrepreneurship, creativity, food, hospitality and the arts. Our multicultural identity is one of our greatest strengths. I hope we preserve our traditions while encouraging innovation and experimentation.
I would also like to see greater support for small businesses and independent entrepreneurs.
Not everyone dreams of building a multinational corporation. Some simply want to operate a neighbourhood restaurant, establish a design studio or create a business that supports their families and employees. Those businesses deserve recognition too.
Having lived in Thailand for many years, I appreciate the different opportunities countries offer. I would love to see stronger connections between Singapore and Thailand, particularly in food, tourism, hospitality and the creative industries.
Perhaps one day I’ll bring something we have created in Thailand back to Singapore. After all, home is still home.
If you could have a superpower for one day, what would it be and why?
I would choose the ability to stop time. Imagine having 24 hours when the world stands still, but you can continue moving freely.
I could explore places without crowds, enjoy experiences without watching the clock and perhaps even solve every restaurant problem before anyone noticed!
But if I had to choose just one thing, I’d spend that time with my children. They are growing up whether I’m ready or not, and time is something you can never earn back, regardless of how successful your business becomes.
Connect with Gavin: MadamK and Instagram.
