“Wine, Wellness, and No Compromises Inside Samantha Häberli’s Earth House”

At Earth House, food is more than fuel — it’s a language of care, connection, and quiet transformation. Founded by Samantha Häberli, this plant-based space in Bangkok reimagines nourishment as a return to what’s real: whole ingredients, seasonal rhythms, and the joy of eating with intention. Through thoughtful plates, natural wines, and deep ties to local farming communities, Earth House invites us to slow down, listen, and remember how to live in harmony — with nature, with each other, and with ourselves.

You’ve built a space where plant-based dining isn’t a label, but a language. What truths do you hope Earth House helps people unlearn or rediscover about nourishment?

That’s such an interesting question, and it really got me thinking. What I hope Earth House helps people unlearn is the common misbelief that plant-based food has to come with a wellness label. In reality it doesn’t have to be about counting macros or worrying about the nutritional benefits of what you’re eating.

Of course it’s great to be mindful of nutrition in our daily lives, whether plant-based or not. But when you go out for a special meal with friends or loved ones, most people aren’t thinking about vitamin content - they’re thinking about delicious food, good conversation, great wine, and the joy of the moment. That’s what we want Earth House to be: a place where plant-based dining feels completely natural. Not different. Not “less than.” Just beautiful food that happens to be made entirely from plants. Yes, it’s nourishing - for the body and the soul - but more than anything, it’s about the pleasure of sharing a meal. I hope Earth House helps people rediscover that plant-based food can be joyful, delicious, and indulgent - and most importantly, that it doesn’t need to be overthought. Just come, eat, drink, and enjoy like you would anywhere else.

To eat in harmony with nature is a beautiful idea—but in a world of disconnection, what does that harmony look like in practice?

We are definitely living in a world of disconnection, and I think that’s part of why mass-produced animal products are still so prevalent. It’s all so neatly packaged that we don’t have to think about the processes behind it. If people had to witness every step - from the environmental impact to the treatment of animals - I think many would make very different choices.

Eating in harmony with nature doesn’t have to be overwhelming. It can start with small shifts: choosing locally grown produce, supporting small farms, avoiding single-use plastics, and leaving animal products off your plate more often. Those small decisions ripple out into something much bigger. And that’s how harmony starts - with awareness and care, one choice at a time.

Plant-based food is often framed around sacrifice. But your dishes celebrate joy, flavor, and indulgence. Do you reclaim pleasure as a form of healing?

Absolutely, and I love how you’ve phrased that. The idea that plant-based living equals sacrifice is one of the biggest misconceptions we’re trying to challenge. To me, it’s the opposite. Choosing a plant-based lifestyle is an act of love and kindness - for yourself, for the planet, for the animals - and that love and kindness deserves to be celebrated through food that’s fun, flavorful, and deeply satisfying.

There’s no sense of missing out here. We have created a beautiful atmosphere, we have dishes that are rich, playful and delicious. Mushrooms that naturally mimic the texture of meat, cultured cheeses that melt and stretch, decadent cakes and creamy ice creams that no one would guess are dairy-free. And of course, we have a large selection of great wine and cocktails, too.

So really - where’s the sacrifice? At Earth House we believe in pleasure. And sometimes, pleasure is the most healing thing of all.

How do you see the act of dining as an invitation to live with more awareness, care, and presence?

At Earth House, we treat dining as a full sensory experience - from the beautiful fresh flowers on the tables and the soft candlelight, to the warm service, the music, the wine, the food. It’s all designed to encourage presence. We hope our guests feel inspired to put their phones away, be with the people they’re with, savor the moment, and just slow down for a moment.

We want people to see that a plant-based meal can be just as exciting, luxurious, and satisfying as any other dining experience - no lectures required. We don’t preach veganism. We create an experience and let people draw their own conclusions. Of course in a perfect world we would wish everyone to be plant-based, but if someone walks in out of curiosity and leaves realizing they didn’t miss the meat, then that’s already a big win. We call it quietly converting them, hahaha.

What does it mean to nourish a community with intention? If you have to choose a dish, which would best describe it?

I love this question - and rather than a dish, I’d choose our own farm-grown produce. We’ve partnered with a local children’s charity here in Bangkok on a small organic farming project. We provide them with seeds, soil, tools and equipment, they grow beautiful organic produce for us, and we buy it directly from them. The money goes toward food, medicine, and education for the children.

The kids also learn about sustainable farming, the value of plant-based eating, and they practice their English with us. We also offer opportunities for paid internships to those interested in the hospitality industry when they graduate. So in every sense of the word, it’s nourishment - for us, for them, for the Earth. It’s full circle. That’s what nourishing with intention looks like to us.

There’s a softness and quiet confidence in the way Earth House reveals itself, what inner landscape were you drawing from when creating this space?

To be honest, when I was creating Earth House, I was just creating a space that was very much a reflection of myself. I wanted to create a space that I wanted to spend time in, and hoped others would feel the same. I wanted somewhere beautiful, earthy, and full of life - a place for good food, good wine, art, music, events, and connection. The little things that make life great.

Earth House is my quiet love letter to the planet. I designed the entire space myself, but there was no master plan. It unfolded organically - guided by a feeling, inspired by the mango tree in the garden and by walking around in flea markets, picking up pieces I felt belonged in the house. She kind of grew herself, and yes, I do call her she - because Earth House really does feel alive.

That said, the journey wasn’t easy. It was (and still is) a lot of very hard work, it took a full year of renovation, and it was, without exaggeration, the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life so far. Everything that could go wrong, did. There were setbacks, heartbreaks, tears, and moments where I questioned whether I could keep going. But there was also so much love, support, and personal growth.

Looking back, I wouldn’t trade it for anything. It took me a while to feel proud of what I built, but I do now and I love this space so much. Earth House came from something very real, and that’s why I think people can feel it when they walk through the door.

Much of your food feels rooted in authenticity—whole ingredients, minimal intervention. What is the deeper message behind letting ingredients speak for themselves?

We’ve become so disconnected from nature. We live in cities lit up all night, glued to screens, eating foods with ingredients we can’t even pronounce. Convenience has taken the place of consciousness.

When plant-based eating started gaining popularity, a lot of the focus went to meat substitutes and processed alternatives, and while those definitely have their place and I undertand why people like them, I wanted to do something different. I wanted to celebrate real food. Whole ingredients. Things grown in soil and nourished by the sun.

With care, creativity, and respect, plants can be exciting, unique, and deeply satisfying. I truly believe whole foods plant-based is the best way to eat - for our bodies and for the planet. And through Earth House, I hope people rediscover that simplicity can be powerful.

Earth House feels like a philosophy in bloom. What kind of world are you quietly hoping to build through it?

Thank you, I appreciate that, it’s a very beautiful way to put it. What I’m quietly hoping to build is a world where mass farming is no longer the norm. A world where people pause before they choose what goes on their plate. A world where kindness is embedded in our everyday choices - not because we’re forced to change, but because we want to.

I’m not trying to take anything away from anyone. I just want to show that there’s another way. A way that’s joyful, beautiful, and deeply connected to the Earth. And if Earth House can be a small part of that shift, I’m grateful.