Hanging out in the coffee shop during a pandemic isn’t a good idea, but you are still free to virtually explore and pick your go-to spots once it's safer to be in public spaces. From Jakarta's country look cafe to industrial style ones in Bali, here’s a series of the coffee shops you must visit in Indonesia.
Jakarta Coffee House
Address: Jalan Cipete Raya No.2, RT.8/RW.4, Cipete Selatan, Kec. Cilandak, Kota Jakarta Selatan, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta 12410
The uniqueness of Jakarta Coffee House is instantly visible from the barn-like exterior. The spot's farmhouse style with a generous use of wood and exposed brick gives a homey atmosphere. It turns out that the design aims to attract coffee lovers through a compelling storytelling of the journey of coffee, from beans to brewed coffee, making the earthy, country look much more meaningful.
1/15 Coffee
Address: Jalan Gandaria 1 No.63, RT.2/RW.3, Kramat Pela, Kec. Kebayoran Baru, Kota Jakarta Selatan, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta 12130
As you may have picked up from its name, 1/15 Coffee is an ideal place that combines art and science exquisitely. The name derives from the well-known coffee-to-water ratio that would yield an ideal brew. Once you encounter this artisanal coffee house in South Jakarta, you'll immediately notice the spacious and clean layout that almost spells Scandinavian minimalist. The black and natural brown wooden interior items are a welcome touch in the hustle and bustle of the urban jungle.
Lighthouse Coffee Brewery
Address: Jalan Rajawali Barat No.194, Maleber, Kec. Andir, Kota Bandung, Jawa Barat 40184
Good coffee should always come first in every coffee shop. In addition to serving great coffee, Lighthouse Coffee Brewery designs its intimate spot to be homey and comfortable, thanks to the personal touch of the founder, Handi Santoso Maharjana. His collection of Lego superheroes—Star Wars, Gundam, and Wall-E figures—”gives the place a lively feeling", he tells Indonesia Design. Whether you choose to indulge in the indoor area and timber furniture or to sip a cup of coffee on the porch, it definitely offers a moment of pause to the city of Bandung.
Seniman Coffee Studio
Address: Jalan Sri Wedari No.5, Banjar Taman Kelod, Kecamatan Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali
Heading to the heart of Ubud in Bali, here’s a lively space, Seniman Coffee Studio. Situated in the epicentre of culture and arts in the island, the colourful coffee shop brings a sense of the local environment inside with a creative recycle and upcycle concept. While sipping on your locally sourced coffee, you'll delight in sitting on traditional plastic seats repurposed as rocking chairs. The tables are made of old window panes. No wonder, a lot of tourists and locals alike could spend their leisure time in this cosy, artistic place.
Moose Espresso Bar
Address: Jalan Sekar Sari No.100, Kesiman Kertalangu, Kec. Denpasar Timur, Kota Denpasar, Bali 80237
Moose Espresso Bar stands out among the rustic, industrial style of coffee shops in Canggu, Bali. Old drums are repainted into bar stools, matched flawlessly with a predominantly matte black interior and exposed bulbs. The most noticeable element of the interior is a wall mural of its animal namesake, set against an exposed concrete wall. Plenty of hanging philodendrons brings a tropical design flair and colour inside.
Revolver Espresso
Address: Jalan Kayu Aya No.Gang 51, Seminyak, Kuta, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361
The lively design of this coffee shop in Bali is to die for. After enjoying the bumping Seminyak beach, don’t forget to step into this small Instagrammable paradise. A wooden door with a mural of a revolver swings open to reveal a refreshingly florally space filled with the aroma of coffee. Inside is a two-storey coffee shop that immerses you in a world of all things vintage: vintage posters, old newspapers, and long, timber table with money from various countries from the international tourists.
Shelter Cafe
Address: Jalan Drupadi 1 No.2b, Seminyak, Kuta, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361
Not too far from Revolver, Shelter Cafe is another hidden gem in Seminyak. Whether you are a 9-to-5 worker looking to stay while, or a travelling nomad looking for a quick stop, this spot is a great choice to enjoy a cup of joe or two. This plant-filled coffee shop spells natural vibes with its bamboo-dominant structure, especially when you stay on the rooftop and feel the breeze. It's as if you’re in the midst of garden. Overseeing a lush green football field, the open-space coffee shop design allows plenty of natural light to penetrate inside.
Triplo Coffee
Address: Jalan Raya Kedampang, Kerobokan Kelod, Kec. Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361
When in Bali, we see a lot of locally inspired designs, but not a lot of Javanese Joglo structures. This is one of the reasons why Triplo Coffee in North Kuta compels you to step into its cute little spot. With a Colonial-inspired design, this trendy hangout place charms with furniture pieces that are somewhat reminiscent of local elementary schools in Indonesia, neatly arranged on polished ceramic tiles.
Anomali
Address: Jalan Dewi Sri, Legian, Kuta, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361
With a wide variety of local coffee choices, Anomali is a preferred spot for a memorable moment in Bali. “The product is the main attraction, not the window dressing” is what the coffee shop design wants to express. And that’s what makes this communal space special. From graffiti art on the walls to recycled seatings and table, Anomali loudly makes whatever available item into everything you need to create a comfy coffee shop.
Part of this article was originally published in the Indonesia Design edition titled "Restaurants and Lounges" Vol. 9 No. 53, "Made in Bali" Vol. 11 No. 63, and "Bandung" Vol. XIV No. 81.