How to Kill Time Before Malibu Nights

Boyfriend and I did some caffeine hunting last night. There were six hours to kill, before LANY’s Malibu Nights World Tour concert begun, and we decided to visit a few coffee shops, as well as some dinning places we didn’t even know existed before. Our first stop was, Woodpecker Coffee!

Woodpecker Coffee

Jl. Panglima Polim V, No. 23

Dharmawangsa, Jakarta

MON - SUN: 7 AM - 9 PM

+62 21 2930 5356

Located on the side of Panglima Polim street, Woodpecker Coffee was a bit challenging for us to find because there were no signs that indicate the whereabouts of the coffee shop - even if there was, Davie and I clearly didn’t notice it. We walked for a bit, making assumptions on where the building is while crosschecking our Google Maps, until we noticed one that had a bird neon-sign on one of its’ wall. It took us a while to finally noticed that the bird was actually a woodpecker bird.

We entered the coffee shop and was immediately welcomed with a splash of white, embellished with milk chocolate here and there. A few greens were found on some of the corners, giving us that fresh feeling of pure aesthetic. I noticed some seats that were decorated with sunlights and, with that, I quietly affirm that Woodpecker Coffee is the most beautiful cafe I have ever visited, yet. 

Boyfriend and I had a couple of waffles, as well as a cup of coffee each. It was a Wednesday and, to my surprise, on every Wednesdays, Woodpecker Coffee has this marvelous waffle promo where you only have to pay one for two. I was immediately sold! I had me the Banana Nutella Waffle with maple waffle as its’ base, while Davie had himself the freebie, which is an Oreo-based waffle with Vanilla ice cream on top. 

Both waffles were very delicious! The Nutella used on top of my waffle was rather generous, as well as the banana slices. The batter was grilled nicely on the waffle pan, creating that golden brown color and crispy edges. Don’t let the presentation of the waffle fools you, though. It may look like a lot of work to finish the dessert , but, turned out, the waffle was very thin and it filled my stomach just fine. 

As for the coffee, like always, I had me a cup of Flat White, while Davie had himself a glass of Iced Moccachino. The Flat White, in my opinion, had a relatively strong acid flavor, which was okay for me, although I prefer my coffee to be bitter. Davie, on the other hand, was fond of it. 

We spent a good hour at Woodpecker Coffee before we moved on to another place, that was just across the street from where we were. It was time for a proper meal. 

Burgushi

Jl. Panglima Polim V, No. 38D

Dharmawangsa, Jakarta

MON - SUN: 10 AM - 10 PM

+62 822 5838 8380

The name of the dinning place vividly explains what kind of food that they serve here. If you’re thinking of a fusion between a burger and a sushi, you are correct! 

Davie and I shared a portion of its’ new main course that was just launched about a week ago, the Beef Monster. It consisted of two beef patties - stacked between a couple slices of cheese, topped with beef bacon strips and a sunny side up, and drizzled with  Takoyaki sauce - sandwiched between two pieces of deep-fried sticky sushi rice that were coated with breadcrumbs, then covered with a big sheet of nori. To my disappointment, our Beef Monster Burgushi didn’t look like what it was presented in the advertisement. 

I gotta say, I do love the deep-fried sushi rice with the Takoyaki sauce. It reminded me well of how the rice at Sushi Tei tasted like, and it’s good! On the contrary, the whole burger-filling pieces didn’t go well with the rice. I will say that having the Tuna Salad Salmon Mentai Burgushi will make a lot more sense compared to the Beef Monster Burgushi, as the rice is definitely suitable to be consumed by pairing it with food items that you can find at a sushi restaurant. 

I’m not a fan of the beef patties because of how small they were, but they sure tasted fine although I’ve tasted better grilled meat before. It was a shame that the sunny-side-up didn’t have a runny yolk. If it did, it may elevate the dish to some point. On the one hand, there were only bits of bacon instead of an actual bacon strips, which was a downer for me. 

Overall, the Beef Monster Burgushi was somewhat okay, but I don’t think I will be coming back for more. 

Harapan Djaya Coffee Roasters

Jl. Panglima Polim V, No. 36

Dharmawangsa, Jakarta

 MON - SUN: 7 AM - 10 PM

+62 815 1900 8141

After our early dinner, Davie and I visited another cafe adjacent to where Burgushi was to have our final leisure before the concert started. Harapan Djaya Coffee Roasters was where we headed for another cup of coffee. 

Davie, being the curious coffee enthusiast that he is, ordered himself a glass of funky signature drink that goes by the name Kopinas - a cold drink consisted of Americano and a slab of pineapple jam. Me, on the other hand, knew that I had to have an energy booster, so I had a simple glass of hot Ginger Tea with no sugar. 

Kopinas was a really mind-boggling drink. At first sip, I could taste the sourness and bitterness of a coffee, but then the pineapple jam hit me right in the tastebud and it instantly took me to a memory of pineapple tart (Kue Nastar, to be exact) that I used to eat during Eid al-Fitr. I’m not a fan, but Davie seemed to have a soft spot for this drink. However, I really enjoyed my Ginger Tea as it was hot and spicy and gave that extra spark to my body. The drink itself had a hint of sweetness here and there, despite the fact that I didn’t add any sugar into it. 

We spent another good hour at the historic coffee roaster, enjoyed a game of Truth and Truth, then we ordered an online transport that eventually took us to the venue where we sang along to Paul’s rendition of Malibu Nights. 

But, what’s a concert without a post-concert meal, right?

McDonald’s (Grand Kota Bintang)

Grand Kota Bintang

Jl. K. H. Noer Ali, Jakasampurna

Bekasi Barat 17145

24 hours

+62 14045

A set of Happy Meal and a cup of hot tea was all I needed. Davie, who is usually a rice person, decided to have himself a nice set of Big Mac. We also shared some French Fries, with lots and lots of ketchup on the side. 

McDonald’s always hit me in the spot. 

Dinner Date with Angel

Earlier this night, I had an impromptu dinner date with one of my best buddy, Angel. It has been a while since the last time we catch up with each other and, luckily, both of us were free, so decided to meet up at Fedwell. 

Fedwell here is a great dinning place for those of you who fancy healthy food. They serve a variety of salad and protein bowl, with gluten-free options, as well as vegan options. But, worry not, you carnivores can still enjoy a bowl, or two, at Fedwell because they also serve meat. 

I was feeling a bit famished, so I opted for a larger portion of the DIY Bowl, which consists of a base, two proteins, three toppings, a dressing of my choice, and some crunch to top it all of with. Angel and I did our listing of ingredients right in front off the display window. We had our DIY sheets, and a pencil each on our hands, and started ticking the empty circle of which food we wanted to have. It took us quite a while. The fact that we put our head in the game reminded me of when we were taking our National Exam back in High School. 

I forgot what Angel had for her DIY Bowl, but I sure remembered mine. I got me a tabbouleh base, with herb chicken and pan-seared dory for the proteins, along with a handful of edamame, kale slaw, and some broccoli snap. As for the dressing, I stayed in my comfort zone by choosing the balsamic black pepper dressing, as well as having some fried shallots for that extra crunch in between my bites. 

Despite the messy appearance, both of our DIY Bowl was bomb! It took some extra time for me to finish my meal as Angel had herself the regular portion. The tabbouleh was very fulfilling, while the greens gave that fresh and juicy aftertaste. My favorite choice of protein is always the herb chicken because the meat is tender, yet well-cooked, and the subtle flavor of the herbs was not too overpowering. 

After dinner, we decided to grab some coffee from a cafe just across the street. It’s a newcomer in Senopati that goes by the name Southwest. The owner of this cafe is a former colleague of my Dad. I met him once during the soft opening of Southwest earlier this year. A funny guy, and friendly too!

I wasn’t sure on what I wanted to have, so my first choice was to have another cup of Flat White (I had it earlier before I went to Fedwell, while I was waiting for Angel’s arrival). But, Angel managed to persuade me into trying other drinks that I’ve never tried before, so I switched my order to the Dose Latte. She got herself a cold Karma Coffee. 

Dose Latte consisted of frozen Americano cubes drizzled in palm sugar, served with a bottle of warm frothed milk on the side. The combination of those three ingredients would result in an ice cold sweet latte that is very refreshing and not sickeningly sweet. It’s a very common beverage among the locals nowadays - combining coffee, milk, and palm sugar - because the flavor that those three creates is just simply delicious and very delectable to everybody. 

Karma Coffe, on the other hand, shared a very similar taste to a Flat White, but this one was served with ice cubes, caramel sauce, and a burnt marshmallow on the top. The presentation is very adorable and aesthetically pleasing, if I may say, and the flavor, as well as the texture, of the beverage is enjoyable. It was too creamy and too sweet for my taste, but can definitely be the perfect companion during a scorching afternoon. 

Speaking about Flat White. Southwest's Flat White is one of the best Flat White I have ever tasted, no bullshit! The milk and coffee ratio was just on point. Though the milk was too frothy and too creamy for the beverage to be considered as Flat White, I didn't really mind with the whole texture of the drink. I love how smooth the flavor transition between the milk and the coffee was. Both sourness and bitterness of the coffee was THAT subtle to the point that, maybe, I have found my favorite Flat White! 

We spent hours exchanging stories about our love lives and our lives in general. Pictures were taken, videos were recorded, laughters were traded - it was really fun while it lasted! 

Fedwell

Jl. Senopati, No. 82

Senopati, Jakarta Selatan - 12110

Opening Hours:

MON - SUN: 10 AM - 9 PM

Contact:

+62 822 1110 0059

Instagram

Southwest

Jl. Senopati, No. 69

Senopati, Jakarta Selatan - 12110 

Opening Hours: 

SUN - THU: 9 AM - 1 AM

FRI - SAT: 9 AM - 3 AM

Contact:

+62 21 521 3039

Instagram

Post Medical Check Up

I went back to Giyanti Coffee Roastery, but this time with different folks. It was a weekday and I just finished my bi-annual medical check up at the DGCA Medical. Me and a bunch of ex classmates got a few hours to kill before we took our results, so I proposed the idea of grabbing a few cups of coffee and some baked goods. Despite the fact that it was a working hour, the coffee place was rather packed. 

Of course I had to have my regular dose of Flat White. I didn’t ate anything since the night before my medical check up, so I was pretty cautious about my caffeine intake. I took the liberty to support my stomach by ordering a piece of Chocolate Cheese Brownies, which looked deliciously appealing on the display window. Torang, Goller, and Fafa also had their shares of coffee, as well as something to munch on even though they had their portion of proper meal earlier at the canteen. I’m rather unfamiliar with the sight of guys having dessert, but the three of them sure did ordered a series of sweet baked goods. 

My Chocolate Cheese Brownies was served warm. The size was not too intimidating for me to finish by myself and I felt like having a cheat day that day. It didn’t have that fudge-like brownie texture that I was hoping it would have, but it sure was moist and slightly buttery. The chocolate was too sweet to be combined with the cheese batter, making the whole thing a bit difficult to enjoy as it was making me slightly nauseous. The ratio of the cheese batter and the chocolate batter was also uneven, so the savoriness of the cheese batter did a lousy job in neutralizing the flavor.  If only they used a more bitter chocolate, then the whole brownie piece would be on point. It’s a good thing I had my medium-roasted Flat White with me. 

I didn’t had any bites of my friends’ food, but they sure did look good. Torang and Goller enjoyed their Ovomaltine Croissant very much as it took only mere seconds for them to devour the whole thing. Fafa, on the other hand, took a while to finish his Vegan Chocolate Brownie. Maybe he was just not into vegan food that much? 

Giyanti Coffee Roastery

Jl. Surabaya, No. 20

Cikini, Jakarta 

Opening Hours:

TUE - SAT: 9 AM - 6 PM

Contact:

+62 21 3192 3698

Instagram

Coffee and Lamington

Back in April, me and boyfriend visited this coffee place in Cikini, named Giyanti Coffee Roastery. It was a Tuesday morning, the traffic in Jakarta was at its’ peak hour, but we managed to get to the roastery in one piece. Lady luck was on our side when we arrived at Giyanti as we were welcomed with numerous options of seats and tables. We settled with at the outdoor area because what’s coffee without the companion of cigarettes, right?

Before getting to Giyanti, I took the liberty to scan the menu that they posted on Zomato. Out of all the cakes and pastries that they serve, Lamington Cake was the one that caught my attention - shaped in a rectangular prism, chocolate in color, and covered with coconut shreds on its’ entire surface. The drinks that they have at Giyanti were all coffee based. Without having to look through the beverage menu, I knew what I wanted to order already. 

“One Lamington Cake and a cup of Flat White, please,” I said to one of the waitress who was taking our orders. “Light, medium, or strong?” she asked. I went for the light roast because I tend to get this really bad acid reflux in the morning. On the other hand, Davie ordered himself a cup of Magic, which was basically a Cappuccino. In less than ten minutes, our breakfast was served. 

I did a cross section on the Lamington Cake and I was in awe when I saw, what in fact was, a three-layered sponge cake hidden within. The sponge cake was golden yellow in color, stacked beautifully with layers of chocolate cream in between each cake. The presentation was very simple, yet very eye catching and aesthetically pleasing. Me and Davie took turns to get a taste of the cake. It took us a while to savor the flavor of the Lamington Cake as it had a range of flavor that varies within every bites. At first I tasted peanuts, then I tasted coffee. Davie had an idea that it was mocha, which made me rethink of my opinion about it having a peanut flavor. We both agreed that the cake had a rather dominant chocolate aftertaste, as well as some kick of coconut here and there. The texture of the cake itself was very fluffy and spongy, so I had to assume that it was, in fact, a sponge cake. The sweetness was on point, as it didn’t overpower the whole flavor wheel. We took sips on our coffee in between each bite to neutralize the sweetness, which turned out to be a great combination of food and beverage pairings. 

My Flat White was just delightful, not too strong, very frothy and milky, and had a hint of sweet aftertaste despite the fact that I didn’t put any sugar in it. Davie’s cup of coffee was too strong for me, yet also enjoyable in terms of its’ tasting note. 

We spent a good couple of hours at Giyanti Coffee Roastery before we continued our journey to Lawless Burger Bar. But, that’s another story to tell! 

Giyanti Coffee Roastery

Jl. Surabaya, No. 20

Cikini, Jakarta 

Opening Hours:

TUE - SAT: 9 AM - 6 PM

Contact:

+62 21 3192 3698

Instagram

"What if (we have a coffee shop)?"

Another day, another petite coffee shop. This time, I visited Jikaa, a coffee shop located on the side of Pantai Berawa Street. Do keep in mind that this particular coffee shop is very petite, so be extra careful not to missed it, because I did earlier today. 

Jikaa has two dinning areas, the indoor and the outdoor. I usually go for the outdoor, but since the hangout spot is located exactly adjacent to the busy street of Seminyak, this morning I decide to have my quality time indoor. And, since the place is very compact, it only took me a few steps to go outside to bum a smoke. 

This place has a very cozy and chill vibe going on. Most of the music they played in here are quite jazzy and sometimes blues, which is nice if you’re in the mood of having a very laidback morning. 

No filter. Just sun rays!

As always, the first thing I ordered was a cup of Flat White. I didn’t pay enough attention to the menu as it says that the Flat White comes in two sizes. I accidentally didn’t order the big cup, resulting, in the beginning, in a lack of caffeine. But, as time goes by, I came to a realization that the small cup was enough to fuel my energy, as well as keeping my tummy intact since it was still empty. The Flat White was just a wee bit watery, but the creamy milk combined with the coffee, that was dominated by bitterness just how I like it, tasted fine. 

I continued my morning writing on my laptop whilst indulging in one of its’ famous smoothie bowl, the Chia This Way. It was pink in color, consisted of a dragon fruit and banana base, then topped with Jikaa’s homemade chia seed pudding (that tasted superb, oh my Lord!), sliced pineapples, watermelon, and a handful of chocolate peanut butter granola. Some smoothie bowls can have a very overwhelming flavor wheel, but not this one. The Chia This Way was very enjoyable and plain delectable. The tropical fruits used as the toppings in this smoothie bowl gave a nice flavor change. I mean, strawberries are soo last year. It’s time to give watermelon a chance!

I went for a potty break a few times since I drink a lot here. After the coffee, came the Hot Honey Ginger Tea. The hot and spicy beverage managed to soothe the pain that was going on in my tummy well. “Fresh ginger tea with honey, just to keep you warm,” as the slogan said. And it did!

My afternoon that was accompanied by the Hot Honey Ginger Tea and SBA Sandwich

Noon came and I was famished. I really wasn’t in the mood to have carbs, but they don’t have anything on the menu that doesn’t come with carbs, and I was too lazy to ask for a substitute for the bread. So, I settled with its’ Sunny Bacon Avocado Sandwich, with only one toast on the bottom, added with an extra scrambled egg. Protein protein protein!

I think I’m starting to become fond of sourdough. I mean, they all tasted great! Very thick and crunchy crust, then the middle part was chewy, yet not soft. This one was topped with a dollop of smashed avocado, then garnished with two layers of eggs, a sunny-side-up and a scrambled, and a rather thick and crispy bacon. Oh, Lord. The flavor combination of these ingredients were just majestic. Nothing can go wrong!

Get yourself some extras like I did. Go for the bacon and eggs!

I have spent six hours at this place and, so far, I am very much comfortable here. There were not a lot of people here, which is good for me because I need my peace and quiet, and the staff are very friendly. Plus points for treating the locals as polite and as friendly as the foreigners!

If only this place was just a meter away from where I lived, I would definitely come here everyday. 

Jikaa Cofee

Jalan Pantai Berawa, No. 1A

Tibubeneng, Kecamatan Kuta Utara

Kabupaten Badung, Bali - 80361

Contact:

+61 812 1860 0978

Opening Hours: 

MON - SUN: 7.30 Am - 5.30 PM

Instagram

Doppio is Dope, yo!

I keep coming back to Doppio Cafe for a good peaceful me time. Although the music they play is far from being quiet, depends on the mood but they tend to play classic oldies a lot, but the atmosphere here at this petite cafe is very enjoyable. Located at this particularly small alley at Jalan Kartika, Kuta, Doppio Cafe is the place to go for you early-birds who enjoy a good cup of Flat White and a hearty plate of Italian Classic Chicken Sandwich for breakfast. 

I’m a big fan of its’s Flat White. It came in two sizes, small and large, and I usually go for the small because it fulfills my daily need of caffeine just fine. The milk and coffee ratio is just on point and the flavor maintains from time to time; medium body, dominated with bitterness, with just a hint of acidity just like how I love my coffee to be. 

I can’t eat much during mornings because I can easily feel bloated from all the food intake, so my go to is usually the Smoothie Bowl. Once, I had me the Morning Delight, and on another day I tried to get a spoonful of the Organic Detox. Both are equally delightful and very refreshing. The texture of the smoothie bowl is not the least bit runny, yet not that solid either. Topped with colorful toppings, like pumpkin seeds, sliced bananas, sliced strawberries, shredded coconut, and granola, this baby will definitely fill your stomach as quick as a snap of finger. 

When you feel like having something a bit heavy for lunch, you can always go for the sandwiches and wraps. They also have burgers for all of you burger lovers out there. 

One afternoon, after spending more than four hours at the cafe working on my writings, I got hungry and decided to order myself a nice meal. I went for the Italian Classic Chicken Wrap. Unfortunately, there was a misunderstanding and what served was a sandwich instead of a wrap. I was disappointed, really, but the waitress quickly composed the whole situation properly and offer me a swap. Of course I declined because, if I comply with her offer, the sandwich would probably be thrown away and I was not in the mood to be a bitch. So, I settled with the sandwich. 

To my surprise, the sandwich was very delicious! They used toasted sour dough to sandwiched my tier of chicken breast, cheese, lettuce, and tomato, and it was a nice change of air. I do enjoy a good sourdough, with all its’ chewy and crunchy texture, and the combination of all the ingredient used to make my dish worked well with each other. 

I didn’t take any pictures of my sandwich because, at that time, I was too disappointed to even approve the whole dish. Eventually, I ate all of it and made peace as it tasted so damn good!

Most of the people who visit Doppio Cafe are foreigners. On one particular day, I was the only local who dine in at the cafe. I was expecting a bad service, since most of the cafes here in Bali serve international tourists way friendlier than local tourists, but I was stand corrected. The waiters and waitress here at Doppio Cafe are friendly to all of their customers. Even the owner, who is not a local, sometimes lend a hand to handle the customers. 

The price range of the food and beverages is somewhat budget-friendly. You can get a nice cup of coffee for less than Rp30.000,00 depends on the type of coffee you order and the food here tasted as good as the price itself. Totally recommended for a good productive time!

Doppio Cafe Bali

Jalan Kartika, No. 18

Across Get Inked at Bali Ink

Kuta, Kabupaten Badung

Bali 80361

Opening Hours:

MON - SUN: 8AM - 6PM

Contact:

+61 400 262 462

Instagram

Website

Something Before the Drink

I continued to roam the alley of Poppies for a nice and aesthetic coffee place until I stumbled upon this hidden cafe named Crumb & Caster. Located on the side of a narrow street in Poppies alley, I didn’t have to think twice to park my tired ass on one of the outdoor seating as the scorching sun was tiring me to the bones. I was sweating like a goat during a Qurbani! The heat was excruciating, but that didn’t stop me from getting a nice cup of Flat White. 

I flopped at a table for two outside, accompanied with my laptop, a pack of Marlboro Ice Burst, and my Flat White that took around ten minutes to be served. The coffee was nice and creamy, just the right amount of milk and espresso to not make my fingers tremble as the result of caffeine overload. It was hot, but still enjoyable. And you know what can make my afternoon coffee more delightful? Is to have you sitting across me. 

Right across Crumb & Coasted is this aesthetic dining place named Paperboy. “Smoothie, but first, coffee,” was what written on the sign parked near the entrance. The outdoor seating of Paperboy was painted in pastel and tropical colors, just like paradise. The moment I finished my coffee, I grabbed all of my stuff and moved myself across the street. 

I hadn’t have lunch, so I decided to go for something that would be rather fulfilling, the Tuna Hawaiian Poke Bowl and a big glass of Bay Breeze that consists of blended cucumber, kale, apple, orange, and mint. 

My Tuna Hawaiian Poke Bowl was okay to say the least. The tuna was marinated with a generous amount of sauce that tasted sweet, yet savory. The drizzle of sesame seed on top brought out this smoky flavor onto the dish, while the other veggies were very plump and juicy. I enjoyed my lunch while reading an article about the amazing Ramengvrl on this very aesthetic magazine that was provided by the dinning place. Its’ name escapes me. I ended up spending hours at this place, despite the lousy service from the waiters towards locals, before I finally headed to the beach and got dead drunk. 

Paperboy

Jalan Benesari, No. 2

Kuta, Bali

Opening Hours:

MON - SUN: 7AM - 11PM

Instagram

Crumb & Coaster

Jalan Benesari No. 2E

Opening Hours:

MON - SUN: 10AM - 10PM

Contact:

+62 819 9959 6319

Instagram

Pagi.

Pagi harinya Surabaya itu memang nikmat, ketika angin masih bertiup sepoi dan teriknya mentari belum tumpah memenuhi padatnya jalan raya akan kendaraan yang bersaing untuk sampai ke tujuan masing-masing lebih dulu. Setelah dua pekan aku habiskan dengan seragam, tanpa ada waktu rehat yang cukup untuk memanjakan diri dengan secangkir kopi, beberapa batang rokok, dan tempat yang nyaman dengan santapan cantik, akhirnya aku di sini. Di Volks Coffee. 

Flat White sudah menjadi minuman andalanku sejak dua hari yang lalu, ketika ia memperkenalkanku dengan secangkir kopi dan susu yang tidak kalah menarik dengan cappuccino bergambar angsa, atau teh hangat beraroma buah-buahan. Perbandingan susu yang lebih banyak daripada ekstrak kopi ini memang cocok untuk aku yang gampang bereaksi ketika bersentuhan dengan kafein. Selamat tinggal, tremor. Selamat tinggal, irama jantung yang pecah bagaikan kembang api di malam Tahun Baru. 

Aku tidak tahu, apakah rasa yang menjadi tujuan utamaku, atau penampilan. Tapi, yang pasti aku senang. Potongan-potongan buah bertaburan di atas perpaduan buah-buahan tropis yang sudah dilumatkan menjadi makanan pembuka yang sangat cantik pagi ini. Menjelang siang. Tapi, tidak apa. 

Volks Coffee

Jalan Tamrin No. 34

DR. Soetomo, Tegalsari 

Kota Surabaya, Jawa Timur 60264

Opening Hours: 

MON - SUN: 8.30 AM - 8PM

Contact: 

+62 813 5765 8829