Cafe Moka

The original French style patisserie to get your coffee and pastry fix, Café Moka’s new menu offers a range of lighter options for the health conscious.
Established over 20 years ago by a Frenchman who loved the Bali lifestyle but missed the home comforts of proper coffee and buttery croissants, the original Café Moka was (and still is) located on Jalan Raya Seminyak. So popular has the lure of authentic continental coffee and baked goods proven to be, that expats and tourists alike continue to flock to a number of outlets that have sprung up from Uluwatu to Ubud, where a veritable banquet awaits.
Located right on the main drag to Seminyak, the Café Moka here is a charming mix of café, patisserie and grocery shop, brimming with rustic French charm manifested in earthy tones, wicker chairs and terracotta tiles throughout. Surrounding the counter, a series of large glass display cases beckon, chock-full of dreamy cakes and cream slices, as well as croissants, Danish pastries, donuts, Sacristian and pain aux chocolat. Behind that on the counter wall, a smorgasbord of freshly baked breads are proffered, including brown, multigrain, pita and of course, baguette. Over to the other side, and a range of mouthwatering quiches, pies, confits and gratins are just begging to be wrapped up and taken home, or, if you’d prefer, pick up a few of the boutique groceries including muesli, preserves, meats, cheeses and other dairy products to whip up your own homemade meal.

Café Moka has always moved with the times, offering new innovations to bring in the new guests, while making sure to keep the old favourites to make those long time customers happy. True to that notion, new on the agenda comes a mix of healthy juices and lighter food options like salads and vegetarian dishes. Keen to check out some of the new menu additions, I stop by for a light lunch while on my usual errands round town. To cool off I dive straight into an Apple Mint juice (45k++) – not just any old juice either – the new Moka healthy beverages are cold pressed using only the freshest fruit & veg with no added sugar or additives for a guilt-free gulp of goodness. For the food, first up I choose the new Avocado & Quinoa Salad (75k++), with baby spinach, cherry tomatoes and red onion – all doused in a delish light and tangy mustard dressing. For the main I dig into the superb Vegetarian Burger (73k++) – featuring a chickpea and lentil pattie, dressed with tangy Mediterranean style sauce and accompanied by either hand cut French or American style fries. It’s as delicious as it is filling, and proves that there’s more to this joint than just coffee and cake.

If you don’t feel like venturing out then take advantage of the free local delivery service available, but it would be a shame to miss the great coffee, free wifi, comfy furnishings, and European ambience that comes with a visit to this Bali classic.
Bon apetit!
Dan Ashcroft
Café Moka
Jl. Raya Basangkasa, Seminyak
+62 361 731 424 | www.cafemokabali.com