Pristine but crowded beaches, sloping rice terraces, a bustling night life and hustling taxi drivers are common encounters for Singaporeans on every Bali getaway.
But if you’re stopping by Seminyak, Kuta, you’ll definitely want to check out this particular Starbucks Reserve outlet to experience Balinese coffee culture in all its natural glory.
Spanning 20,000 sq ft and 2 floors, Starbucks Dewata is the largest coffee sanctuary in Southeast Asia — with its own glass panelled greenhouse, coffee-seedling nursery & guided tours.
If coffee isn’t your thing, the gorgeous store’s architecture is a blend of traditional Indonesian fabric motifs & clever engineering — a perfect place for those who just want a laid-back place to chill.
Let’s take a closer look at where you should make a beeline for, once you’ve decided to make a coffee pilgrimage to the eco-friendly sanctuary.
Walking through the full-length glass entrance on the first floor, you’ll be greeted by a massive peanut-shaped hanging structure — the centrepiece of the premises.
This is the Starbucks Reserve bar, where you can have your pick of exclusive grounds which are made-to-order in small batches.
A traditional Balinese pavilion is a pretty striking image, so do lookout for callbacks to the design in the woodwork.
Other visual cues would be a Geringsing: Double Ikat fabric motif — a sought-after and rare material handmade in Tengganan.
A terraced staircase with teak finishes draws inspiration from Bali’s famous rice terraces, creating an interesting bar-side experience at Starbucks’ core bar.
Upon closer inspection, you can even make out intricate tile designs showcasing Indonesia’s natural flora.
We’ve left the pièce de résistance for the last, because the 9.1 metre gold-flecked wooden mural is a striking ode to coffee farmers in Indonesia.
That’s not all. The premises contain an actual farm & nursery for guests to witness the entire growing, harvesting and roasting process.
The idea behind Starbucks Reserve Dewata was to house a farm, nursery, gallery, museum and bar all in one place. Be sure to check out their coffee tree greenhouse, and snap a few pics of the large mural beneath its tinted glass ceiling.
Now, you’re probably curious about what kind of trees are grown there.
You’ll encounter a flourishing 1,000 sq ft Arabica coffee forest, complete with hidden art structures and murals.
Alternatively, sit and watch the entire process unfold visually on interactive screens in this showcase room on the first floor — you’ll get to see how a planted seedling makes its way into your morning brew.
For those who prefer a hands-on approach, head over to the second floor nursery and indoor greenhouse next.
Signing up for a coffee tour also means you’ll get to help turn coffee seedlings into actual coffee grounds — harvesting, washing & raking green coffee beans with the help of a professional farmer.
Besides staple drinks offered on Starbucks’ regular menu, expect exotic blends like Lavender Lattes and Sumatran house brews — freshly harvested & roasted locally.
Popular choices also include a Cinnamon Affogato with Demerara syrup – a brown & sticky kind of cane sugar – generously served over vanilla ice cream.
Perhaps you’ve ruled out caffeinated drinks for whatever reason. Do consider sipping on a Cool Berry Tea instead, a refreshing mocktail mix of green tea, citrus and mint.
Savoury pastries are on the menu at the bar, in case the pesky hunger pangs strike in the middle of your coffee tour.
Grab a banana muffin or two if your appetite’s been activated by that cup of fragrant coffee you’ve ordered.
You can’t go wrong with a buttery Lemon Meringue tart or locals’ favourite Milk Pie, either.
Anything to keep your extra dessert stomach satiated, right?
Since you probably can’t afford to bring the whole kampung to this outlet, you may want to something special back for the fam.
Look out for their Kebaya and Songket-wearing Bearista plushies, complete with little yellow flowers behind their ears, a great matching gift for couples.
This flamboyant Bearista bear in traditional Balinese wear will also make an unbearably hard to miss addition to your daughter’s bed of plushies.
Black and gold understated Starbucks Reserve mugs & charm keychains are also a staple at similar branches around the world.
Instead of travelling all the way to Seattle’s OG roastery, you’ll be able to get your hands on them here too.
The easiest way to get there is to either take a short walk from the bustling bar and cafe Seminyak district in Kuta, or hail a cab ride directly from your villa or hotel.
Starbucks Dewata Coffee Sanctuary
Address: Jalan Sunset Road No. 77, Seminyak Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361
Opening Hours: Mon-Sun, 8am to 11pm
Contact No.: +62 361 9343 482
Website: Starbucks Dewata
As Starbucks continues to churn out aesthetic concept outlets around the world, we’re glad that we have one more roastery and farm to add to our bucket list.
We’d love to hear which Starbucks outlet is your favourite in the comments.
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Featured image adapted from Starbucks Dewata.
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