'Outdoor cafe' offers more than food and beverages

By T. Sima Gunawan

JAKARTA (JP): You can eat, drink, write a letter or read a book in any cafe. But how about having your hair cut, renting a laser disc, buying a cactus or checking your e-mail? The idea may sound strange, but it is a reality.

From the outside, it looks like any other cafe, but a keen observer might notice that even the name sounds unusual. Located on Jl. Kemang Raya, South Jakarta, Galeri TC, can be interpreted as either the Twilight or Twilite Cafe Gallery.

As soon as you step through the door, you'll find something interesting. A tiny gift shop selling handicrafts and souvenirs is on the right hand side with two or three rows of cute potted plants, including several cactus, next to it. The stairs to the second floor, are on the left, but there's no need to hurry upstairs. There are many things to do on the first floor; a bookstore, a barbershop, a boutique, a laser disc rental store, and a cybercorner all vie for customers' attention.

Sisi S. Sutrisno, the cafe's designer, said that the concept applied is that of a sidewalk cafe. Accordingly, the floor is not covered by marble tiles but by rough cement. Tables are put on the "pavement," while the stores are located all around.

"It looks like an outdoor cafe, doesn't it? But in Indonesia, you can't really have an outdoor cafe because of the hot weather and the pollution. So, we try to create an outdoor cafe indoors," Sisi said.

The cafe has a strong French atmosphere. There is a metal structure resembling the Eifel Tower above the bar and several French posters hang on the walls. An art deco style and 1930s architecture dominate the interior.

The book store, Ku/bu/ku, is small but it has a great collection of art and design books. There are also birthday cards, children's books and manuals for aspiring Van Goughs, including Introduction to Life Drawing and Basic Skills: Flowers.

There are three terminals in the Cybercorner, which is managed in cooperation with Indo Internet, a local Internet provider. Those who want to surf the World Wide Web are charged Rp 7,500 for 30 minutes. But Indo Internet subscribers get a discount rate of Rp 5,000/30 minutes. In addition, subscribers get a 15 percent discount on food and drinks.

"I come here three or four times a week to check my e-mail," Simon Jacklin, a British cost engineer, said.

He enjoys using the Internet cybercorner because of the pleasant atmosphere. What's more, he added, "if you have any problems with the computer here, you can ask somebody to help you."

Simon is also a customer of the book store and the barbershop. In the past five months, he has had his hair cut there three times. It cost a snip at Rp 10,000 a go.

"In London we have bookstores in cafes, but I don't think we have a cafe with a barbershop," he said.

The cybercorner is decorated with a number of photographs, which were on display at the Ancol Dreamland Art Market Gallery, North Jakarta, late last year. The photographs were taken by sex workers at the Kramat Tunggak red light district, North Jakarta, as part of an anti-AIDS campaign. The photos are sold for Rp 125,000 each.

Indeed the cafe also functions as an art gallery with most of the pictures on view being for sale.

Rani D. Sutrisno, who owns the gift shop, said that the cafe does not merely focus on making a profit. It also aims at promoting the art.

"We have a mission to develop the talent of young artists," she said.

Located on a 600-square-meter plot of land, the cafe receives an average of 200 guests -- both local and expatriates -- daily. At weekends, the number increases to between 500 and 600 people, according to Arie Rama, the restaurant manager.

At night, a variety of musicians entertain the guests.

The cafe serves Indonesian and Western food. Among the local dishes are Nasi Campur Bali (Balinese-style rice with vegetables and meat) which costs Rp 11,500 and an Indonesian set menu for Rp 20,000. The tenderloin steak costs Rp 28,500, and the Mongolian Ribs Rp 15,000. A plate of chicken wings is Rp 8,500.

Rani's brother, Tara Sutrisno, one of the owners, said Galeri TC opened in October 1995 with a Rp 2 billion investment. The business is good and he is planning to open another cafe in Jakarta along the same lines.