Under-the-radar hangout spots upon which to feast your belly and tired eyes.

More and more food enthusiasts are looking for more than just a plate of mouth-watering meals and a cool glass of refreshing beverages. Especially during Ramadan, the city's urbanites need a hangout spot to hybrid-work, socialize with friends or colleagues, break the fast and draw in some feel-good energy to get through the increasingly scorching day. Here are four cafés and eateries in the Greater Jakarta Area you could consider to satiate your palate and revitalize your jaded, tired soul.

Miss Unicorn Café

Magical buttercups: The unicorn-themed Miss Unicorn Cafe conjures innocent, childhood nostalgia. (Courtesy of Miss Unicorn Cafe) (Archive/Courtesy of Miss Unicorn Cafe)

Ever wish to renew the innocent child in you? Then Miss Unicorn Café could do just the trick. Located in the Cibubur area, East Jakarta, the café immediately drew some attention from the public and social media thanks to its lavish interior decoration, adorned with countless stuffed unicorns; paintings of unicorns plastered all over the walls; and, if the diners and their little ones are down for it, ready-to-borrow unicorn costumes as you enjoy your time at the café. A bit infantile for some people's taste? Perhaps. However, Miss Unicorn Café is also famous for hosting sweet seventeens and lighthearted social gatherings besides children's parties.

The food, of course, is anything but ordinary. It would be remiss, especially for the café’s first-timers, not to have a bite of its rainbow spaghetti carbonara which is, you guessed it! the classic Italian dish presented in a multicolor display. The café's so-called Burger Unicorn is one of Miss Unicorn Café's signature dishes, incorporating pink-hued bread into the burger's patty. Should a cup of americano feel too “adult” for the occasion, the café 's impressive menu of creatively designed milkshakes could further drive home the childhood nostalgia when life was simpler and no work deadline was waiting at the end of your day.

For a reservation at Miss Unicorn Café, you can send a WhatsApp text to +6281382234032.

Cat Café by Groovy

Missing your feline friend? Then spending your afternoon break at Cat Café by Groovy could be your heart-squeezing antidote. Located in two separate locations, Bintaro and Kemang neighborhoods, Cat Café by Groovy is ideal for all the city's hustlers and bustlers who might be in the mood for a reenergizing cup of coffee while some of the most adorable kittens in the city are purring on their lap. No need to worry, though; all the cats in the café are correctly groomed and, as long as the customers behave appropriately, are generally friendly to strangers.

There is one catch about Cat Café by Groovy: To score a seat, applying for a reservation beforehand is mandatory. Moreover, a fee by the hour per person is used so that every customer may enjoy an equal time reveling in the presence of their new feline friends. As for the menu, there is nothing better suited for the kitten-vaganza experience than a cup of equally adorable and Instagram-able 3D Cat Latte or 3D Cat Choco. Especially for the sweet tooths, the café's bubblegum sundae ice cream would be the perfect dessert to cap off a summery afternoon.

For a reservation at Cat Café by Groovy, you can send a WhatsApp text to +6285813773844 (Bintaro) or +6282299990289 (Kemang).

The Garden, Pantai Indah Kapuk

What about the city's socialites who prefer somewhere not so campy but still radiating heartwarming vibes? The Garden at Pantai Indah Kapuk could be a flowery haven to consider. The café, just like its namesake, stands out among other establishments in the area for its garden-like decor and floral arrangements all over the interior space that might remind book lovers of the 1911 seminal novel The Secret Garden by British-American novelist Frances Hodgson Burnett. The café is further decorated with the so-called The Garden Troops, crafted displays of backyard animals such as rabbits and flamingos.

The food, in particular, is a balance of taste and elegance. The café's panna cotta coconut ice is a striking plate of pink-and-white colors that incorporates coconut tuile, red rubies, sago pearls, white chocolate crumble, coco pandan granita and coconut panna cotta. Another dessert to take a bite of is the café's so-called Chocolate Speculoos Soufflé, a chocolate soufflé served with vanilla ice cream and milk crumble. Looking for a plate of heavenly bliss? The Garden's endearingly named She's Slice of Heaven with Taro Sauce and a glass of The Garden's signature cocktail Golden Days is a godsent combo.

For a reservation at The Garden Café at Pantai Indah Kapuk, you can send a WhatsApp text to +6281338833308.

Bearology Café

Feeling too old for teddy bears yet longing for their unfailing cuteness? Bearology Café is where all things fuzzy are celebrated to the fullest. Located in the North Jakarta region, it is relatively hard to resist the temptation to step into Bearology Café once the prospective diners land their gaze on the cuddly, gigantic teddy bear inside the patisserie. 

The cuddliness of teddy bears can also be found in food and beverages. The café's signature refreshments, such as Avo Good Day Juice, Dragon Bear Unicorn and Soursop Wonderland, immediately conjure all the feels thanks to their vibrant flavor and a teddy bear-shaped cookie that is placed delicately on top of the drinks. Still, any diner who wishes to have a complete Bearology Café experience (including more teddy-bear cuteness) should have a taste of the café's tea time set that comprises more teddy bear-shaped tiramisu, mini pancakes and salmon-and-karaage sandwiches. Bearology Café offers adorable merchandise like a bear-shaped tumbler and duck-shaped stuffed pillows.

For a reservation at Bearology Café, you can send a WhatsApp text to +6289654244169.