Sometimes, catching up with the modern times means embracing nostalgia, no matter how campy or downright wizardly that nostalgia might be. Such is the ethos followed to the hilt by Goblet of Shisha, a bar and lounge nestled in the Penjaringan sub-district of North Jakarta, whose exterior resembles a Victorian-era home. Yet, its interior is a chic reinterpretation of the great hall of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

By simply feasting one's eyes on the faux-candle chandeliers, the facade wall that takes after the storefront of the fictional wand shop Ollivander's, and a selection of shishas whose names are wordplays of certain, fictitious dorm houses, it should not take long for the bar's patrons to deduce that Goblet of Shisha not only channels the worldwide book-turned-film phenomenon that is Harry Potter but also embraces its campiness down to the design of each, gold-accented waterpipe.

For any Muggles in Jakarta who wish to hop on a magical train to a completely different universe for one night only, Goblet of Shisha might be their King's Cross.

Felix Felicis

Mario Delnado, the head of the bar, explained to The Jakarta Post on May 7 that Goblet of Shisha was different from what it originally was.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic swept the country, the establishment that initially stood in its place was an Indonesian-cuisine restaurant called Take A Bite. The eatery closed for business during the pandemic only to return in November 2022, this time with a different name and concept altogether. Public figures such as musician Kevin Aprilio and entrepreneur Rudy Salim are notable for being some of the key figures behind Goblet of Shisha.

Mario explained Rudy's idea of emulating the English literary series-turned-motion picture franchise Harry Potter as the theme for Goblet of Shisha.

"Rudy loves Harry Potter. Secondly, as it turns out, many other people also love Harry Potter," said Mario. "Sometimes patrons will show up in costumes, having their dress code and such, even when no particular event is taking place [at Goblet of Shisha]."

Moreover, from Mario's perspective, one or two parallels could be drawn between running a modern tavern and casting spells in a magical universe.

"From the drinks that we concoct that are akin to [magic] potions to the shishas that we prepare right in front of the patrons, [Goblet of Shisha] is like Harry Potter's chemistry lab," Mario enthused.

Nonetheless, Mario understands how, perhaps at first glance, a Harry Potter-themed pub could easily be viewed as "childish" by more grown-up urbanites. Mario pointed out that the saga's first novel, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, was first released more than two decades ago. The premier issue, to be more precise, hit bookstores in 1997.

That means, today, the young’uns who followed Harry Potter since its introduction in the late 90s have grown to become adults in their own right.

"The 90s kids are adults now, and [as adults] frequent night-life spots," Mario remarked. "So, we're simply providing them a place to hang out, enjoy shishas, drink, chill and stuff like that."

Goblet of Shisha's unique points double by adopting a hookah lounge concept. A hookah lounge is an establishment where patrons may enjoy a hookah (another name for shisha) or share a communal shisha with other patrons, all while socializing or enjoying refreshments. A shisha is a waterpipe that vaporizes and smokes flavored or non-flavored tobacco. The origin of shishas dates back to the 17th century. A Persian physician in India invented the first one.

A new millennia later, Mario observed that shishas have yet to lose their appeal. Also, modern youth seems to appreciate the "old-school" vibe that a shisha provides.

"It just feels so good when we enjoy a shisha while drinking, snacking and shooting the breeze," Mario opined. "Shishas are more than simply complementary."

Veritaserum

To match the Harry Potter theme, Mario and the bartenders will always ensure that the bar's original and signature cocktails are nothing short of bewitching. For first-time patrons, including those better versed in the mythology related to the Harry Potter saga, Mario recommends a cocktail named Potion Blue. True to its honorific, the cocktail is a vivid cerulean blue and presented in a Borosilicate glass.

"Potion Blue consists of blue curaçao with triple sec and tonic water. It's [operations manager] Tommy's idea, and the composition was ultimately made as such," Mario explained, highlighting that the cocktail might appeal to both men's and women's palates due to its sweet-and-sour tang.

Another signature cocktail of Goblet of Shisha's that Mario would recommend is Charcoal Lemonade, inspired by the "dark potions" introduced in the Harry Potter saga. The cocktail is, predictably, darkly hued and presented in glassware whose design is similar to a Margarita glass.

"Charcoal Lemonade comprises vodka, charcoal powder, white egg, lemon and sugar," Mario continued. Despite the cocktail's cheerless presentation, however, he also opined that its sweet-and-smooth flavor might leave a "girly" note on the taste buds. 

As for the shishas, Fauzi Jiung, serving as the head of shishas, recommends Sweethyrin; the name is a wordplay of the Hogwarts dorm house of Slytherin. Characterized by its "fruity and fresh" note, Sweethyrin incorporates "premium" ingredients, the fruity note is blueberry, whereas the new message is pure ice. Sweethyrin, he remarked, might also be smooth enough even for patrons enjoying a shisha for the very first time.

"We make it as smooth as possible, especially for the ladies wary of sore throats. We recommend Sweethyrin for first-timers because the flavor notes are softer than the other signature shishas," Fauzi added. 

Goblet of Shisha opens every day from 4 p.m. onward. To make a reservation, send a WhatsApp chat message to 08212 5879008. For more details, check out its Instagram account @gobletofshisha.

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