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Animal-friendly cafés jazz up mealtime for pet lovers
Furry friends: Visitors play with dogs at the Paws and Tails Dog Cafe in Gading Serpong, South Tangerang, Banten
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Furry friends: Visitors play with dogs at the Paws and Tails Dog Cafe in Gading Serpong, South Tangerang, Banten.(JP/Dhoni Setiawan)
White Samoyed Popeye and light gray Alaskan malamute Arran, both 18-months old, were jumping around in their playroom at Kelapa Gading Mall, North Jakarta, occasionally running up to guests visiting for an early dinner.
The two pooches were among 15 variegated dogs at the Boogie and Doggie café, which customers can interact with during mealtime.
“As a pet lover, I always wanted to have quality time hanging out with my dogs, but I noticed there were not enough accessible spots that allow pets to visit, especially in the Kelapa Gading area, despite an abundance of dog lovers,” said co-owner Viony Lionardo recently.
While spending time eating out with pets can be complicated in Jakarta, as many eateries do not allow visitors to bring their animals along, pet-friendly cafés are now blossoming in Greater Jakarta.
Viony launched Boogie and Doggie in April this year together with her friend Kenny Sastro, whom she met at a dog show she had participated in since 2008. The dogs in their café now, she said, were all their well-trained show pets.
“The golden retriever I have at home, Gold Legend, has been the defending champion of an international dog show for the past 11 years,” said Viony.
Her passion and experiences with dogs led Viony to help transform a block of Kelapa Gading Mall that she said used to be a desolate area. Since the café opened, she said, it was never quiet, especially after office hours and on the weekend.
Boogie and Doggie allows customers who bring their own pets along to get two items from the selected menu list for half price. The café also allows customers to park their furry friends at chain-hooking spots during their meal.
To go along with the theme of the café, the food provided for customers is designed in the shape of a dog.
After having the meal, pet owners can have their pets groomed at a nearby store run by the same owners. The store also provides a daycare service for customers.
“The challenge for us now is to consistently learn the best ways to handle the different types of dogs we have here, from food and bathing frequency to vaccination and personal veterinarians for routine health checkups. Hopefully by doing that, we can inspire our visitors as well,” said Viony.
Another pet-friendly café, Fillmore Coffee in Setiabudi, South Jakarta, also has footprints of various dogs since its launch in 2016. It gained fame among pet lovers when some visitors noticed that its owner often brought her own furry friend to the coffee shop.
“I used to bring Franchie, my French bulldog, here all the time until his passing earlier this year. During that time, customers probably saw Franchie’s pictures on our Instagram account, and many requested to bring their own,” said Astria Chandra, the owner.
Aside from the coffee shop, Astria has also opened a pet-friendly restaurant called Egg Hotel on the rooftop of a hotel in the neighboring Kuningan area.
All staff members working at both places are animal lovers who Astria relies on to help monitor the pets, so that they would not bother anyone around.
“As animal lovers, we see pets as members of our own family. The relationship built is no longer that of a custodian and an animal but has become one of companions. We want to spend much time with them and help them to see new things outside the house as well,” Astria said.
Many pet-friendly eateries can also be found in Kemang, South Jakarta, including Honu Poké & Matcha Bar, American dishes and baked goods café Baconerie and coffee and tea shop Lokal Deli at Como Park.
Launched in 2016, Lokal Deli has accommodated many visitors celebrating their pets’ birthdays at the shop and plenty of others hanging out at its little playing park provided for dogs in the backyard.
“Although in practice, there have only been dogs visiting this place, we are open for any kind of pet and will always innovate to accommodate all of them,” said 24-year-old employee Andreas Stenly.
Agustinus Muni, a resident of Tanah Abang in Central Jakarta, is among the pet lovers who often bring their furry friends to a coffee shop in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, after work.
“I initially did not feel comfortable enough to bring my poodle to play in public places until a friend suggested I bring him to pet-friendly cafés, and by now I have gotten used to it. Seeing him excited to go out makes me happy as well," said the 30-year old.
