ld town does have the charm and certain appeal to the tourists. Moreover, the structure classical architecture filled with historical values. Besides its uniqueness and artistic values, the Old Town zone always captures attention. As one of the history tourism destinations, the Old Town zone is supported by various facilities, making the visiting tourists easy to reach the location and acquire comfort.
One of the facilities is the classical-romantic café: Café Batavia, which is located directly in front of the Fatahillah Museum. Café Batavia stood since year 1992 and becomes one of the restaurants that present itself with the theme ranging not far from the Old Town’s. Established in an old structure that also has historical values, from the front Café Batavia seems simple. However, it becomes the favorite spot for tourists after a walk around.
“Café Batavia is located in the Old Town zone and stands in a building aging over than 200 years old. At first the building was the residence and also the office of a Holland-native Governor. What makes it special is that the building is the second structure that was constructed after the Fatahillah Museum,” described Nita Rosita, the Public Relations of Café Batavia to Arti.
The historical value of the structure that was made into this resto adds more value with the concept that is also in-line with the shape of construction. From outside, the café seems to have no difference with other buildings surrounding it. But you can’t just judge by seeing the outer part of it. Try to step inside, and enjoy a different experience from the outside.
The heat of the sun is immediately swept away with the cool air conditioning, although the coolness can’t be directly felt. The room with glass opening at the front side gave a change of atmosphere as we move into the inner area. On the first floor, a bar and several sofas are ready to accommodate the customers who wish to kill their time in the place. Not for-getting a compact stage at the left side, providing live music from bands those perform jazzy tunes.
A large size stairway with art-deco style is also ready to escort the customers to the second floor. By the side along the stairs, tens of old-time frames are hung; collection of the Café Batavia owner. “The entire photographs displayed on the café’s walls do belong to the owner who is also a collector. As for the pictures and photographs on the pillars in the
centre of the room, they are menus of cuisines, comprising of breakfast, lunch and dinner. The menu can be seen based on the pictures put in the frames,” Rita explained more.
Besides the frames with menus attached at the back, on one side of the room there is also a picture of the Governor who resided at the structure. The entire room gave more classical nuance with antique furniture and the gramophone music playing unique phonograph records.
According to Rita, one of the best spots that have become the favorite place for the customers is the side of the resto that faces the museum. “The side that faces museum area is one of the favorite spots of the place, because they usually hang-out while dining and read books while looking at the sceneries once in awhile. There are also customers that just sits there all the way from breakfast through dinner,” she told.
The menus are quite varied, with western cuisines and Chinese food, and also several Indonesian menus such as fried rice and ox-tail soup. A few western menus that become the favorites are Poached Egg Benedictine, with the unique flavor combination of fishcake, scrambled eggs, smoked salmon and caviar with lemon cheese sauce. Besides that the salmon steak and a dimsum package filled with shrimp flavor also make the customers stay longer at the Café Batavia.
“Besides to taste the cuisines, the customers are also here to enjoy the unique atmosphere of the café. For the specific tourists from Holland, this place serves as the memorial for their ancestor’s path. We have not become only a resto or a dining place, but also a tour guide; a place for them to ask all they want about the Old Town zone. We provide them with the information they need,” concluded Rita.
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