7 Weekend Afternoon Hangout Places Around Padang: Marcoffee Bistro, El’s Coffee, Rimbun Espresso and Brew Bar

How are we going to loosen up at this point? 2021 is still sort of twinning with 2020. But not to worry (yet) at all - let’s just still continue with our quest for some no-frills chill-out place around Padang! One of the undeniably nice things about this city in Indonesia is the point that it has a very city-kampong sense to it that you just want to abundantly enjoy. It’s really like the other big cities in Indonesia, but it also isn’t too rural enough for you to lose contact with all the benefits of being in a city. It’s a weekend getaway place with a mix of city and suburb activities here and there - undeniably the right place to unwind!

When I visited Padang, I realized that three full days is sufficient enough to just really hang out, relax, and do absolutely nothing at all. Nevertheless, there are more than a mouthful gastronomic hangout places to try out, so maybe I am a bit optimistic and obtaining all the good ones within a few days only! Let’s see again? For now, here are the good ones I’ve gathered - check them out:

Marcoffee Bistro

Address: transmart, Ulak Karang Sel., Kec. Padang Utara, Kota Padang, Sumatera Barat 25173, Indonesia

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/pages/Marcoffee-Bistro-Transmart-Padang/1958755874343575

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/explore/locations/1471869212873911/marcoffee-bistro-padang/

After a foodtasting at Gatot Subroto area, I had choices. Went home or waited for hubby to come home together. Then, hubby told me about a new place at his office building. So I decided to visit Marcoffee Bistro, and waited for him there. My hubby picked me up and accompanied me to Marcoffee. After ordered drink and food, I took photos around the place. The place is quite spacious with outdoor area for smoking and indoor area for non smoking. A very nice place for me to blog my review, or just edit photos. When I was there, there were guys busy talking about work, and ladies did some chit chat about their family, and I think there was the owner, had meeting with some people. The place is very good for busy people, I guess. Read more at: https://yennyw.wordpress.com/2018/03/11/marcoffee-bistro-at-menara-jamsostek-gatot-subroto-jakarta/

El’s Coffee

Address: Jl. Nipah, Belakang Tangsi, Kec. Padang Bar., Kota Padang, Sumatera Barat, Indonesia

Website: https://elscoffee.com/coffee-shop/els-coffee-padang/

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/elscoffeepadang/photos/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/explore/locations/675132536/els-coffee-padang

Serving Italian-Indonesian fusion dishes and tempting cakes, this popular coffee-shop chain will also satisfy those with caffeine cravings with its wide array of cappuccinos, lattes and frappuccinos (including the downright peculiar charcoal lattes and avocado versions). Read more at: https://www.lonelyplanet.com/indonesia/sumatra/bandarlampung/restaurants/el-s-coffee/a/poi-eat/1520625/356620

Dum Dum Authentic Thai Tea

Address: Transmart Katib Sulaiman, Ulak Karang Selatan, Jl. Khatib Sulaiman No. 85, Padang Utara, Padang

Website: http://www.dumdumthaidrinks.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dumdum.padang/

One of the most favorite drink is Thai tea. Thai Tea is made with a mixture of black tea that is very concentrated and strongly flavored with condensed milk, evaporated milk, and sugar. The ingredients are stirred when the tea is still hot. Its sweet savory taste and its distinctive aroma make it so favorable. Thai tea is a special drink from Thai. In Indonesia, there are many outlets that sell this drink. One outlet you should know is definitely Dum Dum Authentic Thai Tea! Read more at: https://www.gotomalls.com/malls/L3ojL8vWvrlnqcT9/blok-m-plaza/stores/L6wQz8vWvw_qZYQM/dum-dum-authentic-thai-tea?country=0&lang=en

Kiosk Signature

Address: Jl. Khatib Sulaiman, Lolong Belanti, Kec. Padang Utara, Kota Padang, Sumatera Barat 25173, Indonesia

Website: https://gofood.co.id/english/padang/restaurant/kiosk-signature-transmart-a6746e14-cb41-4bec-83d1-1c12c1740d8c

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/explore/locations/760391627500986/indonesia/padang-indonesia/kiosk-signature-transmart-padang/

Pelayanan nya buruk. saya pesen minuman pahit nya minta ampun, kek ga layak buat di minum n saya komplen tapi cuma di tambah air agar tdk pahit. Beli mnum dr luar mnding

Read more at: https://www.traveloka.com/id-id/restaurants/indonesia/detail/kiosk-signature-transmart-padang-109995

Cobek Penyet

Address: Transmart Padang, Jl. Khatib Sulaiman No.85, South Ulak Karang, Padang Utara, Padang City, West Sumatra 25173, Indonesia

Website: https://www.traveloka.com/id-id/restaurants/indonesia/detail/cobek-penyet-transmart-padang-104348

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CPPadang/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cobekpenyet/

Cobek and Penyet at lower ground of Kota Kasablanka. First impression is the owner is tough and obsessed with long lasting things with tables made of metal water pipes! Looking carefully, this is not really a bad idea, must be cheaper than steel and long lasting.
The resto sells all variety of cobeks and penyets. Tried the deep fried gurami, fresh and good. Tamarind soup (sayur asam) is also good. Price is not cheap, moderate for taste and location. Read more: https://www.tripadvisor.com.sg/Restaurant_Review-g294229-d8310276-Reviews-Cobek_Penyet-Jakarta_Java.html

Rimbun Espresso and Brew Bar

Address: Jl. KIS. Mangunsarkoro, Jati Baru, Kec. Padang Tim., Kota Padang, Sumatera Barat 25129, Indonesia

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rimbuncoffee/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rimbuncoffee/

It's easy to find as it's right next to the Limpapeh Bridge pedestrian overpass (southeast side). There's space for motorbike parking in front. Wi-Fi isn't the fastest (as is the case in much of Sumatra) but if you need more, just grab yourself a SIM card. Telkomsel has 4G coverage in Bukittinggi. Outlets can be found on the baseboards near all tables. Read more at: https://workfrom.co/rimbun-espresso-brew-bar

The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf

Address: South Ulak Karang, Padang Utara, Padang City, West Sumatra 25173, Indonesia

Website: https://gofood.co.id/padang/restaurant/the-coffee-bean-tea-leaf-transmart-padang-ce48aa1a-622b-44cb-88d0-731538ba33b3

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CoffeeBean.sg.Rail.Mall/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/explore/locations/177035662824170/indonesia/padang-indonesia/the-coffee-bean-tea-leaf-transmart-padang/

You can definitely believe the hype about this place, as it it absolutely the truth! The coffee is outstanding and the food superb! The service is great, we love the outfits worn by the staff. Decor is cool, love it! Read more at: https://www.traveloka.com/en-id/restaurants/indonesia/detail/the-coffee-bean-tea-leaf-pejaten-village-55772

6 Easy Chinese New Year Celebration Places in Chinatown, Padang Indonesia 

Always a classic celebration, but it’s sort of different from this current situation. Yes, let’s talk Lunar New Year or Chinese New Year. Everyone’s craving for that much needed social vibe, with thousands of tourists and people with the same celebratory thirst. Everyone’s in need of maybe some mega-sized extravagant displays, heterogeneous live performances, and possibly never-ending choices of food or fireworks. But have you ever considered celebrating CNY in some other ASEAN city? Perhaps you can try the one in Padang, Indonesia’s Chinatown.

Being the capital and the largest city of West Sumatra, Padang should not be underrated and excluded from your travel lists, especially if you would want that quick and easy weekend celebratory Indonesia trip. It’s one of the nicer and more relaxed cities, with the right amount of sea, sun, and Chinatown sensations. Here are some of the places you can anticipate, once you visit Padang’s Chinatown area.

Food Trip Street

Address: https://www.tripadvisor.com.sg/ShowUserReviews-g297726-d6531532-r392718431-China_Town-Padang_West_Sumatra_Sumatra.html

Padang is famous for its cuisine, and this tour will take you to go on a culinary journey. For 4 hours, you will be taken to taste the delectable Padang cuisine such as Sate Kuah Kuning, Soto Padang, to egg tea to warm you up, Not limited to that, before starting the trip, you will enjoy the beautiful sunset at the beach. This tour is completed with round-trip service, so there's no reason to miss this one! Read more at: https://www.traveloka.com/en-sg/activities/indonesia/product/padang-street-food-with-motorcycle-4-hour-tour-2000547457494

Padang Chinatown Cafes

Address: https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2013/07/16/living-chinese-culture-padang-style.html

Their signature drinks include the staple ice coffee and the Kopi Talua (raw egg coffee), a weird yet satisfying combination. These not only depict good old times but also help to satisfy your caffeine fix! The building itself is a perfect illustration of cultural heritage, a historical landmark where our favorite beverage has been served and enjoyed in much the same way for decades. Read more at: https://indonesia.tripcanvas.co/sumatra/legendary-padang-street-food/

Padang Old Town

Website: https://www.tripadvisor.com.sg/ShowUserReviews-g297726-d6531532-r277996124-China_Town-Padang_West_Sumatra_Sumatra.html

Padang Old Town, or Padang Lama, is the old part of Padang that is lined with colonial Dutch buildings that are still intact along the Batang Arau River. The harbour along the river was once a very important port. Across the river is Padang Hill, the first settlement before Padang developed into a town. Just east is Pasar Batipuh and Pasa Gadung, which was formally the market place. The buildings now are used for warehouses for spices. A little west is Chinatown and many old buildings including an old Buddhist temple with Chinese architecture, which is estimated to be over 200 years old. Read more at: https://backpackerlee.wordpress.com/2015/11/18/the-old-town-of-padang/

Padang Chinatown Street Art

Website: https://www.tripadvisor.com.sg/Attraction_Review-g297726-d6531532-Reviews-China_Town-Padang_West_Sumatra_Sumatra.html

The streets on the edge of Padang’s Chinatown are crumbling. The various states of disrepair range from shutters swinging in the wind from a dilapidated window frame, to columns of old red bricks jutting out of the ground, reaching for nowhere, and caressed by creepers and vines. Read more at: https://indonesiaexpat.biz/travel/the-soul-of-padang-is-on-the-streets/

Hok Tek Tong

Address: Jl. Letnan Suwaji No.4, Sumbersari, Parakan Wetan, Parakan, Kabupaten Temanggung, Jawa Tengah 56254, Indonesia

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Hok-Tek-Tong-563809577012442/

Walking the walk: Hundreds of Chinese Indonesians from the Hok Tek Tong (HTT) community in Padang accompany their children, who are riding on top of a "centipede" carried by 1,500 men, in a carnival held to mark the city's 150th anniversary on Thursday. The carnival, which had been unofficially dubbed "the world's longest centipede carnival", had 223 children riding atop the 243-meter-long centipede along a 3.9 kilometer route. Read more at: https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2013/08/23/walking-walk.html 

Chinatown Temple

Website: https://www.tripadvisor.com.sg/Attraction_Review-g297726-d6531532-Reviews-China_Town-Padang_West_Sumatra_Sumatra.html

Take a pleasant walk around the older parts of Padang like Kampung Cina (China town) where turn of the century houses line the streets. Around here you’ll see a collection of Chinese herbalists doing business as well as coffee shops that can provide a refreshing cool drink to escape the heat of the day. Read more at: https://alwaysrestlessfeet.wordpress.com/2012/05/10/chinese-temple-in-china-town-in-padang-indonesia-kampung-cina/