I’ve talked about this place almost devoutly for months, but in case you didn’t know, Fillmore Coffee has got to be one of my favorite places in Jakarta, period.
There’s just something from the cafe’s relatively hidden location, the decor, and the ambience that appeal to me. The inclusion of ivy on the front window, for example, gave the place an almost rustic feel that I absolutely adore.
In any case, Fillmore Coffee is definitely a place I’d definitely return to from time to time, not only because it is a fantastic writing spot, but also because it’s a great cafe in general.
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Location
Fillmore Coffee is located in South Jakarta, very close to Lotte Shopping Avenue and Ambassador Mall. Pinpointing the exact location might be a little hard to do, since you are required to go into one of the cramped alleyways to get there.
A simple lookup on Google Maps would bring you there, so getting to Lotte Transjakarta Bus Stop or Karet Sudirman Bus Stop might be in your best interest, as the two bus stops are not too far away from the cafe. You could also go by train (Commuter Line) and drop off at Karet Station.
In any case, I’d suggest going to the place by ordering an online motorcycle taxi of your choice from the bus stop / station. The traffic might be slightly different during rush hours, but you should get there fairly quickly. When you’re in doubt, just ask the motorcycle driver to refer to the Google Maps (or you can navigate them with your own app), and you should be fine.
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Writing Spot Review
Fillmore Coffee, at its heart, is a homey cafe with a very distinct industrial design. When you think of a cafe situated in South Jakarta, you might be thinking of a fancy hangout spot, lined up with fancy cars and humongous parking lot to accommodate the guests, but Fillmore is very, very far from that.
Since the cafe is located in a small alleyway, going in feels like finding yourself a neat urban getaway place, which is exactly what I consider this place to be. The place is two storeys high, with the second floor being reserved for smoking area, I believe.
I personally haven’t tried the second floor, but I have enjoyed my time thoroughly on the first floor. The floor area is not too large; probably just seven by four meters square large, but I’m not an architect either, so please take that information with a grain of salt.
As far as food and beverages goes, I’d recommend going for their mushroom quiche and any of their cakes, as they proved to be very scrumptious and filling for me. Their affogato is also quite unique, as they serve the espresso with homemade avocado & coconut milk ice cream.
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Writing Experience
The bar on the first floor overlooks several tables made from wooden structure, but my favorite spot has got to be the window-side stools. They made the desk from hard wood, and it is set to be slightly inclined so you will have the perfect typing angle with your laptop. (On a side note, your beverages might overflow slightly because of the angle).
Unfortunately, I didn’t check whether they have a power socket or not, since by the time of this writing, I haven’t had the chance to write for an extended period of time here i.e. until my laptop battery runs out. But I’ve seen a lot of foreigners here donning their pyjamas in the afternoon, typing on their laptop comfortably as if they’ve been there all day.
There’s free wifi and freeflow water as well. So technically, you don’t need to buy another beverage after your first order runs out. But if you’re planning on staying all day to write that novel of yours, I’d strongly suggest to order something else, out of courtesy.
Since the place is rather far from my house, I have never been here full-day to write. I usually just stop by the place as I wait for my next appointment of the day. Therefore, my writing experience here had mostly been just 1-2 hours in the morning right after the cafe opens.
But from what I know, there are very few places in Jakarta that I consider to be a more comfortable writing spot. If you’re searching for a place to spend the day drafting your novel, finishing your TBR, or even tackling your day job, I’d wholeheartedly recommend Fillmore Coffee.
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Verdict
Access: ⭐⭐
Ambience: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Productivity: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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Contact & Opening Hours
Address:
Suites at Seven, Jl. H. Sidik No.7, RT.4/RW.6, Kuningan, Karet Kuningan, Kecamatan Setiabudi, Kota Jakarta Selatan, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta 12940
Telephone:
(021) 57851751 ext. 190
Opening Hours:
Opens Monday – Friday, 7AM – 9PM
Opens Saturday – Sunday, 9AM – 9PM
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Alicia Lidwina 
Oh I love that place, too! Been there once, and the ambience when not too busy is really nice. It’s only the place is rather small, that it can get really crowded over there.
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