Central Gili Trawangan (inland from main strip)
★ 4.7(1,340 reviews)
Kayu Cafe is a central Gili Trawangan brunch and specialty-coffee cafe focused on smoothie bowls, healthy breakfasts, plant-based options, and serious coffee. Mid-range pricing 75–160k IDR per dish. Daily 7am–6pm. Best for digital nomads, post-yoga refueling, and anyone wanting brunch quality above the standard Gili T tourist average.
# Kayu Cafe Gili Trawangan: The Brunch + Coffee Anchor
Gili Trawangan's restaurant scene is dominated by beachfront sunset bars on the west and packed warungs in the center. Kayu Cafe occupies a different niche entirely — a calm, slightly upscale brunch cafe inland from the main strip, focused on specialty coffee, smoothie bowls, and the kind of considered plant-based menu that draws yoga teachers, digital nomads, and travelers who want one quality breakfast a day rather than three forgettable ones.
Acai bowl (95,000 IDR): Frozen acai blended with banana, topped with house granola, fresh tropical fruit, coconut shavings, cacao nibs. Properly large portion.
Dragon fruit bowl (90,000 IDR): Pink dragon-fruit smoothie base, similar topping treatment. Visually striking, lighter than acai.
Avocado toast (90,000 IDR): House-baked sourdough, smashed avocado, lime, chili, microgreens, optional poached egg. Two large halves.
Big breakfast (160,000 IDR): Two eggs, bacon (or vegan bacon), sausage, hash brown, beans, grilled tomato, sourdough toast. Reliable hangover/post-dive option.
Buddha bowl (130,000 IDR): Brown rice, roasted vegetables, marinated tofu, hummus, kraut, tahini dressing, sprouts. The lunch staple. Filling.
Smoked salmon bagel (140,000 IDR): House bagel, cream cheese, smoked salmon (sourced from a Bali producer), capers, red onion, dill. The premium brunch option.
Banana pancakes (85,000 IDR): Three thick, with caramelised banana and palm sugar. Vegan version available.
Long black (35,000 IDR): Lombok-roasted single-origin beans, properly extracted. Easily the best coffee on Gili T.
Flat white (45,000 IDR): Properly steamed milk, latte art. Oat milk option +5k.
Matcha latte (55,000 IDR): Ceremonial-grade matcha, oat milk default.
Cold brew (50,000 IDR): 18-hour brewed, served over ice. Worth ordering on hot afternoons.
Kayu occupies a converted house with two distinct seating zones: an air-conditioned indoor section with table seating (rare on Gili T and the genuine relief on hot afternoons), and an open-air covered patio with bamboo roof and ceiling fans. A few floor-cushion low tables for the yoga crowd.
The interior is wood-and-bamboo design, calm lighting, no music or quiet acoustic playlist. The atmosphere is more "Bali wellness cafe" than "Gili beach bar" — by design.
Specialty coffee on the Gilis is rare. Most cafes use commercial pre-ground from Bali distributors. Kayu sources whole beans from a small Mataram-based roaster, grinds to order on a proper grinder, and pulls espresso on a well-maintained La Marzocco machine. The barista (Italian-trained) knows the basics: extraction time, milk temperature, latte art, ratios.
For travelers who care about coffee, Kayu is a genuine destination. The flat white and long black are both reliably properly made — not the burnt commercial extraction you get at most Gili cafes.
Roughly 60% of the menu is vegan or has a vegan modification:
Vegetarians have the entire menu open. Honey is used in some baked goods — flag for strict vegan.
WiFi runs 60–80 Mbps when PLN steady, dropping to 25–40 on generator. Outlets at most tables. The cafe has a relaxed but enforced policy: one drink per 2 hours of seat time, plus a meal if you stay through a meal slot. Mornings (7–10am) are calmest for working; brunch crowd 10am–1pm makes the cafe lively but functional; afternoons quiet down again.
The air-conditioned indoor section is the prime working zone — comfortable temperature, less people-watching distraction, more focused. Outdoor patio is better for casual brunches.
Power: PLN with generator backup. WiFi degrades briefly during transitions; espresso machine bridges seamlessly.
Water: Bathroom facilities are above the Gili T cafe average — closer to small-hotel standard.
Mosquitoes: Less of an issue here than at evening venues since Kayu closes at 6pm. Coils and repellent available.
Beach access: Kayu is roughly 5–7 minutes' walk from the east beach, 10–12 minutes from the west sunset coast. Inland positioning is a feature (calm) and a tradeoff (no beach view).
Cards: Accepted, no surcharge.
Coffee snobs who want espresso done properly. Vegans and vegetarians wanting a considered menu rather than 'modify the omelet'. Digital nomads needing a reliable workspace with air-conditioning. Yoga practitioners refueling between sessions. Travelers wanting one quality brunch daily rather than three forgettable beach-cafe meals.
Skip Kayu if you want beachfront views, if you need a dinner option (closes at 6pm), if you're after the cheapest meal (warungs are 30–40% less), or if you're on the island specifically for the party scene (Kayu's calm wellness atmosphere is the opposite vibe).