Pastries, Passion, and a Little Bit of Magic at Theo’s Wife Lois

I’ve got a pretty busy schedule and travel for work sometimes, but I refuse to be that person whose life is just work. So whenever I have to be out of town for a business trip, I make sure I squeeze in some me-time between meetings. I was recently in Bandung for a few days. I know Bandung has a cool coffee culture and is a fashion hub, but I only had a few hours to explore the city before my flight, so I had to be picky about where I went. In the end, I chose Theo’s Wife Lois.

From what I gathered from their Instagram and menu, Theo and Lois are husband and wife who share a passion for adventures, art, and, of course, food – Theo in the hot kitchen and Lois in desserts. I somehow imagined them as Wes Anderson characters. Together, they created this charming restaurant. You can instantly sense their fun and quirky personalities the moment you step inside.

I arrived quite early around 8am, and unlike in Bali, where breakfast spots are packed by 7am, the place was still empty. Or maybe I just got lucky? Because apparently, this place gets really busy. If I’m not mistaken, you are only allowed to stay for a maximum of 2 hours (but I didn’t need that much to finish my breakfast so it was no biggie).

Naturally, the first thing I did was explore the middle island, where all the cakes and pastries are displayed – sweet tooth represent! Since it felt like a bit of a holiday, I decided to indulge in a matcha scone and a Mochilembu – a Cilembu sweet potato flavoured bomboloni with clotted cream and a surprise mochi inside. Yum yum! Both were absolutely delicious, with just the right amount of sweetness. And let’s not forget the coffee – it was smooth and easy to drink.

I think the pastry and cake varieties change every day or every other day. But when I was there, they had bombolonis with various fillings; Lembang berries, apple, azuki – and donuts with fun toppings like vanilla yuzu, peanut butter and jelly, cookie crumble, and pistachio. There was also a selection of financiers and pretzels, ranging from original and chocolate to almond nougatine. And if you’re feeling a little naughty, they even had cheesecake and cookies – we make the rules when we’re adults, so we are allowed to have them for breakfast right? Hehe.

I didn’t see until I needed to go to the toilet that they have more seating at the back – oh, and a proper dining menu too, which looks amazing! Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to try it this time… but next time for sure!

Being there, I realised that when something is made with so much love and passion, it shows in all the little details; the sweet creations, the interior, the colour palette, the witty quotes, the bright pink takeaway boxes, the sticker sets, and even the little mementos they’ve collected during their travels. I honestly feel like I could be good friends with Theo and Lois! Hahaha – if you two are reading this, hellooo! 😉

If you’re ever in Bandung, this place should definitely be on your must-visit list. Whether you’re after a quiet morning treat or a full dining experience, Theo’s Wife Lois is a gem that truly reflects the love and creativity behind it. Can’t wait to go back and try more! Stay tune at Kata Bella!

Ps. I did bring home more matcha scones and a yuzu one, and they were still just as good a few days later (I kept them in the freezer).

Theo’s Wife Lois – Jl. Progo No.23, Citarum, Bandung

Jess

February 5, 2025

This place is so cute and all the pastry and bakery selections look guuuwdd. Adding this to the list for when I visit Bandung 😍

Bella

February 7, 2025

Yes! Look forward to trying their dinner menu when I’m back in Bandung.

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30 Jun 2026 by Bella in Eats

Bali Brunch: A Slow Saturday Done Right at Waatu's Otsumami

Bali Brunch: A Slow Saturday Done Right at Waatu's Otsumami Bali is small, but also big. It always feels like if you live in one neighbourhood here, everywhere else suddenly becomes far - especially if you're based in "Republic of Canggu". On a very unplanned weekend, a friend of mine who had just left her job and is currently thriving in her free-time era had this idea of spending a Saturday in Ungasan for an all-you-can-eat Japanese brunch at Waatu. Yes, Ungasan. Because when you can do anything and go anywhere, why not choose somewhere that takes a couple of hours (or more) to get to, right? Hehe. I’d heard of Waatu before, but all I really knew was that it’s an open-flame grill restaurant with a cliffside view. After a little Instagram research, I found out they also have a nice pool, and there’s no gas stove involved in the kitchen - everything runs on fire and charcoal. What a traditional, elemental way to cook! Very interesting. Also, I love Japanese food. So I thought, okay - let’s go! You may also like this article: SKAI Bar & Grill in Legian: Same Soul, Refined Experience My first impression After the long journey from Canggu up to Bukit (the hilly area of Bali), we were rewarded with a calm and peaceful atmosphere -like finding a little cliffside nook with a view that made me realise I might have been taking Bali for granted just because I live here. We took a moment to soak it all in before heading to our table. At this point, I was getting very excited to eat. The warm and welcoming vibe that greeted us as soon as we arrived A table full of Japanese favourites Move over avocado on toast! Because this is more my kind of brunch. Upon arrival, you will be given a list of menu to choose from. We started simple with a bowl of edamame, then little by little we moved into the otsumami (traditional Japanese savoury snacks). You can expect Japanese comfort food like kaarage chicken, yakitori, pork & chive gyoza, pork ribs (this was one of the highlights!). There was also a lighter option like seaweed salad and chawanmushi. If you’re feeling a bit extra, you can also upgrade your set with dishes like lobster tail and flank steak. The brunch runs for two hours, which I think is enough to enjoy the food without rushing. Everything was delicious, but make sure you save some room for dessert! You may also like this article: Restaurants in Legian and Seminyak: Kata Bella's Picks 2026 The Vibe Continued If you’re not in the mood for dessert, you can round off your brunch with one of their cocktails instead. Luna di Limo, a lime aperitivo with lychee liqueur, is a great choice if you like tropical fruit flavours. Or be adventurous with a touch of Indonesian flavour, like pandan mixed with vanilla in Verdant Silhouette. Fun fact: their drinks are made in-house using their own fermentation techniques, making them anything but ordinary. The whole Saturday then carried on with a live DJ playing coastal house and upbeat tracks into the afternoon. It had been a while since I had a Saturday like that - slow and unrushed. A curated selection of their in-house fermented drinks The Verdict So...the big question, was the trip to Ungasan worth it? Haha, yes! Definitely. I’d do it again in a heartbeat, and next time I’m bringing more of my girl friends along for the ride. By the way, if you come for the brunch, you also get complimentary access to the pool overlooking a cliffside view of the sea, so don’t forget to bring your swimmers, sunnies, books, and other pool-day essentials. Thanks for reading - hope this inspires your next weekend getaway to Ungasan. More Information 📍Location: Waatu 🌐 www.waatu.com 📱@waatu.bali ☎️ Reservation ⏰ Otsumami is on every Saturday, 11am to 4pm 💰 IDR 550,000++ per person (food only)

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Kids Friendly Restaurants in Bali with Playgrounds

Kids Friendly Restaurants in Bali with Playgrounds We’ve reached that age where catching up with friends often means meeting their little ones too, and sometimes the whole family comes along for the ride! Haha. So yes, even though none of us at Kata Bella have kids of our own, we kinda know a thing or two about kids-friendly spots now, especially when it comes to places to eat. And among the many kids-friendly restaurants in Bali, we’ve picked the ones with playgrounds, because the little bosses deserve to have some fun too, while the parents yap away, hehe. And with many places in Bali blessed with outdoor space, the kids can run around, burn off some energy, instead of being glued to a gadget at the table. So, whether you’re planning your next Bali trip with the family or living here and looking for somewhere new to bring the kids, here are a few spots worth saving for your next family day out. 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Chinese Restaurants in Bali: A Local Guide

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You simply can’t come here without ordering the kung pao chicken with Hainan rice. And if you’re feeling a little under the weather, their chicken congee is just the kind of comfort food you need. As for the rest of the menu, we’ll leave that up to you, because everything is good. 📍Google Maps: Little Hong Kong Restaurant Image credit: Little Hong Kong Google page Lai Lai No pork, no lard, but damn delicious! Right opposite Little Hongkong, you’ll find this spot serving very tasty Singaporean chicken rice. You can choose how you like your chicken; Hainanese, satay, or barbecue, or why only pick one when you can have all of them? Also, the prices are pretty affordable here. 📍Google Maps: Lai Lai Chinese Food Image credit: Lai Lai Instagram Warung Laota How can we leave the legendary Laota out of our Chinese restaurant list in Bali, right? New modern Chinese restaurants can keep popping up, but we’ll forever be loyal to this OG. Sure, they’re famous for their congee, but literally everything else from the menu is good that picking a favourite is very hard. There are three locations of Laota now, so you can go to or GoFood from the one nearest to you. 📍Google Maps: Warung Laota Tuban, Sunset Road, Jimbaran Image credit: Warung Laota Instagram You may also like this article: Missing Thailand? Here Are Our Regular Thai Restaurants in Bali Wanaku Make sure you come here with a big group, not only because Chinese food is always better when shared, but also because their dim sum spread is so good you’ll want to order everything on the menu! From classic har gow, siu mai and cheung fun to their tempting mains, there’s plenty to get excited about. But save some room for their onde-onde with lotus paste please please please! And if you’re not in the mood to share, their wonton noodle soup is pure comfort in a bowl. 📍Google Maps: Wanaku Chinese Food, Seafood, and Dim Sum Lihat post ini di Instagram Happy Mie This one is more of a humble noodle shack or warung than a restaurant, but good noodles don’t need fancy surroundings. Mie means noodles, so Happy Mie literally translates to “happy noodles”, and they do make us happy (from just 30K per portion!) Hehe. If you’re not in the mood for noodles, they’ve also got wonton soup, fried rice, rice with BBQ pork or chicken, and stir-fried mixed vegetables. 📍Google Maps: Happy Mie Image credit: Happy Mie Instagram Wei Fu Dim sum is their main thing - no pork, no lard, and they taste pretty decent. You’ll also find other comforting options on the menu like congee, wonton soup and noodles. Perfect for a casual dim sum fix without spending too much, because they are very affordable. They have three locations around Bali, so you’ve got a few options to choose from! 📍Google Maps: Wei Fu Dim Sum Bar Sunset Road, Gatsu, Tabanan Image credit: Lao Pan Instagram Restoran Renon First of all, what an interesting name! You wouldn’t guess it’s a Chinese restaurant, lol. The interior gives us 90s restaurant vibes, which in our books, is usually a good sign. They’ve also got that classic old-school style menu system; pick your protein (beef, chicken or seafood), then choose how you want it cooked (black pepper, salt and pepper, sweet and sour, and more). Their dim sum menu is pretty complete too. Plenty of choices and pretty good food, what's not to love? 📍Google Maps: Restoran Renon Image credit: Restoran Renon Instagram You may also like this article: Where to Go for Burgers in Bali - Kata Bella's List 2026 Pandaloka Funny story: this place was recommended by our friend who loves pandas. Surely that’s not the reason she likes this restaurant, though (or is it?) Hehe. 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All served in a setting that makes you feel like you’ve stumbled upon a Hong Kong street food stall. They also have buns with pork char siu and black sesame fillings, as well as scallion pancakes. They might sound like they're just little bites, but they're quite filling! Add this to your Ubud stops. 📍Google Maps: Double Dragon Temple Lihat post ini di Instagram A gentle reminder that Chinese food is best enjoyed with a group, preferably one that doesn't mind ordering almost half the dim sum menu, hehehe. This is one of those times when the more really is the merrier! Anyway, we're not claiming to know every Chinese restaurant in Bali (if only eating were a full-time job!), but these are the places that have made it onto our radar, for one reason or another. Some are old favourites, others are newer discoveries, and a few might just become your next regular spot. Got a spot you swear by? We're always up for another plate of good food.