RÜSTERS is where every self-respecting long-termer ends up at least once a week and where tourists swing by for a compulsory check-in. On Sundays, it’s the market: families sprawled out, kids running wild between the fish ponds while we catch up with friends from Canggu and Sanur, who we haven’t hugged in forever. The staff? Always making space for us, always remembering the little updates we shared last week.
Weekdays, it flips into the perfect work spot. Indoors, outdoors, light pouring in, WiFi steady, plenty of corners if you need focus for a call or that dreaded report. You’ll see cool Jakarta creatives glued to their laptops, a barefoot tantra guy ordering his third matcha, and serious-looking, well-dressed men obviously cooking up something ambitious. It’s rare in Bali to find a place that really welcomes everyone, but RÜSTERS nails it: no matter who you are, you feel comfortable here.
Coffee people, you already know – RÜSTERS is coffee. Alongside the usual global favourites, there’s always a choice of local beans, roasted right on site. And yes, the quality dipped for a minute, but we’re happy to report it’s back on track. And the matcha latte? Dangerously good. Hungry? Go straight for the steak frites, the breakfast burrito (a full-body commitment, so plan on taking a nap afterwards), or the cod (magical!). And we don’t say this lightly, but it’s official: best avocado toast in town. It could be the toasted almonds, the pickled onion, or the Rusters’ sourdough. The bakery is its own temptation. The almond croissant will make you wonder how it can be so… well, almondy. Come early, as they disappear faster than your Bali resolve to cut carbs. And the gluten-free coconut dome almost makes us look forward to gluten-free days.
Nights are a different mood. Jazz under soft lights when you’re feeling classy, or even backgammon tournaments for our fellow nerds. And don’t get us started on the new tea house (you already read about Faye’s magic in our previous issue).
Some places serve coffee, others host markets. RÜSTERS somehow feels like it’s hosting our whole week. Even if it’s just a quick stop for a takeaway on the way to Canggu, because of course we do.
