Seseh is still finding its rhythm. The main road, lined with construction sites and half-built villas, doesn’t immediately give the impression of a culinary destination. But just a few steps down from the street sits Natari, a French-inspired café and boulangerie that’s already a local landmark. Sheltered by a canopy of trees, the café has the air of a hidden haven. The shift as you walk down into the space is subtle but powerful — the noise and heat of the road disappears, replaced by the comforting aroma of freshly baked pastries and the calm of a thoughtfully designed interior.
The brothers behind Natari dreamed of creating more than just a bakery. For Alex, the younger of the two, the journey has been deeply personal. From an early age, he was drawn to the precision and creativity of pastry. He trained in Switzerland, perfected his craft in Lyon, and only later found his calling in Bali. What struck him most upon arriving on the island was the absence of authentic French pastries. That gap — no croissant that truly crumbled the way it should, no bread that evoked Parisian mornings — became the seed for Natari.
Opening a café in Bali requires more than just technical skill. Alex spent a year preparing himself, building not only the space but also the discipline to see it through. He devoted himself to training, working out daily not to bulk up but to cultivate focus and resilience. He studied English with the same determination, knowing that mindset would be as essential as recipes in building a business far from home.
The result is a boulangerie that wears its heart on its sleeve. Natari’s open-plan kitchen is at the core of the café. There are no glass cases, no barriers between the chefs and the customers. Instead, trays of golden croissants, rustic baguettes, and delicate patisserie are laid out within reach, a visible testament to the work and care behind each creation. It feels transparent, collaborative, and welcoming — the exact spirit Alex and his brother wanted to foster.
The interiors echo this philosophy. Furniture from Dab adds a crafted solidity, and the layout encourages conversation rather than formality. Customers drift easily between the kitchen counter and the seating areas, and the atmosphere is less café and more family dining room. That sense of openness has had ripple effects. The collaboration with Dab was so successful that the furniture brand is now opening a showroom directly across the street, a development spurred by the steady flow of inquiries from Natari’s visitors.
For Alex, the reward isn’t measured in numbers but in smiles. “When someone bites into a real croissant made with love and plenty of butter… that’s the best reward,” he says. And it’s not hard to see why. Regulars are already part of the fabric here, bringing their routines and stories into the space. Natari has quickly become one of Seseh’s neighborhood cafés, the kind of place where customers greet the staff like old friends and where the lines between locals, expats, and travelers blur over coffee and pastry.
This balance — between discipline and creativity, between authenticity and openness — is what makes Natari special. Alex and his brother have built more than a business. They’ve created a home, one where every visitor is treated as part of the family, even if just for the time it takes to savor a cappuccino or a pain au chocolat. In a neighborhood that’s still finding its identity, Natari already feels like an anchor, a gathering place shaped by passion, precision, and an unwavering commitment to craft.
Words by Bali Interiors
Photos by iwanthejourney
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Beautifull decoratief also
Thanks Nora! We love it too!