Note: Lorem Ipsum is now closed. In its place is Café Atas59, a café run by the previous employees of Lorem Ipsum.
If the café name sounds like gibberish to you, that’s because it is – for the uninitiated, the term 'lorem ipsum' simply refers to filler text used by designers. The inspiration for the title comes from the advertising industry background the four owners – husband and wife, Chris Koh and Lynette Cheng with two other partners who still work in digital agencies – share; a tribute to their artistic career.
Perched above Klinik Pergigian Drs Chai & Partners Dental Surgeons along Jalan Bangkung in the hilly neighbourhood of Bukit Bandaraya, Bangsar, the café is isolated enough from the shoppers’ and diners’ ports of call without being too removed from the main thoroughfare. Its exact venue, however, will need you to pay extra heed to find as there is only a piece of paper to direct you up the stairs but no signboard – yet – outside its door to affirm that you have found the place.
Once inside, you will be struck by how airy and cooling the café is. The windowed partition separating the balcony seats from the main area is often left open to welcome heat-relieving breeze while the spacious, industrial setting – high, exposed ceiling, bare cement floor and comfortably spaced furniture – ensures ventilation.
It sets an ideal ambience to get things done, even art work, a thought Chris and Lynette shared that led to the decision of offering art jam sessions at the café. Come January, you can book a three-hour slot for up to 12 people and you and your friends will be provided a blank canvas, paintbrushes, acrylic paint and a metal easel to be slotted into holes in the table. You won’t have to worry about cleaning up after, nor about paint splattering on the ground, as the owners will treat the mess as decorative touches to the floor.
If you’re just there to chill, your cup of Joe will go well with their assortment of pastries, such as apple crumble cheese tart (RM7), earl grey egg tart (RM6), wild mushroom quiche (RM7), and chocolate mousse raspberry tart (RM7), which contains a dash of alcohol. For something different, buy a packet of The Original Keropok Cili Kuantan and pair it with a craft beer; varieties include Hitachino Nest (Japan), Gypsy and Two Step (Australia), or Brewdog (Scotland).
Keep an eye on their menu as the owners are looking to serve breakfast and lunch in the near future. Think local and Asian flavours like nasi dagang and teriyaki chicken, along with sandwiches and healthy eats.