My Sister Just Opened a Cafe in Lombok and it is Wonderful

This post is dedicated to my little sister, who just opened a cafe on the other side of the world with her boyfriend, and it is absolutely lovely. I am not just saying that because we share blood - it is genuinely a fantastic place.

My sister is five years younger than me and has always been a free spirit. She is the kind of woman who gets her heart easily broken, feels absolutely everything and is constantly restless. Three years ago, she left the UK to go backpacking and ended up falling in love with a local bloke in Indonesia. Flash forward to today, and they're one month into running their café, Geng, located in the small fishing village of Gerupuk.

I’ve just got back from visiting the pair after spending a month with them, and I can hand on heart say they have poured their hearts and souls into this business. Emma (my sister) is a chef by trade, and Bagong (her boyfriend) is a natural people-person with the biggest smile you’ve ever seen. They are professional island lifers who love to surf, be outside, and drink coffee, which is exactly what Geng encapsulates... It’s all about hanging with friends, making new ones, eating good grub, and enjoying island life. It’s centred around connecting with those around you and embracing the slow pace of village life. In other words, it’s a vibe and an extremely welcoming one, especially for solo travellers visiting Lombok.

The food is an infusion of local Indonesian dishes and Western classics. Think avo toast topped with chicken floss, or shakshuka with sambal-inspired flavours. Emma has worked hard to combine local flavours with local ingredients, without scaring off our sensitive Western palates. They cater to every dietary need too - from vegan, to gluten-free and dairy-free.

Our brother James visiting Geng in November 2025

What makes this such an achievement is that Emma and Bagong had zero experience building a business. They just had a passion and a willingness to make it happen; the rest they figured out along the way. Em had to learn the hard way of working with local builders, creating floor plans, selecting furniture, organising finances, and doing all of this on "Indo time", which (if you've been to Indonesia, you will know) is wonderfully unpredictable.

Now, I’m not saying we should all pour our life savings into a business tomorrow. But I do think that, in life, we often let the possibility of things going wrong deter us from putting one foot in front of the other and making something happen.

Bagong is also a highly qualified surf instructor with fantastic English who runs trips to Sumbuwa, should you want to organise a trip or a private surf lesson. If you are looking to do a surf camp in Lombok, then I would hands down recommend Insider Surf run by the unstoppable Lucy for the best coaching and deals on the island. Check out the camp dates for 2026 here.

I guess I just wanted to say that I am so proud of my sister and her journey. She inspires me to keep pushing for my own dreams, one step at a time, and for that I am very thankful.

If you're reading this and are planning to visit Lombok to surf, then stop by for a coffee or just to say hello. You can give my sister a hug from me, too ;)