Coffee at Shalini Ganendra Fine Art Gallery Residence, Petaling Jaya: Restaurant Review

First-rate art meets third-wave coffee: Visitors can now survey creativity on canvasses while sipping cappuccinos in hot cups at the Shalini Ganendra Fine Art Gallery Residence – a somewhat secluded, supremely serene sanctuary at PJ’s Section 16.

Art and Coffee

The SGFA cultural space has been around since January 2011, but followers were intrigued when the residence announced in its email newsletter recently that it was launching a new project called ‘The Coffee Break,’ serving shots of caffeine to perk up the experience of perusing paintings here.

Ring the Bell

Here’s what to look out for: SGFA hides in a converted bungalow on a dead-end street; its gate stays shut, so ring the bell.

City Escape

This is a two-storey place of peace – stepping inside SGFA supplies a soothing escape from the clamour of the city.

Enjoy your beverage indoors or have it out in the private garden for a leafy alfresco experience.

We recommend heading upstairs too; the high ceilings & stark setting will suit claustrophobes fine.

Take Your Time

Feel free to linger; we comfortably sat here & calmly savoured our coffee & conversation for close to an hour.

Not a soul intruded on our reverie throughout our time here (bliss for folks seeking solitude), but we think customers will come once word of mouth leaks out that coffee is now served here in this residential estate.

Sustainable Coffee

SGFA has been offering Puro Fairtrade Organic & Puro Miko Fairtrade as of the past month, sourced from small farms in Peru & Honduras. As the coffee menu here states, ‘SGFA is about sustainability – in Art, Design & Lifestyle.’

Inexpensive Coffee

Black coffee (espresso, americano & macchiato) costs RM5, while cappuccinos, lattes & flat whites are RM6.

Note though that no food is available at SGFA, since it’s not strictly a cafe, so come here on a full stomach.

The paintings by local artists are for sale, & since the exhibits change regularly, visitors can look forward to a continuously refreshed ambiance. We also like how there are no restrictions imposed on photography here. Service at SGFA is friendly.