A newly opened establishment in the quaint Saradise area, Trevi Cafe, intends to bring a European-style ambience to Kuching. The cafe features Italian- and French-inspired architecture and one-of-a-kind settings so that diners can enjoy their cups of coffee with a different feel.
European ambience in the comfort of our own city
At first sight, the exterior of Trevi Cafe features a courtyard that seems like it belongs to a different continent. The hidden gem is a modern replica of classic European cafes and creates an ambience that is charming and quaint. A water fountain, strategically placed in the centre, further enhances the classical charm of the cafe.
Trevi is the brainchild of Joline Song, a stay-at-home mother, who dreamed of owning a cafe of her own. Spending most of her time at home with her two children, Joline turned to interior designing to pass her time.
Now, together with her supportive husband Gordon Hon, who is also one of the partners, Joline is proud as she managed to translate her artistic passion into the cafe’s design, creating a masterpiece that is Trevi.
“We wanted to create a European-inspired cafe for people to come and enjoy. We miss travelling and we’re sure that most people do too,” Joline said. Gordon added that their three other partners also shared the same feeling, as travel restrictions were strictly enforced during the Covid-19 pandemic. Thus, they curated the cafe so that people can once again enjoy a European ambience, in the comfort of our own city.
Elaborating on the designs and settings, Gordon said that the place was modelled after Italian and French cafes, and each corner has its own unique features. They also displayed some of the memorabilia that they brought back from different countries they had visited.
From a fireplace to a dining hall, the cafe also houses a courtyard for diners to enjoy their cup of tea or coffee on a breezy day. The extra touches at every nook and cranny were also added according to the feedback given by Trevi’s other partners.
The cafe’s exceptional and unique designs now place it high on the list of hip and trendy cafes in Kuching and also makes for a great spot to get an Instagram-worthy photo.
The initial conception
What inspired Trevi? Over a cup of coffee, Joline and another partner, Janice Wan explained how they had always dreamed of opening a cafe. Both had been friends for a long time and they often spend time cafe-hopping around Kuching together, in search of the latest trendy place to go.
“Joline and I would often talk about our future plans of opening a cafe of our own. I had always dreamed of starting an English style cafe which is uncommon here in Kuching. There, I plan to serve my homemade delicacies.”
Also a stay-at-home mother, Janice said that her real passion lies in baking. “I enjoy making things from scratch and share the food I make with others. I always love doing that. Here, I bake the chicken pie and the signature banana cheesecake.”
After much consideration, the two old friends then decided that it was time to turn their dreams into reality. However, they both had zero experience in the cafe business, and a young Nathan Ngu was called in to assist. With his repertoire as a restaurateur, Nathan is responsible for the kitchen and cafe’s workflow — to ensure a smooth operation.
The identity
The Trevi fountain in Rome was one of the ancient city’s oldest water source. Built in 1762, ‘Fontana di Trevi’ — the Trevi fountain — got its name as it stood at a three-junction street or three roads (tre vie). The name of the Latin fountain derives from the Latin word Trivium (intersection of three streets).
Gordon shared that although Trevi now has five partners — Gordon, Joline, Janice, Nathan and Izzul Aizuddin — the initial main partners were three, hence, the name ‘Trevi’. Overall, like the features of ‘Fontana di Trevi’, each corner of the cafe reflects the owners’ different talents and tastes.
The cafe is closed to the public at the moment as Kuching is undergoing the conditional movement control order (CMCO) and no dine-in is allowed. However, it will operate once again when restrictions are lifted, so do pay them a visit to experience an afternoon or evening in Europe, here in Kuching.
