Handmade goodness

Located at a corner lot on the junction of Jalan Trus and Jalan Dhoby is Roost Repurposed & Recycled Cafe. It’s a fixture in the heritage section of Johor Bahru’s old town and stands out for its striking facade — a nautical map of the world.

The cafe, which opened its doors in 2011, is famous for its salads, coffee and frozen yoghurt — healthy and refreshing fare perfect for refuelling after exploring the state’s heritage trail.

Meanwhile, its aesthetics are unusual. The furniture and decor were personally crafted by owner Sea Wong out of recycled materials from junkyards, or purchased off “karang guni” (recyclable item collectors). The consummate DIY-er, who learned his skills from the Internet, is quite adept at fashioning newspapers, wood boards, paper tubes, metal drums and clothes hangers into items such as chairs, tables and lampshades, many of which form part of the interior decor of the cafe.

Some of the more striking pieces are on the second floor. A chandelier made out of wooden hangers, chairs made of cardboard rolls and sheets, and a topsy-turvy shelf provide just enough interest to the space, without curtailing its cosiness.

Roost Repurposed & Recycled Cafe is Wong’s second cafe at Jalan Dhoby. His first one, the 70s-themed Roost Juice Bar which opened in 2005 was among the pioneering cafes in the area. However, he has since reinvented and renamed the place to Flowers in the Window, which serves homemade cakes incorporating flowers and fruit. The austere grey interior offsets the profusion of blooms and plants perfectly.

Roost Repurposed & Recycled Cafe:
14, Jalan Trus, Johor Bahru, Johor
Opening hours: 1pm to 12am, closed on Tuesdays
Contact: (016) 776 7489

This story first appeared in EdgeProp.my live! magazine. Download a FREE copy of live! magazine here.