Cafe Batavia and Beyond

For a walk back in time with kids in tow, head to Cafe Batavia in Old Batavia square. Go during the daytime to check out the neat renovated historical building and people watching.

Upon arrival, ask for a window table in the non-smoking area upstairs featuring a beautiful room with tall ceilings, old photos of a bygone era, and fantastic views of the square. Order your beverage of choice, sit back and relax, and watch the world passing by in the square. Through the windows, you’ll see happy people riding bright colored rental bikes, kids playing and laughing, entertainers (including monkeys!) drawing a crowd of people, people selling handicrafts, and even a manpowered rickshaw turned into a ferris wheel for wee ones!

It’s enough to entertain kids and adults for a while! It’s also a great bird’s eye view of the Dutch buildings surrounding the square, including the puppet museum, which might be worth a look before or after the cafe, just beware of people selling a “tour.”