SAN SAN SLOWBAR | MEDAN
SPECIALTY COFFEE IN GOTHAM CITY
Medan is not a place to bring those of sensitive hearts. The city is a mire of crime, drug addiction and opportunist bag-snatchers. There is an underlying current of unease that permeates the soul, almost the moment you touch down at the airport. Something is wrong. Something on a deep level. Even the taxi driver warned me:
"This is gotham city man, gotham".
Thankfully, for those who have a strong disposition, there are some highlights, and one of them is Sansan. Located in the Northern part of Medan, opposite Masjid Syuhada, Sansan is in a neigborhood house, hard to find, but worth the effort.
I took a taxi to Sansan Slow Bar tucked away at Jl. Karya Cilincing, holding my breath at every traffic light, expecting a robbery or some form of lunatic screaming at me.
Thankfully after a few wrong turns I arrived, and walked into the sunlit sanctuary, greeted with big smiles by the barista and his friend. I ordered a pour-over and within minutes was listening to some Norwegian metal and sipping along, with a group of new friends.
Over the next hour, locals popped in for a cup, greeted me, headed outside to sit on the porch and smoke their cigarettes. The cafe hummed with a perfect neighborhood vibe. No instagram influencers here, no tiktok videos, no asinine posing. This is a house dedicated to coffee, where passionate people flock to share their hobby.
Travel is all about moments like this. When you research coffee places in a town you're in, find something totally unknown, take a risk, and end up having the best morning ever.
Fuck what people think about Medan, yes it is a dangerous place, but spots like Sansan create a small pocket of smiles that you'll remember forever.
Follow them on Instagram below. And be sure to pop by if you happen to be in Medan.
