From fresh produce and breakfast staples to traditional snacks, Pasar Modern BSD City has long been a go-to for both neighbourhood regulars and curious out-of-towners eager to shop and snack their way through the 22-year-old market. Offering a cool, quiet shelter in the thick of it all is Folly, coming in with a fondness for great coffee, homemade snacks and fresh, intricate blooms.
Right away, the space makes an impression; dark, exposed, and industrial in tone, it is immediately pronounced with the presence of Jack, a green moss structure reminiscent of a beanstalk, greeting oncomers with its scale. It’s the work of Phebie Godjali, the founder and florist behind Tutudios, who is making a name for herself with her structural floral arrangements that have appeared in establishments like Tide and Table, Suma Jakarta, and From Tiny Islands.
For a space that calls itself ‘folly’, which in architecture means a building structure solely made for decorative purposes, the café is, in contrast, deeply personal. Folly’s co-founder Patricia Godjali (Phebie’s sister) brings in some fresh blooms into the space from her own floral business, Il Fiore, while their mother contributes to the cafe’s lineup of marble cakes. “We grew up coming to the market and spending a lot of time here. Even the selection of marble cake, which is a very pasar (market) thing, resonates here as well,” said Bryan Wibowo, Folly’s co-founder and Patricia’s husband.
Sink into the day with a tender slice of their marble cake (try flavours like lemon blueberry and pandan black sticky rice), and pair them with their coffee offerings roasted by Instinct Roastery. Opt for their signature, Green Ghost, a matcha milk espresso combination, as well as non-coffee offerings, namely Toronto Fog, a comforting swirl of Earl Grey tea with maple cold cream. Take them upstairs to the second floor, grab a spot at one of the communal tables, and settle in to get some work done or indulge in solo time.
With plans to make the second floor a space for a floral arrangement workshop, Folly, in its all creative flair of merging a café and floral studio, is uniquely warm and distinct for its personal touches—even their logo is cutely scribbled by Patricia and Bryan’s son. It’s not trying to be the next buzzy café; instead, Folly quietly finds its place in the nook of a bustling market and simply being present in the things they love.
