"Just for the record, I don't like cameras," Dee says, roughly four times, before he's talked himself into an interview anyway.
That reluctance is very Dee. He is one of three partners behind 7AM 7PM, the all-day bakery-café that opened in Umalas in 2022 and now runs in Pererenan and Ubud too, with Sanur and Uluwatu on the way. He describes himself, without a trace of irony, as a "pure Melbourne coffee snob, born and bred," which is the whole point. Dee didn't come up through hospitality; his background is in finance and sports clubs, and he moved to Bali permanently just under three years ago before "Bali changed me." In the 7AM partnership he owns the coffee-and-culture lane, the Melbourne palate that decides whether a flat white is good enough to serve before 9am. His two partners cover the rest: Widodo, the operator Dee calls "the pioneer of hospitality in Bali," and Chef Maxim, the French baker behind everything in the showcase.
Which makes Dee exactly the person you want to ask. His read on the island is that a place with a million tourists a month runs on a simple loop: you taste your way around on espresso, and where the coffee's good, you come back and stay. He's spent three years running that experiment on himself, cup by cup, from Canggu down to the Bukit. Here, in his own words, is his current rotation.
Avli, Uluwatu
"Avli is actually phenomenal. I would travel to Ulu two or three times a week, if I could, to go to Avli."
Avli is the modern Greek restaurant that's become one of the most talked-about tables in the Uluwatu area, its kitchen guided by Greek brand chef Angelos Lantos, a man with more than three decades behind him, including seventeen years at the two-Michelin-starred Spondi in Athens. The concept is a Greek courtyard transplanted to the Bukit: souvlaki and mezze and whole fish under a "mad vibe," as Dee puts it, with the kind of floor service that keeps him fantasising about the drive south. "Amazing service, great food, good coffee," he says, "and also a really good dessert." He's clear he doesn't actually make the trip two or three times a week. He just wishes he did.
The Goat Father, Canggu
"Goat Father in Batu Bolong is quite good."
This is the "normal one," the pick Dee offers up before he'll cough up any secrets. The Goat Father is a specialty coffee roaster and café in Canggu, tucked into The Avocado Factory, dealing in a bold house blend, single-origin roasts like Java Puntang and Tanah Karo, and a showcase of croissants and pastries alongside. For a self-declared coffee snob, "quite good" and a regular slot in the rotation is closer to a medal than it sounds.
Yume, Canggu
"Small little place, excellent machine, amazing baristas. That's my go-to. Probably every day."
This is the one he almost didn't tell us about. Yume is a tiny Japanese-style café on Batu Bolong: a compact, aesthetically sharp room that runs a serious espresso machine and, in Dee's estimation, some of the best baristas in Canggu. Beyond the coffee there are matcha, Japanese sandos and small bites, but Dee goes for one reason. "That's my go-to, probably every day," he says. "I'd drive past, have my coffee." In his words it's "a hidden secret amongst all the chaotic coffee places" in the Canggu sprawl, which, coming from the man whose day job is coffee, is the highest compliment on this list.
Santanera, Canggu
"Santanera is really nice as well, in Canggu."
Santanera is the Latin American fire-kitchen on Jalan Tanah Barak that's been a Canggu favourite since it landed, a three-storey, 160-seat room born from a collective of nine friends and steered by Colombian chefs Andres Becerra and German Rincon. The menu is built for sharing and cooked over flame (smoking, curing, fermenting, chargrilling) with Mediterranean edges and premium local produce doing the talking. Downstairs is loud and open-kitchen energetic; the mezzanine is where it slows down. Dee keeps it on high rotation without much need to explain why.
Lush Kitchen, Canggu
"A really chill, casual vibe that you can just walk in, get your lunch, get your breakfast, and walk out without much drama."
Lush Kitchen is the low-stakes hero of the list: a relaxed all-day spot on Jalan Pantai Batu Bolong serving Mediterranean-leaning healthy food (grilled mains, big salads, smoothies, a set menu) with vegan and gluten-free on request. Dee likes it for exactly what it is. "Super casual, great menu, they have a lot of options," he says. "Good service, great food." It's the antidote to the island's more performative dining: no queue, no fuss, no production. Walk in, eat well, walk out.
7AM to 7PM, Pererenan & Ubud
"7AM for breakfast, for lunch, and also 7PM for dinner. An absolutely amazing steak. And even better desserts."
He put his own place on the list, and he's earned it. By day, 7AM is the French-loft bakery-café built on Melbourne-grade coffee and Chef Maxim's pastry showcase; after dark at the Pererenan and Ubud branches, the same room becomes 7PM: a dinner menu of steaks and entrées, cocktails where the flat whites used to be, and live jazz on the soft side. "Same 7AM experience after 7," as Dee describes the concept. His own order tells you where his loyalties lie: an "absolutely amazing steak," and desserts he rates even higher. "Good coffee," he adds, tapping the cup. "Try the coffee."
Bonus: Ulu Fish Market, Uluwatu
"Great concept the guys have done there. Super busy, so make sure you book. A good variety of fish and great food."
The wildcard, and the reason to point the scooter south. Ulu Fish Market on Jalan Labuansait in Pecatu is a market-style seafood spot, an offshoot of Hawaii's long-running Paia Fish Market, where the catch is fresh, the menu wanders happily between Hawaiian, Japanese and Peruvian, and you more or less pick your fish and choose how it's cooked. Dee rates both the concept and the crowd, with one piece of practical advice that doubles as a review: it's busy enough that you'll need to book.
Dee is one of three partners behind 7AM 7PM, the all-day bakery-and-dinner concept with branches in Umalas, Pererenan and Ubud: and Sanur and Uluwatu on the way.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Dee from 7AM?
Dee is one of three partners behind 7AM 7PM, Bali's all-day bakery-café brand, where he owns the coffee-and-culture side of the business. A self-described "Melbourne coffee snob" with a background in finance rather than hospitality, he moved to Bali permanently just under three years ago.
What are the best coffee spots in Canggu according to Dee?
Dee's daily coffee rotation centres on two Batu Bolong spots: The Goat Father, a specialty roaster inside The Avocado Factory, and Yume, a tiny Japanese-style café he calls his near-daily "go-to" for its machine and baristas. He rates Yume as a hidden secret among Canggu's busier coffee places.
What is Avli in Uluwatu?
Avli is a modern Greek restaurant in the Uluwatu area, guided by Greek brand chef Angelos Lantos, who spent seventeen years at the two-Michelin-starred Spondi in Athens. Dee calls it "phenomenal," praising the food, the atmosphere and the service.
Where does Dee recommend eating in Canggu?
For meals, Dee points to Santanera on Jalan Tanah Barak, a Latin American fire-kitchen from Colombian chefs Andres Becerra and German Rincon, and Lush Kitchen on Jalan Pantai Batu Bolong for casual, healthy, walk-in dining. He also backs his own 7AM 7PM for its 7PM steak and dessert menu.
What kind of restaurant is Ulu Fish Market?
Ulu Fish Market on Jalan Labuansait in Pecatu is a market-style seafood restaurant, an offshoot of Hawaii's Paia Fish Market, serving fresh fish across Hawaiian, Japanese and Peruvian styles. Dee recommends booking ahead, as it gets very busy.
