A break at Two Towers Bali on the island of Nusa Lembongan, off the coast of Bali. Photo by Steve Collier. Copyright, 2015.

Finding a great spot to sit down, relax, unwind, catch up and plan our next adventure is something we look forward to when we arrive in a new place. It can be pretty intense trying to work out a location having just arrived after a twelve hour bus ride in 30°C heat and carrying your backpacks.

It’s important to take a moment and find a place to relax, soak up the vibe and think about the next move. People watching is one of our favourite activities while traveling and sitting down gives you time to look out for those characters you might otherwise miss. Ordering something at a coffee shop can help you feel more comfortable in unfamiliar surroundings. You’ll be surrounded by locals and that grounding constant of a good brew is relaxing.

Some of these places were researched before arriving and some were found by chance. So, without further ado, here are five of our favourite coffee experiences so far.

*Disclaimer: Nic doesn’t actually enjoy coffee but in these places we both ordered drinks and enjoyed the experience. Chances are if somewhere does great coffee there will be a selection of equally excellent non-coffee based drinks.

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