De Royalle Cafe
De Royalle Cafe is the closest thing Gadong has to a lounge experience. The space is large by BSB cafe standards, seating around 80 people across an indoor dining area and a covered outdoor section with cushioned seating and shisha pipes. The decor mixes Middle Eastern and modern influences: ornate light fixtures, dark upholstery, and gold accents. The menu combines Bruneian, Middle Eastern, and Western dishes, with mocktails and fresh juices replacing the cocktails you'd find at a similar venue in a non-dry country. Shisha is available in a range of flavors. The crowd is mixed: families early in the evening, groups of friends later. It stays open later than most BSB establishments.
What to Expect
Walking in feels like entering a shisha lounge in Dubai, minus the alcohol. Low lighting, comfortable seating, and the sweet smell of flavored tobacco. Conversations are unhurried and the music is background-level Arabic pop and chill-out.
Moody, relaxed, and slightly upscale. The closest BSB gets to evening venue ambiance.
Arabic pop, chill-out, and ambient electronic at moderate volume
Smart casual. Most guests dress up slightly compared to the surrounding cafes. Modest clothing expected.
Groups looking for the most 'lounge-like' experience available in BSB. Shisha enthusiasts. Date spot by Brunei standards.
Cash and cards accepted
Price Range
Mains BND 12-25, mocktails BND 6-10, shisha BND 15-25, desserts BND 8-14
Mains ~USD 9-19/~EUR 8.40-17.50, mocktails ~USD 4.50-7.50/~EUR 4.20-7
Hours
16:00-23:30 daily, midnight on weekends
Insider Tip
The outdoor section with shisha is the main draw. Order the Arabic mixed grill if you're hungry. Mocktails here are better than you'd expect, with proper garnishes and layered flavors.
Full Review
De Royalle fills a niche that would be occupied by a cocktail lounge in any other city. The space is well-designed, with enough separation between tables that conversations feel private. The outdoor section, covered but open-sided, catches whatever breeze Brunei's humid air offers and fills with shisha smoke that gives the evening a communal, leisurely quality.
The food is better than it needs to be for a venue that could coast on atmosphere alone. The Arabic mixed grill is substantial, the hummus is house-made, and the lamb chops are consistently good. Bruneian dishes like nasi goreng and mee goreng are also on the menu for those wanting local flavors.
Mocktails deserve mention because they're taken seriously here. The bartenders (or whatever you call them in a dry country) build drinks with fresh fruit, herbs, and proper technique. A virgin mojito with fresh mint and lime actually tastes like something worth ordering.
The crowd shifts as the evening progresses. Families with children dominate before 8 PM. After 9, groups of young adults take over, and the atmosphere becomes more social. By Brunei standards, this is a late night out. By anyone else's standards, it's an early dinner with dessert.
The Neighborhood
De Royalle sits on a main road in the Gadong area, accessible from The Mall and the night market on foot. Several other restaurants and cafes are nearby, but none offer the same lounge-style atmosphere.
Getting There
Taxi from BSB center costs BND 5-8. The cafe has its own parking lot, which matters in car-dependent Brunei.
Other Venues in Gadong
Piccolo Cafe
Popular local cafe with outdoor seating, serving specialty coffee, fresh juices, and Western-style food. One of the later-closing spots in Gadong.
Roasted Sip
Third-wave coffee shop with a modern interior and a menu featuring single-origin brews, smoothies, and light bites. Draws a young local crowd.
Tarindak D'Seni
Cultural cafe and gallery space serving Bruneian traditional dishes and desserts. Live traditional music performances on select evenings.
Nasi Katok Mama
Late-night eatery famous for Brunei's national dish of nasi katok. BND 1 per packet. Open until midnight, making it one of the latest closing food spots.
I Lotus Restaurant
Upscale Chinese restaurant near The Mall Gadong, popular for group dinners and family celebrations. One of the nicer dining experiences in the area.