Mizuniwa is a calming establishment where one can sip on a cuppa while watching delicate dioramas of marine life (All photos: Zahid Izzani)
Staring at little goldfish darting about in a glass bowl with fluorescent pebbles is a fond memory for many. The magic of an oceanic microcosm never fails to fascinate the eyes and soothe the soul — therapeutic qualities that carried Stephan Fernandez and his girlfriend Charlotte Siow through the dark days of the pandemic. “When we started, it was a stressful time. But having these little scenes we could escape to really helped. We wanted to share this with more people,” he explains.
Today, the couple are the proud co-owners of Mizuniwa Aquascape Café in Bandar Sri Damansara, Kuala Lumpur. It is a quaint, calming establishment where one can sip on a cuppa while watching delicate dioramas of marine life. It is named for the Japanese words “water garden” as an homage to the origins of aquascaping — simply, the craft of underwater gardening. Teeming with vibrance yet comfortably uncluttered, the interiors’ understated architecture and transparent seats direct all attention to the bright tanks where colourful critters thrive. The store is especially popular with enthusiasts, families and local community leaders, all looking to soak in the healing power of these watery friends.
“I’ve always wanted to have a restaurant, but you need money and experience to do that,” says Fernandez, who runs an IT company as his main source of income while the café gains its sea legs. Upon discovering aquascaping via YouTube, the couple swiftly fell in love with the hobby, eventually becoming local distributors for mid-range aquascaping equipment. “About two years in, we realised this could be a very nice café concept, for people to grab a cup of coffee while watching fish, because that’s what we do at home,” he recalls, adding that the saturation of cafés in the city necessitated a unique angle to stand out. Despite their investor pulling out at the last minute, the brave pair were not discouraged from pursuing their dream. “We scraped together all our savings and opened Mizuniwa in August this year.”
The inhabitants of each tank were selected with two primary considerations in mind — that they be schooling and non-aggressive — allowing many different species to live together and move about attractively. The thematic decor in each watery vignette follows the common aquascaping schools, such as the Dutch style, which immersively emulates certain biotopes. Plant types, wood positioning and outlet flow, for example, are used to emulate the fluid dynamics of a running river.
Safety was another important design consideration as many parents visit with their children, Fernandez and Siow note. In addition to the house rules tacked at the entrance and order counter, most of the furniture have rounded edges and the bricks supporting the tanks are all stuck securely together.
Apart from its delightful gilled tenants, Mizuniwa prides itself on its delicious offerings. The menu features a curated selection of coffee, matcha and fresh fruit sodas, as well as cakes and affogatos. The signature “tiru”-misus — a spin on the Italian classic using unconventional flavours like kaya butter — are a particularly special (and not too sweet) treat. By popular demand, the owners have also introduced hot food in the form of Japanese-inspired rice bowls, with plans to add pasta dishes in the long run. High quality ingredients and thoughtful recipes that minimise waste are a testament to the couple’s love of food, while smaller details, like the shovel-shaped spoons, are charming enhancements to the experience.
Still only semi-finished, Mizuniwa plans to incorporate more live plants and a human-height waterfall, as well as a rainforest corner with Malaysian and Indonesian flora, to appeal to a wide range of nature lovers. The duo intend to host workshops and hour-long themed sessions for corporations and families to educate participants on the benefits and maintenance of aquariums, focusing on their remedial effects.
5G, Jalan Ara SD 7/3b, Bandar Sri Damansara, KL. Wed to Sun, 11am to 8pm.
This article first appeared in issue No. 114, Winter 2024 of Haven.
