Codium:

Growing Coastal Garden In Lombok

Codium is one of the newest restaurants in town, and honestly, it’s got such a cool concept. The name itself comes from a native seaweed the founders discovered along the southern coast of Lombok. That already sets the tone, this place is about being rooted in its environment.

What makes Codium special for me is the way it treats the landscape. So many coastal places try to force plants that don’t belong, only to see them struggle. Codium took a different path. Instead of fighting nature, it embraced it. The garden is full of coastal champions. Rembiga milkweed, fountain grass, pandan, kangkung laut, coconuts, and all kinds of native grasses that actually like the salty breeze and sandy soil.

Inspired by the Coast

I first walked the site back in May 2025, when it was still just construction dust and the sound of hammers. The founders had been dreaming of this place since 2022, and finally, it was becoming real. Their vision was not only to serve fresh, locally caught seafood, but also to pair it with herbs grown right on-site. Clever idea, herbs are expensive and often hard to source, so why not grow them here?

The Making of Codium

Designing a Coastal Garden

Fast forward to September 2025, when our Saifana team came back with the prefabricated wooden garden beds. We had built them ahead of time so installation could be smooth. The beds let us create proper soil in the middle of sand, layer by layer: coconut husk to hold moisture, leaves and rice husk for aeration, compost for fertility, and dried banana leaves on top as mulch. It’s a simple formula but it works wonders, draining well while keeping enough moisture to stop plants from burning under the coastal sun.

That day was long but exciting. We started at 7 am, unloading materials, setting up, filling beds, and finally planting herbs: rosemary, thyme, oregano, coriander, rocket, celery, mizuna, Italian basil, mint, beetroot, and tarragon. The Mediterranean herbs fit the climate surprisingly well, they like the dry, breezy conditions as long as the soil drains properly.

Where Garden Meets Table

By afternoon, my shoulders were sunburnt, but the garden was alive. The beds lined the pathways, green against the sand, framed by coconut trees and the sound of the ocean in the background. When I walked the founders and the chef through the new garden and explained how to care for it, their excitement was contagious. I could already see the chef imagining dishes seasoned with herbs just picked from outside the kitchen.

For me, Codium’s garden is more than a project. It’s a reminder of how powerful it can be when we let nature guide the design. A coastal restaurant, with a coastal garden, serving coastal food. Simple, but rare to see. I’m looking forward to watching it grow.

Codium: Growing a Coastal Garden in Lombok

A story about creating a unique coastal garden for Codium Restaurant, blending native plants with Mediterranean herbs to thrive in sandy soil and salty breezes.

2 min read