Best of Bali – Where to Eat & Drink
I had been to 48 countries around the world before I managed to put my Australian snobbery about Bali aside and finally get there – Indonesia became number 49. I am so glad I got over myself – we had a blast! I travelled with my sister and we stayed in Canggu, at Aradhana Villas in the Berawa Beach area. It was a Luxury Escapes deal which worked well for us, with plenty of inclusions (although we definitely didn’t eat all the meals included). The people there were so lovely and helpful – as were all the Balinese people we interacted with over our week there. With a villa and private pool, we had a private, quiet space to retreat to when we needed a break from the bustle of Bali. Although, whilst we thought it was plenty busy enough, we travelled in late May which is shoulder season for Bali and it was also Ramadan. Everyone told us it was really quiet with lots of the Muslim Indonesians living in Bali returning to Jakarta for the end of Ramadan celebrations – I’m not sure I would have enjoyed it as much in the peak season of July and August if that’s the case!
We had a list of restaurant recommendations as long as our arm to get through from lots of friends and family – thanks everyone! Short of eating 6 meals a day, we were never going to get to them all. But we gave it a pretty good run. I’ll include a list at the end of the places we will go when we return!
Seminyak Area
Mama San
South East Asian food in a big, industrial style dining room downstairs or lounge and bar upstairs. We really enjoyed all our food here. Fresh flavours, well executed. Pretty much Melbourne prices here, so it’s not a cheap outing, but it was one of the best quality meals we had. We went at lunch and the dining room was pretty quiet, but I understand from others that it gets a good buzz at dinner. The “Dendeng Balado” caramalised wagyu beef short ribs with green mango salad were a standout. If we had enough time for a return visit anywhere, it probably would have been here.
La Lucciola
High quality Italian food, served in a beach-side, open air restaurant. We dined early so we could watch the sunset, with a 5pm booking. We started with a shared antipasto plate and a cocktail and asked if we could wait a while before ordering. The wait staff were happy to oblige and didn’t rush us at all. The food was great – house-made pasta and creamy risottos along with traditional Italian main courses. This is the only place we actually ordered wine for the whole trip – a WA Semillon Sauvignon Blanc. We knew it was going to be a leisurely dinner and cocktails and beer just didn’t feel quite right with the Italian food! Wine lists are expensive in Bali. Finding a bottle less than $60 anywhere we went was almost impossible and it wasn’t great quality at that level. But we splurged on this occasion!
Motel Mexicola
Probably the most Instagrammable restaurant on the list! It certainly seemed that way by the amount of photo shoots going on for the hour we popped in for a cocktail! We didn’t make it back to Mexicola for dinner – it was a casualty of too many recommendations, not enough time. It seemed like it would be buzzy, fun, loud. Great spot for a group to settle in over cheap tacos and plenty of beers.
Barbacoa
Latin American, with lots of the menu cooked over fire. We went for dinner, but it looks out over a rice field so would be quite nice during the day too. The interiors were gorgeous – mosaic tiles, candlelight and warm timber. Lots of families and groups were dining when we ate at 7pm and the menu is designed to cater for this with plenty of sharing options. We really enjoyed the food here without being blown away. The service was excellent aside from a bit of a wait to get the bill.
Sardine
Beautiful open air restaurant overlooking a rice paddy field with black & white umbrellas and linen covered tables. A great lunch option so you can enjoy the views, although perhaps not on the hottest days. It’s a reasonably concise menu with a strong focus on seafood. My whole fish had been de-boned, butterflied and cooked to perfection. Fantastic cocktails here. Melbourne prices for sure – it won’t be a cheap lunch if you really want to settle in, but it’s a gorgeous spot to do it!
Canggu Area
Milk & Madu Cafe
Australian style, open air café with a focus on fresh ingredients and plenty of healthy options. If we didn’t have breakfast included in our accommodation, we would have been here everyday. They also do wood fired pizzas and live music in the evenings at least some nights of the week.
Fishbone Local
Super casual, fun, open air restaurant on Canggu’s busy main strip. No bookings and it’s a popular place, but tables turn over all the time. The fish was cooked perfectly and was clearly really fresh. Just great quality food, without too much fuss. Definitely family friendly.
Mason
A sister restaurant to Fishbone, a bit further along the Canggu strip. Open air and buzzy again, but a bit more refined. This is a classic Aussie bistro feel with lots of share plates of different sizes. The food was really great quality and the service was fun and warm. They make all their own salumi and cheese in-house. Lots of communal tables as well as twos and fours. Pretty outdoor courtyard with lovely lighting. The prices were good. Really enjoyed it.
Beach Clubs
Finn’s Beach Club, Canggu
This was our one day at a Beach Club. We chose Finn’s because it was on everyone’s recommendation list and was helpfully walking distance from our villa! Essentially, there is a cost for the day beds for the day and you then can redeem that against food and drinks until 7pm. We got there early – about 10.30am – so snagged a good spot between the pool and the beach. That said, May is quiet, so we could have arrived about midday and still been ok! It was kinda funny to start our beach day with a coffee! You have to do a beach club for a day. The people watching is brilliant and it is a great way to really know you’re on holiday. A whole day lazing by the pool, reading, swimming, drinking cocktails, eating. I’m sure it’s also great fun at night, but Emma and I called it a day after sunset!
Ku De Ta, Seminyak
We called in for sunset drinks here. It’s a beach club so has a small pool and some people lounging on sunbeds, but has loads more tables and couches if you’re not settling in for the day and just want a meal or a drink. We didn’t eat here, but the cocktails were great and if you can snag a couch spot along the front of the bar on the beach side, it’s a perfect sunset view. Bit of an older crowd and more chilled than Finn’s!
Cooking Class
A cooking class is a popular way to spend a day in Bali and as Emma and I are both keen cooks, this was on our must-do list. We selected a class without too much research from the Bali Bible website which is a great resource when you’re planning your trip. The Green Kitchen Bali looked really appealing to us as we were keen to check out a local market and pick our own veges for lunch at their farm. The Klungkung Market is in Semarapura, north-west of Denpasar and it was a 2 hour trip each way from Canggu. That is a bit further than we realised, but it was worth it for the experience of the day – it was definitely off the tourist trail! The cooking class was really hands-on and informative, held in an outdoor kitchen on a hilltop in the midst of lush jungle and overlooking farms and mountains. Honestly, the meal we cooked and ate was probably the best we had in our time in Bali! The family running the business were just lovely. We really enjoyed our day with the Green Kitchen.
Other recommendations and tips
I’ve included some other recommendations that appeared on at least two of the lists we collected from regular Bali goers. I hope I can get back soon to add to the list!
- La Brisa, Echo Beach – sunset spot and restaurant
- Sea Circus, Seminyak – restaurant
- Old Man’s Bar, Canggu – beach club / cafe / bar
- Sisterfields Café, Seminyak – we had a coffee here. Menu looks fantastic. Very Aussie style all day breakfast and small lunch menu vibe.
- Bikini, Seminyak – great cocktails
- Revolver, Seminyak – great breakfast
Bluebird taxis were the easiest way for us to get around – tip from Michael John, always make sure the meter is on. If you’re getting around in Canggu, they are not as plentiful as Seminyak, so if you’re catching a different taxi, make a deal first. Your accommodation should be able to give you a clear idea on how much a taxi trip from point to point should cost. As much as we would have loved to be zipping around on a scooter, both of us are a bit too risk adverse for that! But with the traffic, it definitely makes sense to do that if you’re braver/stupider than us!
I know there are lots of regular Bali goers who read this blog. Would love to hear from you in the comments about your favourite Bali spots so I can add them to my “Must Visit” list for next time!
