Eat well and often
WTF Rating
Worth Staying 3 NightsPRO TIP On your smartphone, click the icon in the top right to open this map with your Google Maps app and all of the markers will load up.
Upscale Expect $35+ / person
Merah Putih Bali
Modern Indonesian and Cocktails Modern Indonesian in a stunning space, a restaurant I visit every time I’m in Seminyak. The food is emphasizes communal dining, allowing guests to sample a variety of dishes. Gravy based dishes often have stronger flavors and it’s best enjoyed over some rice. Merah Putih is solid choice for date nights and celebrations. The bar carries one of Bali’s finer cocktail too. @merahputihbali RECOMMENDATION: Get all three types of rice.Photo by Merah Putih
Mama San Bali
Modern Asian and Cocktails Mama San brings contemporary flair to Asian street food with exotic Balinese interiors and diverse menu. Having spent most of my life in Southeast Asia, the food here hits the mark, the lounge upstairs whips up decent cocktails, downside is smoking is permitted indoors. @mamasanbali RECOMMENDATION: Laksa BatawiKilo Kitchen Bali
Asian-Western Fusion and Cocktails The restaurant’s minimalist setting is an experience itself, the food is equally beautiful and will certainly make an impression. The menu is paired with a well-constructed cocktail selection and wow factors of the dishes are fairly consistent, the flavors are intense and the food can be heavy. Kilo Kitchen Bali is one of my favorite restaurants, their commitment to quality ingredients and unique flavor combinations sets them apart @kilokitchenbali RECOMMENDATION: Squid Ink RicePhotos by Kilo Kitchen Bali
Boy N Cow
Steakhouse Upmarket steakhouse with industrial-chic interiors, housed in a barn-like structure, Boy’N’Cow specializes in Australian grain-fed Black Angus, and also doubles as a meat market if you are looking to impress with your own barbeque at the villa. While I wouldn’t compare this with steakhouses you’re familiar with at home, it is a good alternative in Bali when you just need that slab of steak. @boyncow RECOMMENDATION: 900gm USDA bone-in ribeyeWorthy mentions: (ones I have not been)
Petitenget: La Lucciola and Sardine
Casual Expect $7+ / person
Revolver Espresso Oberoi
Cafe One of the heavyweights in Bali, they have been around for a while and supplies coffee to many restaurants in the area. The bistro located in a small alley and is easy to miss, the food is good and coffee is on point, the bistro is cozy and often busy so be prepared to wait during rush hours. @revolverespresso RECOMMENDATION: Bodega BowlPison Coffee
Cafe A pretty relaxed cafe, they’re open every day from breakfast and transforms into a bar with live bands at night. There have been some misses in service but its overall experience is still good. Located in Petitenget, a good place to stop by for a quick caffeine fix and cool down from the sun. @pisoncoffee RECOMMENDATION: CoffeeBO$$ Man
Burger Joint Burgers joint with a healthy side of swag – thick patties, cold Bintangs, and fresh fries. It’s busy, it’s good and they’re flip burgers until 4 am. Stop by for a fix or have it delivered, it won’t disappoint. @bossman RECOMMENDATION: Burgers are too personal, you’ll know what to get.Photos by BO$$MAN Bali
La Baracca
Italian Easily one of the better Italian restaurants I have had outside of Italy. La Baracca serves up a respectable handmade pasta and a wide selection of hearty pizzas that will give glitzy restaurants in Jakarta and neighboring Singapore a run for their money, however, the desserts and wine selection is a miss, and it is cash-only. @labaraccabali RECOMMENDATION: Pizza and pasta of your choice, gluten-free and vegan options available.Naughty Nuri’s Seminyak
Barbeque A homegrown barbeque restaurant from Ubud, now an iconic franchise in the region known for its plump, juicy rack of ribs. Naughty Nuri’s stands shoulder-to-shoulder with some of the greatest American and Australian steakhouses. Truth be said, their oversea franchises struggled and many of them are now closed, but Naughty Nuri’s in Seminyak/Kerobokan and Ubud are turning over tables at breakneck speeds. It’s a popular spot for regional tourists who are familiar with the franchise, and sometimes international celebrities. @naughtnurisseminyak RECOMMENDATION: Always go for the full rack.Gusto Gelato & Caffe
Dessert I have never seen a more successful Gelato franchise in Asia by footfall, while purists would argue that it is just ice cream, Gusto Gelato is an Indonesian brand, a casual no-frills smile maker with generous servings and a huge selection of about 70 flavors. Locals and tourists are here by the busload, there are about 4 employees dedicated to just managing traffic coming into the gelateria. @gustobali RECOMMENDATION: The serving is generous, but don’t get too greedy for it would not survive the Balinese sun.Ingka Bar and Restaurant
Brunch & Restaurant Ingka is one of the more consistent performers in town, opened in 2015 the restaurant and bar is part of the group that also operates other well-known brands like Nook and Milu in Umalas and Canggu respectively. The restaurant offers an international and local menu, from smoothie bowls and eggs benny to local favorites like Tipat Tjantok and Gado-Gado, the atmosphere is casual and the service is on point, the afternoons are popular among digital nomads looking to get some work done. @ingkabali RECOMMENDATION: Tipat Tjantok, Pumpkin and Quinoa Salad
Street Expect $1-5 / person
Babi Guling Pak Malen
Babi Guling One of the handful of legendary Babi Gulings (Roasted Suckling Pig) in Bali, the restaurant is hot and the food is spicy. Babi Guling is not usually an immediate hit for first timers, but once you understand it, it is worth heat on both ends.Pondok Duo
Nasi Padang There are many Nasi Padang restaurants in Seminyak and across Bali, it’s the local go-to, staple meal for every day. You get to choose from a display of 15-20 pre-cook dishes, served over rice and some chili. Pondok Duo is a chain, while not necessarily the “best” per se but they are more visually approachable for first-timers, it is common to see flies around these restaurants for the dishes are prepared in advance.Warung Bu Ani Banyuwangi
Nasi Campur My go-to lunch spot, like to Pondok Duo, dishes are prepared in advance and Balinese hygiene standards differ from what many foreigners expect but the food is by no means soiled, in fact, the food is amazing, they make the best corn fritters and gravied banana blossom. The eatery is packed during lunch, and food runs out by the early afternoon, now the secret is out.Tasty Vegan
Vegan As the name suggests, this highly rated restaurant serves up tasty international vegan food and Indonesian staples like sates and nasi goreng, while this cozy gem is right in the heart of Seminyak, the restaurant is in a side alley and can be a little hard to find.Nasi Jinggo
Late Night Street Food This is an affordable ($0.35) pre-packed carb bomb that feeds the city, comes in various toppings but it is generally cooked rice topped with spiced noodles, crushed nuts and sambal, wrapped in banana leaf into the shape of a cone, sold on street corners and behind motorbikes. When you get tired of glitzy beach clubs and smashed avocado, you won’t believe how good this is. Oh and get a side of crackers to go too, and bring charcoal pills.
Play all night
The beach clubs in Bali are blessed with jaw-dropping sunsets and plenty of drinks to go around. The differences between them often comes down to music genre and the crowd it draws.”
