I always promise myself I am going to make a post on this list every time we have a friends who visits Bali. I usually end up sending them a messy email list instead. So here I am finally getting on with it.  This is for my friends Ela & her hubby, who are going Bali very soon! And of course for all of my readers and friends who are planning a Bali trip!

One caveat though, we are not experts on Bali in any way! We’ve only been to Bali 3 times this year and twice last year (though we are returning one more time to make it a total of 4 times this year). We stayed in the following for each visit:

1. Kuta
2. Seminyak and Ubud
3. Nusa Dua
4. Ubud
5. Nusa Dua
6. Nusa Dua and Sanur (for our last trip to Bali this year)

Map image via 

However the list I’ve compiled below is not only based on my experiences but also on the recommendations of our friend E (who has been living in Jakarta for more than 20 years) and our Fab friend Ted (who used to be the Food Editor for Time Out Jakarta). I also tried my best to give the most updated information I could but regrets if there are any errors or if they are no longer up to date.

Click on the links to check out my posts on the various items. For items that I don’t have a post yet, I linked you to their respective websites. This list is far from complete so from time to time I will update this post. Hope this helps you plan your trip!

Sunset Cocktails

The Rock Bar 

Potato Head Beach Club

Potato Head in Pacific Place Mall is one of our regular places to eat/drink. They’ve launched in Bali late 2010 with a mega bar/complex with several floors and a pool. You can bring your swim gear here because there’s a pool and there’s free towel service.  Sunset at Potato Head, Seminyak, Bali © Stuart McDonald

Super chic and apparently totally kicking Ku De Ta‘s arse. According to @GourmetTravel, food is still better in Ku De Ta but this place is great for drinks. With 3 restaurants, a pool and a shop – I have to agree! More details and photos of The Rock Bar here.

Ku De Ta

Head over there around 4pm to catch the 6pm sunset (Be there at 4 because there is limited seating) Grab one of the lounge chairs facing the beach. Order some appetizers (personal faves: Calamari and Hummus, but everything is pretty good). I like drinking the strawberry caipirinha, but be careful of the prices. If you are on a budget, you can never go wrong with Bir Bintang (local indo beer)…just drink it cold…when it gets hot, it sucks….”

The Bar at Bulgari Hotel

I’ve had tea and cakes at Bulgari’s The Bar, but I can see that it super chic for more intimate sunset cocktails. Image via 

Have you ever had sunset cocktails here? If you have I would love to hear your experience in the comments below. Photos of tea with fellow trailing spouse Travels with a Gourmet here.

Huu Bar

Ikan Bakar Jimbaran

Ikan Bakar Jimbaran or grilled seafood Jimbaran-style is a must try. If you go to The Rockbar for sunset or watch the Kecak Dance in Uluwatu (also at sunset) then I highly recommend that you have dinner in Jimbaran which is in the area.

Ikan baker Jimbaran style is my favourite way to enjoy seafood.  When dining in Jimbaran beach always ask for their special sauce which is sweet and spicy. Jimbaran reminds me of our Dampa style dining in the Philippines wherein you buy your seafood by the Kilo then the resto cooks it for you. In Jimbaran each resto has seafood on ice or live in aquariums and you choose which pieces and how much you want, it is weighed then you are asked how you want it cooked. Don’t forget to get it bakar in special sauce.

My favourites for Ikan Bakar in Jimbaran are as follows. #1 being my favorite.

1. Menega Cafe if you are unable to get seats or reservations (it’s always packed)
2. Radja Cafe 
3. Nyoman’s Cafe

On our first time in Jimbaran we just asked the driver to recommend a place. Be wary of these tourists traps. We were led there by our drivers’ recommendation because they get high commission from establishments such as these. It’s no wonder that even if the food is not good, the price is double the price of good Jimbaran restaurants.  Ganesha is especially notorious.

DIPLO TIP: Always ask for ketsup manis (sweet soy sauce) and garlic sauce. Dip each bite into both sauces and let the flavours tickle your palate! Order clams (best!) fish, jumbo prawns (not king prawns), crabs (have them crack it for you) and squid.

Some great tips from E when eating in Jimbaran:

You will be asked to pick your seafood at the entrance of the restaurant (some are on ice and there are live ones in aquariums)…Crabs and Lobster will make your bill 3x as high, so ask yourself whether its worth it. I recommend getting some prawns, squid, clams (1/3 kilo each) and a fish. Clams are the favorite! Get everything BAKAR with special sauce (grilled with their special sauce)! Rice, kangkung (water spinach) and fruits for dessert are complimentary with the meal. Don’t forget to mix match the sauces. As a good guideline…the cost per kilo should not go over Rp80,000…if they are charging more than that be weary and pick another resto…

Kecak Dance

Of all the dances seen on Bali today, the *Kecak* dance is perhaps the most dramatic. Taken from the Hindu epic Ramayana, the dance tells the story of Prince Rama and his rescue of Princess Sita, who has been kidnapped by the evil King of Lanka. -Ed Web Project

This is a must do in Bali. The one that E recommended to us is the one in Uluwatu. Ask your hotel for the schedules. You should arrive early to get good seats (2 or 3rd from the bottom at the center). There are also other Kecak dances all over the island, make sure to get the sunset schedule in Uluwatu because they are the most dramatic! Photos of our experience here.

Be sure to eat at Jimbaran after.

Tanah Lot Sunset

We weren’t able to get to Tanah Lot for sunset last time we were there because we took too long outlet shopping (So sorry TD! Totally my fault!) and traffic was bad. Always account for traffic for traveltime.  There are also Kecak Dance schedules for Tanah Lot which is also highly recommended by our Indonesian friends. Tanah Lot Sunset and Seafood Dinner © Bali Round Tour

Bali Fine Dining 

Bridges

Bridges is my fondest fine dining experience in Bali. The sound of the river rushing by, the warm candle lit tables, friendly staff, amazing yet approachable menu is unforgettable. The atmosphere is exquisite yet casualwithout the snobbery of some of the fine dining establishments in Bali. Read more about my experience here.

MOZAIC

Mozaic was awarded as best resto in indonesia and was ranked 5 in Asia in the Miele Guide.  Reservations is a must, strict dress code and no children allowed. This is a pricey place but gourmands and foodies may want to check it out.

Over the past 9 years Mozaic has established an international reputation. It has been listed in Restaurant Magazine’s list of the best 100 restaurants in the world and is one of only two South East Asian restaurants to be named in the exclusive international fine food guide, Les Grandes Tables du Monde. Mozaic is also the only Indonesian restaurant to be selected as one of the world’s best in the prestigious S. Pellegrino restaurant awards and ranked as Asia’s fifth finest restaurant in the region’s new Miele guide. When it opened, Mozaic was an immediate success and was named best restaurant in Indonesia by Food & Wine, Prestige and Indonesia Tatler. Wine Spectator magazine bestowed an Award of Excellence for the wine list for a number of consecutive years, making Mozaic the first restaurant in Indonesia to receive such a recognition. Additional praise has been awarded by influential publications such as Conde Nast Traveller, New York Magazine, National Geographic Traveller, Times Asia, the New York Times and the International Herald Tribune.

EIGTHY DEGREES SOUTH

This beautiful restaurant at the beach front of the fabulous Conrad Hotel Nusa Dua is a great place for a special romantic evening. The  wagyu beef and seared foie gras with black truffle sauce and Chocolate Bar for dessert. More information and photos here.

METIS

Bring at least 100 USD per person and dress up. Women wear heels and cocktail dresses here. Reservations is a must. The Foie Gras is to die for. Metis was Miele Guides Top 4 resto in Indonesia in 2010. Do not order the crispy pork belly because it is not crispy at all. Personally I prefer the friendly service and riverside location of Bridges.

More Bali Bites

We love going to Bali which is predominantly Hindu because we were a bit pork-starved in Jakarta. So of course we sniffed out some places that served delicious pork in Bali.

Delicious Onion

A small cozy artsy restaurant, Delicious Onion is one of our favorite places in Bali. During one trip we had lunch here everyday. It’s very affordable and I love the kitschy colourful interiors. Photos and our favourite things on the menu here.

Naughty Nuri

This is a Bali institution famous for it’s baby back ribs. Honestly it’s not the best I’ve tried, but it’s pretty darn good if you haven’t ribs in a while and it’s more of the experience of eating in a street side waring that is the point of eating there. I am talking about the original restaurant in Ubud of course. I would recommend asking for an extra bowl of the BBQ sauce and dousing the ribs in it. The normal amount of BBQ sauce doesn’t do the ribs justice. Also order one of their martinis. Personally I liked the ribs in Cinta Grill so much more.

Warung Made

This is another Bali institution. Anyone who visits Bali for the first time should have a taste of Indonesian warung food at Made’s. Try the Nasi Goreng, Nasi Campur, GadoGado and Sate. Read my full review and see photos here.

E also recommends Mama’s Kitchen for authentic German food. Get the Schweinazen. It is good for two.

Bali Shopping

If you are staying in Kuta, just around the block are a lot of shops…remember to bargain…initial price will be 6x more than cost…don’t bargain if you don’t have plans of buying because the shop owners sometimes get annoyed. Here are my must visit stores in Bali:

Jenggala Ceramic

The exquisite ceramic of Jenggala are beautiful yet useful pieces of art. The pieces in their Factory Showroom in Uluwatu are cheaper than in their Kemang Jakarta store. They pack the items well for you so I’ve hand carried many a Jenggala find.  If you want to get some bargains, Jenggala has outlet stores on Sunset Road and next to Batujimbar Cafe in Sanur. The pieces are imperfect, but sometimes barely noticeable.  Contact details and pictures of my favourite Jenggala designs here.

Shell Museum

This is a huge store for gorgeous capiz, mother or pearl and shell items. Don’t forget to check out the second floor too. They ship to Jakarta if you buy lamps or other bigger items. Contact details and photos of my fab finds here.

Krisna Bali

Bali souvenirs at local prices. Don’t forget to buy the wonder beauty product, Lulur. The best ones are in the white tubs with blue covers. Store photos and contact details here.

Surf Outlet Shopping

Brands like Roxy, Quicksilver, etc. are made in Bali so there are tons of outlet stores here. They are dirt cheap if you go to outlet stores that don’t have airconditioning – but the selection is more limited. Click here for more details on hardcore outlet shopping. However if you go to the nicer outlet stores like my favorite Roxy/Quicksilver VIP outlet store in Legian, it’s a bit pricier, but still half the price of Roxy in Manila. You can stock up on swimwear, and beach bags and outfits! cheaper non-aircon ones if you are hardcore bargain hunter like me. =P

Driver Surya – Bali

Surya works with a team of drivers so if he is not available for your specific date, his colleagues can also take you around. Tbey speak English and are very nice. Their rate starts at Rp 350,000 for 10 hours. However if you want a newer car which I recommend if you are prone to being carsick (Bali’s tiny roads have twists and turns that make me nauseus) you can add 50,000. The rates are inclusive of parking and drivers food already. But if you are feeling generous, feel free to tip extra.

Please note thought that different drivers have different rates so make sure to ask for the other driver’s rate and what type of car they have before committing.

Made Bali Car Rental

CAUTIONARY TALE: You can negotiate but be wary of drivers who give you a package deal that is based on where you’re going instead of the hours. Usually it’s too good to be true and I’ve friends who bargained with the driver to go to Seminyak and The Rock Bar in Uluwatu for only 35 USD. The driver said they were already in Seminyak (in reality they were only in Kuta) and the driver said not to worry because The Rock Bar was only 15 mins away (if I recall correctly it’s more like 45 mins away). Then he said they were taking too long and he wanted to charge them double already. They never got to any of the places they planned and still had to pay the driver. 

Enjoy your trip to Bali! Thanks again so much to E who passed on this list to me and TD on our very first trip to Bali.How about you? What’s on your list of favorite Bali experiences? Drop me a line!