Bali Food Diaries – Bali’s hottest new restaurants and bars -July/August

From cocktails in Legian, a casual Italian in Berawa, an incredible Brunchcation in Nusa Dua, to smashing hot cocktails in Seminyak and Bali's first craft brewery and more in this month's Bali Food Diaries.

Rarely do things stand still in Bali and this month we bring you news of a stylish cocktail and tapas bar in Legian, a fine dining chef who has opened his own casual Italian eatery, Bali’s first craft brewery opening in Canggu, and a cocktail bar that is turning out world-class drinks with a dash of rock and roll and some smashing San Francisco-style pizzas on the menu. We also checked into Nusa Dua to check out a brand new brunch offering, an all day affair you won’t want to miss.

Stay tuned to our new monthly food diary, introducing the best of what’s new in our world of Bali food.

Sinaloa, Legian

Ah Legian, this is what you’ve been waiting for. Sinaloa takes inspiration from Cuba and Mexico.

Ah, Legian, this is exactly what you needed. Converting a grungy old bar into a stylish, two-level tapas and cocktail destination is a work of genius, as this is exactly the injection of casual sophistication that locals and travellers were crying out for. Surrounded by plantation shutters, brilliant in blue and white, with warm lighting and a Cuba-meets-Mexico menu of delicious tapas and main courses, Sinaloa is the kind of place where you come early and leave late. Brought to you by the team behind On The Juice, the lively pop up bar on Padma Beach, Sinaloa welcomes you with a stunning blue cocktail bar and scattered tables before leading you upstairs where the menu focuses on small plates and big flavours. Must try is the menu of flavoured and classic margaritas.

Jl. Padma Utara No.100x, Legian. +62 819-1638-0090

 

Black Sand Brewery – Batu Bolong.

If you can’t find what you’re looking for, create it yourself. Black Sand brewery is Bali’s first craft brewery.

If necessity is the mother of invention, then craft beer lovers will fall in love with Black Sand Brewery and its reason for being. Local expat Mattia di Bitonto loves surfing, time with his friends, good food, and really good beer. Frustrated with having to pay big bucks for imported craft beers, he finally decided to create his own. Black Sand Brewery embraces the Canggu Lifestyle with a beautiful industrial-style building open to the rice terraces behind Batu Bolong. With the help of a master brewer, four brews are available on tap, all created on site. With former pastry chef, Mattia Taschera ( Matty dua!) adding his enthusiasm and expertise to the team there is a strong food ethic to accompany the beer. “ What it’s really about is creating a place where we want to hang out ourselves, a place to catch up with friends over good brews and enjoy casual meals any time of the day,” explains Mattia. The arrival of another Italian, chef Angelo who left his traditional culinary roots behind when he studied with NOMA, means the crew is complete and Bali’s first craft brewery is serving up good times, good food and really good beer.

Pantai Batu Bolong Street, Canggu. 0812-3754-2129

Street BoiJl Petitenget.

Kick ass bao, burgers and wok-tossed favourites at Street Boi.

Street Boi was born from a lifelong passion for the pillowy soft buns popular in many Asian cuisines. For hospitality professional Dewa Wahyu Bintara, Street Boi was the place he conceived to play all his favourites. With a career that includes some of the island’s top restaurants including Four Seasons and Bikini restaurant, he is now General Manager at Mano Beach House, one of our cool favourites. Street Boi is his passion project yet it goes beyond a casual diner. With his background, the food and the cocktails consist of tried and true recipes that are bursting with flavour and personality. The little bao come in three flavours; the juicy beef burger, a spicy Korean kitchen and a vegetarian version that pulls no punches. His childhood heroes, Chuck Norris and Bruce Lee, are more than just a nod to modern culture, they cross borders and bring the cultures of the USA and Asia together in a stinging match that takes no prisoners. Affordable, adorable and delicious, Street Boi has a daily happy hour, lunch specials at Rp100,000 for a burger and a beer ( or soft drink) and a Wednesday special where every bao is Rp50,000. Don’t even think about missing out on his crafted cocktail list! There’s more to Street Boi than meets the eye. Deliveries are also available with Go-Jek.

The Pontiac Stardust and Flat Stanley Pizza – Jl Petitenget.

Loaded with attitude and spiked with passion, the Pontiac Stardust and Flat Stanley play well together.

The Pontiac opened in Hong Kong four years ago and almost immediately made the list of Asia’s 50 best with their ‘craft-dive’ bar. With rock and roll in their DNA and a solid cocktail background, the bar has moved up the list every year, and now they have opened in Bali. With a breezy balcony for catching up with friends to a rocking indoor bar, the crew from Pontiac Stardust, including the statuesque, award-winning mixologist, Beckaly Franks, have infused some local flavours into their inspired list of cocktails ( try the tumeric-spiked Hobnail, yum). Sharing their space is the San-Francisco inspired Flat Stanley Pizza featuring a menu that highlights a blackened, chewy sourdough base with toppings that include everything from their delicious cheese pizza to gourmet twists like the truffle fungi, and a range of gourmet salads, small bites and desserts that will blow your diet out of the water. Located on Jl Petitenget opposite Si Vu Play, this is one to try.

Jalan Taman Ganesha No.9, Petitenget, Seminyak. +62 361 4471192/ Flat Stanley +62 361 9346016.

 

Cibo!

Chef Diego Martinelli takes years of fine dining experience and pours it into his casual eatery, Cibo.

When a fine dining chef sets up in your neighbourhood it’s always great news. When it’s all about going back to his Italian roots and bringing artisanal home cooking that combines a restaurant and bakery, we’re listening. Diego Martinelli has cooked in some of the world’s best kitchens, from Bulgari Hotels to Le Cirque in Delhi. His latest project, Cibo! in Berawa, brings him back to his roots. Everything here is made in-house, from fabulous salami and charcuterie to hand rolled pasta, slow cooked sauces and a great range of bakery products from flavoured focaccia to traditional cakes and desserts. While fine dining may be his background, Diego has created an experience that is casual, incredibly affordable and delicious. The hospitality is as warm and generous as the recipes. Cibo! is a place you will return to again and again.

Jl. Raya Pantai Berawa No 8, Tibubeneng. +62 812-3671-5490

 

Opeum Bistro in Jl Double Six.

Singapore MasterChef finalist Sharon Gonzago and local Balinese chef, Awa Hermawan create Opeum’s menus.

You have to love a place that sneaks up on you and then blows you away. Opeum Bistro has opened in the incredibly stylish little boutique hotel, Lloyd’s, off Jl Double Six. Helmed by MasterChef Singapore Finalist Sharon Gonzago and assisted by Balinese chef, Awa Hermawan, Opeum brings a fresh eye to heritage-inspired bistro dishes. The setting is casual, the hotel modern yet intimate, and the menu is full of delicious surprises. Tucked away at the beach end of Double Six Road, Opeum will surprise you with its creativity and fresh approach to classic dishes, each with an Indonesian twist.

Jl. Arjuna (Double Six), Seminyak

TEL : +62 361 475 5560

 

Brunch-cation at Apurva Kempinski, Nusa Dua.

Bali’s newest brunch-cation at Apurva Kempinski in Nusa Dua is stylishly created by Executive Chef Eric Cocollos.

Sunday brunch in Bali is an institution, so how to do it differently? Apurva Kempinski is the latest luxury resort to open on Nusa Dua’s beachfront, it’s a majestic hotel that rises from the sea to nestle elegantly on the clifftop. Brunch is held every Sunday at Pala Restaurant, which sits in the centre of the resort surrounded by pools. The Brunchcation is a great deal as it offers an all day experience including a 3 hour brunch, inclusive of day beds, entrance to the resort’s gym, kid’s activities and a complimentary sunset cocktail to end the day at the rooftop bar. This is more than just another brunch, the food is exceptional, curated by their French Executive Chef, Eric Cocollos. Fresh seafood ranges from sushi to fresh oysters, prawns and crab to grilled prawns and lobster served on the deck. Asian favourites, a carving station, hors d’oeuvres delivered to your table (including a delectable foie gras en croute), and lashings of fresh vegetable dishes and salads all culminate in the most seductive dessert offerings. The package for the day starts at 750,000 nett, kids eat for half price and a free flow with local wines at Rp1,150,000.  Day beds surround the central pool, beach activities include stand-up paddles and kayaks, and guests can also indulge at the spa for 20% off as part of the package. A dedicated kids area with slides and pools means parents can relax and enjoy while the kids have their own area to enjoy.

Lot 4, Jl. Raya Nusa Dua Selatan. (0361) 2092288

 

Special Mention:

Room4Dessert Ubud

There’s always Rom4Dessert, and now it’s better than ever, created by Chef Will Goldfarb. Pictures provided by Martin Westlake.

It is now almost two months since maverick pastry chef, Will Goldfarb, re-opened his dessert destination restaurant and it remains one of Bali’s hottest reservations, booked up months in advance. Despite being larger, the patrons served in this single sitting, 21-course revolving experience, is actually fewer than before. The evening begins with six plant-based appetizers sourced from the surrounding organic gardens (think bite-sized babi guling created completely from plants), the main course is served in the dining room and bar complete with artisan-style cocktails, prepare yourself for a combination of flavours, textures and colour like nothing you’ve seen before. The team runs like a paco-jet (pastry buffs will know), so well versed in their roles it appears seamless but still wonderfully human. Host Will wanders throughout the experience and adds his unique voice to the performance. The final chapter is served on the adjoining terrace, with coffee and petit fours. The smart diner will then head back to the bar to sample one of the best cocktail lists on the island. Book well ahead to enjoy Room4Dessert. Final note: If you are a dessert buff check out Will Goldfarb’s book, it is an insight into the intricacies of these recipes and a wonderful read.

Jl. Raya Sanggingan, Kedewatan, Ubud. +62 813-3705-0539

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