There’s a little something for everyone on the west coast of Bali, as you step into the beautiful surrounds of Seminyak. Brea Carter was fortunate enough to spend a few days there experiencing all the great area has to offer. She brings you five essential things for a true eating and drinking experience in Seminyak.
Indulge all day (and all night) long…
Potato Head Beach Club is open from 11am till 2am every day, and rightly so. The place has everything you need to settle in for the day – multiple bars and restaurants, comfy day beds, a pool and its just metres from the beach.
When you arrive, make a beeline for the day beds – they get snapped up super quick. Once you’ve settled in, check out the cocktail list – the Zombie is lethal but delicious, the 24 Karat Martini tastes more fruity than alcoholic, and the Prohibition Ice Tea is refreshingly tasty.
If you’re feeling peckish, check out Potato Head Bistro’s mostly Western-style menu, which includes things like a club sandwich, Caesar-style salad and cheese platter… then go for a dip (there’s a swim up bar here too) and take in the view.
If you’re keen on staying dry check out Lilin, which specialises in south-east Asian food – think tempe goreng and chilli prawns for entrée, and a ton of live seafood dishes for main meal. Not a seafood lover? Fear not – there’s chicken and vegetarian dishes on the menu too.
Drinks-wise, the sangria is a must try here… there’s six types to choose from!
If a more formal affair is what you’re after, head upstairs to French restaurant Tapping Shoes, which is all glass windows and elaborate chandeliers.
Looking for a live act?
Like Potato Head, Ku De Ta caters to pretty much everyone. It’s open from 8am until late and its 80 kitchen staff work around the clock to deliver breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, pizza and ‘grazing’ menus.
Grab a day bed overlooking the beach and share a pizza and drinks with friends during the day, or book a table at Mejekawi restaurant and go all out.
The food is described as ‘global cuisine with an international Mediterranean twist’… think rice crusted soft shell crab, slipper lobster with chips and the ‘kdt burger’, which is made using Aussie beef.
What really sets Ku De Ta apart is its entertainment offering – if there’s ever a DJ in town you’ll probably find them there, and the venue hosts a ton of parties and events during the high season – there’s the Old Skool Block party, White party and more.
Check the events calendar on the Ku De Ta website to check out what’s happening while you’re in town.
Take a trip to Brazil…
As its name probably suggests, La Favela offers a take on the typical Brazilian favela – there’s pared back wooden floors, lived-in furniture that clashes at every angle, a combi (don’t ask how they got it in there!) and Jesus statues scattered around – including a large one on the roof – just like in Rio.
Its easy to get lost here, there’s countless different rooms and hidden nooks, table seating for people that want to eat, as well as bar stools and couches for those who are sold on the cocktail menu alone.
More often than not you’ll find a DJ spinning the decks, and with opening hours extending until 3am, lets just say a quiet dinner here could escalate fairly quickly!
If you’re feeling homesick…
Step into the newly opened Cornerhouse and you’ll feel as though you’ve been transported to one of Sydney’s hip inner-city cafes – which comes as no surprise considering it’s the brainchild of Aussie photographer Matt Neville and his wife, fashion designer Magali Pascal.
There are exposed brick walls, mismatching tables and chairs of varying sizes, worn lounge chairs, low hanging light fixtures and expansive glass windows that make the space light and breezy.
Take a read of the menu and you’ll feel right at home, too. At breakfast there’s things like avo on toast, home made granola and eggs florentine with smoked salmon, plus killer coffee by the nearby Revolver Espresso.
The dinner menu offers everything from homemade pasta and a crispy Balinese-tofu salad through to an Aussie-style Angus beef burger with bacon, egg, cheese and onion as well as lots of fish – crusted mahi mahi, grilled tuna steak and panfried snapper fillet are all available here.
One for the health nuts…
Eaten your weight in nasi goreng? Feeling a little guilty, having taken full advantage of your hotel’s buffet breakfast one too many days in a row? Or perhaps you’re craving a green juice, or just genuinely prefer healthy, wholesome food? Either way, Down to Earth Bali has you covered.
At this cafe/health food shop hybrid, which can also be found in Legian, Ubud and Sanur, there’s veggie burgers, vegan nori maki, a vegan take on the American classic, the Reuben sandwich, homemade granola, buckwheat pancakes, nourishing smoothies and more.
Headline image: Getty images
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