No matter what your budget or dietary requirements, you will always find something delicious to eat in Bali. From tiny warungs serving up traditional Indonesian dishes to hipster cafes offering raw vegan smoothie bowls, Bali has it all. I’m always getting asked about food and drink recommendations so I’ve compiled a list of our favourite places to go in Seminyak.
I haven’t included any Indonesian warungs in this list as I’m going to make a separate post on the best tasting, budget-friendly warungs around Bali. But that’s a list I’m still working on, one meal at a time!
For now, here are the best western places to drink, eat or chill out by the pool. I just have one bit of advice for you while you’re here: make sure you don’t fall in love with a place and go every day. It is SO easy to do, but there really are a huge amount of amazing restaurants here so try as many as you can! Save this list down and hit up as many as you can during your holiday.
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Breakfast & Lunch
There’s a thriving brunch scene in Bali, and it seems like every other restaurant offers avocado on toast and smoothie bowls. Here are my favourite places to go…
Shelter Cafe
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday 8am–6pm
This is hands-down our absolute favourite place for breakfast and lunch in Bali – the food is so healthy, filling and delicious that we ate here almost every day when we stayed nearby. It’s perfect if you’re looking for something nutritious and healthy to fill you up for the day. There are vegan, vegetarian and plant based options here, so it’s great if you have specific dietary requirements.
The breakfast options are varied and portions are massive – you can even build your own breakfast if you feel like something specific. This is also a great place to bring your laptop and work for the morning.
I’d recommend the egg white omelette (IDR 65k / £3.50 / €3.90), the Breakfast Salad (IDR65k), the Waffys salad (IDR75k / £4.00 / €4.50) and Tim loves the Marco Polo sandwich (IDR70k / £3.80 / €4).
Basil Kitchen
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday 8am–11pm
Basil Kitchen is a small, unpretentious restaurant that we happened to stumble across and now eat at often because it’s cheap, tasty, and reliably good. Because this place isn’t on any Instagrammer radars it’s usually quiet and a great place to stop by for a quick bite before you head off on a day trip.
I’d recommend it for a budget traveller that is looking for a good feed without the crowds and prices of the Insta famous brunch spots. With most dishes priced at IDR50k / £2.75 / €3, this is a great place to go for a great tasting, well priced brunch.
Strawberry Fields
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday 8am–11pm
Unlike Basil Kitchen, this place is on nearly every Instagrammer’s radar, but don’t let it put you off. Just bring your camera because you’re going to want to get some photos here. It’s a popular spot from early morning until 11pm and offers great breakfast and brunch options from healthy quinoa bowls to a breakfast club burger.
Prices are higher than Basil Kitchen, with the avocado and eggs coming in at almost twice the price. You’re really paying for the experience, atmosphere, and the photo ops, but it’s a good spot to try and always gets great reviews. If you can’t make it for lunch then come later for cocktails and tapas.
The food choices are really varied throughout the day; with beer battered fish and chips, caramalised pumpkin salad, local curries and tuna steak featuring on the menu. Local dishes are cheapest at IDR50k / £2.65 / €3 each and the western dishes are around double that.
La Laguna
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday 9am–12am
A gypsy-inspired beach side restaurant in Berawa, walking into La Laguna is like entering another world. Brightly painted gypsy carts line the short walk to the restaurant entrance – one of which houses a fortune teller! This is a great place to come for a chilled out lunch with friends since the atmosphere is always lively and fun.
Food here is mostly Mediterranean, and is quite meat and fish heavy. There are some vegetarian and vegan options though – the falafal salad is great, as is the mushroom linguine. The baked salmon is Tim’s favourite, and he also loves the beef carpaccio.
The prices here aren’t cheap. Lunch starts at IDR80k / £4.30 / €4.80 and rise sharply to around IDR180 – 260k for the meat / fish mains. Taxes and gratuity are also added on when you get the bill, so it’s not a place for a cheap meal.
Dinner and cocktails
For those nights when you want to wear a nice dress and a have some food and drinks in a lively atmosphere. These places are good for a meal before you go out, or a good date night.
Ling Lings
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday 12pm–1am
Located on the popular Jalan Petitenget, Ling Lings serves up delicious contemporary Asian fusion food and cocktails with a live DJ at weekends. The staff are friendly and welcoming, and the food is some of the best we’ve eaten in Bali.
The menu is huge and filled with Vietnamese, Korean and Japanese dishes, many of which have a western slant. Cheeseburger spring rolls anyone? I guarantee no matter what your tastes you’ll find something to eat here – whether you’re new to Asian food or not. Head there on Taco Tuesday for Mahi Mahi, Pork, Beef, Chicken or Jackfruit tacos for just $1 .
The Ceviche (69k / £3.75 / € 4.10) is melt-in-your-mouth delicious, the mac & cheese dumplings (IDR35k / £1.89 / €2) are the ultimate comfort food, as are the kimchi fries (IDR62k / £3.34 / €3.70). The drinks menu is just as large and varied, and the prices are pretty reasonable – you server will also come to play a dice game at your table that gives you a free round of drinks if you win!
Bo & Bun
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday 9:30am–10:30pm
Mouth watering Vietnamese and Thai food served in a romantic French bistro setting, the prices here aren’t exactly Hanoi street food, but with mains starting at IDR75k / £3.50 / €3.90 dinner at Bo & Bun is not going to break the bank. The atmosphere is lively and romantic, and the wine selection is great.
Try the ‘roll your own’ Vietnamese fresh spring rolls (IDR75k / £4 / €4.50) for some hands-on deliciousness – your server will help you if you’re not sure what to do. The Thai chicken & basil is as good as you’d find in Bangkok and there’s also a vegetarian version with tofu (ask for it to be mild if you don’t like spicy food). Tim loves the 12-hour Pho (IDR90k / £4.90 / €5.50), and the Korean fries (IDR75k / £4 / €4.50)!
Double Six Rooftop Bar
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday 4pm–11pm
The rooftop restaurant at the Double Six is expensive but the views at sunset are incredible and it’s well worth a visit if you’re looking for somewhere to go on a special night. There is a dress code so you probably won’t be able to come here directly from the beach, but they do provide shirts for men if they turn up in a vest.
Head here for a cocktail or for dinner, and if you come with a group you can reserve one of the stunning poolside tables with the best view of the sunset over Double Six Beach.
The food menu is small but varied, offering local dishes like Nasi Goreng and Satay, along with cheeseburger, pizza and rib eye steak. Prices start at around IDR120k / £6.50 / €7.20 and there are light bites that cost less than a fiver if you’re not looking for a large dish. As with most other upmarket restaurants in Bali the Double Six adds an 11% service charge and a 10% government tax to your bill, so factor that in when you’re ordering.
Cocktails start at IDR130k / £7 / €8, a glass of wine costs IDR100k / £5.30 / €6, and beer is priced from IDR50k, £2.50 / €3 for a bottle of Bintang to double that for a bottle of Corona.
Rolling Fork, Seminyak
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday 4pm–11pm
If you’re looking for a chilled out, romantic date night with delicious Italian food then look no further than the Rolling Fork. This tiny restaurant on Jalan Kunti only has around 10 tables and it is dimly lit with candles on each table creating a romantic atmosphere (which is sometimes interrupted by motorbikes zooming up and down the street outside).
The Rolling Fork offers fresh, homemade pasta starting from IDR 65k / £3.50 / €3.90 (the cacio e pepe is unbelievable!) along with salads and steak (starting from (IDR90k / £4.80 / €5.30). There are plenty of vegetarian options but it might be difficult to eat here if you’re vegan as the menu features a LOT of cheese. Try the fresh buratta to start, and the grilled tuna main is melt in your mouth delicious.
Rolling Fork has recently opened a second location in Padang Padang on Jalan Labuan sait. Check out their Instagram account to see more of the food and decor at both locations.
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday 11AM–1AM
With the best mexican food in Bali, and a seriously Instagrammable interior, put Motel Mexicola on your list for lunch, dinner, and even a night out! Eat mouth-watering ceviche and drink a crisp margarita while being serenaded by a mariachi band at your table.
The food here isn’t nacho / burrito Tex-Mex style Mexican food, it’s fresh, healthy and full of flavour. Their Atun Fresca bowl IDR90k / £4.90 / €5.40 is my favourite – sashimi grade yellow fin tuna, green mango, beansprouts, cucumber with blue corn chips & Mexican rice. The guacamole (IDR50k / £2.75 / €3) is thick and so moreish that I recommend ordering a lot! Their vegetarian tostadas and tacos (IDR30k / £1.60 / £1.80 each) are packed with flavour and can be adapted to be vegan too.
After dark, Motel Mexicola is where most of the ex pats and locals go for a night out, and it’s a far cry from the tacky bars up the road in Kuta. The music is fun, latino inspired and chart toppers that make you want to jump up onto the nearest table and start dancing.
Those are my favourite places to eat and drink in Seminyak. My Ubud and Canggu favourites are coming up soon! Do you have anywhere you would like to add to the list? Let us know below!
While you’re here, check out my Bali Travel Guide 2018 and find out the best areas to go to!
1 comment
It is totally inapropriate and unrespectful to walk along the Buddha statue in that mini outfit!