Blooming in Bali: Eating Around Seminyak

One of my favourite things about Bali was the food. I was constantly looking forward to my next meal (not much different from the way I am at home to be honest) and I was delighted by the variety of cuisines available. The Indonesian restaurants were amazing, teeming with duck, pork and seafood, and packed with chilli. There's also a whole lot of cafes and restaurants specifically marketed towards tourists, including a bunch owned by innovative Aussies. 

I didn't have a single bad experience while I was there (except maybe the time when chilli got to my stomach – hint, bring supplements that promote healthy digestion) and the following are some of the great places I tried while I was staying in Seminyak. 

Revolver

Seminyak

Revolver is the 'it' cafe in Seminyak for a coffee connoisseur, or really anyone who enjoys a good caffeine hit. It's all wood and warm lights inside, with a trendy midwestern vibe (two words that rarely go together). The hipster bartenders know their stuff and if you want to feel part of the gang, there's awesome Revolver jumpers and T-shirts on sale. I had my first soy latte of the trip here so it'll always have a place in my heart. Oh and the food was pretty great too!

Naughty Nuri's Warung
Seminyak

Ribs, ribs, ribs. That's pretty much my summery of Naughty Nuri's. The pork ribs here were some of the best I've ever had. Moist, melt-in-your-mouth and a perfect combination of sweet, smokey and zesty (the lime is a genius addition). The sides and salads here were a great addition to the main event, and like most restaurants in Bali, the menu offers heaps of options for drinks as well as food. I because here I decided to branch out from my usual young coconut and try jus alpukat, which is basically avocado juice blended with milk and chocolate. 

Watercress

Seminyak

Watercress is the perfect place for foodies looking for a more sophisticated feed. It has a lovely open air dining area, which lets you enjoy the beautiful Bali breeze with your dinner. The menu is diverse and rustic, and caters for a range of tastes and preferences. The waitstaff were friendly and attentive, and we even think we spotted the owner on the table beside us. Highlights were the entree of succulent scallops, the beautifully cooked lamb and the delicious dijon mustard and lightly battered onion rings that came with my steak. It's Sydney food, for less than Sydney prices. 

Potato Head Beach Club

Seminyak

Everyone told us we had to go to Potato Head and when we got there we understood why. I didn't take many photos (I like to say I was off-duty that night), and it was dark, but we could still appreciate the classiness of the club. We sat - well technically, lay - down on one of the hybrid lounge/tables/beds near the glowing infinity pool. 

The cocktail menu there was the standout of the entire trip. I'll be dreaming of the heavenly Indus Nesos (vanilla vodka, apricot liquer, lychee juice, coconut cream) for a long time. We didn't have any savoury meals, but the desserts we tried were awesome. 

Sea Circus

Seminyak

It would have been brilliant if we had visited Sea Circus before our final day in Bali, and if we went for more than coffee and last-minute churros. Especially after a big night, so we would have an excuse to try one of their "hangover happy meals" that come with the option of – get this – a 15 minute shoulder and neck massage. Now that is a strategic attraction right there! 

The colourful interior of the cafe perfectly complemented its quirky, lengthy menu. Special shout out to the bathroom which completed my quota of bathroom porn for the trip. 

Waking up with an iced latte & wheatgrass shot

Satay Under the Tree (Sate Bawah Pohon)
Legian

Some of my favourite meals in Bali were the cheapest and simplest, which usually meant they were the most authentic. This satay was just delicious. It didn't have the thick, peanut-y flavour that I'm used to, it was more subtle and sweet. Then came the huge hit of chilli which nearly burnt my tongue off but I didn't even care because it was so good. I ordered mine with lontong (I got laughed at for calling them rice cakes) which were the saviour of my mouth with their creamy, stickiness. 

There's no menu, basically just one meal option (actually makes life a lot easier) but if you come here without a local or an Indonesian speaker, don't expect the same helpful, welcoming vibe that you'd get at places marketed towards tourists. Here, it's get in, eat, get out, and the cooks don't have time to mess around with silly English questions. The experience and flavour is well worth it though.

We both looked like super tourists that day

Finally, I have to mention Metis and Bambu. I don't have any photos from those restaurants (again, off-duty nights) but they were must-tries for anyone looking for a fancy dinner. One French, one Balinese, both romantic, both incredible. And for fine dining, the prices are way cheaper than Sydney. 

Two of my favourite cafes haven't been included on this list, because they were so individually awesome that they deserve a separate post. So stay tuned!