From French gastronomy and modern Australian fare to Asian fusion and local delicacies, Bali offers a simmering pot of flavours – the perfect recipe for romantic dining. To help find the best foodie gems on the island, we asked long-time Bali experts and co-founders of cool website The Bali Bible, Simon and Lani te Hennepe, for their recommendations. Reserve yourselves a table for two at these fantastic spots…
Related article: A first-timer’s guide to Bali
La Lucciola
“Affectionately known as La Looch, this restaurant is a pioneer in fine dining in Bali. The food is modern Mediterranean-style fare, but it’s the setting, with its traditional thatched-roof pavilion, that turns a meal here into an experience. The open-air pavilion harnesses the cooling breeze from the ocean beyond, and the hospitality is pure Balinese – relaxed elegance, always delivered with a smile.”
Sarong
“Petitenget is known as the Paris end of town and it’s home to some incredible restaurants – the finest of which is Sarong. This place is a destination in its own right – it pays to make a booking here as soon as you arrive in Bali, as there can be a waitlist (yes, the food is that good!). Founded by award-winning chef Will Meyrick, the restaurant’s Pan-Asian menu is inspired by the street food of Asia. The fit-out is pure class, from the two dining pavilions, including an outdoor lounge and sumptuous interior, to the casually chic bar serving up designer cocktails.”
Merah Putih
“With its soaring ceiling and modern exotic décor, Merah Putih boasts an ambience as spectacular as the creative Indonesian dishes on offer. Couples will love the romance of the architecture combined with superb food and drinks. The menu is designed to share, echoing the way that Indonesian families eat.”
Sangsaka Restaurant
“The team behind Merah Putih has done it again with Sangsaka, one of the hottest new restaurants in Bali. A casual, 40-seat modern Indonesian restaurant, it uses a range of woods and charcoals to infuse food with flavours like coffee and rambutan.”
Metis
“Chef Nicolas ‘Doudou’ Tourneville brings his culinary artistry to the French Mediterranean cuisine served up at Metis. The seductive feel is thanks, in part, to the beautiful scenery – the restaurant overlooks rice fields, and couples can savour the culinary delights along with specialty wines by the glass or bottle, as well as classic and original cocktails. For the ultimate romantic experiene, book an evening at their exclusive bale amid the lotus ponds.”
OPIA
“Destination dining doesn’t get much more spectacular than at OPIA. Overlooking the Jimbaran quarry, it’s a stunning stage for a meal inspired by land and sea. The creative dishes are plated up with a theme of ‘modern nature’.”
Bridges
“This casually chic fine diner is in a great location overlooking the river valley at the western end of Ubud. Bridges boasts not only a superb menu of delicacies with an East-meets-West style, but one of Ubud’s best wine and cocktail bars. It’s romantic riverside dining in one of the prettiest corners of Ubud town.”
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