Half of planning a Gili Trawangan trip is figuring out where to eat, and I found my answer at Pondok Santi Estate.
So you’re on a vacation to Gili Trawangan, an island with no cars or motorbikes, just bicycles, horse-drawn cidomos and your own two feet to get you around. Maybe your day was spent snorkelling with turtles and chasing the perfect sunset. Or perhaps doing absolutely nothing on a beanbag for six hours straight (also a completely legitimate itinerary). Either way, you’ll want somewhere good to eat, and that’s where I come in.
I ended up at Pondok Santi Estate on the southern end of the island. It’s an eco-luxe resort set on a former coconut plantation, right on the coastline, and home to two of Gili Trawangan’s top dining destinations: IJO Restaurant and Santi Beach. Both welcome outside guests, and I spent an evening at each. Let me walk you through them.
The breezy beachfront pick: Santi Beach
If you’re looking for a cool and casual spot to spend your sunny day, Santi Beach is where you want to be. Low daybeds and lounge sofas sit directly in the sand, with string lights through the trees overhead. I got there just as the light was starting to soften into that sunset gold, dropped into a beanbag with a drink in hand, and didn’t move for the next two hours. They also have a BBQ for the evening, so you can close your day with smoky plates of that day’s fresh seafood.
The food
Pizza felt like the obvious move for a beach bar, and the burrata pizza doesn’t disappoint – a crust charred with pools of burrata melting into the tomato sauce underneath, fresh cherry tomato and basil scattered on top to cut through the richness. Santi Beach also plays both sides, local and international, so you don’t have to pick one. I went with the Rawon Fried Rice, an Indonesian dish that’s basically comfort food from my childhood, right alongside the Mediterranean dipping platter, loaded with hummus, baba ghanoush, and warm focaccia for scooping. Some call it fusion, I call it heaven!
Wash it all down with something from the wine list, which is surprisingly more serious than you’d expect from a beach restaurant. They offer plenty of choices by the glass or by the bottle if you’re settling in for sunset. And if you want an excuse to pop champagne (Billecart Salmon is always a good idea), just being on Gili T is reason enough.
Best for: Casual, golden-hour drinks and a fun beachfront BBQ setup.
Must-try dishes: Pizza, Tropical Mezze Platter, Smashburger, Rawon Fried Rice
Price: Mains start from IDR 90,000++
Opening hours: Daily, 11am – 11pm.
The fine dining pick: IJO Restaurant
If you’re going for more of a dreamy romantic dinner on the island, you’ll want IJO Restaurant on your list. I was greeted by the lantern light under the palms and a purple night sky, with feet on the sand instead of tiles. Decorated in full wood and bamboo, with greenery all around, it feels like you’re dining in someone’s private garden, and that is not that far off from the truth. In fact, it’s what sets the restaurant apart. IJO Restaurant is committed to sustainable sourcing and minimal waste, and most of their ingredients come straight from the estate’s organic garden, or from trusted local fishermen and farmers. So there’s a big chance you’re eating that day’s harvest.
The food
I started with the tuna carpaccio, sliced thin with a tom yum vinaigrette poured over the top. The sauce really brings the sour heat, completed with a marinated shiitake to add something savoury underneath. Then came the barley risotto – roasted pumpkin comes through sweet and earthy against a spiced brown butter gone nutty. The dry aged fish is worth ordering too, served with a soubise sauce that brings a sweet and savoury creaminess. Pair your dish with the signature cocktails. The Pondok Sour or the Sasak Fizz are my faves, with local touches like kepundung and kaffir lime.
There’s always room for dessert, and this time it was the Earl Grey Panna Cotta. It came in a glass with floral bergamot running through the cream. A citrus marmalade picks the flavour back up, and candied peel adds a little chew. Forget sharing, get two orders each for this one.
Best for: Couples seeking a refined, romantic garden setting for date night.
Must-try dishes: Tuna Carpaccio, Taliwang Duck Croquette, Barley Risotto, Earl Grey Panna Cotta.
Price: Mains start from IDR 150,000++
Opening hours: Daily, 6pm – 10pm.
My verdict: Go all in!
Of course, the best way to experience both of these spots is to just never leave the estate. While IJO Restaurant and Santi Beach are incredible on their own, booking a stay at Pondok Santi Estate will completely elevate your Gili Trawangan trip. Staying here means you get to experience their signature personalised hospitality, wellness offerings, and authentic island living. You can even take things to the next level by booking one of their Princess Margaux Experiences to see the waters around the Gilis in style. It is by far one of the best luxury resorts in Gili Trawangan.
Address: Dusun Gili Trawangan, Gili Indah, Lombok Utara
Website: Pondok Santi Estate