In this month’s edition of Hot New Tables: Sensorium Bali, Pala Restaurant & Rooftop Bar, Synkonah, Hyatt Regency Bali, Kinjo Kakigori & more!
It’s official: it’s now the Year of the Pig, and while we could have been researching the significance of the Chinese Zodiacs, we’ve been celebrating the Lunar New Year the only way we know – by pigging out at Bali’s best new restaurants.
Luckily, there are plenty of new joints to get our snouts around this month. We’ve already gone hog-wild for Berawa’s new gin-bar-slash-Mediterranean-restaurant, and we guarantee that the five-star collection of resort fine diners will knock your trotters off too. But hey, even though we never tell porky pies, it’s best you try them for yourself – you won’t be disapp-oink-ted! (Ok, we’re done with the pig puns, promise…)
Happy hogging Honeys!
Sensorium Bali
Don’t let the minimalistic interiors of Sensorium Bali fool you, because this Canggu newbie is a multi-sensory restaurant that’s designed to activate, challenge and satisfy all five senses, not just your taste buds. We won’t spoil the full experience for you here, but expect modern Australian cuisine with an Asian twist, with boundary-pushing creations like the Textural of Mushrooms (sautéed & fried wild mushrooms, seaweed paste, fried Gai-Lan & rye bread), a brunch ramen with 62-degree sous vide egg, and the signature Korean-style Bulgogi BBQ Beef Burger, loaded with homemade pickled daikon, spring onion, coriander and charred lime. This avante-garde new eatery has officially taken Canggu’s restaurant repertoire up a notch.
Sensorium Bali, Jl Pantai Batu Bolong No.31a, Canggu, p. +62 361 9070293, e. [email protected]. Open Mon – Sat 9am – 8pm.
Pala Restaurant & Rooftop Bar
Like a floating palazzo, Pala Restaurant & Rooftop Bar is the first wining and dining outlet to open at The Apurva Kempinski Bali – a brand new luxury resort in Nusa Dua. Sitting in the middle of a long pool within the main gardens of the resort, Pala Restaurant & Rooftop Bar is a stunning sight to be seen. Live cooking stations fringe the breezy dining room, with an impressive array of both local and international cuisines. Head upstairs to the second floor and you’ll find the sophisticated rooftop bar – the perfect spot to while away a sunshiney day, or capture a picture-perfect Bali sunset. By nightfall, you can dine beneath the stars on this gorgeous open-air space – no better place for an extra special date night…
Pala Restaurant & Rooftop Bar at The Apurva Kempinski Bali, Jl Raya Nusa Dua Selatan, Sawangan, Nusa Dua, p. +62 361 209 2288, e. [email protected]. Open daily 6.30am – 10pm.
Synkonah
The inspiration behind this new Berawa dinner spot is pretty much exactly what we look for in a mate: must love gin, the Mediterranean and Picasso. And just like meeting the love of your life, Synkonah will give you butterflies – or at least, a rumbling in your tummy from browsing the Mediterranean-inspired menu full of small and stunning tapas plates… all best enjoyed with a G&T or two. Our faves? Try allllll of the charcuterie, graze your way through the cheeses, the crispy eggplant, the steamed cockles, and round it all off with a hunky chunk of chargrilled sirloin – or the veggie tagine if you’re sans-meat. Whatever you feast on, finish up with a round of gins – there’s over 18 different boutique bottles to choose from, sourced from almost every corner of the globe…
Synkonah, Jl Pantai Berawa No. 99c, Berawa-Canggu, p. +62 8778 1322 881, e. [email protected]. Open daily 5pm – late.
Hyatt Regency Bali
What was previously the beloved Bali Hyatt hotel, Hyatt Regency Bali has recently reopened its doors following a fabulous multi-million dollar renovation, and with it has come a collection of scrumptious new restaurants to try. Situated on the dazzling Sanur beachfront with ocean views aplenty, the resort’s Italian Pizzaria is where you’ll find à la minute pasta, wood-fired pizza, frozen cocktails and Italian sodas, whilst inside the resort, Omang Omang serves up gourmet comfort food from Indonesia and beyond. By day, resort favourites are served up with pool and garden views, then come evening, it’s all about charcoal-grilled seafood and prime cuts, as well as the best Es Campur (coconut shaved ice) in town. And the best bit? Even though this is five-star resort dining, it all comes without the lavish price-tags…
Omang Omang at Hyatt Regency Bali, Jl Danau Tamblingan 89, Sanur, p. +62 361 281234, e. bali.[email protected]. Open daily for breakfast, lunch & dinner.
Kinjo Kakigori
When a traditional Japanese food concept debuts in Bali, you can bet your Yen on the fact that it’s the work of the the unstoppable Kaminari Group – the same peeps who gave us Rayjin Teppanyaki, Dahana and Kajin in Seminyak, and Musubi in Canggu. Well, Kinjo Kakigori is no exception, and this cool container is now the first ever Kakigori (Japanese shaved ice) specialist on the island. Using pure ice blocks and a special ice-shaving machine direct from Japan, the kakigori here has that unique and traditional texture of freshly fallen snow. Add to that the “Omotenashi” style of Japanese hospitality (where guests are wholeheartedly looked after by the trained staff) and the lineup of refreshing drinks, cocktails, and beer, and you might actually feel like you’re in the midst of midsummer Tokyo.
Kinjo Kakigori, Jl Petitenget No.8M (at M Boutique Hostel). Open daily 12pm – 8:30pm.
Lola’s Cantina Mexicana
Traditional Mexican nosh, delish vegan options and epic cocktails – Lola (whoever she is) had us at “hola” with her pretty-in-pink Mexican cantina on the infamous Canggu shortcut (be safe out there, folks!). When it comes to a feasting fiesta, Lola ticks all the right boxes. She’s got tacos, she’s got burritos, she makes a mean fajita, and she’s even whipped up vegan-friendly jalapeño poppers, plus plenty of spicy sides and starters made for sharing. And to really get the fiesta in full swing, Lola also slings 50k Margaritas on the daily, plus weekly Taco Tuesdays, just because. Muchas gracias, Lola!
Lola’s Cantina Mexicana, Jl Subak Canggu (on the infamous shortcut), Canggu, p. +62 813 3854 2497, e. [email protected]. Open daily 8am – midnight.
Parad-ice Parlour
Because life is always better with sprinkles, Parad-ice Parlour on Nusa Lembongan is the island’s first and only beachside gelato stand, situated at everyone’s fave oceanfront hangout, The Deck. Serving and scooping delicious gelato and frozen yogurt with all the fancy toppings, Para-ice Parlour is Lembongan’s hottest new spot to cool down beneath the balmy Bali sun, overlooking that view, with alllll the sunshine and sprinkles.
Parad-ice Parlour at The Deck Lembongan, Batu Karang, Nusa Lembongan, , p. +62 366 5596377, e. [email protected]. Open daily from 12pm.
Spice Mantraa Seminyak
If you’re into curry, spice, and all things nice, you’ll be very pleased to hear that Kuta’s most delicious Indian resto has just opened a second location on Seminyak’s buzzing Petitenget strip. Bringing everything we love from the Spice Mantraa original, this new address is doing what it does best: changing the face of authentic Indian bites by adding a playful and contemporary twist to the country’s signatures. Chicken tikkas, curries, kormas and biryanis all still feature in a big way (and they’re as authentic as you’d hope), they’ve just been refined and tweaked to twenty-first century perfection. Try the buttered chicken, spiced and stuffed inside a warm, cushiony naan, or the shahi lamb kebabs served slider-style. YUM.
Spice Mantraa, Jl Raya Petitenget No 112B, Seminyak, p. +62 361 9344234, e. [email protected]. Open daily 12pm – 11.45pm.
Elephant in the Room Coffee
Yes there’s an Elephant in the Room, and we need to talk about it. How has it taken this long for an awesome, specialty coffee shop to make its way to the busy streets of Kuta? Well, finally it’s arrived, in the form of a quaint and cute coffee shop (with surf-shack-cool vibes) slinging a smooth blend of local Kintamani, Aceh Gayo and Toraja beans. The lattes here are the bee’s knees (available with soy, almond or coconut milk too) and there’s even a selection of cakes and sweets to help the cappuccinos go down. Try the double chocolate brownie (nice and crispy on the outside, but warm and sticky on the inside) or the apple crumble, drizzled with caramel sauce and best served with a double espresso.
Elephant in the Room, Jl Kartika Plaza No. 168, Kuta (next to Bali Dynasty Resort). Open daily 8am – 5pm.
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