From two brand new gourmet restaurants by culinary superstars in Seminyak and Canggu, to a vegan cooking school in Ubud, Bali’s new hotspots will have you on the edge of your dining chair!
With high season well and truly on the horizon, the island’s restaurant, cafe and bar scene is starting to step things up a notch – and by a notch, we mean A LOT. Though we’ve already seen plenty of scrumptious new spots open in 2017, the coming months are set to blow us foodies and cocktails connoisseurs out of the warm, tropical water. Here’s what you’ll definitely want to sink your teeth into!
Spice by Chris Salans in Seminyak
When our little birdies whispered to us a while back that Spice by Chris Salans was opening in Seminyak, we could hardly wait to spread the word. But now, it’s been officially announced that this stylish gastro-bar is hitting the Batu Belig strip, becoming the celeb chef’s third location following Sanur and Ubud. And just like its sister establishments, the Seminyak Spice will be bringing all of our fave locally sourced ingredients and flavours to the dinner table, plus the healing properties of Indonesia’s aromatic roots, herbs, and of course, spices. The official opening date is still under wraps, so if you simply cannot wait to try Chef Chris’s latest bites, you can check out the chef himself at this year’s Ubud Food Festival, when he’ll be teaming up with celeb kitchen babe, Farah Quinn, for a foodie feast.
Spice by Chris Salans, Jl Batu Belig No.7, Seminyak.
KILN on Petitenget
What was once the beloved and longstanding Petitenget Cafe is soon to become a hot new spot that’s ready to fire up the Seminyak dining scene. With a name like KILN, expect smoke, spice, plenty of seasoning, and yet simple but oh-satisfying cooking techniques from Chef Morgan McGlone [once trained by Parisian kitchen legend, Pierre Gagnaire] and creative cocktails from Albie Barratt of Oxwell & Co in Singapore. The full details of this hot new bar and eating house have been kept rather hush-hush so far, but we’ve been told to prepare for a May opening, and to look forward to such scrumptious-sounding dishes as chargrilled cabbage with a roasted chicken dressing, and freshly baked flatbread with a banging hot-as-hell hummus. Watch this space!
KILN on Petitenget, Jl Petitenget No. 40X, Seminyak.
Attarine Bali
For foodie fans of the ever-popular Attarine in Jakarta and the Potato Head Family’s never-ending list of scrummy outlets [we’re looking at you Potato Head Beach Club, KAUM, Katamama, MoVida, Potato Head Folk and Three Buns] prepare to dance on your dining table because the group’s Mediterranean masterpiece is hitting Bali’s shores this summer! Set to open in the hipster heart of Berawa, the island edition of Attarine will be bringing everything we love about the Jakarta location and more, with a beach house and grill vibe just footsteps from Canggu’s black sands. Expect Mediterranean bites that use the best seasonal products from small farms and local producers, together with rustic, wood-fired cooking techniques led by Executive Chef Jacob Burrell.
Attarine Bali, Jalan Pemelisan Agung, Berawa, Canggu.
El Mono
A cute and quirky little cafe recently opened in the cool ‘burbs of Berawa, El Mono dishes up a delish selection of brekkie, brunch and lunch dishes with a Spanish-Mexican flavour. Think breakfast quesadillas, big burritos, the signature Croque “Senor”, and even chocolate waffles that we can report are to die for! And if you fancy even more food fusions, try the Sambal Matah Burrito that throws in a Balinese touch with roast chicken, spicy sambal, guac and some greens for good measure. Oh, and bring the kiddies too, because El Mono means “monkey”, and there’s plenty of open space for little ones to go ape!
El Mono, Jl. Pemelisan Agung, Berawa, Canggu, p. (+62) 819010 55553. Open daily 9am – 6pm.
Remix Juice Bali
For Bali’s juicers and detoxers, Remix Juice is no newbie – it’s become one of the island’s most popular cold pressed juice brands with plenty of kudos from healthy cafes, personal trainers and life coaches island-wide. But now, to make your daily juice fix even easier to swallow, Remix has just opened its first outlet in Umalas, selling its goodness-filled juices at this cute cafe-style outlet. And there’s not only juices to enjoy here, they’ve also created a range of superfood smoothies, nice creamz [a sin-less and vegan version of ice cream] as well as an all-day breakfast menu for guilt-free grazing. And if that wasn’t enough, as part of a soft opening promo they are offering a 10% discount off of all cold pressed juices and their house-branded almond milk – yippee!
Remix Juice Bali, Jl Umalas II No.16A, Umalas, p. (+62) 361 897 4005. Open Mon – Sat, 7am – 3pm.
Beach Haus Fridays
If you haven’t heard, Mozaic Beach Club sadly closed its doors late last year, and though there were talks of a certain Mexican restaurant taking over the breezy beachfront space, the party peeps from Beach Haus have recently taken charge of the oceanfront decks for a weekly party on the sands, aptly named, Beach Haus Fridays. And with what they call a “naughty barbecue that turns into a party”, you’ll want to head down there hungry as the sun begins to set, and get ready to swap your Havaianas for your late night dancing shoes.
Beach Haus Fridays, Jl Pantai Batu Belig, Seminyak.
New Vegan Menu at MÉTIS Restaurant & Gallery
Nope, that’s not a typo. Everyone’s favourite French fine-dining restaurant, MÉTIS [famous for its foie gras and carnivorous steak menu], is taking care of its veggie friends with a brand new vegan menu! Recognising the ever-increasing demand for more vegan and gluten free options, MÉTIS has whipped together some delicious new plant-based additions to its lunch menu, most of which use their homemade almond milk and cheese. Our faves? Try the spinach and almond milk cheese ravioli, the baked and stuffed pimiento with organic pilaf quinoa, and the sweet potato gnocchi with spinach pesto, pine nuts, green asparagus, pumpkin and an almond milk emulsion – yum!
MÉTIS Restaurant & Gallery, Jl Petitenget No.6 Kerobokan, p. +62 361 4737888. Open daily 11am – 11.30pm.
Alchemy Academy
Arguably the pioneer of seriously good vegan eats on the island, Alchemy in Ubud is taking its raw-food force to the next phase with the recently launched Alchemy Academy – a raw vegan culinary education centre. With a variety of courses that explore the art of plant-based cuisine, vegans and the not-yet-converted are treated to a modern and playful culinary curriculum that unveils the joys of making and serving healthy and delicious food. And whether you’re a first-timer or a raw food fanatic, the academy features drop-in classes for home chefs who want to step up their cooking repertoire, as well as professional chef certification courses for budding kitchen buffs.
Alchemy Academy, Jl Campuhan III, Ubud. Open daily – check the website for course schedules.
Hungry? We are too! See you at the dinner table Honeys…