In this month’s edition of Hot New Tables: Tropicola, GIVE, Ohana’s, Full Circle, La Bandida, Pescado, Sibling Espresso & more!
Oh high season, how we love thee. Besides the wild summer parties, the throng of wanderlusters and beachy tropical breezes on the daily, high season also brings the biggest batch of foodie newbies to our dining tables. In this month’s culinary collection of Hot New Tables, we have a few of Bali’s biggest names opening up the most anticipated venues of the year, plus a whole host of boutique coffee spots, vegan cafes and even a bar that’s wholly dedicated to Rosé. If foodie heaven is a place on earth, then Bali’s high season is it. Tuck in, Honeys!
Tropicola
Picture this. Palm trees are swaying, piña coladas are flowing and flamingo-print shirts are bouncing from pool, to beach, to the bar and back again. Coconut oil is melting in the sun, shellfish is sizzling on an open fire, and the sounds of splashing, chatting and toes tapping reverberate against the sea. Sound like tropical heaven? You’re not wrong. This is Tropicola, the brand new Bali beach club and utopian invention from the unstoppable squad that gave us Motel Mexicola in Bali and Bucket List in Bondi Beach. It sits on a whopping 7000 square-metre expanse of beachfront hedonism, with three bars across multiple levels, two giant pools, a wood-fired open kitchen slinging some of the best beachy bites around, and of course, more cocktail-sipping, sun-soaking spots than you can shake a sarong at – all on Seminyak’s seemingly endless stretch of golden sand. This is one Bali beach club you need to know about.
Tropicola Beach Club, Jl Pantai Batu Belig No.5, Seminyak, e. info@tropicola.info. Opening August 11th 2018.
GIVE Cafe
Just when we thought the KYND Community crew couldn’t get any more awesome, along comes GIVE Cafe in Canggu – the latest creation from the peeps who brought us the plant-based KYND trailblazer in Seminyak. This second venture is once again proving just how good vegan food really tastes, but this time, they’re doing things a little differently. For starters, GIVE is dishing up wholly vegan Indonesian food Nasi Campur style – it’s just like your favourite warung, but with a plant-based twist. We’re talking meat-less chicken and pork, heaps of veggies and cruelty-free sauces and sambals. But that’s not all. There’s meaning behind the name of this new guilt-free grazing spot: GIVE Café donates 100% of its profits to charity. Yup, that means that your “cheeken” satay could save a puppy’s life. Or your Nasi Goreng Special (with a vegan fried egg) could help build recycling facilities in local villages. Or even that morning almond latte (made using Expat. Roasters beans) could provide an education for children with disabilities. Whatever you choose, it’s 100% vegan, 100% not for profit, and 1000% delicious.
GIVE Cafe, Jl Padang Linjong No.85, Canggu, p. +62 818 0566 4720. Open daily 11am – 8pm.
Ohana’s
Finally, our weekend getaways have just luxed up a notch. Ohana’s is a brand new beach club on Nusa Lembongan that’s raising the bar for wining, dining and sunshine-soaking on Bali’s “little sister” island. A beachfront pool teeters on the edge of the crystal clear waters that gently lap onto the white sand, while small bites, seafood and salads are served up under breezy umbrellas, bright-white daybeds and on the mezzanine deck that looks out over the surf. Come early for the daytime vibes, stay for the sunset sessions, and stick around until after dark for dinner beneath the stars. And psst, it’s two-for-one cocktails every day from 3-6pm!
Ohana’s, Jungut Batu Beach, Gg. Nusa Indah, Nusa Lembongan, p. +62 811 3960 0787, e. hello@ohanas.co. Open daily 7am – 11.30pm.
Full Circle
Any coffee connoisseur in Bali will have heard of Expat. Roasters. They’re the coffee experts whose beans are making their way into the coolest cafes and restaurants across the island. Well, following the opening of their very own Expat. Roasters cafe in Petitenget, these bean buffs have opened a brand new concept in Ubud. Introducing, Full Circle – a place for good food, great coffee, and a conscious effort to support sustainable processes from bean, to farmer, to cup, and back again – good practices that go full circle. Try the French Toast with espresso ice cream, the sushi bowl with pan seared salmon, and wash it down with an Espresso Martini topped with a Tim-Tam. Yum!
Full Circle by EXPAT. Roasters, Jl Jatayu, Gianyar, Ubud, e. hello@fullcirclebyexpatroasters.com. Open daily 7am – 11pm.
La Bandida
Naughty but oh-so nice (read: goddamn delicious) La Bandida is Canggu’s newest Spanish-Mexican fusion feaster that’s all about loaded tacos, big burgers and the kind of #foodporn you might only dream about on one helluva hangover (we’re looking at you, hand-cut fries muddled with lashings of Serrano ham and gooey eggs). Leading the charge here is the finger food – the Cochinita Pibil tacos come stuffed with achiote marinated pulled pork, grilled pineapple, pickled red onion and a spicy Chipotle mayo. Or the Los Pepes burger that’s made with Paprika crumbed chicken, coleslaw, guac, salsa and that spicy mayo that we can’t get enough of. And to really get the fiesta cranking, every night it’s 2 for 1 cocktails from 5.30pm – 8pm – si gracias!
La Bandida, Jl Tanah Barak No.6, Canggu, p. +62 821 4547 4530. Open daily 5.30pm – midnight.
The Shore at Hilton Bali Resort
With its beachfront location and cool sea breeze cascading through the al fresco dining room, we didn’t think that The Shore at Hilton Bali Resort could get any better. But this easy breezy gourmet destination has just had a makeover, and what a scrumptious new look it is. Sitting by the resort’s pool, the newly refurbished The Shore Restaurant has curated a new social way of dining: to taste, play, sense and experience a range of different elements, textures, colours and flavours. The new menu captures the best bits from the surrounding Indian Ocean with Mediterranean touches, alongside summery cocktails and mocktails and fresh interiors that use natural elements and earthy tones. Think wood, greenery and warm terracotta. Swing by during the day for a sun-soaked lunch by the sea, or dine beneath the stars with live music and acoustic performances on the regular.
The Shore at Hilton Bali Resort, Jl Raya Nusa Dua Selatan, Nusa Dua, p. +62 361 773377, e. hiltonbali.info@hilton.com. Open daily 11am – 11pm.
Lyfe in Bali
With a concept that’s dedicated to people and the community, Lyfe in Bali is Canggu’s newest social hub that brings all of our fave things together: food, coffee, fashion, homewares and artisanal touches – what’s not to love?! Well, these guys are no strangers to creating concepts that please the masses, because Lyfe in Bali is the second lifestyle destination from Australian couple, Robert and Marina, who opened Social-Laneway Espresso in Sydney five years ago – and they’ve gone and done it again. Try the fresh smoothie bowls for brekkie (piled high with all the best superfoods) followed by the tuna Poke bowls and sticky marinated tofu for lunch. Finish it all off with a healthy dose of retail therapy and a great cuppa with friends old and new. It’s the best of Bali life, all under one roof!
Lyfe in Bali, Tamora Gallery, Jl Pantai Berawa No 99, Shop 7, Canggu. Open daily 9am – 6pm.
Sibling Espresso Bar
This new no-fuss coffee shop needs no introduction. Sibling is the latest venue from the 8 Degree Projects group (the guys who gave us Sisterfields, Bikini and BO$$ MAN) so you know this is gunna be a goodie. Taking things back to basics, Sibling is all about really good coffee without the fancy frills. You won’t find any flashy latte art here, nor any gimmicks that take the focus off of what you’re here to enjoy, and that’s quality coffee. As the edgier, rebellious little brother to Sisterfields (it sits right next door), Sibling is unpretentious with a bit of attitude thrown in, best enjoyed with a straight-up espresso in one hand and their classic sandwiches in the other. Think Reuben sarnies, Chicken Shnitties and a cheesy Sobrasada Press. Simple sandwiches, done right.
Sibling Espresso Bar, Jl Kayu Cendana No.7, Block C003, Seminyak, e. hello@siblingespressobar.com. Open daily 7am – 5pm.
Salon Bali at Hotel Indigo Bali Seminyak Beach
Joining Hotel Indigo’s ever-scrummy collection of signature restaurants, Salon Bali is the latest culinary destination from this five-star beachfront Seminyak hotel. Honouring its neighbours, the resto is all about championing the island’s small growers and bespoke producers, dishing up locally inspired plates from an open kitchen, hugged by contemporary Balinese-style interiors. Traditional cooking techniques are the name of the game here, with iron woks, coffee wood and charcoal in a Josper. The menu is refined and seasonal, with a la carte options as well as a four-course and six-course set menu. Try the scallop with smoked coconut, jicama and sambal ikan kering; the beef shortrib with carrot lawar and kluwek nut; or our fave, the local oyster with seaweed, scorched chili and abon.
Salon Bali at Hotel Indigo Bali Seminyak Beach, Jl Camplung Tanduk No. 10, Seminyak, p. +62 361 209 9999, e. hotelindigobali.reservations@ihg.com. Open daily.
Pescado
The sleepy Balinese village of Pererenan (just north of Canggu) is finally getting some foodie kudos with the recent opening of Pescado. A fish eatery and Spanish bar wrapped into one, Pescado is upping the gourmet game in this budding neighbourhood, with small tapas plates of the finest fish and Mediterranean flavours, served up in an industrial-chic setting. Try the share-style Pulpo plancha grilled octopus with bacon, creamy potato and paprika oil, the Mejillones Tigre crumbed mussels, or go full Español with a big plate of paella. Just don’t forget the frozen Piña Coladas!
Pescado, Jl Pantai Pererenan, e. hello@pescadobali.com. Open daily 5.30pm – late.
The Rosé Social at VIN+ Seminyak
If you ask us, it’s never too early for a glass or two of Frosé. So you can imagine the grins on our rosy cheeks when we heard a St Tropez-style bar dedicated to pink grapes was opening in Seminyak. Yup, the wine experts at VIN+ Seminyak have opened the cutest, sun-soaked Rosé destination that transports you to the South of France before you can say “vino o’clock”. Sip on some of the best Rosé varieties in Bali from around the globe – from France and Portugal, to New Zealand and California – while feasting on a French tapas-style grazing menu of fresh oysters, smoked salmon with horseradish cream, prosciutto ham with melon, and pumpkin tortellini. Merci beaucoup!
The Rosé Social at VIN+ Seminyak, Jl Kayu Jati No.1, Seminyak. Open daily from 11am.
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