Not only a stunning, two-storey restaurant with front-row seats to Seminyak’s sunset scene - SugarSand is where it’s at for beachside Japanese-inspired dining done right.
If you think that fine food and exceptional dining in Bali can only be found in a fancy air-conditioned restaurant or resort, think again. SugarSand is Seminyak’s all-day sunshine destination that’s brought sublime gourmet dining to the easy-breezy seaside…
We’ve spent many sunshine-soaked days here, lapping up the live music, the next-level cocktails and the front-row sunset vibes, but the thing that’s kept us coming back time and time again is the food; SugarSand’s Nikkei-inspired, avante-garde cuisine from Australian-born chef, Nic Philips.
Sweet, sweet SugarSand
Beachy, boozy and best enjoyed with friends, SugarSand ticks all the boxes for a coastal dining destination in Bali. The venue itself sits beside Seminyak’s hedonistic stretch of sand, surrounded by the lively beachside hustle and yet cocooned by a glorious melange of colour, sound, and of course, taste.
Taking centre stage is the island’s locally sourced produce from both land and sea, used to shape the innovative Nikkei-inspired menu. What’s that, we hear you cry? Think zesty ceviche and tiraditos, hand-rolled sushi and ocean-fresh king prawns, plus plenty of other Japanese-inspired delicacies cooked up on a traditional robata grill, alongside hearty comfort food for good measure…
The must-trys
Any beachside banquet calls for multiple hours of grazing, so you’ll want to start with SugarSand’s gourmet selection of nibbles to sample and share. Our go-tos? Begin with the Tempura Nori Skins, loaded with yellowfin tuna and generous doses of ponzu and sesame koji. Or the Chilli Chicken Wings with a nanban dipping sauce, and the Smoked Corn Fritters with whipped tofu & konbu. Trust us when we say you need to try them all…
Next you’ll want to move onto the Maki & Hosomaki sushi rolls. These stunning hand-rolled creations are stuffed full of fresh and colourful ingredients, like the vibrant Rainbow Roll filled with tuna, salmon, prawn, truffled tofu and tanoki crumbs. Or the Soft Shell Crab Maki with creamy avocado, togarashi and charred leek. Again, don’t even think about saving space for later…
When you’re ready for something heartier, head straight for the Robata, where skewered chicken, corn, eggplant, fish and beef hanger are grilled to smokey, charcoaled perfection. But don’t stop there. Side these skewers with loaded flatbreads, tangy ceviche, crunchy salads and wok-fried favourites, and to really do this dining destination justice, pair all of this with SugarSand’s killer list of libations…
SugarSand’s best sips
A modern re-imagination of cocktail history and culture, SugarSand’s drinks list is just as impressive as the food, thanks to Singaporean mixology maestro, Sufian Mahmoud. Using novel ingredients to create visionary concoctions, you’ll find tropical twists on Japanese sake and sochu, slow-cooked G&Ts (yes you read that right), and tropical fruit rum-based cocktails, because this is island life after all…
Our fave SugarSand creation is the Japanese-inspired Sapporo Fizz – a clever take on New Orleans’ Ramos Fizz from the prohibition era. It blends Japanese Royce Nama chocolate with matcha tea, together with the bursting flavours of ume and yuzu. Oh, and just to give you an idea of the expertise involved here, it takes 12 minutes of shaking time to make this masterpiece, but it’s oh-so worth the wait…
Now that’s a beachside banquet.
Pssst! You lucky Honeycombers readers can nab 15% off on all food and non-alcoholic drinks at SugarSand – just use the promo code “SSHNY”…. See you beside the sand, Honeys!
SugarSand, Jl Camplung Tanduk No. 10, Seminyak, p. +62 361 209 9999. Open daily 8am – midnight.
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