Bali’s Best Eats
If you’re anything like me, travelling and food go hand in hand! I spend half my time in Bali and I still love to discover new and exciting places where I can sketch, sample goodies and chat to the locals. On my last visit, I made sure I perused plenty of the local eats of Kuta, Seminyak and Denpasar, locations close to my heart and below are five of my favourite places to grab a bite.
Kuta, southern Bali
MAMA San
My favourite place for a fancy South East Asian dinner, Mamasan is the most glam of eateries on my list so I thought I’d start off with it! The restaurant décor is like a 1920s colonial British Shanghai where a huge Mana San – a woman in position of authority, perhaps in charge of a Geisha house – watches over her diners. The best dish on the menu is certainly the beef Green curry with apple aubergine and Thai basil, an abolsute treat.
As an active member of the Food for Thought charity, the restaurant works with rural communities to provide scholarships, education and employment opportunities to young adults seeking work, a cause I am hugely supportive of.
Location:
Banjar Taman
Jl. Raya Kerobokan
No.135 Kerobokan Kelod
Kuta Utara
Kabupaten Badung
Bali 80361
The Spicy Coconut
For the veggies amongst you, this is a must to feature in your morning breakfast routine. The Mango Madness smoothie bowl will set you up for the day with gluten free granola, banana and mango smoothie topped with plenty of chia seeds, coconut and fruits.
Their mantra, ‘eat fruit, not friends’ sums up exactly what the Spicy Coconut is all about; with ingredient sourced daily from the local market, gluten free options available and a selection of healthy body booster shots this is a great little café to grab your morning fix before the day ahead.
Location:
Jl Batu Belig No 81
North Seminyak
Bali
Seminyak, the west coast
Souq Organic
It has been said that the Souq Organic café serves the best coffee in Bali, quite a controversial statement but I’d have to agree with Sophie and Peter, founders of the ethical Souq brand! Located to the right of the Souq home décor store, the café offers s great sharing vibe and as members of the clean eating movement, the ethos is apparent throughout the café.
A fab choice for lunch, I’d recommend The Ottoman, an organic spiced chicken salad with an array of fruits and veg topped with a cleansing tarragon and yoghurt dressing.
Location:
10 Jalan
Basangkasa
Seminyak
Bali
The Dusty Café
The Dusty Café is the perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle of the main high street, Jl. Raya Seminyak. Located down a small side street, you’ll find the King of all brunch places where you can dine amongst an array or beautiful colours and delicious fruits.
Not only is the café one of the funkiest I have seen in Bali, but it is renowned for its brunch selection and absolute devotion to fruit! When I’m visiting Seminyak, it’s always a coin throw between the Dragon Fruit bowl with a Matcha green latte or the divine blueberry pancakes. And just for fun, your hot coffees always come with a quirky face embossed into the froth and my favourite is of course the heart shape!
Location:
Jl. Camplung Tanduk
No.4
Seminyak
Kuta
Kabupaten
Badung
Bali 80361
Denpasar, the capital
Soul in a Bowl
Just a short walk from the Denpasar beach you’ll find a fabulous Aussie style relaxed café (by day) and laid-back bar and restaurant (by night). With worldly influences and a strong Melbournian theme and European decor, Soul in a Bowl takes inspiration from all over the world and serves delicious light lunches, boasts an indulgent tapas menu and a beautiful cocktail lounge; the café/bar is a delicious concoction for your taste buds!
I love stepping off the plane and heading straight for Soul in a Bowl. The Cold Super Soba Salad or Salt and Pepper Squid dish are perfect for a light snack on the way home to Sanur.
Location:
Jl. Danau Tamblingan
No. 180
Sanur
Denpasar
Bali 80228