The 25 best restaurants in Seminyak
Best of Seminyak restaurants for…
Seminyak is bursting with great places to eat, from breakfast through to late night snacks, from a quick cheap lunch to a Michelin standard tasting menu, from locally roasted coffee to creative cocktails. We’ve selflessly tasted them all so we can help you choose, whatever your taste or budget.
The best Seminyak restaurants for…breakfast, brunch and healthy vibes
You can’t move in Seminyak for hipster cafes stocked with smoothies, organic lunch bowls, vegan treats and other healthy breakfast and brunch options. Insta-worthy plates and quirky décor complete the picture. But which ones should you pick? (For more information on Eat Street click here.)
1. Café Organic: Healthy, veggie, fresh
With a focus on local, organically farmed ingredients, you can start your day happily at Café Organic. For the health conscious, there’s a great range of smoothie bowls and chia bowls, but for those of you nursing a hangover, there’s The Breakfast Criminal, with poached eggs, avocado on toast, tomatoes, onions, mushrooms, feta and more. It doesn’t stop at breakfast: burgers, bao, and vegan “fysh” and chips are also on offer. These days it’s even open for dinner.
2. Kynd: Plant based paradise
Insta-famous veggie haunt Kynd is super popular for breakfast, so get here early to avoid the queues. Its pink interior and delicious food keep pulling people in. The menu covers smoothies, salad bowls and waffles, but our favourite dish is the Nelson – beetroot hummus, bruschetta, rocket, dukkah and a balsamic reduction. It tastes divine and even matches the décor.
3. The Fat Turtle: Indulge yourself
Hard night? Fancy something a little more decadent? The Fat Turtle is what you need. We love the red velvet pancakes, the corn fritters, and, when we really need a little help in the morning, the pulled pork eggs benedict, followed by a Glow and Rejuvenate juice and a large coffee is guaranteed to set us right. Try it.
The best Seminyak restaurants for….world class coffee
Seminyak’s coffee scene has come on in leaps and bounds over the past few years, with fresh, located roasted coffees easy to come by.
4. Expat Roasters Brew Bar: Serious coffee
One of the best coffee shops on the scene, Expat Roasters takes its coffee seriously. Led by international award winning barista, Shae Macnamara, Expat Roasters, this is a destination for coffee connoisseurs. Try the house blend, using local beans. We also really recommend their cold brew, which is top notch. And don’t skip the donut balls while you’re there.
5. Ippolito: Off the beaten track
Ippolito is a micro roastery, tucked away off the main drag in the Petitenget area of Seminyak. The in house speciality coffee is a treat, and the ambience is laid back. And once you’ve finished your coffee, you can even go for a swim in the pool that’s connected to the café.
6. Revolver Espresso: More than just great coffee
Another coffee shop with its own roastery, this time with a cool inner city vibe. With beans sourced from around the world, including partnerships with local farmers, the folks at Revolver roast and blend the beans themselves. What’s more, they also serve a great breakfast and lunch, and have even started opening in the evenings too for dinner and cocktails.
The best Seminyak restaurants for…fun and quirkiness
With so much competition, it’s not surprising that Seminyak houses some restaurants that are a little out there. Do you want eccentric décor, a tarot reading or maybe to browse some art? No problem!
7. Sea Circus: Technicoloured dream cafe
You can’t miss Sea Circus. Its bright, quirky exterior and interior, all sea green and neon pink, jumps out at you, possibly making you regret that last tequila shot. And if you somehow missed that, you won’t have missed the staff all dressed in Bali Boat Shed designs, or the glittering fairy lights. Comfort yourself with their unique Hangover Happy Meal, and perk yourself up with a coffee, which comes with some fortune cookie style words of wisdom. And then start again with a vodka spiked kombucha. What? It’s practically health food!
8. Biku: Some tarot with your tea?
Set in a 15 year old teak joglo, Biku isn’t your average café. It’s a restaurant and a tea room and a bookstore and a homewares store and a place to get your tarot cards read. The menu is extensive and varied but the highlight is the high teas and afternoon teas. Go traditional with scones and finger sandwiches, or try the Asian version for a local twist. There’s even a children’s afternoon tea option. Afterwards, get a tarot reading from the in house clairvoyant – it costs IDR150,000, and be sure to book in advance. Or just curl up in their lounge with a cup of tea, choose yourself a book, and relax.
9. Aya Street: Restaurant or art gallery?
This high end modern Peruvian/Latin fusion restaurant blends food with art through its street art gallery, which boasts work by Banksy, D*face and Cesar Fernandez, all for sale if you’re feeling flush. That’s not the only expression of art: theatrical cocktails, bold interior design, eccentric installations and a “show bar” where you can watch the chefs at work all contribute to the excitement and creativity of this space. The food also lives up to the hype of the interior – try one of the tasting menus if you’re adventurous – there’s a vegetarian option too. If you prefer to eat a la carte, try the ceviche from the raw bar, and the grilled octopus as a main. And don’t forget to wash it all down with a few of their signature cocktails – we love their Espresso Ayatini, which comes with a theatrical flourish of dry ice.
The best Seminayk restaurants for…eating on a budget
Short on cash? Spent way too much last night? Don’t worry, Seminyak has plenty of cheap eats, with warungs everywhere as well as some tasty street food.
10. Warung Murah: Bang for your buck
With a name that literally means “cheap café”, there are a few Warung Murahs about – our recommendation is the one on Jalan Petitenget. It’s an old school warung, not polished up for tourists, with a wide range of traditional dishes – just point at what you want from the buffet or ask the friendly staff, who speak English. We suggest you try the nasi campur, or the makasan padang – they’re both great, and super cheap. Depending on how much you eat, expect to pay IDR15,000 – 25,000.
11. KZU: Western food at bargain prices
Want to eat cheaply but fancy something other than local food? Try KZU. It operates on the same point-and-choose system as standard warungs, but the food is an eclectic mix of Japanese and Western. It’s more expensive than a warung, with dishes starting at around IDR35,000, but still a bargain. We suggest you try the Japanese curry.
12. Warung Bunana: Super cheap Malaysian Indian food
For a real bargain, try Warung Bunana on Sunset Road. It’s busy, it’s basic – but the food is excellent and ridiculously inexpensive. You have to try the stuffed roti, and wash it down with some Tarik tea with cardamom and cinnamon. Expect to pay about IDR15,000 – 20,000.
The best Seminyak restaurants for…dinner with a view
Stretching along the coast of the Indian ocean and flecked with rice fields, it’s not surprising that Seminyak offers some atmospheric eating opportunities. The main beach clubs and hotels all offer excellent ocean side dining, but here are some other options you might not otherwise stumble across.
13. Mrs Sippy: All day (and night) pool party
This hip, relatively new, pool bar showcases an open air restaurant and stylish bar around a huge saltwater pool, inviting you to spend the day and night swimming, sunbathing, eating and drinking. The food menu includes salads and wood fired pizzas, plus some great grazing options for poolside nibbling, like tacos and charcuterie boards, plus our favourite, the poke bowls. Keep an eye out for special events and pool parties – Mrs Sippy attracts some world class acts.
14. La Lucciola: True relaxation by the beach
If Mrs Sippy is the new kid on the block, La Lucciola is the grand dame of beachfront eating. This place is old school Bali, before the tech and the styling took over. It stays resolutely true to its roots, as possibly the only place in Seminyak with no wifi. So, switch off from the world for a while, enjoy the view, chat to your friends, eat Mediterranean food and choose from their massive wine list. Take your time. Nothing’s going to interrupt your evening.
15. Sardine: Rice paddy panorama
For a different type of view, check out Sardine. Although it’s right in the thick of things on Jalan Petitenget, Sardine feels like a world away from the bustle of Seminyak. This open air restaurant is housed in a bamboo beamed building that overlooks beautiful illuminated rice paddies and lily ponds. The menu centres on freshly caught fish and seafood straight from the Indian Ocean and homegrown organic produce from the restaurant’s own farm. Perfect for a special occasion.
The best Seminyak restaurants for…scenesters and hipsters
If I were to list all the cool hangouts you should try out in Seminyak, I would be stuck at my desk all night and unable to visit them myself, which would never do. With new and exciting restaurants opening all the time, with creative food (particularly Pan Asian), theatrical cocktails and eclectic décor, you’re spoilt for choice. Here are some of our favourites for you to try for a fun night out with your friends.
16. Who’s Your Daddy: Who’s for hot pink sushi?
This hot new spot opened in November 2018, and already has us excited. Brash, bright and fun, this technicolour dreamboat of a restaurant describes itself as “sushi slash drinks”. Its trademark is hot pink interiors, flashing flamingos and bright pink sushi rolls – but don’t worry, it’s all natural colouring. With live DJ nights and brilliant cocktails, you can’t fail to have fun here.
17. Mamasan: See and be seen
Mamasan is one of the hippest restaurants in Seminyak, with its adventurous Pan Asian menu, a buzzing cocktail scene and a beautiful, upscale interior. The food is creative and modern with a Thai focus, highlights including the roasted Peking duck with red bean sauce, the beef rendang and the soft shell crab. If you are after a real treat however, try out the tasting menu. Mamasan is part of the Sarong group that also owns Seminyak favourites Sarong and Tiger Palm – try these out too!
18. Bikini: Expect the unexpected
What is it with all the bright pink restaurants? Bikini’s hot pink colour scheme sets your expectations that this is a playful, chic restaurant, with exciting food and inventive cocktails. Indeed, the restaurant bills itself as “serious food, not taken too seriously”. With a focus on shared plates (you can also pick the tasting menu if the choice is too much – and we recommend you do, if your wallet stretches to it), this is a place to have upmarket fun with a group of friends. Expect beautifully presented food, theatre and surprises. Eat everything. Drink everything. And definitely book in advance.
The best Seminyak restaurants for….partying hard
Feeling lively? If you’re more in the mood for fun than an 8 course degustation menu, we’ve found you some restaurants that combine great food with a buzzing vibe, music, parties and dancing.
19. Da Maria: Have a pizza, have a party
This Italian Osteria serves fantastic, authentic Italian food and wine in an interior that makes you feel like you could be in Italy. The pizzas here are particularly good, but you also must not miss their Campari based cocktails. There’s lively music all night, so come with your friends, not for a romantic meal for two. And if you wait until 10pm, this restaurant turns into a nightclub. On top of this, Da Maria hosts some of the liveliest Sunday parties in town.
20. Hanks’s Pizza & Liquor: Rock and roll and cocktails
Bored of dance music? Fancy a change of pace? Simple but delicious food, excellent draught beer, a great range of cocktails, and rock and roll all night make this one of the most fun, chilled places to spend an evening. There’s also a regular roster of live bands. Oh, and order the Janis pizza – potato, caramelised onions, jamon, anchovies and rocket – it’s the best you’ll find.
21. Motel Mexicola: The party starts here
If you’re in the mood to dance on the tables and do tequila shots, you’re in the mood for Motel Mexicola. Seminyak’s liveliest restaurant-slash-night-club is a retro delight of bright colours and 1960s styling. The delicious menu features fish tacos and Mexican sharing plates, but the fun doesn’t end when you stop eating. Pick up a margherita, head to the dance floor, and dance the night away.
The best Seminyak restaurants for…special occasions and gourmet palates
Seminyak is fast catching up with Ubud in terms of serious players at the high end of the restaurant business. If you’re looking to splash out on a Michelin star quality restaurant, you’re spoilt for choices. We’ve picked our personal fine dining favourites, but an honourable mention also has to go to Metis for its elegance and French cuisine, and Ijen (at Potato Head) a new comer with a fresh approach to zero waste and a stunning way with wood-fired fish. They will all wow you.
22. Bambu: Indonesian favourites, elevated
Bambu is a perfect setting for a romantic evening. You enter by candlelight, on stepping stones over the clear water of a fish filled pond. There are more stepping stones to reach the dining areas, located under a converted pavillion. The food lives up to expectations: the menu features classic Indonesian dishes, such as chicken satay and babi guling. We suggest you try the soft shell crab, followed by the pork ribs.
23. Teatro: French Asian gastronomy
At Teatro, classic French dishes are given an Asian twist by well-known Indonesian chef Mandif Warokka. The restaurant serves a choice of degustation menus of varying lengths – there is no a la carte option – including a vegetarian menu. There’s also an optional wine pairing. Whichever menu you choose, the food is exquisite and technically faultless – this will be one memorable, special meal, complemented by seamless service.
24. Mejekawi: The rule breaker
Located in the upper storey of popular beach club Ku De Ta and enjoying stunning views over Seminyak Beach, Mejekawi is another tasting kitchen serving a degustation menu of either 5 or 12 courses, with optional curated wine pairing. The emphasis here is on cutting edge, innovative cuisine with a constantly evolving menu and a focus on Asian fusion flavours. At the time of writing, dishes include the classic Indonesian oxtail soup sop buntut with a Japanese twist, and an elevated take on Hainanese chicken, with corn custard and chilli.
25. Merah Putih: A cathedral to Indonesian cuisine
Last but not least, we couldn’t miss out Merah Putih, which scores points not only for its unforgettable menu of Indonesian classics and modern fusion, but also for its stunning eco-friendly architecture. The main dining hall is modelled after a cathedral, with high rib vaulted ceilings and ornamental columns. More than this, it comprises a mini eco system of plants, solar films, heat reflecting fabrics, and columns that capture rainwater and filter it into indoor streams. If you can take your eyes off your surroundings, cast a look at the menu – we recommend going for a selection of small plates (try the coral trout) followed by a large plate of suckling pig, or Sulawesi spiced barramundi.
For more information about Seminyak click here.
More on the best private pool villas in Seminyak here.
