Seminyak, to me, is food, food, food (with a bit of beach and shopping in between). I ate my way through five days in Seminyak and felt like I never needed to eat again by the time I left. On reflection, the sad thing is I barely ate any local food. But when you see this list (which is in no particular order), you’ll see you can’t stay sad for long. Because there are some really, really good places to eat in Seminyak. Especially if you love brunching. Which I do.
1. Lantern, Jalan Petitenget
Located at the Kerobokan end of Jalan Petitenget, this was a place I stumbled upon and I’m so happy that I did. You can sit and watch the hustle and bustle of Seminyak pass you by, while filling your belly with delicious South-east Asian delights. The 12-hour pho, and the holy basil chicken get the big thumbs up! Plus the decor is super cool with pops of sunny yellow, and artwork on the walls worked in with the light fixtures.
2. Shelter Cafe, Jalan Drupadi I
I love everything about this place. It’s away from the hustle and bustle, located down a small laneway. It’s open air, super relaxed, and the decor is all happy mottos and green, tropical plants. And the food is YUM YUM YUM. There’s lots of healthy options, and also things that look sinfully unhealthy, but aren’t. If you’re game, try a turmeric shot (best taken when you’ve got some food to chase it with!). The coffee is also divine if you’re craving a caffeine fix.
3. Nalu Bowls, Jalan Drupadi I
Handily located under Shelter, you can order from their counter, or order upstairs at Shelter. Either way their smoothie bowls are as delicious as they are pretty, and perfect for sunny, hot-day brunches (which is every day, really). Pictured above is the “Maverick” – acai, house-made granola, bananas, strawberries, coconut and honey.
4. The Bistrot, Jalan Kayu Aya
If you want to feel like you’ve stepped back in time to 1920s New York, then head to The Bistrot. You’ll not only escape the heat, but you’ll do it in absolute style. This place is all chandeliers, fresh flowers, upholstered couches and antiques galore. And the food is pretty delicious too. My recommendation? Save room for dessert and order the chocolate fondant. Trust me.
5. Motel Mexicola, Jalan Kayu Aya
Important to note: this is not the place to go for a quiet dinner – that will be totally obvious when you arrive. Think part-restaurant, part-nightclub, you’ve got retro Mexican signage, pastel paint, neon lights everywhere, and a slamming soundtrack of anything from Elvis to the Spice Girls to whoever is topping the Latin American charts at the moment. It’s loud, there’s booze, there’s dancing, and there’s amazing Mexican food. If you order the banquet, be prepared. You get A LOT of food, so arrive hungry. Very hungry. Definitely a must-visit if you’re up for a fun night out.
6. Sisterfields, Jalan Kayu Aya
Yet another trendy Melbourne-esque cafe in the sea of awesome cafes in Seminyak. There’s a great brunch menu, and the coffee comes from Expat Roasters next door. My mum swears she had the best ham and cheese toastie she’s ever eaten, but for me it was all about the brioche french toast with matcha custard, crumbled banana, and banana and yogurt sorbet. Breakfast doesn’t get much better.
7. Cafe Organic, Jalan Petitenget
Like Ubud, there’s quite a few organic, vegan-friendly places to dine at in Seminyak. This place is meat-free and has something called coconut bacon (none of us were game to try it). Light and bright, this is the place to come for a smoothie and healthy pancakes and feel good about it when you leave (great if you need to detox a bit). There’s no guilt here!
8. Warung Dedalu, Jalan Petitenget
You might be wondering, did I bother at all to eat any local food? Yes, I did, finally. On the second-last night of my trip. #ashamed This place was packed which is always a good sign. My recommendation would be to treat yourself to some rendang – it’s worth it, but I’m biased since it’s my favourite local dish. And it’s super, super, super cheap.
9. Revolver Coffee House, Jalan Kaya Ayu
Definitely home to the best cup of coffee you’ll get in Seminyak (in my opinion). It’s a little bit tricky to find – it’s down a laneway off Jalan Kaya Ayu, and honestly if you didn’t know it was there, you’d probably walk past it. The door is totally unobtrusive, but then you get in and it’s all dim and mysterious, and just … cool! There’s guns on the walls, next to floral motifs, and there’s vintage cosmetic advertisements hanging in the bathrooms. I just love this place. The absolute must-tries are the tiramisu hotcakes, and the banana bread topped with snakefruit and mangosteen and coffee butter.
10. Slippery Stone, Jalan Batu Belig
If you fancy a good old fashioned Greek feast, then look no further than Slippery Stone. This is a tad more expensive than other places (but definitely still really affordable), and it’s huge and palatial. There’s columns, statues, water features galore, and Greek tunes. And naturally, the food is absolutely delicious. Definitely order some starters (saganaki, anyone?) and then progress as your stomach allows. The tsousoukakia slow-cooked meatballs and the meat platter both went down a treat, but the loukoumades stole the show for me. I’ll be a sweet tooth forever.
Have you been to Seminyak recently? What are your top foodie recommendations?
Don’t forget to check out our Ubud suggestions, too.
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