After yet another wonderful trip to Bali with 3 girlfriends for 15 days during February 2010, I woud like to share some of the highlights from this trip ("lowlights" to come later).
ACCOMMODATION:
IDA HOTEL in Kuta. Poolside bungalow rooms at the 3* The Ida Hotel, which is tucked away in a laneway behind the Matahari Dept Store. A "boutique budget" hotel with a distinct Balinese feel, it is a favourite "cheapie" of ours, offering a handy location, and all the basic requirements such as aircon, hot/cold water shower, minifridge,patio with drying rack, friendly staff,swimming pool & spa, good food, and an adequate breakfast included in the tariff(as long as like eggs cooked in 5 ways & fresh fruit as I do). However, if you like the fully laid-on buffet style breakfast and a swim-up pool bar, then look elsewhere!
Since the new Tune Hotel has opened nearby, the laneway has been resealed and the lighting improved. Access to either Jl Pantai Kuta or the Kuta Square area, makes this ideal for catching a taxi to your destination, thus avoiding the one way system wherever possible.
PONDOK BAMBU HOTEL in Candi Dasa: We had booked the 2 seaview rooms No 11 & 12 mid last year, and we were very pleased with the wonderful pool and sea views that we had for the 3 days spent here. Breakfast was included in the price of 500,000rp per night (now increased to 550,000), and this was a 5 course menu with freshly juiced drinks, delicious black sticky rice pudding, banana pancakes and many other choices.
The room had a 4 poster bed plus a single bed, a large semi-enclosed shower/bathroom area, aircon, mini fridge, and patio with chairs, drying rack etc. The only complaint that I had, was that the sheets didn't feel as clean as they might have, unlike the Ida where the bed linen always feel very "crisp" and clean.
DINING OUT:
KUTA: We have so many favourites, that it always hard to eat at them all. We were disappointed to find that SeaSide was closed for renovations( I hear there's a problem with water seepage into the gym area), and instead ate at the nearby Italian restaurant, which is part of the Kumala Pantai Hotel.We hadn't eaten here since the days when it was called le Sand Cafe, and were pleasantly surprised to find that the food was just as good as back then. It so happened to be Chinese New Year, and we were treated with a wonderful display of Dragon Dances, fireworks etc to celebrate the year of the Tiger( MY year as well!)Hopefully, when Seaside re-opens, they will have retained the pumpkin ravioli with sage, walnuts and butter sauce dish on the menu - to die for!My friend says they also make the crispiest banana fritters she has ever had.
We also ate at:
Cafe Pantai - friend shrimps, and the avocado & shrimp cocktail as usual. Bintang is still not offered here, due to the owners allegiance to Anker Coy, so if you can cope with that, the views over the beach and the sunsets are still as wonderful as ever, and its great watching the planes come and go.
TJ's Mexican - Love the frozen margharitas, the atmosphere, and the Mahi mahi soft tortilla with tahini,sour cream, hazelnuts & almonds. Also tried the red curry chicken and the Indan curry version, but I still love the fish one the best.
Poppies Restaurant - Another delicious meal here, cosy surroundings especially when it rains, and frozen margharita again, but more expensive than TJ's just along the lane.
Aroma's Cafe: A vegetarian restaurant with a nice atmosphere, upmarket toilets, freshly pulped juices and wine and beers - no frozen margharits though. I love the foccacia dish here, although I usually opt for the actual foccacia bread to be replaced by their wholemeal bread, and add roast pumpkin to the filling. Yum!
Bali Colada at Centro: They have revamped their decor, tableware and the menu, but there's still plenty of choice to suit everyone,the food is always consistently good and it's handy to eat there after shopping. However, be aware that they close shortly after 10pm when the centre closes as well.
Il Cielo: Another Italian restaurant, with good food such as the chicken escalopes, beef olives and frozen margharitas are on offer,but just not listed on the drinks menu!! The lychee basil roska cocktail is cooling and delicious too.
Gateway to India:(Almost Number One on my list.) But so hot here in February, and being right on the busy & noisy Bemo Corner intersection, it is almost as though one were in India! Always great food, especially the spicy potato patties and the butter chicken.A very cold Bintang(or more) is a must here, and it's better to sit outside rather than inside in the warmer months - and put up with the exhaust fumes LOL.
Yutz: in Rum Jungle Rd: - a "Gem" of a restaurant, from the complimentary garlic bread and frozen margharita , to the smoked chicken with mushroom sauce, the main course salad dishes, chicken escalopes and battered mushrooms, & the panfried potato and onion side dish. A very extensive menu, with something to suit everyone. Best to book, as even in Feb they were very busy during the evening meals.Frozen margharitas here are ONLY 27,000Rp - cheap & delicious!
Gabah: Part of the Ramayana Hotel complex. More expensive than anywhere else we ate, but we love the ambience, the menu, and especially the Drunken Spare Ribs dish & the sauteed vegetable side dish!
Warung Jaya formerly the Crown restaurant owned by Diane an Aussie expat: Usually a stop for a cold Bintang whilst out shopping, but their guacamole on toast,friend noodles or nasi goreng are very reasonably priced, and the hot chips are good too.
Ida Hotel: Some of the best chicken satays here, and very nice, crispy spring rolls.
UBUD:
Murni's Warung: A favourite for many years, love the setting and the crispy frog's legs are quite a delicacy to enjoy along with the cheesecake with fresh strawberry sauce and other dishes such as panfried potato, bacon & onion, green chicken curry, cauliflower in white sauce & Balinese fish.
SANUR:
The ubiquitious Tootsie has opened her own cafe right on the beach, just down from her shop - which is now an enclosed glass one with airconditioning. Great to see that she has managed to solve her problems with the in-laws after her husband's untimely death.
Tootsie's Cafe: I enjoyed a superb lunch dish of papaya & avocado with prawns in a cocktail sauce here & a couple of Bintangs, whilst my friends all enjoyed their various dishes from sweet n sour chicken to Balinse food.
BEDUGUL:
Top Deck Cafe - part of Crackers Bar Complex: But WHERE were all the other people? Not a soul around but us 4 plus our driver Nyoman.We did have some hot chips and a toasted club sandwich here, plus a nice fresh fruit juice. Very fresh, as they went to the adjacent markets to buy the fruit to make it! Also stopped at Pacung Indah Hotel to have a drink on the way back to Kuta - again no-one but us here, so we enjoyed the view all to ourselves.
CANDI DASA:
Who would ever expect to find a French themed restaurant in this sleepy hollow? I had read a review from last year about this restaurant, which has only been open 8 months now, and we just had to try it - so pleased we did!
Le48 Cafe: which is part of the Zen & Happy Resort Villas. Makes the best Mohjito I have ever had, in fact, it was so delicious, that I went back the following morning at 11.30, and they made me a "take-away" one in my cut-off water bottle, so I could enjoy it on the ride back to Sanur. At 35,000Rp plus taxes, I was in heaven LOL.
The food is exquisitely presented in small quantity, but the taste is intense, the food very fresh and presented in an "artistic" style, and the prices are unbelievably cheap.Try the trio of 3 sweet peppers & blue cheese tart with salad greens, or the trio of sweet peppers layered with fresh goats cheese, thin garlic bread slices and olive tapenade or zucchini encrusted prawns with wasabi mayo or the individual hot chocolate cake with runny dark chocolate inside, accompanied by a "snake" of espresso jelly and vanilla ice cream - all to die for!We were also given a complimentary chef's choice of gazpacho soup served at room temprature and it was so delicious that my friend asked if she coud have a bowl for her main course.They happily obliged by serving it in a parfait glass with the garlic and olive bread accompaniment.
The staff are very well dressed in black and silver, wearing a black glove on one hand,and their service is attentive and efficient. The restaurant is decorated in red, black and white, and borders the lagoon, which actually has better day time views than at night.You can also chose to eat at the white leather couches on the edge of the restaurant, however, it was rather warm there, so we opted for a table under a fan.
If you are in Candi Dasa, you must check it out for yourself, and I am sure that you will be as impressed as we were!
Watergardens Cafe: Another great place to eat in Candi Dasa, with no sea or lagoon views, but a lovely pond area with sparkling lights, and the most extensive menu I have ever seen. You should come early just to read it. Also, I would recommend making a booking as we were very lucky to secure a table when we arrived there in the evening.The food was delicious, the frozen margharitas sublime(think we consumed too many), and I am dying to return here to try some of the other dishes, as my spicy minced pork satays were very tasty indeed.
Unfortunately, we never made it to some of my other favourites such as Cafe Batan Waru, Kin Khao, Posers, Indo National, Lanai, Gosha's, Billys & Cafe Kamplung(Tegallalang).
But, as I am returning to Bali in June and again in November this year, I am sure that I will correct that situation, plus try some other new restaurants and add them to my favourite places. Cheers!