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Bali

Babi Guling Pak Malen, Seminyak, Bali: A Great Place for Babi Guling in Seminyak

When in Bali, you absolutely have to try babi guling, the famous Balinese BBQ pork dish. But sometimes it’s difficult to find one close to where you’re staying. Babi Guling Pak Malen is not only close to Seminyak, it’s also super tasty.

I got a standard portion of Babi Guling and a fresh orange juice and the total of the bill came to Rp55.000.

The portion of pork is small. Really small. Especially when you compare it to many other places in Bali. So while the value for money is quite low here, the taste is great.

The crackling was super crispy with just a thin layer of fat, the scratchings were sinful and tasty, the sate spicy and tender and the flesh itself oh so moist.Babi Guling Pak Malen BaliI got my lawar medium spicy, but it nearly blew my head off. Soo spicy, but oh so delicious.

I think the orange juice I got with the babi guling was a perfect accompaniment. Fresh and icy cold, it went down a treat in the hot warung atmosphere.

And that brings us to the next point. The warung itself has no character. It’s hot. It’s often busy. And it’s really just functional. You come here, eat your pork, and leave. That’s it!

I really like this place because it’s well located on Sunset Road, the pork is really tasty and service is quick. The perfect place for babi guling when in Seminyak.

Warung Babi Guling Pak Malen
Jalan Sunset No.5, Seminyak
Babi Guling: Rp40.000
Orange Juice: Rp15.000

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Bali

Ippolito Specialty Coffee, Seminyak, Bali: Great Coffee and a Free Pool!

We arrived at Ippolito Specialty Coffee expecting the place to be packed like so many other good coffee shops in Seminyak. But what we saw was a place so empty that we thought it was closed when we arrived.

It’s one of the enduring paradoxes of Indonesian cafes. You can be good, but you’re not necessarily going to be popular and I see that a lot in Bandung.Cappuccino at Ippolito Specialty CoffeeA range of food and drinks is served here as well as fantastic coffee. I tried a cappuccino which in my opinion is as good as just about anywhere in Seminyak.

Although we haven’t tried the food, it does come recommended and the menu does look quite tempting.Interior Ippolito CoffeeThe building itself is very instagrammable. Lots of brick, wood, great furniture and walls filled with bottles of wine.

Outside you’ll find the pool area. THE POOL AREA! This area is free for customers of the cafe. So if you want somewhere to swim and eat, but don’t want to pay for a beach club, we think this is the next best thing.Free Swimming Pool at IppolitoThe pool is a thing of beauty and if you don’t get a good instagram shot here, you’re not trying!

We really like this cafe. It does have a bit of a restaurant feel and that’s probably what puts most people off. But don’t be put off. It’s perfectly fine to come here, grab a coffee and set up your laptop. And besides, the wifi is fast!

Ippolito Specialty Coffee
Jalan Lebak Sari, Petitenget, Seminyak
Opening Hours: 07:00 – 23:00
Cappuccino: Rp39.000++
Swimming Pool: FREE

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Bali

Corner House, Seminyak, Bali: Like a Phoenix Rising from the Ashes

In this very spot used to be a cafe called Corner Store — it burnt down a few years back. But like a phoenix rising from the ashes, Corner House makes an appearance and it’s very good.

Polished concrete floors, chipped white tiles on the walls reminiscent of an old butcher’s shop and a shaded outdoor area all combine to make this one of the better looking places in Seminyak.Coffee at Corner HouseCoffee here is by Revolver, so you know it’s going to be good. And I can confirm that the coffee does indeed live up to expectations.

The menu is quite extensive and I felt that I would be happy ordering any one of the items on it. In the end I got a ham and cheese toastie. And it was no more and no less than I expected. Lots of cheese, sufficient amounts of leg ham and a few bits of red onion. Definitely tasty and just what I needed for a snack.Ham and cheese Toastie at Corner HouseWifi here is fast and I was consistently getting 20mbit up and down, so it’s a good place to come if you need to do some data intensive stuff.

Interestingly, it wasn’t particularly busy when I was there. I put that down to there being so much competition these days.

Down this end of Seminyak, there seems to be fewer and fewer good cafes and this one certainly stands head and shoulder above the rest. The next really awesome place is probably down at Sisterfields or Revolver.

All in all a really good cafe on the Seminyak scene.

Corner House
Jalan Kayu Ayu (Laksamana) 10A, Seminyak
www.cornerhousebali.com
Opening Hours: setiap hari 07:00 – 23:00
Cappuccino: Rp34.500
Toastie: Rp57.500

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Bali

Crate Cafe, Batu Bolong, Bali: Too Cool for School or Am I Just Old?

Located in the up and coming area near Pantai Batu Bolong, Crate Cafe is a “too cool for school” cafe serving up a wide range of breakfast and brunch options such as bowls and toasts. Maybe I’m just old because I just don’t get it.

The cafe is bare in appearance with lots of concrete, white tiles and exposed steel beams. It’s a half-built building made into something modern and trendy.Crate Cafe CangguI have to mention the seats. They are crap. Really crap. The concrete benches are too tall and your legs just dangle without any support.

Customers here are your typical tattooed westerners riding big motorbikes, wearing oversized headphones and carrying 5 pounds of attitude. They’re not my people, but this crowd will suit some.Coffee at Crate CafeFood is all cheap by Bali standards with the maximum price being Rp50.000. And it’s a good selection of food too with lots of muesli, bowls, toast and omelettes on the menu.

My French toast was quite good, but far from perfect. Firstly, they’re using strawberries and we all know that strawberries in in Indonesia are hit and miss — usually miss. Today they were sour and pale. Why can’t they used fresh seasonal fruit such as mango, jackfruit, dragonfruit and papaya?French Toast with fruit CrateAdditionally, the egg wash didn’t soak into the bread at all and this made the bread very dry on the inside. The French toast comes in different configurations and both I tried were ok, but I don’t need to try them again.

I really hope I picked the wrong dishes because I want to like this place. But based on what I experienced, I can’t really recommend it.French Toast bacon at CrateSo what’s the verdict? Not bad, but not great either. If you can put up with some of the cheeky crowd and can manage to pick the right dish, you will probably like what’s on offer here.

Crate Cafe
Jalan Pantai Batu Bolong No.64, Canggu
Opening Hours: daily 07:00 – 15:00
Instagram: @cratecafe
Drinks: Rp25.000 – Rp35.000
Food: Rp40.000 – Rp50.000

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Bali

12 Best Cafes in Seminyak: All of them are Fantastic!

During a recent trip to Bali, I decided to search for the best cafes in Seminyak by trying as many of the good ones as I could. I scoured blogs for recommendations, tripadvisor for advice and apps like foursquare for the low down. I even checked out tripcanvas and found that the recommendations were awful as the writers hadn’t even visited the places they were recommending. The information I found was a real mixed bag!

So after trying all of these cafes out personally, I came up with my list of the best cafes in the Seminyak area. I actually went a little further afield to Canggu and the road to Batu Bolong to make sure I got all the coffee shops and cafes covered.

So without further ado, here is my version of the best cafes in Seminyak.

Sisterfields

Pancake at Sisterfields BaliLocation: Jalan Kayu Cendana 7, Seminyak

Sisterfields wins the title of my favourite cafe in Seminyak. Easily. I didn’t want this to be the case when I first visited. Why? Because it was so busy and I had to line up to get inside. I didn’t want such a super popular place to be awesome. But it is. The crowds have chosen this cafe as their favourite and I agree with them.

All the dishes I’ve had here except one have been awesome. Really amazing. The coffee is also very good and I love the cups it’s served in. Service is attentive despite the crowds. It’s just between Seminyak Square and Grocer & Grind. Go here.

Baby Revolver

Coffee at Baby RevolverLocation: Jalan Kayu Aya / Gang 51, Seminyak

This is actually a fantastic cafe located on Jalan Petitenget. The coffee is awesome, the location itself is tiny and the staff are friendly. It’s the sort of place you come to down a quick coffee on your morning walk/run around Seminyak.

It’s not a place to come with a big group or if you’re after a proper meal. A biscuits and pastries is all you’ll find here.

Milk & Madu

Coffee at Milk and MaduLocation: Jalan Raya Pantai Berawa No.52, Tibubeneng, Kuta Utara

Milk & Madu is a bit out of Seminyak in Canggu, but it’s worth a trip if you want great food, good coffee and a relaxing semi-outdoor environment. What’s more, there’s a large grass area for kids to play on and because the pavilion is open-sided, people don’t get so annoyed with kids shouting and running amok.

Get here and back with an Uber. Even though there is a local taxi mafia in place, you can get around this if you’re a stealth uber rider.

The Fat Turtle

Red Velvet Pancakes Fat TurtleLocation: Jalan Petitenget 886A, Seminyak

The Fat Turtle is another Jalan Petitenget number. Before entering, I was a bit worried it was going to be hopeless. But the food here was good (good range of standard cafe fare & the red velvet pancakes were delicious) as was the coffee and it was consistently full with customers. It’s not going to win any awards for best cafe, but I reckon it’s pretty damn good.

What I really like about it is that it’s unpretentious. Good food without the attitude of many other places around Seminyak and Canggu. This place will appeal to a lot of people.

Pison

Drinks at Pison CoffeeLocation: Jalan Petitenget 8A, Seminyak

I love the name of this coffee shop/cafe. I especially like saying it in an Indonesian accent. Makes me feel like an Aussie. The name aside, the cafe really does a fantastic job of the food it delivers. I thought the burger was a good one and the coffees I had here were all very good. One time when I visited, it got a little crowded for my liking. But at other times it was quite quiet… I guess it depends on the time of day and the time of year you visit.

It’s located up the Canggu end of Seminyak, but still well within the Seminyak area. You can walk here easily from Seminyak Square if you enjoy walking. Otherwise jump in a bluebird and paying about 7000 rupes.

Sea Circus

Location: Jalan Kayu Aya 22, Seminyak

If you’ve been to Seminyak before, you’ve almost certainly been to Sea Circus before. It was one of the earlier trendy cafes and ever since this time they have been bang on with food and coffee. The cafe feels like a mythical beach shack that exists only in people’s dreams and that’s not a bad thing.

Staff are pretty good and their menu seems to have maintained its modern feel over the past 7 or so years. In fact, this place remains one of my go to places because it’s so central to everything in Seminyak. 10 minute walk from Seminyak square down a couple of alleys.

Peloton Super Shop

Smoothie Bowl Bikers BowlLocation: Jalan Raya Pantai Berawa no. 46, Canggu

If you’re vegan, this is probably the best place in the world for you. Located right out in the Canggu area, you must visit this vegan cafe. Lots of soy products, no real milk, no meat lots of bowls. You know the deal. I wasn’t so enamoured with the place because I had my heart set on an bacon & egg roll, but I get it. I get that this cafe is heaven for vegans.

And even if you’re not vegan and just don’t fancy meat or dairy, this place is a winner. A seriously good cafe on the Bali scene.

Nook

Ricefield view Nook UmalasLocation: Jalan Umalas 1, Gang Nook 1, Kerobokan

A lot of you already know about Nook. It was all the rage back in 2011/12 when it opened because it had these great ricefield views and it was fairly low key. If you haven’t been there in a few years, don’t go back. It’s been expanded enormously and the ricefield has started to be built over.

But I’ve still included it on my list of best Seminyak cafes because if you haven’t been here yet, you might just love this place! The food is still good as is the coffee. It’s just that it doesn’t have the same feel for me as it did years ago, but without that comparison, it’s still a decent cafe in Seminyak. Even though it’s technically just outside of Seminyak in either Kerobokan or Umalas, depending on who you speak to.

Grain Cafe

Steak Sandwich Grain CafeLocation: Jalan Seminyak 16B, Seminyak

Grain Cafe is a good place to come for coffee and a bite to eat. It has the feel of a cafe in Inner Western Sydney circa 2010. And that’s not a terrible thing. It just means that the food and coffee is good, the fitout is not ultra-modern and it’s not a place to be snapping Instagrams.

But if you’re not into the world of Instagram, ultra modern cafes and all the fuss that goes along with them, you’re going to love Grain. Good cafe food at the Legian end of Seminyak, just north of Double Six and not far from the Haven.

Crate Cafe

Crate Cafe CangguLocation: Jalan Pantai Batu Bolong No.64, Canggu

I’m torn with Crate Cafe. It was packed when I was there and people seemed to love it. I’d already read a few rave reviews. But the food I was dished up was sub-par. And the fitout was trying to be cool by being minimalist, but it didn’t work for me. I felt like an old man when the backs of my thighs started aching as they were dangling off the super high concrete bench.

Coffee was good, crowd age average about 22, favourite past time = surfing. Try it out if you’re on your way to Batu Bolong. Maybe not worth a visit if you’re basing yourself in central Seminyak. But then again, it might also depend on how old you are.

Corner House

Location: Jalan Kayu Ayu (Laksamana) 10A, Seminyak

There used to be a cafe here back in the day which was ultra modern for the time. Tuckshop/Corner Store burned down years ago and Corner House rose from its ashes. Corner House is much more modern, has much nice food and is just a fantastic cafe on the Seminyak scene.

I was surprised that it wasn’t so busy, but maybe because the centre of Seminyak now seems to be closer towards Kerobokan rather than this end which closer to Sunset Road.

Ippolito Specialty Coffee

Location: Jalan Lebak Sari, Petitenget, Seminyak

This is an odd spot. I understand why there was only one other customer when I was there. It looks like a wine bar crossed with a hotel. But the coffee here is very good, the lounges are relaxing to chill out on and the free pool out the back is awesome. Bring your bikini and towel because you might just want to take a dip after you’ve polished off your coffee.

Maybe not either. If you’re into coffee or just want to try as many different coffee shops as possible in Seminyak, come here. It’s weird, but it’s good.

So there you have it. My version of the best cafes in Seminyak right now. Of course new places open up and old places close. But I reckon this is going to be a good list at least for a few years to come. Let me know what your favourite Seminyak cafe is!

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Bali

Grain Cafe, Seminyak, Bali: Aussie Cafe in the Heart of Seminyak

Most of the good cafes these days are either in the far end or Seminyak towards Canggu or in Canggu itself. Grain is an exception as it’s located at the Legian end of Seminyak.

Many of the cafes in Bali are ultra modern and perhaps too over the top modern for some people. If you’re not into the really modern cafes, but still appreciate great food and drink, Grain is for you.Lower Floor Grain CafeLocated not far from Jalan Double Six, it’s quite close to hotels such as The Haven which will be convenient for most people.

We tried pasta and a steak sandwich and both were quite good, but nothing out of this world. In other words, we’d be happy to come here for a meal again, but don’t expect something which is going to blow your mind. And that’s ok. Comfort food done well.Steak Sandwich Grain CafeCoffee here has a good reputation and our friend had a cappuccino which he said was a good one. It certainly looked good!Coffee at Grain CafeThe fitout of the cafe is quite modern and enjoyable to sit in while you surf the wifi. And the wifi is very fast at 25mbit both upload and download.Upper Floor Grain CafeSo what’s our overall view? An enjoyable place for breakfast lunch or dinner in a pleasant environment. Centrally located and fast wifi. Worth a try.

Grain
Jalan Seminyak 16B, Seminyak
(0361) 730 528
www.grainbali.com
Instagram: @grainbali
Opening Hours: 07:30 – 22:00
Steak Sandwich: Rp95.000++
Spaghetti asparagus: Rp78.000++
Smoothies: Rp39.000++
Cappuccino: Rp30.000++

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Bali

Sisterfields, Seminyak: One of my favourite cafes in Bali

Sisterfields is possibly the most popular cafe in all of Seminyak and after you’ve eaten there, you’ll know why.

We’ve been to Sisterfields numerous times over the years and there is a lot to like about it, but not everything is perfect in this hipster haven near Seminyak Square.Sisterfields when it's busyWe recently ordered coffees juices and 4 big dishes. 3 of the dishes were top notch, one of the dishes was poor. So what’s going on?

The egg and bacon baguette was filled to the brim with bacon and fried onion bits and was tasty and generous.Roast Beef Charcoal RollThe roast beef roll was a revelation coming with a pot of luscious gravy and a slathering of mild wasabi. Such a fantastic combination executed beautifully at Sisterfields.French Toast at Sisterfields BaliFrench toast is often disappointing, but at Sisterfields you get one single slice of toast with an awesome quinelle of ice cream and lots of matcha custard. We love this dish!Pancake at Sisterfields BaliThe single dish we hated was the pancake. The pancake actually looks the best, but it was dry and stodgy with no moisture at all. Your mouth instantly becomes clammy and dry. Such an unpleasant experience. What’s more, there seemed to be a lack of sweetness throughout the dish despite a generous amount of berries. It’s almost as if a sauce or syrup was accidentally left off. What’s going on there?Coffee and drinks at SisterfieldsCoffee at Sisterfields is top notch and one of our favourites in Bali. We especially love the texture of the cups the coffee served is in.Expat Coffee next to SisterfieldsWe love Sisterfields and it seems that everyone else does too. At peaks time you’ll wait 20 minutes for a seat in the cafe next door. A highly recommended cafe in Bali despite a few missteps.

Sisterfields
Jalan Kayu Cendana 7, Seminyak
hello@sisterfieldsbali.com
sisterfieldsbali.com
Instagram: @sisterfields
Opening Hours: setiap hari 07:00-17:00
Coffee: Rp35.000++
Mixed Juice: Rp46.000++
Brioche French Toast: Rp95.000++
Warm Roast Beef Charcoal Roll: Rp150.000++

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Bali

Nook, Umalas, Seminyak, Bali

Nook is one of the trendiest cafes in the Seminyak area despite it having already been on the scene for years. A combination of good food and ricefield views insures happy customers.

The building is a light and breezy thing perched right on the edge of one of the last large rice fields in the area. And the ricefield is slowly being eaten away by the rampant development which characterised the rest of the south of Bali.Comfy environment NookWith that in mind, come here before even more of the ricefield disappears.

The menu at Nook is a cross between European and Indonesian and there is generally something here for everyone. We’ve had a range of dishes over the years and everything has been good, but not so spectacular that you’d come here just for the food.bottled juice at NookWe are super disappointed with their cold-pressed juices as they are bought from outside and not juiced in house. Why on earth would we come to a cafe and pay Rp50.000++ when they simply buy their juices from some other place? So so disappointing. For us, it’s enough for us to never come back.Nook Umalas BaliAnd it’s this sort of disappointment that we fear may seep into other parts of the business. But we just can’t know unless we try everything.

Nook is a great place to come and hang out on a hot afternoon, but don’t come here expecting culinary heaven. The food we’ve tried is quite good and the view is still ok. And let’s face it, most people do love Nook!Inside NookRecommended for photos and the relaxing atmosphere.

Nook
Jalan Umalas 1, Gang Nook 1, Kerobokan
(0361) 847 5625
Instagram: @nook_bali
Opening Hours: setiap hari 08:00 – 23:00
Rueben sandwich: Rp79.000++
Nasi Goreng: Rp48.000++
Cold pressed juice: Rp50.000++
Cappuccino: Rp28.000++

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Bali

Sea Circus, Seminyak, Bali: Colourful and Delicious!

Sea Circus was one of the first modern cafes in Seminyak at the start of the decade when Seminyak was more upmarket than it is today.

As a modern cafe, it’s done incredibly well to keep up with all the modern cafe trends. They’ve always served great coffee, but these days they also sell things like acai bowls kombucha.Sea Circus BaliIn our view, the food and drinks at Sea Circus are as good as they always have been and remain one of our top picks in Seminyak.

Coffee comes smooth and dark and is really good.Coffee at Sea CircusJuices are fresh and sweet without the need for extra sugar.

The fitout of Sea Circus is what really sets it apart from many other cafes in Bali. There’s a real beach feel about it with a bunch of circus lights thrown into the mix. It’s bright and fresh and a perfect tonic if you’re feeling down.Inside area Sea Circus Bali

Interior Sea Circus BaliSea Circus remains one of our Bali favourites and we think it will be one of yours too. Top marks.

Sea Circus
Jalan Kayu Aya 22, Seminyak
www.seacircus-bali.com
Instagram: @seacircus
Opening Hours: setiap hari 08:00 – 01:00
Cappuccino: Rp28.000++
Blended juice: Rp40.000++
Acai bowl: Rp90.000++
Eggs benedict: Rp85.000++

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Bali

Pison, Seminyak, Bali: A Good All-Rounder

On the number of times we’ve been to Pison, we’ve had completely different experiences. Some have been extremely busy, some really quiet. And it’s the busyness that really changes the nature of this place.

When we visited on a quiet occasion, the service was pleasant and attentive and the vibe of the cafe so chilled and relaxed. But when we visited and the cafe was full, service was very poor and waiters simply didn’t serve us unless we waved them over.Inside Pison CoffeeAdditionally, the vibe was a lot more chaotic and not really that nice. If you love a chaotic vibe, maybe you’d love Pison when it’s busy.Pison Coffee Petitenget BaliThe burger on a red velvet bun we had here was really really good. Generous meat patty, brioche-like bun and tasty cheese. It all sat together nicely so that you could pick it up and smash it.Red Velvet BurgerThe coffee here is also very good and up there with some of the best in Bali.Drinks at Pison CoffeeSo while we think this is a very good cafe, we don’t really like it when it gets too busy.View from above Pison Coffee BaliSo will we come again? Absolutely. It’s just one of those places that is nice to come with a coffee and your laptop.

Pison Coffee
Jalan Petitenget 8A, Seminyak
(0812) 383 4986
info@pisoncoffee.com
www.pisoncoffee.com
Instagram: @pisoncoffee
Jam bu: Minggu – Jumat 08:00-23.00, Sabtu 08:00 – 00:00

Cappuccino: Rp30.000++
Iced Taro: Rp35.000++
Red Velvet Burger: Rp65.000++