BEACHFRONT GASTRONOMY

More than just offering fun under the sun, Bali’s beach clubs have also upped their food ante in recent years. By Eve Tedja

Beach clubs find their groove with produce-focused menus

Plenty has changed since KU DE TA, Bali’s first prominent beach club opened its doors back in 2000. Seminyak was then a quiet, dark void where people rarely ventured to. Having secured a premium beachfront location, KU DE TA went on to create a multi-faceted, all-day lifestyle destination and transformed Seminyak’s sleepy rice paddy image to that of a glamorous beachy hotspot.

Fast forward to 2018 and Bali is now teeming with beach clubs. From the panoramic cliff-top Uluwatu in the southernmost tip of Bali to the eastern coastline of black-sand Keramas Beach, it almost feels like if there’s a strip of beach left, there’s bound to be a club opening there too. With catchy tunes from a live DJ, a bar located by the pool, friendly service and plush sunbeds, a good beach club can easily lure many to spend the entire day or night there.

To stand out from the competition, many of these beach clubs have increased the emphasis on the quality of their F&B offerings. After all, one still has to eat well between a tanning session and the next margarita at the poolside bar. Here’s our pick of some of the island’s favourite beach clubs.

BEACH BAR AT ALILA SEMINYAK

Relax and unwind at this upscale pool bar while waiting for the stunning sunset. There’s no entrance fee or minimum spending and you are welcome to use the pool as well as the plush bean bags facing the beach.

The no-fuzz approach extends to the menu. Led by chef Ngurah Heru Wijaya who has spent 10 years in Alila Hotels and Resorts, the gourmet offerings will take you around the globe momentarily. From Lamb Kebab (Rp160,000) to Pork Bun (Rp165,000), the dishes are best eaten with your hands while accompanied by the house signature’s Gin and Tonic selection. The scrumptious spread like the Chef’s Sunset Selection (Rp535,000) for two that comes with juicy satays, falafel, chicken wings, hummus, mutabel, lamb kebab, and pork ribs should keep you satiated until sundown. Alila Seminyak, Jl. Taman Ganesha No.9, Petitenget, Kerobokan.

Tel: +62 361 3021888