 This tour offers what I believe is one of Bali’s best cultural experiences the island has to offer - It's an absolute must if you want to see beautiful Bali’s rice field region of Ubud and learn in depth (without it being too much to take in) about the interesting Balinese culture.
The highlights for me on this tour was stopping first for breakfast looking over the volcano Mt Batur then it is off to the coffee plantation where you are able to sample and learn about the famous (cat poo inspired) Bali Luwak coffee which is a experience in itself. Then the 25 kilometer bicycle ride begins, it is mostly a non strenuous, pleasant down hill ride where you pass rice fields and villages, and at every stop the guide Putu explains rural Balinese life and traditions to you. Once the bicycle ride is finished it doesn’t end there, you are taken back to Putu’s family house where his aunty and mum have prepared an Indonesian feast for lunch. This food is one of the best Indonesian meals I have had in Bali and every single person I have sent on this tour have said how amazing the lunch was, and adding to the experience you are sitting in a actual Balinese home. Putu and all the guides are very personal and you can tell they love what they do, they are informative without boring you and it is nice to know you are contributing to a small family run Balinese business. The tour costs USD 45 per person or USD 35 for child under 12 years This includes pick up and drop of to your villa, mountain bike and use of safety helmet, breakfast & lunch, fruits, mineral water on tour, and cold towels. The companies website is; http://www.jegegbalicycling.com ph: 62 8123 677 9429
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It is safe to say Expresso Martini’s are very much a thing taking the world by storm the last few years. I was even on holidays in Byron bay when a middle aged American couple commented on my expresso martini at a bar and said they didn’t even drink coffee but they were partial to a good Expresso martini! Most will agree a expersso is a GOOD go-to cocktail in almost any situation - pre drinks watching the sunset, a after dinner drink for a little kick or perhaps a few too many of them leaving you thinking why did I drink so many as you lay in bed not being able to sleep from over indulging in one too many. So with my love for a good expresso I thought what better post to do then about my favourite espresso’s in Bali in no particular order. Azul Beach Club Tiki Bar - Legian I have a real respect for attention to detail and each of the cocktails on this funky Tiki bar’s menu including the "Rumpresso" (Azul’s version of the Espresso Martini which is delicious) is very instagramable with its own signature custom-made glassware making for the coolest cocktail presentation in Bali!  Metis – Seminyak Metis boasts some of the best bar tender talents Indonesia produces, you can honestly tell from one sip their cocktail’s are made with only the highest end ingredients and their espresso’s are smooth and may leave you with having one to many as they are just too easy to drink! Metis a beautiful place for a after dinner drink. Moonlite – Seminyak Arguably my favourite rooftop bar in Bali, it’s a little bit of a hidden gem this one however the Espresso’s from Moonlite taste all the more heavenly with its open air deck and panoramic Indian Ocean views stretching down past the airport, its one of my go to sunset spot’s before a nice dinner.  Saigon Street – Seminyak They have two to choose from at Saigon Street, one by the name “Vietnamese Espresso Martini” which I would say is the godfather of Espresso’s including a whole lot of sweetened condensed milk goodness in this low calorie and low fat version *wink wink*, or a “Aki’s Espresso Martini” which is a little more of a classic recipe both are delicious and shaken with love, for those of you who like milky sweet cocktails you will adore the Vietnamese Espresso! Cocoon – Double Six Cocoon has consistently provided me with good tasting espressos for several years now. They also do happy hour from 4pm till 7pm daily and this includes a variety of cocktails including Espresso Martini’s! Cocoon is a relaxed vibe type of place and is busiest around sunset. Well there you have it, a well rounded list of places to visit and for those of you who don’t like espresso’s so much, all of these bars offer a stellar list of good tasting cocktails to suit everyone. After all Bali and cocktails go together hand in hand!
“What’s a really nice restaurant to go to in Bali” This is a question we get asked a lot! For an extra special date night, special occasion or just a beautiful quality meal we have put our 10 personally loved top restaurants in a list for you to enjoy on your next trip to Bali. There is a massive 4,700 restaurants registered in Bali on trip advisor and 403 in Seminyak alone! So the choice can be overwhelming. We understand everyone’s opinions may be different however we believe these restaurants have consistently delivered us outstanding service, each has its on incredible decor, ambiance atmosphere & off course brilliant food. YES to be clear these meals are not $2 Nasi Goreng. Some people are surprised with the prices of such top restaurants however to be realistic If you want service, décor, atmosphere & Wow food you do need to be willing to pay for it regardless where you are in the world and Bali is no exception however compared to most other countries restaurants you will be paying a lot less for the same high quality you get at home! Depending on if you have cocktails, wine and how many courses your looking at $100 - $150 for two people. So here is our list of each restaurant along with some information on why we choose it. I hope you visit at least one of these restaurants on your next Bali holiday and enjoy the restaurants experience as much as I do! Barbacoa – Seminyak Barbacoa is my number one when it comes to restaurants in Bali. Over the last two & a half years I have lost count on how many times I have been here and it has never disappointed. The staff is always on point with service, the wines are beautiful and not ridiculously priced, expresso martini’s and all the cocktails are beautiful. The food will leave you planning your next visit to Bali so you can come back to Barbacoa. The menu has something for everyone; for the meat eater the pork is hard to go past, the fish tacos are truly the best I have ever tasted and the home baked bread is next level! Even the side’s of potato and cauliflower salad will surprise you with how seriously good a vegetable can taste. The desert platter is also worth it if you an fit in it!  Cuca – Jimbaran Bay The food and cocktails on the menu at Cuca are all created from the heart and you can tell this restaurant really cares and has a passion about everything they deliver on the table. Cuca is a sharing style restaurant and they pride themselves on using 100% Indonesian produce. Our favourites are baked scallops, roasted pork buns and for cocktails the iced rosè! Yes it is located in Jimbaran however it really is worth the journey. Saigon Street – Seminyak Saigon Street is a fun semi casual Vietnamese style restaurant. With colourful setting, attentive and always happy staff this is a perfect place to go with a group or just the two of you. Cocktails are top notch, we recommend the Vietnamese espresso martini if you have a sweet tooth but the menu has something for everyone. For food the green rice fried tiger prawns never disappoint, same as the peaking duck rolls and the Coconut balls with salted caramel are worth trying for those desert lovers! Da Maria Seminyak For those of you who know Bondi Ice burgs in Sydney the same people are behind this latest addition to Bali’s food scene, they have teamed up with the fun Motel Mexicola guys and together have made this Modern Italian restaurant. Da Maria pizzas are naturally fermented for 24 hours inspired by the Neapolitan way and cooked in local lava ovens. Da Maria also has a party vibe with a DJ playing every evening from 10pm, which we love!  Robert Machetti – Double six Quit possibly the most high end restaurant in Bali, Robert Machetti Plantation grill is a beautifully designed restaurant, Plantation Grill flaunts twenties-style luxury, with marble finishes, a vaulted double-height ceiling and huge glass windows looking out to the sea. Guests are introduced to the venue via a beautiful spiral staircase, which leads them down to luxurious leather booths. The restaurant’s specialty is dry aged, exclusively sourced and imported meat and line-caught sustainable seafood cooked over custom made coal and wood grills and wood-fired ovens. Make sure you go Friday & Saturday from 8 – 10pm to catch the Jazz performance. Mama San – Seminyak This restaurant is often booked out at least one week in advance and for good reason. Mama San delivers consistently outstanding food and is one of the most popular restaurants in Bali. The cuisine is Asian fusion and is a intimate dinning space with a romantic setting. Sardine – Seminyak Overlooking a beautiful rice field view it’s hard to believe you are in the middle of Seminyak. Sardine has a sense of traditional Balinese from the moment you enter the restaurant with the waiter’s uniforms and design of the restaurant. I have never heard anyone be disappointed from a meal at Sardine. The menu is predominantly seafood however does have a few other options such as a beef & duck meal. The Pan seared diver scallops are my recommendation .  One Eyed Jack – Berawa Located in the new upcoming area of Berawa / Canggu. This restaurant boasts as ex Nobu chef. With a modern take on Japanese food and great cocktails One eyed Jack is the perfect dinner location after watching the sunset at Finns Beach club as it is walking distance between the two. Merah Putih – Seminyak The dining space is nothing short of stunning, with a high ceiling and solar filtered glass walls which allow light to shine in and fill the restaurant. Merah Putih serves traditional Indonesian cuisine for the purists, and at the same time, dedicating another column in the menu to providing options for Indonesian food with a modern interpretation. Sarong – Seminyak
We love Sarong because the options are endless, the menu is never ending and the Cocktails are on point. Sarong is South East Asian cuisine culture. From the Madura’s of Indonesia to the Tamil’s of Southern India, the food of Sarong represents the authentic flavours of the entire region. The setting is elegant, comfortable and stylish with a long dark wood bar and bevelled mirrors accentuating high ceilings with flowing drapery that enhances the indoor to outdoor ambience of a tropical evening. |
AuthorLuxury Villa Life Archives
April 2017
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