Discover the best of Bali’s dining scene

From Spanish-style tapas to a street-food inspired diner, these are four of the best restaurants in Bali.

Cuca restauant.

1. Cuca, Jimbaran

Down a lane next to Kayumanis Jimbaran villas, Cuca is an otherworldly find. Chef Kevin Cherkas has done stints at Spain’s Michelin-starred El Bulli and Arzak, plus New York’s Daniel, and set up Cuca with his Spanish partner Virginia Entizne in 2013, adhering to a philosophy of globally inspired and locally sourced fare. There’s indoor dining, noon to midnight, in a sleek contemporary space or at tables spread around a manicured lawn, lit by night like a veritable fairyland. The emphasis is on tapas share dishes (do not pass up warm buttered lobster chunks on little sesame buns with lemon mayonnaise) and inventive spicy-sweet-sour beverages such as Vitamin C (fresh tangerine juice, house-made Campari and cinnamon), plus a witty style of presentation that has earned Cuca a robust Instagram following, a TripAdvisor Hall of Fame award and a Michelin Travel Guide gong. Caters to vegetarians, the mocktail set and pudding fanciers – hail Snow White, a layered fantasy of frozen yoghurt, poached strawberries and candied rose petals. Sweet dreams.

2. Mama San, Kerobokan

Mama San restaurant.

Will Meyrick’s most popular Bali diner (he also runs Hujan Locale in Ubud and Sarong in Seminyak) continues to be a favourite. Tables are easier to secure for lunch and there’s the bonus of observing the colourful decor in brighter detail. The cavernous room has the proportions of a warehouse and features a huge hand-painted mural of the sultry (fictional) Mama-san at the far end and walls hung with retro photography that set the scene for a loungey “old Shanghai” mood. The street-food inspirations rove from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Cambodia to Vietnam, India, Sri Lanka and China, with all the expected spicy and earthy flavours starring, including chilli, basil, coconut, tamarind, black vinegar and lime. The all-day menu is designed to share and the slow-cooked beef rendang with Sumatran spices and coconut milk is a knockout. A wide range of fruit coolers are perfect accompaniments and leave space for a tropical twist on pavlova; head to the mezzanine bar for chilli lime margaritas. And Meyrick has just opened Honey and Smoke, a speakeasy-inspired grill at Ubud.

3. Sundara Beach Club, Jimbaran

This madly popular venue forms part of the five-star Four Seasons Jimbaran resort but operates as a satellite with a stand-alone entrance, particularly drawing in crowds for “Bali’s longest Sunday brunch”, which unfurls from 11am to 4.30pm, and the early-evening push for sunset viewings over sand and sea. There’s a 57m-long infinity pool, daybeds, a menu that includes burgers, salad bowls and excellent pizzas, plus creative cocktails of the likes of a Sundara spritz, mixed with house-made amaro, lychee, strawberry and cava. But for a proper nosh, the adjoining indoor space, with that same coastal panorama via open glass bi-folds, is less of a scene and offers an accomplished menu that includes wood-smoked or flame-grilled share “barbecue boards” of meat and seafood platters on Saturdays. Chef de cuisine David Gavin, ex Mozaic Ubud, has just arrived at the helm with a declared passion for local ingredients and Indonesian spices. Stay tuned.

4. Koral, Apurva Kempinski Hotel, Nusa Dua

Koral restaurant.

Would you like tropical fish with that? While it sounds naff, this stylishly decorated aquarium-themed 80-seater subterranean restaurant, with big glass panels, adjacent to the resort’s swimming zone, is mesmerising. A marine-life spotter’s guide is presented at each table to identify the rays and reef fish darting among the coral formations. Scuba divers regularly pop past too. You’d expect the food to be an afterthought but it’s intriguing, inventive and belies the notion that themed restaurants rely on gimmickry. There’s a choice of degustation menus, which feature the likes of salmon, lobster and cod, plus a few meaty inclusions, all served with witty garnishes on decorative plates, some with dry ice haloes, and wine-paired at extra cost. Koral seats 80 for lunch or dinner and all tables have views of the aquarium; the prime spots are tables for two below a glass tunnel between reception and the main dining area, but no specific requests are permitted, so it’s first in, best seated, and reservations are essential.