Sanur on Bali’s southern east coast is a haven for food lovers wanting to escape the madness of the western beaches. The area, only a 30 minute drive from Denpasar Airport, is a favoured by families with children and those seeking a quieter Bali experience. The neighbourhood focuses on the 8km strip of magnificent beach where you will find fisherman looking for the days catch, juxtaposed against modern resorts and hip restaurants. The main ‘drag’ which runs parallel to the beach is also a key area of attraction with many cafes, bars, fashion & homeware stores. In this adventure travel guide to Sanur you’ll find yourself based in the Southern nook of Sanur – in a chic neighbourhood where you will spot bustling warungs, locals picking flowers for their daily offerings, quiet bars and sleepy street dogs standing guard. In this article you’ll find our guide to Sanur for food lovers and those families wanting to explore the less busy beaches.
The food here can be divided into two camps – international cuisines & local flavours. International flavours including burgers, pizza, Mexican, etc are prominent in this area as they hope to cater the tourist market. However there are plenty of ‘warungs’ family run restaurants that stay true to local Balinese and Indonesian flavours. You’ll be able to find the common suspects like rice and noodles, but also an abundance of fresh seafood, skewered meats and fresh fruit.
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Here is our travel guide for food lovers – Sanur, Bali:
Seek fantastic accomodation – The Akana Boutique Hotel
The Akana Boutique Hotel Sanur is a chic 4 star hotel with chic & comfortable rooms. With only 38 rooms on offer there is an attention to detail and personal connection here that is generally missed when staying in a larger hotel. All rooms directly face over a central lagoon pool surrounded by palms and frangipani trees. The pool is a welcome reprieve from the heat of the day and the sun lounges are a perfect spot to spend an afternoon.
The Deluxe Pool rooms features either a twin or king bed configuration and boasts a spacious outdoor patio area with lounge. The bathrooms are chic with their mismatched marble tiles. With a large walk in shower and vanity with plenty of surface area this bathroom wants you to unpack and relax. It is a the small details in a hotel that make the most difference- the twice daily housekeeping service was unintrusive, the free cooking demonstrations on rainy afternoons was a delight and having two sets of towels in the room (one for the bathroom and the other for the pool or beach) shows a knowledge their customers needs.
Food at the hotel
Food at the Akana is impressive. The breakfast buffet was generous but not overwhelming. With fresh pastries, local tropical fruits, yogurts, juices and a salad bar, all filling you plates before you order a cooked breakfast off the main menu. Similarly their balinese style breakfasts, in particular their omelettes with shredded chicken and flavourful sambals, will liven your tastebuds. Sitting out on their out door patio overlooking the local street whilst sipping on a strong coffee, you’ll be able to watch life in Sanur unfold, offerings made and motorbikes slide by. The sounds and aromas invite you to explore. Surprisingly unlike many hotels, the in-room dining at the Akana is exemplary. The food is delicious, hot, fresh and affordable.
Seeking coffee- Berbagi Ruang & Kopi
Coffee lovers will rejoice at the selection of cafes available in Sanur. Hidden gems are found in many parts of the neighbourhood – discover beachside hangouts, tiny shipping containers or more established cafe in the side streets.
Berbagi Ruang & Kopi Sanur is one of these treasures. ‘Berbagi’ means ‘to share’ in Bahasa Indonesian. The cafe is focused on bringing people together. With both indoor and outdoor seating available, this is indeed somewhere for people to meet & relax. The staff are kind & the laid back vibes mean you can comfortably nurse a drink without pressure. With a concise menu of coffee favourites- all available hot or cold – finding a perfect coffee is a joy. The iced latte was strong and delicious with a great flavour pallet. Furthermore their hot latte was equally impressive.
Price of a ice latte – 28 ringgit
Seeking local flavours – Warung Blanjong
On the edge of an intersection is this upscale Warung. With a menu of both local and international flavours it’s not difficult to find something delicious. The Bihun Goreng- an Indonesian dish with fried vermicelli noodles & sticks of marinate chicken is moorish. Whilst the Soto Ayam- a fragrant chicken noodle soup with layers of aromats is utterly comforting.
Prices – Bihun Goreng- 40k ringlet and Soto Ayam – 42k ringlet
Seeking pampering- Leha Leha Spa
A trip to Sanur is incomplete without a serious pamper session. This local day spa comes recommended by the staff at the Akana. The spa is beautifully designed with an indoor water fountain in the lobby and each of the treatment rooms are spotless & well designed. Treatments vary from massages, scrubs, facials and nail care. The 60minute deep relaxing massage with lavender oils will assist in unwinding to Bali time.
Price 60 minute massage – 330k ringgit
Seeking beach vibes
When compiling a travel guide for Sanur it is impossible to not mention the beaches!
The beaches at Sanur is one of the main draw card to the area and the reasoning is sound. It’s a fantastic beach for families – with remarkably clean sand areas. In addition the warm inviting water is calm enough for small children to enjoy. In the most southern part of the neighbourhood you’ll find many resorts (including the Marriot) dotted alongside beach restaurants and pop up stalls. You can watch fisherman trying their luck standing out on a rocky pier and listen to the rustle the wind flicking through the overhead trees, all without the constant sound of water sports & machinery.
In recent years the government has invested in the area by creating a paved boardwalk running alongside the beach. This almost 8km stretch has made walking or riding a bicycle along the beach a true pleasure.
Seeking beachfront coffee – Genius cafe
Drawn in by the chic beach club setting- with beach lounges, bean bags and picnic tables all dotted under macrame umbrellas – this is an ideal spot for families. There is room for kids to spread out- frolic in the waves or to build sandcastles between the tables. The menu is extensive with both international & local Indonesian flavours available. Fresh cold coconuts, fruit smoothies, cocktails and freshly brewed coffees are some of the drinks highlights.
Price – ice latte 40k ringgit and smoothie 50k ringgit
Seeking entertainment for the kids
Parents will appreciate the fantastic playground in this area of Sanur. Built underneath an impressive tree this shaded area will keep the small ones occupied. With equipment that will appeal to different ages – this playground caters for all age groups. There is one section with smaller slides & ground level activities, while older kids can enjoy climbing the larger rafts & steeper slides. It is a popular spot for families to gather.
Seeking beachfront lunch- Retro beach Restaurant
Spoilt for choice along the Sanur boardwalk- there is an abundance of fantastic eateries. The Retro Beach restaurant skirts the boundary of being a touristy though still produces excellent local flavours. Their fried noodles – mi goreng – and spicy prawn salad are both delicious.
Price- vegetarian mi goreng 40k ringgit and the prawn salad 55k ringlet
Seeking beachfront bbq seafood- Warung Amphibia
Beachfront seafood bbq is often an overpriced experience. However Warung Amphibia is a hidden gem in the northern part of Sanur that serves ultra fresh seafood at very reasonable prices.
The display of fresh fish & seafood is impressive. Enjoy a table on the sandy beach and watch as the seafood is grilled over coals nearby. The fried calamari served with local chilli sauces is ultra crispy yet still tender. The chilli crab was outstanding with the right amount of spice. It was also phenomenal value. This is a venue that could easily becomes ones regular haunt.
Prices- plate of fried calamari 60k ringgit, dish of garlic potatoes 10k ringgit and chilli crab (paid by weight) 30k per 100g.
Seeking healthy eating- Soul in a Bowl
This upscale venue is a favourite for coffee lovers and health conscious folk. Their menu highlights smoothie bowls, salads and fresh treats. With indoor seating, a patio overlooking the road and a pool area there is plenty of space to relax. The coffee here was impressive- their ice coffee was strong & fuelling. Parents will also appreciated the ‘kid friendly’ attitude of the staff. They are happy to chat to children, show them parts of the restaurant and can provide colouring in activities to keep them entertained.
Price of an ice coffee – 35k ringgit
Seeking urbex abandoned theme parks- Taman Festival Park
An unusual addition to our travel guide to Sanur, however Urbex exporters will adore visiting Taman Festival Park. The theme park was built in the 1990s for a pricey sum of a reported US$100million. It was only opened for a short period before a severe lighting storm caused damaged to one of the main attractions. The owners faced difficulties with insurance and the economic climate which resulted in the park closing. The site was officially abandoned in 2000 and it quickly fell into ruin. Rumours of ghosts & evil spiritis quickly spread tainting the site with the title as the ‘most haunted place in bali’. Today you’ll notice that most of the structures remain in various states of decay- with many crumbling. Nature is trying to reclaim the landscape and you’ll see many buildings where vegetation is swallowing it.
Security still controls the entrances and are making a seemingly futile attempt to keep the overgrowing vegetation in check. Technically the park is closed, nevertheless the security are happy for visitors to explore. They will charge a small entrance fee and present you with a ticket. The walking paths in the park are still in reasonable condition, so it’s simple to walk around and observe.
The impressive buildings, the graffiti artwork and the general ‘eerie’ vibes make this site a worthy destination in Sanur to visit.
“Tickets” – 20k ringlet per person plus a 50k ringgit fee if your driver requires a place to park.
Summary
Sanur is a a wonderful destination for visitors wanting a more relaxed Bali adventure. There are enough activities in the area to keep one occupied, yet it avoids the ‘hectic’ fast paced attitudes of some other parts of the island. The quieter conditions make this a more suitable location for families – particularly those with small children. Delicious local foods are easily accessible, along with fantastic coffee and drinks venues. Food lovers will appreciate the mix of both western & local flavours on offer. It’s not hard to find delicious food in Sanur.
If you have enjoyed reading our food lovers guide to Sanur – stay tuned for more Bali guides!
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