It’s more than a meal. It’s an experience!
The holiday season is not just about visiting major attractions, but it is also the best time to explore something quirky yet unique. Speaking about unique, I’ve seen some very unique-themed restaurants on this island. And one thing I know for sure is that the most successful restaurant concepts are ones that provide diners with an experience they’ll never forget.
A great restaurant concept can make a business grow at full speed, and having unique restaurant themes will intrigue more customers as well as draw media attention. By all means to argue that dinner is already an experience. But having dinner at a unique restaurant goes the extra mile by adding entertainment.
I personally believe that most people are craving experiences because they want to share stories and photos on social media. Unique restaurant themes give them something to brag about, while at the same time promoting the restaurants in the process.
Now, in this article, I have compiled some unique restaurants in Bali that are worth every minute exploring.
Underwater
Combining fresh and seasonal products and the skills of award winning Chef Andrea Astone, this high-end restaurant at The Apurva Kempinski Bali is delighted to offer guests a whole host of artisan dishes in the form of a set menu and signature degustation menu. Providing modern cuisine with a twist, Koral delivers a culinary experience like no other. It is the amalgamation of talent, locally sourced fine ingredients and surprising compositions that has secured our place as a unique destination on The Island of Gods.
Guests are invited to an underwater world of bistronomic delights at Koral, the aquarium dining experience at The Apurva Kempinski Bali. All of the senses are stimulated at this unique venue for the very first time. At Koral, diners will feast on elegant dishes inspired by Indonesian coastal flavours and crafted from local ingredients, at a venue that is both casual and refined. More than just a restaurant, Koral offers a full bistronomic experience, combining delectable dining, a laid-back ambiance and the rarefied atmosphere of an aquarium, accompanied with a hypnotic soundtrack that captures the magic and mystery of life below the waves.
Inside a Rock Concert
Dining out with a live music performance is so normal. We can find it in almost every restaurant on this island. But what about enjoying your dinner in the middle of a rock concert? This lobby bar at Hard Rock Hotel Bali, Centerstage, is better known as live entertainment rather than a typical hotel lobby. You can imagine a 100,000-watt charge of audio-visual system blazing hard while the crowd singing along around you.
A Mythical Experience Around the Thousand-year-old Arts
Entering the unique doorways into this restaurant at Hotel Tugu Bali is a mythical experience for the senses that lingers between the pleasures of this world and those of another. Leading the heart of this journey is the namesake and inspiration of this unique Japanese cum Peranakan Chinese dining experience—the 310-year-old Kang Xi period temple. The fusion of the ancient Japanese and Chinese cultures which are reflected not only in the ornate animal carvings of the Chinese temple’s elegant dark wood façade, but also in the restaurant’s branding—an innovative take on Japanese calligraphy highlighting the fanciful flora, fauna and cultural elements of the region—offers animated glimpses into the past while at the same time spearheading into the future. The temple exemplifies the nearly 2000-year-old relationship between the two cultures and stands as a testament to the vast influence the more ancient China had on aspects of life in Japan.
Club by The Beach
Nestled on picturesque Karma Beach, Le Club 22 is set to unveil its exciting new chapter, showcasing the vibrant and delectable world of Italian-Mediterranean cuisine. With a flavour-forward California approach, this culinary haven promises a delightful dining experience that celebrates the art of exceptional flavours and the use of high-quality ingredients.
Classic Irish Pub
Gracie Kelly’s Irish Pub has been inspired by a classic Irish tower, complete with a distinctive steeple and large ornate windows. However, exposed red brickwork and semi-industrial elements give the building a more contemporary edge. This eye-catching design concept still manages to respect Bali by utilizing locally sourced materials. Although now much larger in size, Gracie Kelly’s Irish Pub retains many of the quirky features and decorative accents that have appealed to guests over the years. It is a multi-storey venue with an outdoor terrace, an extended bar, and a wood-panelled stage. With a stone fireplace in one corner and parlour seating nooks to recreate the ambiance of an authentic Irish pub, people can come to eat, drink, and be entertained by live music in air-conditioned comfort.
A mezzanine-styled second floor is accessible via an elaborate staircase or a modern lift fitted with a vintage accordion gate. This upper area entertains guests with pool tables, electronic darts, and other fun pub activities. It is supported by a smaller bar and a wrap-around counter that looks down over a wrought-iron railing onto the stage below.
Gracie Kelly’s has become a social hub for Bali Dynasty Resort guests and outside visitors alike. It offers a weekly schedule of various activities, including live bands, DJ music, a jukebox, and the resort’s famous charity quiz night. There is also a big screen where crowds can gather to watch live sporting events from all around the world. Gracie Kelly’s resident pair of leprechauns have committed to continuing their starring role at the venue. Always a hit with the children, these pint-sized icons will get everyone into the party mood with their playful antics and crazy dance moves. Another fun gimmick is a customized Gracie Kelly’s vehicle where guests can enjoy escorted rides from the lobby down to the main street.
A Tiny Nomadic Village
This restaurant at Canggu seems like a tiny nomadic village filled with quirky wood caravans and wagons. Each of them has been painted in bright colours. Together, they feel like a jumbled up colourful scene out of a gaudy painting but they seem to go well with the picture of the beach in the background. Trees and plants grow all over the place adding a deep hue of green to the already colourful place. It was a dizzying sight!
Next to an Aeroplane
Despite some airlines acquiring world-class chefs to create their menus, few passengers are likely to get revved up about the prospect of eating 30,000 feet above the ground. Perhaps it’s because our taste buds have a tendency to malfunction at altitude. Some argue that we’re simply bad tempered when flying and thus more likely to complain. But what if you could make the aeroplane itself your destination and not just the means of getting there? All while keeping our feet firmly on the ground?
Back to the American 60’s Vibe
Taking inspiration from the New York City in the ’60s, this restaurant is unique and compelling with its decoration, bursting with vibrant colours, as well as celebrating the music and youth culture of the time. You can expect dog-tooth patterns, optical art and a 60s-style seating arrangement.
