5 Best Restaurants in Seminyak, Indonesia

Inside a 150-year-old Javanese teak house laden with antiques, Biku is a restaurant, cocktail lounge, and bookstore catering to Seminyak's upscale expat community. Sink into a comfortable chair with a cocktail or one of Biku's 20 or more varieties of tea while coming to grips with its lengthy, eclectic menu. Breakfast leans American and is served all day. Lunch tilts Australian with meat pies for carnivores and quiches for vegetarians. Besides Indonesian fare, dinner includes grilled steaks and chops. There's even a kid's menu. Somehow, the kitchen manages to keep it all straight.

In 1969, Made opened a pioneering warung (roadside stall) in Kuta. The Seminyak branch opened in 1987, continuing the tradition in an open-air space where you can see Balinese dance performances five nights a week. (Reserve a table near the stage for the best view.) This beloved institution boasts a voluminous menu, ranging from Indonesian standards to the chef's take on dishes from Italy or Japan. It's a good place to try nasi campur, a bed of rice surrounded with chicken, vegetables, and tofu, as wellas rujak kuah pindang, a fruit salad in a tart broth.

After strolling through the antique and jewelry galleries, head to the refined dining room of this celebrated French restaurant overlooking expansive lotus ponds. The straightforward menu leans toward grilled meats and fish: rack of lamb served with baked garlic cloves, tomato, and olives elevates the glories of the flesh. Conversely, the so-called "legendary" hot foie gras masks the subtle flavor with fruity accompaniments. The soufflés are extraordinarily fluffy but, like the homemade frozen desserts, excessively sugary. Quibbles aside, everything is perfectly cooked, presented, and served, supported by a Bali-to-Bordeaux wine list.

Unique in Bali's burgeoning fine-dining scene, Sarong spotlights authentic Asian food. Indian, Thai, and Indonesia cooking anchor the menu, and Chef Will Meyrick regularly introduces new tastes from his travels across the region. It's not fusion, but flavors from Asia's streets, exquisitely cooked and served with cool original cocktails and well-chosen wine selections in an elegant, open-air setting. Romantics should request garden seating. A favorite starter is the grilled scallops with green mango, peanuts, and Indonesian salty fish. Nearby, the cheekier, loungier, air-conditioned sister, Mama San—at Jalan Raya Kerobokan 135—focuses on China and Indochina, is slightly cheaper, and serves from lunch till late.

Indonesians view rice as the center of any meal, so Warung Kolega offers three varieties—yellow, red and white—to accompany its cafeteria-style Javanese cooking. First pick a rice, then point through the glass to choose accompaniments from a selection that changes daily. Look for sweet marinated tempe (whole bean curd), steamed vegetables with shredded coconut, grilled chicken, and creamy fish curry with fresh herbs; the more items you select, the higher the bill. Most dishes are mild, but if you're nervous you can always ask whether an item is pedas (spicy). After filling your plate, find a place at a long teak table among the locals.