What to Do in Bali with Children?
Part 4: Restaurants
By Ima Deville
“Desperately looking for restaurants with no screaming kids running around, please!” Too many entries on travel forums go along these lines. As parents, we know that it can be stressful to go to places with kids because there are still many guests who do not want to see or hear kids. Too bad really when Balinese people are all totally fond of children! Fortunately several restaurants cater for families and endeavor to give children a blast of a time. Below is a review of some old favorites and new venues that your children are bound to enjoy.
Sushi Tei is part of a chain of Japanese restaurants located on Sunset Road. It is spacious and modern and all the waiters will welcome you with a loud “Irasshaimase!” before they give you a cold towel to cool down. Kids love sitting at the tables by the sushi conveyor belt and get to pick their favorite dishes such as makis and sushis. The young guests are given special chopsticks with a rubber band, easy to use. Many children also like noodle soups, prawn or vegetable tempura and chicken in various recipes. The presentation is fun too and there’s no better way to finish the meal than with a vanilla and red bean ice cream in the shape of a fish. Waiters are smiley and patient with kids and you will not feel claustrophobic in their large spacious room. It is also possible to hire their private room. Although they do not have special birthday packages at the moment, they are happy to prepare a little special desert and come as a team to sing “Happy Birthday”. Jl Sunset Road No. 99, Kuta. Tel: +62 361 7807744
If you are in Sanur, do not miss Massimo’s Italian Restaurant which is has become an establishment. The Gelato, homemade Italian ice creams come in over 30 flavors and are extremely popular. The food is delicious, the portions are copious and the restaurant is open and spacious, making it easier to manage children who love to go and explore the surroundings. They are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and they offer a special kids menu with fun options and smaller size dishes. They have a private party room and can arrange kids birthday parties on request and a special Christmas for Kids night on December 24th. Many photos of Massimo with local celebrities are displayed on the wall and it is fun for children to spot Massimo himself in the restaurant and go and try a few Italian words with him. Molto Bene! Massimo restaurant, Jl. Danau Tamblingan 228, Sanur. Tel: +62 361 288942
Eating on the beach takes away some of the stress of confined and quiet restaurants. Having lunch or dinner at one of the BBQ fish restaurants in Jimbaran is an excellent option that can be combined with a swim and a play on this safe and wide beach. It is a lively beach where children always make friends, play football or buy an ice cream or a cob of corn from a seller or from a kaki lima. The popular restaurants on the South end of the beach all have almost similar menus and kids can go and see the fish tanks, pick their fish and seafood, help to weigh them and watch the hectic and smoky barbecuing. Many children love the BBQ clams, the battered squid and the prawns. The Balinese waiters are friendly and enjoy spending time with kids. They are also very accommodating if you need to couple of chairs to improvise a bed at the end of the evening.
If you or your children are into sports, the Stadium Café Sports and Bar in Kuta and the newly opened Stadium bar in Sanur is the place to have a drink and a bite while watching the best games or your obscure teams from home. Just ask them and they’ll find the event you are dying to watch whether it is football, cricket, rugby union, AFL, Formula One, tennis or moto GP. Sitting at a table or high up on a bar stool, kids love the atmosphere and the giant screens. The food is classic American style with yummy burgers, hot dogs, delicious breaded calamari and flapjacks. Also Indonesian favorites. Complex Kuta Side Walk. Kartika Plaza Street, Kuta. Tel: +62 361 763100 and also Stadium Café and Flapjacks, Jl. Cemara 27, Sanur. Tel: +62 361 287 882
Many children love RIBS and they are excellent in Bali. If you are in Ubud try and get a seat at Naughty Nuri’s. The atmosphere is fun, always crowded and smoky and you’ll get to talk to the person sitting next to you. The specialties are the BBQ ribs but you can also order Mexican and Tex Mex dishes from the menu of their other restaurant Nacho Mama. Jl Raya Sanggigan
Ubud, Ubud. Tel: +62 361 977 547 and now also at 41 Jl Batu Belig.
Another venue offering finger licking ribs is the Fly Café, just a bit further up the hill. Jalan Raya Lungsiakan, Ubud. Tel: +62 361 975440 (home delivery possible).
In Denpasar, Porky’s is a cheap and popular ribs restaurant. JL. Cok Agung Tresna 118, Renon. Tel: +62 361 7899989
Which kid does not have a sweet tooth? Café Moka is a Bali born chain of 4 French style boulangerie and patisserie where you can go for breakfast, lunch or just to enjoy a cake and a drink anytime. Plain and chocolate croissants, mouse shaped éclairs filled with custard and chocolate treats are all delights of the place. Their milk shakes are popular with children. For lunch and dinner, they offer freshly made sandwiches, succulent lasagna, quiches and many other dishes. You can order elaborate and well-decorated birthday cakes from their catalogue. Café Moka Jalan Seminyak, Seminyak, Bali, Indonesia. Tel: (0361) 731424. Other branches of Café Moka in the Bukit, Kerobokan and Ubud. Call main branch for contacts.
Bali offers so many options that it has been called the paradise of food and here you can afford to eat well and even organic. Sari Organic Café at Little Tree is the place to introduce your children to the good and healthy ingredients and prove them that they can be fun and delicious too: red rice, fresh fruits and a great selection of vegetables. It is set at the back of the new Little Tree Green Building Center on Sunset Road, around a flowing waterfall and a fishpond in a beautiful garden with open air and air-con sections. The setting is pleasant and kids will feel at ease. Sunset Rd 112x, Kuta. Tel: +62 0361-752133
In the same spirit, Om is a new restaurant in Canggu beach that specializes in yummy organic food. They have a special family table, a corner for children with a lovely and safe play area and changing rooms for swimmers. From October, Sunday is going to be devoted to kids with yoga sessions and other hand-on activities while parents enjoy their healthy meals. An organic market will be held every Sunday. More activities offered during school holidays. Jl. Batu Bolong, Canggu Beach. Tel: 960 4121
Every Sunday at Ku De Ta is Family Dayze, a special day for the little people. Kids are free to swim in the pool, enjoy art and craft activities in the kiddies’ tent, jump in the bouncy castle or nibble on one of the mini-burgers offered on the kids’ BBQ. The family atmosphere is relaxed and both parents and children have lots of fun Jl. Laksmana 9, Seminyak. Tel: +62 361 736969
Cocoon is the new trendy venue on Double Six and their Sunday brunch for families with delicious breakfast and brunch menus. The day is called “We love Sundays at Cocoon” and kids can enjoy craft activities, giveaways and a pool full of stuff to splash around with. From 8am to 12.30pm every Sunday. Jl. Double Six, Blue Ocean Boulevard, Seminyak. Tel: +62 361 731266
Bubba Gumps Shrimp Co. in Tuban is an American chain restaurant popular all over the world. For the ones of you who do not know it, it is a theme restaurant based on the movie Forrest Gump, specializing in shrimp dishes. Memorabilia and quotes from the movie are displayed everywhere. The atmosphere is fun and lively, the staff members have gregarious personalities. Kids meals are served in a special ship box and they are kept occupied with coloring placemats and pencils. It is definitely a fun place to pick, especially on a birthday, when the staff will enjoy singing for you. Cajun shrimps are delicious. The kids’ menu includes yummy smoothies, Bus Bench Burgers, Ping Pong Pepperoni Pizzas, Li’l Forrest’s Favorite Fish & Chips, Chicken Strips, Mac ‘N Cheese Pleez and the long time favorite Hubba Bubba Popcorn Shrimp. Komplek Pertokoan Kuta Centre, Blok A1 No. 1
JL Kartika Plaza No. 8X, Kuta.
Tel: +62 361 754 028
For a bit of refinement, take your kids to Biku for a traditional afternoon tea with delicious finger sandwiches, scones and jam with whipped cream and sweet treats. The setting is in an old renovated Joglo and it also has a bookshop corner with a few books for kids. They have a breakfast menu, a special kids afternoon tea menu and a kids’ corner menu. They keep toys for the children to borrow. It is a beautiful and comfortable place where your children will enjoy the tranquility and calmness. Jl. Raya Petitenget no.888, Seminyak. Tel: +62 361 8570888
