At Christmas time in Lombok we swap sparkling white snow and fir trees with dazzling white beaches and palm trees. We exchange hot roast beef and stodgy Yorkshire Puddings for free range turkey, fresh lobsters and tropical fruit sorbets. This is Christmas, tropical island style!
If you are thinking of spending Christmas in Lombok, there are boundless options for where to celebrate on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with family and friends. Here are just a few:
Senggigi’s fine dining venue, Square Restaurant, celebrates Christmas with a choice of two 6-course set dinners. Choose from festive dishes such as Confit of Duck with Foie Gras, Caramelised Onion, Roasted Candlenut and Cinnamon in Crispy Fillo Pastry; or Roasted Turkey Breast with Chestnut Bacon Stuffing, Cranberry Chutney, Wilted English Spinach and Mashed Sweet Potato; together with fanciful sorbets, creative seafood combinations and the delicious desserts for which Square is famous. The gourmet menus by ex-Mosaic chef, Wayan Budiana, are offered at Rp 300 000++ each. www.squarelombok.com
The stylish Qunci Villas on the beachfront in Mangsit presents a Christmas Set Dinner “At the beach under the Christmas tree” at Quali Restaurant on Friday, 25 Dec at 7.00pm. Price is US $45++ per person including a complimentary glass of Christmas cocktail and a traditional Sasak Dance performance. The 4-course menu includes Grilled Chicken with Pine Nuts, Seafood Soup, Pan Fried Swordfish or Grilled Beef Tenderloin, Caramel Cream Cheese Flan and tea or coffee. www.quncivillas.com
Popular Senggigi establishment, Asmara Restaurant, is once again offering their Traditional German Christmas Dinner… a delicious combination of Roast Duck stuffed with apple and onion, and served with gravy, red cabbage and potato croquettes that has gained the restaurant many fans for Christmas over the last few years. Other festive specials include Jumbo Prawns Thermidor, served with broccoli and potatoes au gratin, Prawn Pate and Home-made Mango Ice Cream.
Join in for lunch on Christmas Day with the children, who will love a visit from Santa complete with presents! Bookings are highly recommended and guests should let staff know how many children are attending, to make sure they don’t miss out on gifts from Santa! www.asmara-group.com
The popular Holiday Resort is celebrating Christmas with a huge International “East Meets West” Christmas Buffet on 24 December at Kayangan Restaurant, on the beachfront alongside the swimming pool. The fabulous spread includes appetisers such as Thai Beef Salad, Avocado Prawn Cocktail, Cold Roast Beef and much more. At the Carvery Station, select traditional Roast Tom Turkey with cranberry sauce and giblet gravy. Other mains include Pan Fried Tuna Steak, Lamb Curry, Seafood Paella and Milanese Chicken Piccata. There’s an equally large selection of delicious desserts (Traditional Christmas Pudding, Yule Log Cake, Blueberry Mousse, etc), soups, condiments and salads. Bring the family -- price is excellent value at only Rp 125 000 ++!
The Resort also offers a Classic Set Dinner for just Rp 135 000++ at the stylish Rinjani Restaurant on both 24 and 25 December, and a Christmas Day BBQ Buffet on 25 Dec at Kayangan Restaurant for Rp 125 000++. Be entertained by live music at all events.
www.holidayresort-lombok.com
Santosa Villas and Resort is offering something a little different, with the emphasis on kids for Christmas with their “Uniquely Santa” event on 20 December, for children 4 to 12 years old. Bring your children along and join in the fun with the other kids in the Resort’s spacious Ballroom from 11am until 3pm. The event will feature games and competitions for the kids, a special kids’ lunch and a visit from Santa! The price is Rp 85,000 net per child including lunch box, photo with Santa and other benefits. Walk-in participants will be charged Rp 40,000net per child, including photo with Santa (no lunch box). There will also be a food stall for adults’ lunch at Rp 40,000 available. Ph: 693 090 for bookings.
For the big kids, the Resort offers Christmas Eve Dinner on 24 December at 19.00 pm in the Seaside Restaurant. Price for adults is Rp 200,000 net and children 6-12 years Rp 100,000 net. Christmas Brunch on 25 will be held at 12.00 noon and price is for adults is Rp 100,000 net and children 6-12 years Rp 50,000 net in the Seaside Restaurant overlooking the beach. www.santosavillas.com
Sheraton Senggigi Beach Resort is also looking after the little ones on Christmas with a special cooking class to keep the kids amused. Children can have fun learning how to make pizzas at the Bawang Putih Grill in the Resort from 11am onwards on 25 December. Children’s activities are free for in-house guests and cost just Rp 50 000++ for outside guests… leaving mum and dad free to relax on Christmas Day!
The 5-star Resort is also offering a Christmas Eve Buffet on 24 December, with a Christmas Choir and entertainment by popular local artist Ary Juliyant for Rp 350 000++.
On 25 December, enjoy a Christmas Day Set Menu Dinner with traditional Christmas fare and live music by Ary Juliyant for Rp 350 000++ per person. Both are available at the Sheraton’s lovely Kebun Anggrek Restaurant. www.sheraton.com
If you are on the south coast for Christmas, The Novotel in Kuta celebrates on 24 December with a Christmas Eve Buffet Dinner at Kafe Chili Restaurant for Rp 215 000++ p/p, with traditional roast turkey and all the trimmings. Or sample the Neptune’s treasure trove at the Novotel’s fine dining restaurant, Empat Ikan. The White Christmas Set Dinner is just Rp 225 000 ++ and includes Honey Roasted Turkey, Australian Beef Tenderloin and Seger Prawns, Norwegian Salmon, Pacific Ocean Lobster and more. Enjoy live entertainment, music and a magic show. On Christmas Day, Santa will be at the Resort handing out presents to all the children. Indulge in an unforgettable Traditional Seafood Buffet at Kafe Chili for Rp 195 000++ with a huge feast of fresh seafood. www.novotellombok.com
If you are on Gili Trawangan for Christmas, some of the island’s top resorts have very special events planned to make your Christmas special!
For Christmas 2009, ko-ko-mo Resort is celebrating with its usual elegant flair and style. The Christmas theme is white, gold and silver with a 2m snow-tipped traditional Christmas tree, stylish themed decorations and carols ranging from the traditional to contemporary. Ko-ko-mo’s menu will surprise and tantalise as it ignores the cold-climate traditional fare in favour of a fusion of Asian, European and Pacific Rim flavours, emphasising quality ingredients and a sophisticated twist on favourites. Christmas lunch at Gili T’s top fine dining venue is good value at Rp 450 000. www.kokomogilit.com
Undoubtedly, The Beach House is a favourite for Christmas Day, with its combination of a fantastic traditional Christmas lunch, upbeat contemporary Carols, and fun, bright Christmas theme, and the ever-popular seafood BBQ. Christmas Lunch this year is a fantastic buffet of Roast Turkey, Leg Ham, Suckling Pig, Roast Vegies, Salad and Xmas Pudding -- all for just Rp 250 000! Put on your Christmas colours and join the crowd for a fun Christmas lunch... www.beachhousegilit.com
Horizontal Lounge offers the perfect beachside location for you and your family to enjoy your Christmas Day in paradise. Experience the famous 6 course gourmet Christmas Extravaganza either directly on the beachfront or in the beautiful restaurant overlooking the beach. Served from 3pm and featuring cocktails and canapés, a selection of starters, main courses and desserts, with coffee and handmade chocolates to finish. All this for only Rp 150 000 ++! “The best value on the island…” (Lonely Planet) www.thegiliislands.com
Top Gili T Resort, Hotel Vila Ombak, celebrates a family Christmas with Santa visiting the kids and giving out presents by the pool. Join the White Christmas Dinner on 24 December in the lovely beachfront dining area and feast on a sumptuous buffet of traditional Christmas fare, fresh seafood and delicious creations by the award-winning kitchen team. Price is US $75 p/p, with live unplugged music and dancing on the beach under the stars. www.hotelombak.com
