The Jimbaran seafood cafes should be on your list of must-tries during your visit to Bali, especially if you're a seafood lover. Not only is the bay one of Bali’s best places for enjoying memorable sunsets, but it's also a popular coast to enjoy grilled seafood. Over a dozen seafood cafes line the white-sand beach, which is locally known as Pantai Muaya.
Mostly open from afternoon until late, each Jimbaran seafood cafe serves freshly grilled seafood at candlelit tables laid out on the beachfront. As the sun goes down, the horizon features faint lights from Ngurah Rai Airport and traditional fishing boat lanterns at sea.
The cafes at Jimbaran Bay You’ll notice similar setups as you approach the Jimbaran seafood cafes from the beach – wooden tables with parasols down to the tide’s edge and some with attractive palm leaf decorations. Drop off from the main entrance and you’ll see grills and live seafood displays under signboards of each cafe that show different stock and ‘catches of the day’.From several dinners we had at the different cafes here, we noticed slight variations in the homemade sambal (traditional chilli sauce) in their form and spiciness. Menega and Intan Sari are quite consistent in terms of stock and taste (usually getting most of the crowds), while others have torches and attractive table setups as bonuses. Mild competition among these venues means good service. Staff and waiters are attentive and most speak simple English.
The food at the Jimbaran seafood cafes Ease into a chair as a small dish of salted nuts and/or kerupuk (shrimp crackers) comes served as accompaniments to your beer or drink of choice. These cafes are known as the birthplace of ikan bakar Jimbaran or ‘grilled snapper à la Jimbaran’ with the essential sambal, and offer selections of red snapper, crab, calamari, prawns and lobster. All are served with options of steamed rice and traditional side dishes of spicy plecing kangkung (stir-fried water spinach) and fresh fruit platters for dessert. Use your fingers as part of the experience – a bowl with water and lime slices comes as standard (for you to ‘rinse’ your fingers).
Look out for 2 sambal varieties, the famed red paste and another pungent version called sambal matah (fresh chopped chilli, shallots and lemongrass). Try both if you can handle the spices, or simply ask for a modified, milder version in advance. Some of the Jimbaran seafood cafes even have French fries, fried rice, and chop suey on their menus for variety, and even expand their seafood selections to barracuda, grouper, mahi-mahi, and kingfish.
