Romantic dinner in Bali: where to book a date night

For a romantic dinner in Bali, pick the setting before the menu. The island does four kinds of evening for two well: a sunset dinner on the Uluwatu cliffs, a candlelit table on the sand in Nusa Dua, a quiet room in the jungle north of Ubud, and a table over the rice fields in Seminyak. Each venue below sells a dinner for two or a setting built for one on its own pages; FirstBali books the table through the concierge.

Sunset on the cliffs

The west-facing cliffs of the Bukit peninsula are where Bali watches the sun go down, and two addresses there turn it into dinner.

El Kabron's Sunset Theater sits at the edge of the ocean in Pecatu, and El Kabron describes it as a theatre-like sunset dining experience. It is an adults-only area, set apart from the pool and its party. Smart casual, resort wear or elegant attire is required there, with no swimwear, and in bad weather the reservation moves indoors.

Rock Bar, at AYANA Bali in Jimbaran, is a bar rather than a restaurant, but its seat list includes a Day Bed made for two, with tapas and drinks, and dinner tables for the dinner menu. You reach it by inclinator, and smart attire is asked at all times. Hotel guests get priority at sunset, so ask early.

El Kabron

Beach clubs · Uluwatu

El Kabron stands on the limestone cliffs of Pecatu in Uluwatu, above the Indian Ocean, and has been open since 2011. It has three parts: the Hedonism Lounge, an adults-only infinity-pool area with daybeds and sofas; the Sunset Theater at the cliff edge, set up for sunset dinners; and a Mediterranean restaurant serving seafood, oysters, paella and steak. Its sunset parties bring DJs with live saxophone, violin and trumpet, with the White Sunset Party, the Afro House Sunset Party and pool parties among the weekly regulars.

Rock Bar

Bars · Jimbaran

Rock Bar is AYANA Bali's cliffside bar in Jimbaran, stretching some 270 metres along the rocks above the ocean, with 880 seats spread over 22 areas. Guests reach it by inclinator, watch the sun set over the sea, then stay as the DJs play on. The bar pours cocktails inspired by the colours of the sea alongside Mediterranean tapas built on Jimbaran Bay seafood. Non-resident visitors can reserve; the Round Deck is kept for villa guests and the Top Bar for hotel guests. Payment by card or QR only.

Candlelight on the beach

Le Bleu by K Club, on Nusa Dua Beach, sets a romantic candlelight dinner by the beach, booked per couple with its own set menu. It is the most literal version of the idea on this list: a table on the sand, the sea in front of it. Le Bleu also offers an Intimate Package for pre-wedding shoots, elopements, engagements and anniversaries — say which one it is when you ask. The setting is blue and white, the kitchen leans on seafood, and the Le Bleu guide covers the rest of the day there.

Le Bleu

Beach clubs · Nusa Dua

Le Bleu by K Club is a beachfront restaurant and beach club on Nusa Dua Beach, in the ITDC resort area, run by the K-Club Group. The look is French Riviera by way of Bali, all blue and white, with sunbeds, cabanas, terraces and an indoor dining room. The kitchen leans on seafood, from lobster linguine to yellowfin tuna tataki, with vegetarian and vegan options. The weekly programme mixes yoga, cocktail workshops, beach games and festive Sunday gatherings with a DJ.

In the jungle

Akar, the K-Club steakhouse in Kedisan, Tegallalang, north of Ubud, has a Romantic Dinner on its menu: an intimate four-course dinner in the greenery, with a glass of sparkling wine, a signature cocktail, and a table set with fresh flowers and candlelight. For more privacy, Akar's Kanva Lounge is a private dining area that it says is often arranged for intimate and romantic dinners. For a quiet evening, avoid Friday and Saturday, when dinner turns festive, with DJs, dancers and a laser show. Akar asks for smart casual, and singlets are not permitted for men. More in our Akar guide.

Akar

Restaurants · Ubud

Akar, meaning “root”, is the steakhouse of K Club in Kedisan, Tegallalang, north of Ubud, set in the greenery of the jungle. Spread over two floors with two bars and an open kitchen, it grills Australian and Japanese cuts, Wagyu included, over charcoal, alongside seafood, charcoal-roasted bone marrow and a curated wine list. On Friday and Saturday nights dinner turns festive, with live DJs, dancers and a laser show. Akar has won Best Luxury Steakhouse in Indonesia at the World Luxury Restaurant Awards.

In town

Sardine, on Jalan Petitenget in Seminyak, describes its dinner as ideal for intimate date nights, and its terrace looks over a stretch of rice paddies lit at night. The kitchen cooks the daily catch in a modern Mediterranean style.

Riviera Bistro, in Berawa, is a Mediterranean restaurant and wine bar with fresh pasta, an extensive wine list and candlelit tables. On Saturdays the evening turns into a party, so a weeknight suits a quiet dinner better.

Sardine

Restaurants · Seminyak

Sardine by K-Club is a seafood restaurant on Jalan Petitenget in Seminyak, set in an open-air bamboo building that looks over a stretch of rice paddies, with a terrace for lunch or dinner. The kitchen cooks the daily catch (yellowfin tuna, scallops, snapper) in a modern Mediterranean style, with vegetables from its own farms and a vegetarian set menu. Evenings can run late: Les Toilettes, the hidden club on site, hosts DJs, and once a month The Gates of Bali brings fire dancers and aerial acts.

Riviera Berawa

Restaurants · Berawa

Riviera Bistro is a Mediterranean restaurant and wine bar on Jalan Pemelisan Agung in Berawa, the original venue of Riviera Group, which also runs Riviera Trattoria in Pererenan and Riviera Cafe in Cemagi. The kitchen works with fresh pasta and local ingredients, with dishes such as tagliatelle in a Wagyu beef and pork ragù or cacio e pepe risotto with tuna battuta. Expect an extensive wine list, aperitifs at the bar and candlelit tables; on Saturdays the evening turns into PRÏVE, with cocktails and DJs.

Something unusual

Koral, at The Apurva Kempinski in Nusa Dua, is the hotel's aquarium restaurant, with set and degustation menus served among the marine life. Dinner is for adults only, and its tunnel tables are sold to couples, for two adults. Trousers are required at dinner, and men may not wear sleeveless tops.

Dinner at sea. FirstBali arranges a three-course dinner for two served on board a private yacht. Ask the concierge for it with your date.

The Apurva Kempinski

Restaurants · Nusa Dua

The Apurva Kempinski Bali is a five-star resort on the cliffs of Nusa Dua, facing the Indian Ocean, and its dining spreads across several venues. Koral, which the hotel presents as Bali's first aquarium restaurant, serves set and tasting menus beside the tanks, adults only at dinner. Izakaya by OKU is a sister to OKU in Jakarta; Reef Beach Club sits on the sand beside a 42-metre infinity pool; Bai Yun serves hot pot and dim sum; L'Atelier by Cyril Kongo is a lounge with ocean views and Mediterranean tapas.

Planning a proposal or an anniversary

• Tell us the occasion in the first message. Venues set a table differently for a proposal, and some sell packages for it — Le Bleu lists engagements and anniversaries by name.
• Choose sunset or after dark. The cliff tables are about the light; book them first, and earlier at weekends and in high season. Candlelight, the jungle and the aquarium work at any hour of the evening.
• Check the dress code. El Kabron, Akar, Rock Bar and Koral all publish one, and none of them wants swimwear at dinner.
• Book the car home. These addresses are spread across the south of the island and the hills of Ubud; a driver waiting is part of the evening.

Tell the concierge the date, the setting you want and anything the venue should know — flowers, a cake, an allergy. We ask the venue on your behalf; the table is yours once the venue confirms it, and any set-menu amount comes from the venue before you decide.

Read next: the best sunset spots in Bali, Bali's seafood restaurants and Bali's best steakhouses.