Things to do in Sanur
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Stiff Chili
Apart from the evocative name, this beachside cafe has fine views through its near lack of walls. Pizza and pasta head the surprisingly ambitious menu.
reviewed
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Bali Orchid Garden
Given Bali's warm weather and rich volcanic soil, no one should be surprised that orchids thrive in abundance here. At this garden you can see thousands of orchids in a variety of settings. It's 3km north of Sanur along Jl Ngurah Rai, just past the major intersection with the coast road.
reviewed
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Randy's Café Bar & Restaurant
Randy's hypes its Canadian theme although the 'Canadian' items on the menu, such as chilli con carne over mashed potatoes, will dishearten Cannuck gourmets. There's good people-watching over breakfasts at this corner spot.
reviewed
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Cat & Fiddle
Look for Brit standards like fish and chips on the menu at this open-air place that's not surprisingly, popular with expats. Traditional breakfasts in the morning balance live music many nights.
reviewed
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Massimo
The interior at this authentic Italian restaurant is like an open-air Milanese cafe while the outside is a Balinese garden. The lengthy menu includes wood-fired pizzas. The scent of garlic pours out onto the street, where you can stop and get a perfectly creamy gelato from a window.
reviewed
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Splash Bakery
Makes a good selection of bread, cakes, pastries and meat pies. It has a small eat-in area.
reviewed
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Benno's Restaurant
Looks over the water and has a long seafood menu. Try the chilli crab.
reviewed
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Museum Le Mayeur
The Belgian artist Adrien Jean Le Mayeur de Merpes (1880–1958) arrived in Bali in 1932. Three years later, he met and married the beautiful Legong dancer Ni Polok when she was just 15. They lived in this compound, which houses the museum, when Sanur was still a quiet fishing village. The main house must have been delightful – a peaceful and elegant home filled with art and antiques right by the tranquil beach. After the artist's death, Ni Polok lived in the house until she died in 1985. The house is an interesting example of Balinese-style architecture – notice the beautifully carved window shutters that recount the story of Rama and Sita from the Ramayana.
Despite s…
reviewed
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Volunteering at PPLH Bali
Volunteering at PPLH Bali organises a broad range of environmental and educational programmes. Located in the Hotel Santai, the PPLH has a large library and resource centre. Volunteers and employees are understandably passionate about Bali, its land, the sea and the environmental challenges faced across the island.
Just dropping by to peruse some of the wealth of information on issues such as fair trade or have a chat is an illuminating break. Donations and possibly volunteer services are welcome. With the hotel, the adjacent Café Tali Jiwa helps fund the centre.
reviewed
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Markets
For souvenirs, try the numerous shops on the main street, or one of the various 'art markets'. Sanur Beach Market (off Jl Segara Ayu) has a wide selection. Pasar Sindhu Art Market (off Jl Danau Tamblingan), the maze-like Shindu Beach Market (south of Jl Pantai Sindhu) and Jaya Kesuma Art Market (Jl Mertasani) have numerous stalls selling T-shirts, sarongs, woodcarvings and other dubious items.
reviewed
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Surfing
Sanur's fickle breaks (tide conditions often don't produce waves) are off-shore along the reef. The best area is called Sanur Reef, a right break in front of the Inna Grand Bali Beach Hotel. Another good spot is known as the Hyatt Reef, in front of, you guessed it, the Bali Hyatt. However, this break is easily blown out, so only try this one on calm days. See for details on these surf breaks.
reviewed
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Global Aquatic Diving Centre
The diving near Sanur is not great, but the reef has a good variety of fish and offers quite good snorkelling. Sanur is the best departure point for dive trips to Nusa Lembongan. A recommended local operator is Global Aquatic Diving Center which is located right on the beach. Besides trips out to the Sanur Reef, which is known for its lion fish, Global can arrange trips throughout Bali.
reviewed
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Stone Pillar
The pillar, down a narrow lane to the left as you face Pura Belangjong, is Bali's oldest dated artefact and has ancient inscriptions recounting military victories of more than a thousand years ago. These inscriptions are in Sanskrit and are evidence of Hindu influence 300 years before the arrival of the Majapahit court.
reviewed
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Telaga Naga
Torches light the pathway to this jewel-like restaurant where bright red lanterns glow over the tables. Offerings on the Chinese Szechwan menu are complex, such as abalone masak jamur hitan (abalone with black mushrooms). You may need to book.
reviewed
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Lotus Pond Restaurant
The Sanur branch of the Lotus empire is in a high-thatched building surrounded by lotus ponds (of course). The menu features pastas, wood-fired oven pizzas, seafood and Indonesian dishes. At night it glows and there are cultural displays.
reviewed
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Kalimantan
Aka Borneo Bob's, this veteran boozer is one of many casual joints on this street. Enjoy cheap drinks under the palms in the large, casual garden or squint at live American football on the satellite TV.
reviewed
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Hardy's Supermarket
For groceries and personal items, there's a large Hardy's Supermarket , which has all manner of local and imported food items, sells newspapers and magazines, and has a range of souvenirs on its second floor at very good prices.
reviewed
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Bonsai Cafe
Order from a long list of beach-cafe standards while chilling in comfy and shady wicker chairs. Then wander inland for a surprise: hundreds of the cafe's namesake plants growing small in a rather sensational formal garden.
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Circle K
Don't laugh. The reliable chain of convenience stores has an outlet right here on the beach where you can get a Bintang inside and sit at the provided tables outside. And there's no shortage of salty snacks for purchase.
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Mama Putu's
A long-running seafood cafe where the menu changes depending on what's fresh (actually the menu stays the same but what's available changes…). Ask for extra garlic and don't miss – of all things – the sides of coleslaw.
reviewed
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Café Tali Jiwa
Adjoining the Hotel Santai, this wholesome place has an appetising choice of dishes, from fruit smoothies to veggie burgers. Many of the ingredients are organic. Expect fair-trade coffee - this is the home of PPLH Bali.
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Alise's Restaurant
Character-filled Alise's has a romantic, lantern-lit outdoor dining area by the pool and serves a melange of international food. Unintentionally camp local musicians perform classic ballads to doe-eyed diners.
reviewed
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Café Billiard
It’s expat heaven! Play billiards and toss down cheap draughts of Heineken until your pension cheque is gone! It’s a merry place where you lose your hat on the way home and wake up wishing to be asleep.
reviewed
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Surya Water Sports
At Surya Water Sports, you can go parasailing (US$20 per go), snorkelling by boat (US$30, two hours), windsurfing (US$30, one hour), or enjoy a two-tank dive at the nearby reef (US$50).
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Lumut
This gracious 2nd-floor open-air cafe is set back from the road. The emphasis is on fresh seafood and Indonesian fare. Service is stylish and should be: part of the complex is a high-end housewares store.
reviewed
