From comfy brunches to late-night joints, brand-new venues are popping up across the brazen cities of Jakarta and Bali. Put these notable new spots on your radar to try out!
New Restaurants in Jakarta
Jan Bistro
The PIK neighborhood has now evolved into a foodie heaven. This time, the new JAN Bistro debuts in the PIK 1 region, offering an exciting new option for individuals looking to dine in a comfy yet sophisticated setting. With its lush green décor, JAN Bistro presents a Scandinavian-inspired environment with a spacious and elegant ambiance. The restaurant features several private rooms, providing a wonderful setting for friends and family to get together and enjoy delicious Western and Asian cuisine available.
Wangsa
Intending to enliven Jakarta with a new, more intimate way to hang out, Wangsa joined the casual café scene in Kemang. Coming up with familiar Asian-Western flavors like Nasi Jeruk Empal Daging to Truffle Salmon Sorrel, Wangsa’s comforts also go beyond what they put on a plate. The whole place is set to feel like a home, with the dim ambiance and snug sofas lined up across the pool outdoors becoming its irresistible appeal. It’s so homey, you may forget you are actually in the middle of Kemang’s crowded commotion.
Oliv
Located in Como Park, Kemang, Oliv, now becomes the most recent addition to the beloved pet-friendly compound space. As it befits the name, the monochrome green interior is accompanied by tall wooden chairs and tables, accentuating the cozy nature. Whether you’re coming in for breakfast with your paw buddies or heading out for a casual supper, Oliv offers fresh options like ‘Oliv Bruschetta (with Salmon / Baby Octopus)’ and bites with a twist like the softshell ‘Spider Burger.’ On most nights, the warm and relaxed establishment switches to lively nightlife with crafted cocktails and live performances.
Teru
Adding to the area’s long list of hang-out spots, Teru sneaks into the scene by bringing a breath of Japanese-inspired cafe to South Jakarta’s cafe lineup. Dominated by wooden interiors and furniture, the cafe’s design is a nod to a simple Japanese tea house with a contemporary modern touch. A cup of their artisanal loose tea or coffee-based drink is the perfect order to unwind after a long day, as later, delicious Japanese comfort bites such as ‘Sando’ sandwiches, ramen, udon, or rice bowls await.
Inferno The Grill
Meaning ‘large fire that is out of control,’ Inferno The Grill has been igniting Jakarta’s restaurant scene since its opening in December. Taking the premise to the next level, the grill aspect affects far more than just the meat here, with most dishes having at least one or two charcoal-cooked elements. For instance, their Charcoal Smoked Spaghetti Alle Vongole is cooked three times, grilled being one, resulting in its smoky aroma. The grill aspect is also involved in desserts, with menus like ‘A Trip To Cuba’ (a Cuban-cigar-inspired dessert garnished with edible charcoal dust) and the Charcoal Baked Apple Crumble Pie.
Demo Bar & Bistro
Canna Bali’s chef-owner Chandra Yudasswara has recently introduced his latest creation in the Rasuna Said, Jakarta area, namely the Demo Bistro & Bar. The industrial-style interior is picturesque, with brick walls, leather sofas, and large machinery decorations across the walls. A selection of fusion cooking, like Shawarma and Wood Fire Pizza, is available to enjoy day-to-night as you relax and sip their exciting concoctions of cocktails. From 9 pm onwards, expect a vibrant nightlife at Demo Bistro & Bar with Live Music and DJs.
Sushi Toku
Coming to Jakarta, the new Sushi Toku’s third branch sits on the busy Gunawarman strip’s hook across the healthy market, Growell. Designed by the revered Indonesian architect Andra Matin, Sushi Toku Gunawarman offers an authentic Japanese experience with a radiant and inviting interior, with tatami-style as well as usual seating areas. Here, diners are invited to rejoice in the fresh seafood-packed menu, from sashimi to extensive options of sushi rolls and other Japanese delicacies like grilled skewers (robatayaki), Wagyu dishes, and desserts.
Don Bakeshop Artisan Bakery
Starting in 2019, Chef Dony of Don Bakeshop began his journey with a unique starting point, selling viennoiseries and pastries on ‘carts’ at the ITC Kuningan shopping center. Four years later, the affordable artisan bakery Don Bakeshop has expanded to several locations with a much more refined establishment. Recently, they opened its fifth location (and only second sit-down concept) at Street Gallery, Pondok Indah Mall, where customers can sit down and indulge not only in their signature baked goods, but now in their entrée selections as well.
New Restaurants in Bali
IKAN Restaurant & Lounge Bar
The quiet, meandering coast of Nusa Dua just welcomed a thrilling addition into its neighborhood. Having undergone a complete revamp, Ikan at The Westin Resort Nusa Dua, Bali, offers a one-of-a-kind destination to dine, drink and savor life at its best, with regional Indonesian cuisine and distinctive craft cocktails. Serving fresh seafood and food with an Indonesian influence by the beach, Ikan is a casual restaurant during the day and a fine dining establishment at night.
UMA Garden
Just minutes from Canggu and Seminyak, Uma Garden is nestled among the Umalas rice paddies away from the city noise. Built on the philosophy of ‘bringing people together around real food and good vibes,’ the venue is set within a beautiful garden setting, which makes it a perfect spot for any occasion, from a romantic candle-lit date night to an al fresco dinner with friends. As a fire-based restaurant, Uma Garden dazzled the guests with surf and turf products grilled to perfection, like the wood-fired Australian Wagyu Tomahawk, Grouper fish, and fresh prawns.
Mil's Kitchen Bali
After succeeding in its first restaurant in Yogyakarta, Chef Mili Hendratno of Mil’s Kitchen continues to take on a new adventure by opening one in Canggu, Bali. Through Mil’s Kitchen Bali’s doors, visitors are immediately transported to a tropical paradise, with an open-air design and rustic wood finishes bringing the beauty of Balinese outdoors inside. The flavors of contemporary cuisine with Indonesian twists are evidently present throughout the menu. With dishes like the ‘Pastrami Abon Sapi’ and the ‘Jagung Susu Keju’ desserts, Mil’s Kitchen Bali invites visitors to savor good food while basking in the tranquil ambiance of the restaurant.
Lion X
Sits on the hills above Nusa Dua, Renaissance Bali Nusa Dua Resort recently uncovered its new contemporary Chinese restaurant, Lion X. Led by Chef Alex Kuan, Lion X revealed authentic Cantonese and Schezuan-inspired cuisines with an innovative twist, showcasing unique ingredients like bird’s nest and abalone. As you eat, the stunning open kitchen, the black and emerald interior decor, and dancing lion murals accenting the walls will be a feast for your eyes.
Tanah Liat Restaurant
Starting in 2023, Renaissance Bali Nusa Dua opened its doors to its newest dining venue, Tanah Liat. A pottery atelier and cooking lab by day, Tanah Liat transforms into a distinguished restaurant by the evening, centered around locally sourced fresh produce & plant-based cuisines, such as “Beyond Meat Lasagna” and “½ Dozen Balinese Oyster.” The venue is adorned by sensual pottery decoration, highlighting the unique Balinese craftsmanship and heritage. The outdoor area consisted of a pottery atelier where guests could visit and watch chefs pick fresh produce from the in-house garden.
Big Fish Grill
The Stones, Legian, Bali, recently re-opened their signature restaurant, Big Fish Grill. The eatery and bar are located poolside with an al fresco terrace overlooking the beach. The new menu is specifically visioned as a shared-style feast, featuring dishes like Jimbaran-style grilled fresh seasonal fish, various types of Tapas, premium steaks, and cocktails. Big Fish Grill prides itself on using Bali’s finest local products along with some imported ingredients, creating an unforgettable culinary experience for its patrons.
Powder Room by Room4Desserts
Continuing the same question the Room4Dessert proposes, Chef Will Goldfarb resumes exploring the answers to “What is dessert?” now through its new venture, Powder Room. Powder Room is entrancing Ubud’s sweet tooths to handmade artisanal confectionaries with signature twists that pay homage to locally sourced ingredients. From a play on the well-known chocolate bars (Not a Mars: chocolate nougat with caramel and dark-chocolate coating) to gummy candies tinged with native medicinal plants, Powder Room offers thrilling discoveries of what candy can be, with the signature R4D touch of local flavors.
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