With the reopening of Kulkul beach house, one of Bali’s most beautiful beaches, the vanilla-white Nusa Dua, is back to its blissful best this month. The fully renovated beach house has returned with thoughtfully reimagined interiors and updated menus that include some of Indonesia’s most innovative cocktails – all on offer just steps away from the warm waters of the shimmering Indian Ocean.
Inspired by the traditional Balinese wooden bells that invite locals to gather for special moments and ceremonies, the name Kulkul especially fits as an idyllic social setting tailor-made for languid days by the beach. With a mellow mix of house and Mediterranean music, patrons are in for a treat here, lounging outdoors in pillowy cabanas by the 12-meter swimming pool or lingering over laid-back afternoons in the shade.
Though Kulkul always operated with consideration for its surroundings and its sustainability responsibilities, its closure provided the longstanding team with the opportunity to reassess its offering more thoroughly. This time around, the Kulkul kitchen returns with a greater emphasis on zero-waste drinking and dining. Still spotlighting as much produce as possible from local partners, the all-day menu features a range of vegetarian and vegan options alongside traditional comfort foods and superb seafood specialties.
Its fuss-free menu is as fresh as it can get, with easy-to-share options including deliciously crumbly seafood croquettes served with beetroot salad and wasabi aioli. The signature dish, ‘About Pumpkin’ is a sunny burst of roasted pumpkin with pumpkin purée and pumpkin flowers. The smoked salmon macarons is uniquely infused with squid ink, with a cool dollop of sour cream. For dessert, options like homemade fruit sorbets are wonderfully refreshing, while rich chocolate tarts are balanced with tropical addition such as passionfruit.
For cocktail connoisseurs, Kulkul’s drinks menu features inventive pours that rival the beautifully presented creations you might expect from world’s most famous drinking destinations. Having studied emerging trends, the bar team’s signature drinks make novel use of nitrogen, smoke, foam, and ice. Try the N20 cocktail, which is made exclusively from locally sourced ingredients such as arak, coffee, and honey. With this drink, Kulkul utilize a novel Nitro cold-brew technique to turbocharge its flavors, making the thirst-quenching drink particularly popular on hot days.
Also popular are the bar’s sparkling spritzers, including the Negritzer. This effervescent spin on the classic Negroni features Campari, sweet vermouth, angostura bitters, and sparkling wine. For a more refreshing sip, Piña Espumada, which blends coconut rum with juicy local pineapples and freshly blended coconut cream. A distinctly Indonesian interpretation of the classic Bloody Mary, the Sambal Mary is one not to miss, with arak, homemade tomato sambal, lemon juice, tabasco, and Worcestershire sauce.
With all those offerings combined, Kulkul is the place for everybody who yearns for a relaxed, bohemian atmosphere. Guests are encouraged to lounge around all day and night, perhaps cooling down in the pool and taking in the incredible Indian Ocean views, or reconnecting over cocktails and canapés. With the Nusa Dua shoreline just steps away, you can even go for exhilirating snorkeling or romantic waterfront strolls along palm-lined soft sands.
Kulkul Beach House
Kawasan Pariwisata, Jl. Nusa Dua, Benoa, South Kuta, Badung, Bali