Jimbaran

Jimbaran is a small town in South Bali with many high-end resorts and villas.

Jimbaran is just south of the airport and Kuta. This was formerly a real backwater of south Bali, just a tiny fishing village with a daily market. That all started to change in the 1980s and Jimbaran is now home to several world class 5 star beach resorts, plus a few more moderate mid-market hotels. There is however little in the way of budget accommodation and there are also many high-end villas in this area, particularly on the ridges of high ground above Jimbaran Bay. This has resulted in monikers such as the "Beverly Hills of Bali" or "Millionaire's Row".

The bay itself has a pleasant white sand beach and is very safe for swimming. The three clusters of grilled seafood restaurants on the beach are a major tourist draw in the evenings, as is the truly stunning sunset.

Jimbaran is also home to a Norwegian University: Gateway College, with around 500 students studying athletics, philosophy, culture, economics and journalism. The school is located in Kedonganan close to Sari Segara Resort and in Jl, Bantas Kau where it also has a small cafe.

Jimbaran has an increasing number of rather chic shops but there is little or no nightlife here but it is close to Kuta and Seminyak and the cultural highlights of Central Bali.

Jimbaran is a typical little Balinese society with lots of small streets and gangs (alleys) that makes a perfect backdrop for a stroll. Just walking around in Jimbaran is an adventure and the locals are smiling and welcoming. The road along the beach and Jl Uluwatu make good orientation points. Follow these and take the different small roads that connect them back and forth. Arrive at around 17:00, take a seat in one of the restaurants located on the beach, order food drink, and enjoy the romantic sunset while waiting for your orders. The sunsets in Jimbaran are very beautiful.

• The beach. Jimbaran Bay is fringed by one of the best beaches in Bali. The sand is fine and white, and the calm waters make it very suitable for swimming, children and adults alike. The southern end of the beach close to the Four Seasons Resort is the quietest but the whole stretch is very pleasant indeed.

• Surfing, there are a couple of good surf breaks off the airport which are easiest accessed from Jimbaran Bay. It is too far to paddle out, but boats are easily chartered from the beach in the middle areas of the bay or close to the fish market. When the surf is rolling here it is very good but it can be a bit unreliable.
• Swimming, a great bay for swimming with perhaps the safest waters in the whole of Bali. You will find lots of local children come to beach to swim in the evenings - a sure sign that the waters are safe.

Jimbaran has a number of high-end spas, both within the luxury hotels and independent establishments.

• Alam Jimbaran Spa, JL Kampus Udayana No.9 (In front of tennis court, +62 361 703826. daily 09:00-21:00. Day spa, traditional Balinese massage, Indian ayurvedic spa, hot stone therapy and hammam herbal therapy.
• Bamboo Spa, By L'Occitane, Jl. Uluwatu Jimbaran (Inside Jimbaran Corner, at the intersection between Jalan Uluwatu and Jalan Four Seasons, +62 361 704551. daily 10:00-22:00. 5 single treatment rooms, 9 double treatment suites for couples, a private steam room, a relaxation lounge, reflexology area and the L’Occitane retail boutique. All therapists in Bamboo Spa have received French style training from L'Occitane en Provence. Around USD90 for 75 minutes.
• The Body Spa, Jl Uluwatu 99x, Kelan, +62 361 764737. daily 14:00-22:00. Spa with two venues in Bali. Full range of beauty and body treatments. Not the cheapest but the standard is high. Booking at least 24 hr in advance is recommended
• Bliss Massage, Jl Uluwatu II (just east of the Four Seasons roundabout on the north side of Jl UluwatuII, +62 361 7925698. daily 10:00-22:00. Not a spa as such, but a traditional massage parlour. Excellent, traditional Balinese-style therapeutic treatments. Balinese massage is Rp 77,000 at their place or Rp 120,000 if they come to your hotel.
• Henna Spa, Jalan Uluwatu 18x (At Villa Balquisse, opposite the Intercontinental hotel, +62 361 701695. Daily 11:00-21:00. 5 star standard spa providing Javanese and Balinese style treatments.

Alam Jimbaran Spa, JL Kampus Udayana No.9 (In front of tennis court, +62 361 703826. daily 09:00-21:00. Day spa, traditional Balinese massage, Indian ayurvedic spa, hot stone therapy and hammam herbal therapy.

Bamboo Spa, By L'Occitane, Jl. Uluwatu Jimbaran (Inside Jimbaran Corner, at the intersection between Jalan Uluwatu and Jalan Four Seasons, +62 361 704551. daily 10:00-22:00. 5 single treatment rooms, 9 double treatment suites for couples, a private steam room, a relaxation lounge, reflexology area and the L’Occitane retail boutique. All therapists in Bamboo Spa have received French style training from L'Occitane en Provence. Around USD90 for 75 minutes.

The Body Spa, Jl Uluwatu 99x, Kelan, +62 361 764737. daily 14:00-22:00. Spa with two venues in Bali. Full range of beauty and body treatments. Not the cheapest but the standard is high. Booking at least 24 hr in advance is recommended

Bliss Massage, Jl Uluwatu II (just east of the Four Seasons roundabout on the north side of Jl UluwatuII, +62 361 7925698. daily 10:00-22:00. Not a spa as such, but a traditional massage parlour. Excellent, traditional Balinese-style therapeutic treatments. Balinese massage is Rp 77,000 at their place or Rp 120,000 if they come to your hotel.

Henna Spa, Jalan Uluwatu 18x (At Villa Balquisse, opposite the Intercontinental hotel, +62 361 701695. Daily 11:00-21:00. 5 star standard spa providing Javanese and Balinese style treatments.

Surfing, there are a couple of good surf breaks off the airport which are easiest accessed from Jimbaran Bay. It is too far to paddle out, but boats are easily chartered from the beach in the middle areas of the bay or close to the fish market. When the surf is rolling here it is very good but it can be a bit unreliable.

Swimming, a great bay for swimming with perhaps the safest waters in the whole of Bali. You will find lots of local children come to beach to swim in the evenings - a sure sign that the waters are safe.

The beach. Jimbaran Bay is fringed by one of the best beaches in Bali. The sand is fine and white, and the calm waters make it very suitable for swimming, children and adults alike. The southern end of the beach close to the Four Seasons Resort is the quietest but the whole stretch is very pleasant indeed.

Shopping in Jimbaran has improved greatly in recent years. There are a number of nice boutiques and antique shops in the stretch of Jalan Uluwatu between The Intercontinental and the junction with Jalan Uluwatu II.

• Jimbaran Market, Jl Uluwatu. Slightly further north of the boutique and antique area is Jimbaran Market. This is a hive of activity every morning as the local community goes about its business and is a notably good place to purchase fresh produce.
• Jenggala Gallery, Jalan Uluwatu II, Jimbaran, +62 361 703 311. Daily 09:00-18:00. Large gallery and retail showroom for Balinese ceramics. Regular exhibitions of paintings and other art by up and coming local artists. Worth a visit, and it's hard to miss the enormous pink limestone clad building. Has an excellent cafe.

Jimbaran Market, Jl Uluwatu. Slightly further north of the boutique and antique area is Jimbaran Market. This is a hive of activity every morning as the local community goes about its business and is a notably good place to purchase fresh produce.

Jenggala Gallery, Jalan Uluwatu II, Jimbaran, +62 361 703 311. Daily 09:00-18:00. Large gallery and retail showroom for Balinese ceramics. Regular exhibitions of paintings and other art by up and coming local artists. Worth a visit, and it's hard to miss the enormous pink limestone clad building. Has an excellent cafe.

• Jimbaran fish market. Best to visit 06:00-09:00. A traditional fish market is located at the northern end of the bay right by the beach at the junction with Jalan Tukad Ayung. The catch comes in every morning here and customers include most of Bali's fine dining restaurants. All manner of fish and shellfish are on available. You can get your purchases grilled elsewhere in the market for a fee.

Eating seafood on the beach in Jimbaran is a quintessential part of many a visitor's itinerary when coming to Bali.

Jimbaran Bay is home to about fifty grilled seafood restaurants in three different groupings, all set along the beach. The three sections are Muaya (in the very south), Kedonganan (in the middle) and Kelan (north of the fish market). Each of the restaurants is much of a muchness and of the groupings, the most southerly, closest to the Four Seasons, is the most popular these days.

Tables are set up right on the sand and if you sit at the lowest tables at high tide, you can even get your feet wet. The sea breeze is cool, the sunsets are beautiful and the whole area is lit by oil torches after dark.

The restaurants serve essentially the same menu with one basic dining format:

• fire-grilled (bakar) seafood with your own choice of various fish, crab, squid, shrimp, lobster and other shellfish
• local green vegetables steamed with garlic
• rice or french fried potatoes
• local spicy sauces

Simply go up to the seafood tanks and choose the number and type of seafood you want to eat, pay by weight and the produce is grilled there and then. You also have the option of ordering from the menu but that is nothing like so much fun. Prices at the restaurant for two with local Bintang beer or soft drinks are in the range of Rp 200,000-600,000 plus 15% tax and service, depending on quantity and type of seafood selected. Typically, 1 kg of fish costs about Rp 160,000.

All the restaurants also offer set menus for couples, ranging from Rp 400,000-900,000 for different types of seafood combination. All the prices are negotiable, so make sure you shop around. Everything is freshly caught as Jimbaran is still a functioning fishing village. If you want to drink wine, bring it with you and pay a nominal corkage charge.

The combination of atmosphere and good food make this a memorable and delightful place to spend an evening.

There are number of good, cheap local warungs on Jalan Uluwatu between the four road junction (Four Seasons roundabout) and McDonalds.

Jimbaran is very well served by high end resort hotels, and the dining options at the Four Seasons and the Ayana Resort for example are truly exceptional.

• Depot Joko, Jl Raya Uluwatu (just north of junction with Jl Melasti. A very popular, no frills local restaurant serving all manner of Indonesian food. Recommended if you want a real taste of Indonesia.
• Grocer & Grind, Jimbaran Corner, Jl. Uluwatu (at the new shopping centre at the exit towards Four Seasons. Contemporary bistro & delicatessen. Open for breakfast, lunch & dinner. During the day the cafe serves up panini, sandwiches and salads made with fresh local organic produce and imported products. Comfortable with good service. There is also a sister-restaurant in Seminyak. Mid-range.
• Pepe Nero, Jl Wanagiri 18 (on the small road that leads through the quarry from the Four Seasons roundabout, +62 361 704672. 11:00-22:00. An Italian restaurant in an unlikely location with nice views of Jimbaran Bay. Pastas and pizzas. Mains from Rp 30,000.
• Jimbaran Beach Club - JBC, Jl Bukit Permai, Pantai Jimbaran (at the beach right before you get to the Four Seasons Resort, +62 361 703 342. Fresh seafood, prepared with a Mediterranean influence and served on the sandy beach. Well stocked bar, good wine list, tropical cocktails and seasonal fruit juices.
• The Open House Restaurant, Jl Pemelisan Agung 25 (it is the road that goes from Jimbaran market/temple to the beach, 20 meters to the beach, +62 361 709160. 06:00-22:30. A mix of modern Asian cuisine and Mediterranean dishes (pizzas and pastas) in an agreeable ambience. Bamboo structure and alang-alang roof overlooking a swimming pool. Excellent background music selected by David Mordoh
• Warung "Curhat", Uluwatu St. An inexpensive little Indonesian warung with small portions. Rp 10–20,000.

Depot Joko, Jl Raya Uluwatu (just north of junction with Jl Melasti. A very popular, no frills local restaurant serving all manner of Indonesian food. Recommended if you want a real taste of Indonesia.

Grocer & Grind, Jimbaran Corner, Jl. Uluwatu (at the new shopping centre at the exit towards Four Seasons. Contemporary bistro & delicatessen. Open for breakfast, lunch & dinner. During the day the cafe serves up panini, sandwiches and salads made with fresh local organic produce and imported products. Comfortable with good service. There is also a sister-restaurant in Seminyak. Mid-range.

Pepe Nero, Jl Wanagiri 18 (on the small road that leads through the quarry from the Four Seasons roundabout, +62 361 704672. 11:00-22:00. An Italian restaurant in an unlikely location with nice views of Jimbaran Bay. Pastas and pizzas. Mains from Rp 30,000.

Jimbaran Beach Club - JBC, Jl Bukit Permai, Pantai Jimbaran (at the beach right before you get to the Four Seasons Resort, +62 361 703 342. Fresh seafood, prepared with a Mediterranean influence and served on the sandy beach. Well stocked bar, good wine list, tropical cocktails and seasonal fruit juices.

The Open House Restaurant, Jl Pemelisan Agung 25 (it is the road that goes from Jimbaran market/temple to the beach, 20 meters to the beach, +62 361 709160. 06:00-22:30. A mix of modern Asian cuisine and Mediterranean dishes (pizzas and pastas) in an agreeable ambience. Bamboo structure and alang-alang roof overlooking a swimming pool. Excellent background music selected by David Mordoh

Warung "Curhat", Uluwatu St. An inexpensive little Indonesian warung with small portions. Rp 10–20,000.

Jimbaran fish market. Best to visit 06:00-09:00. A traditional fish market is located at the northern end of the bay right by the beach at the junction with Jalan Tukad Ayung. The catch comes in every morning here and customers include most of Bali's fine dining restaurants. All manner of fish and shellfish are on available. You can get your purchases grilled elsewhere in the market for a fee.

Nightlife is limited in Jimbaran, and most venues close after 23:00. If you want to avoid going to a more busy area, you can try going to Chocolate Café, in Jimbaran Corner, where they have live music and DJ occasionally.

To enjoy a sunset on the beach, there are few better places in Bali. For a cheap beer sitting on plastic chairs, go near the fish café. For something more elegant, try PJ's Bar at the Four Seasons, or JBC (Jimbaran Beach Club), just next to it.

The Rock Bar at Ayana Resort is a bit of tourist trap but it is nonetheless spectacular as it is perched on natural rock 14 m above the waves of Jimbaran Bay, at the base of a low cliff. The design is rather chic, but beware of problems when it rains - you will get soaked as there is no shelter at all, and it is a long walk back up the cliff to the main part of the hotel.

Jimbaran was the site of a terrorist bombing in 2005, but the sand and airy construction of the restaurants kept casualties much lower than in the previous Kuta attack.

The following countries have honorary consulates in Jimbaran, though the names of the consulates confusingly include the words "in Denpasar":

• Denmark Royal Danish Honorary Consulate in Denpasar, Bali, Mimpi Resorts Jimbaran, Kawasan Bukit Permai, +62 361 701070.
• Norway Royal Norwegian Honorary Consulate in Denpasar, Bali, Mimpi Resort Jimbaran, Kawasan Bukit Permai, +62 361 701070.

Denmark Royal Danish Honorary Consulate in Denpasar, Bali, Mimpi Resorts Jimbaran, Kawasan Bukit Permai, +62 361 701070.

Norway Royal Norwegian Honorary Consulate in Denpasar, Bali, Mimpi Resort Jimbaran, Kawasan Bukit Permai, +62 361 701070.

• North to Kuta for partying and surf.
• Up to Ubud in Central Bali for art, temples, mountains and the cultural heartland of Bali.
• South to visit Uluwatu Temple which is amongst the oldest extant temples on the island in Bali.