Thanks to the ever-evolving food scene, tapas has become a very popular way to eat in Bali. If you love tapas (who doesn’t?) and are planning a parent’s night out, head to any of these awesome Bali restaurants offering tapas style dining.
1. El Kabron
Located 50-meters above sea level, El Kabron is a cliff-side resto that features a stunning view of the Bukit Peninsula. Imagine watching the sunset while savoring Spanish dishes including tasty tapas!
Top items on the tapas menu include the Escalivada (roasted bell peppers, onion, and aubergine confit), Picadillo De Pulpo (steamed octopus served cold on a bed of bell peppers and onion with olives), and Anchoas Del Cantabrico Y Pan Con Tomate (a savory treat of Cantabrian anchovies in olive oil served with toasted bread drizzled with tomato). And if you don’t eat meat, no worries because El Kabron has separate vegetarian options too.
El Kabron
Jl. Pantai Cemongkak, Pecatu
2. Motel Mexicola
Motel Mexicola is one of the most popular (and easily recognizable) Mexican restos on the island. You simply cannot miss Motel Mexicola’s kitschy façade on Jl. Kayujati. We love the interesting mix of contemporary and classic Mexican mains and appetizers and the Mexican version of tapas, antojitos.
Must-try on the tapas menu include the Calamares Frito (deep fried baby squid with chili and lime), De Atun (raw tuna marinated with soy, lemongrass, and ginger, black bean and crispy onion), and the Mexican style pork ribs in secret sauce served with charred corn. We also love the ceviche, enchiladas, and of course, churros!
Motel Mexicola
Jl. Kayujati no. 9X, Petitenget
3. Cuca
Cuca restaurant offers a casual dining experience and sumptuous tapas made from fresh, carefully selected ingredients. In fact, Cuca has one of the most extensive tapas menus on the island!
The tapas menu is divided into three categories: harvested, hooked, and farmed. For those who are looking for something light, we recommended harvested tapas such as Cuban corn, mushroom fritters, and bravas. If you are craving seafood, you will love hooked’s baked scallops, ceviche, rice crusted soft shelled crabs, and BBQ octopus. For those who want to go all out, the farmed menu offers all meat tapas including chicken meatballs, beef stir-fry, and marinated pulled pork.
Cuca
Jl. Yoga Perkanthi, Jimbaran
4. Cafe Havana
Cafe Havana is a vibrant little cantina that specializes in Cuban Caribbean cuisine and Cuban cocktails. We love Cafe Havana for the live entertainment, courtesy of salsa-dancing waiters and waitresses, as well as the mouth-watering selection drinks and appetizers.
The Cuban-style tapas menu is a must! Recommended tapas to try are the Taco Pato (grilled chicken with fresh guac and sour cream), Patatas Bravas (sautéed potatoes topped with paprika mayo sauce), Jamaican jerk BBQ chicken wings, and Cervesa onion rings. We also recommend the Tapas sampler called Buena Vista if you want to get a little bit of everything!
Cafe Havana
Jl. Dewi Sita, Ubud
5. La Sal
La Sal is a Spanish restaurant located on quiet Jl. Drupadi street in Seminyak. The restaurant offers a great selection of snacks and cocktails. We love the sheer diversity of La Sal’s tapas menu. The tapas are split into two types: cold (Tapas Frias) and hot (Tapas Calientes).
Must-try tapas off the Tapas Frias menu are the classic Spanish omelette, tuna with vegetables and potatoes, and Salpicon de Pulpo. We also love the octopus with vinaigrette and beef Carpaccio with foie gras and Manchego cheese. For the Tapas Caliente, try the Gambas Valenciana, Pulpu a Fiera, boiled octopus, skewered lamb meat with shallot chutney, Albondigas de la Abuela, and Pimenton de La Vera.
La Sal
Jl. Drupadi II no. 100, Seminyak
6. Lacalaca
Lacalaca was opened in 2012 by Australian entrepreneur Lord William Lovejoy, who just loves Mexican food. So, together with his crew, they set up shop in sunny Bali to share the passion for Mexican food and Bali’s surf culture!
Everything from the salsas to the tapas is made fresh daily. No shortcuts, no preservatives! Boasting rustic cooking techniques, Lacalaca Bali is a great place to chill out, enjoy a beer or a cocktail while feasting on savory tapas! Our favorites? We love the grilled corn, chilaquiles Rojas, fundido, and the Albondigas!
Lacalaca
Jl. Drupadi no. 1
7. La Finca
Inspired by Ibiza and the Mediterranean, La Finca is a specializes in an eye-popping array of Spanish dishes made from scratch using all organic ingredients. The founders of La Finca are committed to showcasing the age old, artisan techniques, creating a wholesome feast that will warm the soul and tickle the taste buds.
La Finca tapas feature an assortment of bite size snacks, including pintxos de tortilla Espanola, pintxos de Iberico sausages, truffle garlic prawns, grilled squid with garlic parsley oil and pan con tomate. We love the generous servings and the freshness of the ingredients. This is a great place for families as well as folks with a huge appetite. The best thing about La Finca (other than the food, of course!) is the reasonable prices. Virtually all the salads, Spanish tapas, burgers and noodles are priced Rp 100,000 and below!
La Finca
Jl. Subak Sari no. 77, Batu Belig
This article was originally published by Bali Kids Guide, a total guide for Bali with kids, holiday tips, reviews, currency & visa info, and more.
