Scandinavian-style anything appears to have taken over Indonesia in the past couple of years, including simple, minimalist interior design (which was probably kicked off by a certain furniture giant) as well as cuisine. Scandinavian open-faced sandwiches and Swedish Meatballs with gravy and cranberry sauce are no longer foreign among Indonesian foodies, as many places began offering the dishes.
In Bali, you can also find these items at popular brunch places or coffee shops, though there are ones that actually specialize in Scandinavian cuisine. Here are three eateries in Bali for your Nordic cravings:
Cafe Smorgas
One of the oldest of its kind in Bali, Cafe Smorgas describes itself as an “authentic Swedish cafe.” The cafe was established in Sanur back in 2006 by a Swedish family who moved to Bali. You can enjoy a number of classic Swedish dishes here such as the traditional appetizer S.O.S. (sill, ost, snaps), which consist of pickled herring, cheese, boiled egg, and a shot of in-house spiced vodka; Toast Skagen or Swedish shrimp toast; Swedish Meatballs on Mash; and Biff Rydberg, a classic restaurant dish of cubed beef, onions, and potatoes with creamy dijon.
While smörgas means “sandwich” in Swedish, Cafe Smorgas produces its own homemade bread, cakes, pastry, and jam, among other things.
Jl. Danau Tamblingan No. 56, Sanur. Opening hours: 7am-11pm, daily. Phone: +62 361 289 361. Website, Instagram
Copenhagen Canggu
Copenhagen, which is located near Canggu’s Echo Beach, specializes in Nordic-inspired all-day brunch and sweets. Here, you can create your favorite breakfast and lunch by choosing three to five items for the former, and up to three dishes for the latter, for a set price. Expect some staple Scandic items such as Smørrebrød with salmon,
Hønsesalat (chicken salad) using Danish rye bread, and mini hotdog with green salad. There are also healthy bowls such as the Nordic Bowl and Kale Bowl.
Don’t miss out on their Scandinavian baked goodies such as cinnamon roll and the Hindbærsnitter (Danish raspberry slices).
Jl. Canggu Padang Linjong No. 71a, Canggu, North Kuta, Badung regency. Opening hours: 6.30am-6pm, daily. Instagram
Ours Bali
Ours is a lifestyle brand consisting of a restaurant and spa that combines Bali’s open-living style with Scandinavian-style architecture, which results in a rustic and tropical atmosphere. Ours Restaurant is inspired by European and Mediterranean cuisine, but two of their popular items are Nordic-inspired, namely Smoked Salmon Toast and Baked Meatballs.
Jl. Labuansait, Pecatu, Badung. Opening hours: 8am-11pm, daily. RSVP via Whatsapp at +62 813 5337 3163. Website, Instagram
