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Sanur has come a long way from being one of Bali’s quieter beach towns, and these days, its food scene is every bit as varied as the rest of the island.
You’ll still find plenty of local warungs and food, but they’re now joined by stylish cafes, beachfront restaurants and places serving everything from Italian and French food to Spanish seafood.
Many of the best restaurants in Sanur are located around Jalan Danau Tamblingan main road and along the beach, but there are great places to eat scattered all around Sanur.
Whether you’re looking for breakfast, a casual lunch or somewhere special for dinner in Sanur, we’ve rounded up 16 of our favourite places to eat.
Rustic Italian Dining & Gelato
Massimo has been serving Southern Italian food in Sanur for decades, led by Italian chef and owner Massimo Sacco, who first arrived in Indonesia in 1996.
Today, it’s one of the area’s best-known Italian restaurants, with a huge menu covering homemade pasta, pizza, seafood, meat and plenty of Italian classics. Try the spaghetti with fresh crab, handmade pasta with prawns or a traditional Bolognese.
But make sure you leave some room afterwards. The colourful gelato counter out front has become almost as famous as the restaurant itself, with homemade Italian gelato served right by the street.
Where Is It? Jl. Danau Tamblingan No.228, Sanur, Denpasar Selatan, Kota Denpasar, Bali 80237, Indonesia
Online: Massimo Bali
Craft Beer & Casual Dining
Shotgun Social is a lively brewhouse and beer garden, with a huge domed interior opening out onto a spacious garden. It’s particularly good for groups and families, with a children’s playground and plenty of room to spread out.
The bar is a big part of the appeal, with 16 craft beers on tap alongside cocktails, wine and other drinks. Food is equally casual, with enormous 45cm NYC-inspired pizzas among the signatures, plus burgers and a mixture of local and international dishes.
There’s plenty going on beyond food and beer too, with regular events and live music throughout the week. Check what’s happening before you visit, particularly if you want a livelier evening.
Where Is It? Jl. Pantai Sindhu No.11, Sanur, Denpasar Selatan, Kota Denpasar, Bali 80228, Indonesia
Online: Shotgun-Social Bali
Beachfront Dining
Soul sits right on Sindhu Beach, with tables overlooking the sand and sea. It’s an easygoing spot that works throughout the day, opening early for breakfast and carrying on through lunch, sunset drinks and dinner.
The menu mixes local and international flavours, with everything from local dishes to burgers, pizza and seafood. Current favourites include tuna tostadas, beef rendang and the Manhattan burger, while breakfast covers the likes of smashed avocado and corn fritters.
Come during the day for a relaxed meal by the water, or later on when the temperature drops and the beach starts to get a little busier.
Where Is It? Jl. Pantai Sindhu, Sanur, Denpasar Selatan, Kota Denpasar, Bali 80228, Indonesia
Online: Soul On The Beach Bali
Multi-Level Beach Dining
Tree Bar is part of Maya, one of the top hotels in Sanur, spread across three levels overlooking the beach. Despite the name, it’s much more than somewhere to stop for a drink, serving breakfast from early morning before moving into lunch and dinner.
The menu has a Mediterranean influence alongside plenty of local and international choices. You could order BBQ octopus or linguine alle vongole, tuck into beef rendang or pepes ikan, or keep things casual with one of the burgers.
Handcrafted cocktails are a big part of the experience too, with live acoustic music adding to the atmosphere in the evenings. Grab a spot overlooking the water, and it’s an easy place to spend a couple of hours over food and drinks.
Don’t miss the happy hour from 5 pm to 7 pm daily, with 50% off cocktails, beers, wine and mocktails.
Where Is It? Jl. Danau Tamblingan, Sanur, Denpasar Selatan, Kota Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia
Online: Maya Resorts Tree Bar
Local Street Food
Okay, so this one isn’t technically a restaurant, but hear us out. If you want to try some real Indonesian and Balinese street food while you’re visiting Sanur, Sindhu Night Market is well worth including.
Come hungry and wander between the stalls trying sate ayam, nasi campur, nasi goreng, bakso, martabak and plenty of fried snacks. There are fresh fruit juices and sweet treats too, so it’s easy to put together an entire meal by ordering a little from several different vendors.
Food here is generally much cheaper than at Sanur’s restaurants, but that’s only part of the appeal. Eating your way around the market is an experience in itself, and a great introduction to everyday local food.
Where Is It? Jl. Pasar No.2, Sanur, Denpasar Selatan, Kota Denpasar, Bali 80228, Indonesia
Online: FINNS Guides
French Bakery & Breakfast
Le Croissant brings a little French bakery culture to Sanur, with freshly baked bread, cakes and sweet and savoury treats served alongside a full breakfast menu. It’s an easy option for an early start, with good coffee and plenty of lighter choices too.
Their colourful smoothie bowls are particularly popular, alongside waffles, eggs, avocado toast and fresh fruit. There are also sandwiches and other simple dishes if you want something more substantial, so you’re not limited to baked goods and breakfast.
It’s particularly handy when you want something quick and casual in the morning. Eat in with a coffee, or pick up something from the bakery counter to take away.
Where Is It? Jl. Danau Tamblingan No.47, Sanur, Denpasar Selatan, Kota Denpasar, Bali 80228, Indonesia
Online: Instagram
High-End Indonesian Dining
The Restaurant is the place on our list for a more refined Indonesian meal.
Part of the historic Tandjung Sari hotel, you can dine in its open-air pavilion surrounded by antiques or outside beneath the trees beside the beach.
The food is based around home-style cooking using locally grown ingredients, consisting almost entirely of Indonesian dishes, with a few modern fusion takes. The signature rijsttafel for two is a great way to explore different regional flavours, with fish, meat, vegetables, sambals and rice served together.
It’s particularly well suited to a special dinner, with a quieter and more intimate atmosphere than Sanur’s busier beachfront spots.
Where Is It? Jl. D. Tamblingan No.41, Sanur, Denpasar Selatan, Kota Denpasar, Bali 80228, Indonesia
Online: Tandjung Sari Hotel Dining
Ribs & BBQ
Naughty Nuri’s started life as a small warung in Ubud and became famous for two things: smoky pork ribs and strong cocktails. The much larger Sanur branch keeps the same spirit, with a spacious indoor and outdoor dining area and plenty of room for groups and families.
The signature pork ribs are still the main event, marinated with Balinese spices before being glazed with the restaurant’s secret BBQ sauce and grilled over charcoal. Pork lovers can also tackle the crispy pork knuckle, pork belly satay and other generously sized BBQ dishes.
Pair the meat with one of Nuri’s famously potent cocktails and don’t expect a particularly refined meal. This is somewhere to get your hands messy, order plenty for the table and enjoy the lively atmosphere.
Where Is It? Jl. Bypass Ngurah Rai No.77, Sanur, Denpasar Selatan, Kota Denpasar, Bali 80228, Indonesia
Online: Naughty Nuris Sanur
Modern Brunch & Dining
Rue Bali is the second restaurant on our list from Maya, one of the top places to stay in Sanur, but it’s a completely different proposition to Tree Bar.
Sitting streetside rather than by the beach, it has the feel of a modern cafe, with a relaxed setting that works just as well for coffee and brunch as it does for dinner.
Breakfast is served all day, alongside local favourites such as bubur ayam and nasi goreng. The Guac de Rue is a good one for sharing, with smashed avo, pico de gallo, queso fresco and tortilla chips. Later on, the menu expands into pizzas, pasta and more substantial mains.
With comfortable seating and a relaxed streetside setting, Rue is also the kind of place where you can settle in with a laptop and coffee for a couple of hours. Later in the day, it shifts naturally from cafe to casual restaurant as people start arriving for dinner and drinks.
Where Is It? Jl. D. Tamblingan No.89M, Sanur, Denpasar Selatan, Kota Denpasar, Bali 80228, Indonesia
Online: Maya Resorts Rue Bali
Mediterranean Beach Dining
COSTA sits right on the beach, with tables beneath the trees and out on the sand overlooking the water. It feels a little more polished than some of Sanur’s casual beach restaurants, but it’s still relaxed enough for a long lunch with your feet in the sand.
The menu leans Mediterranean and Italian, with fresh seafood, homemade pasta and pizza at the centre of things. The seafood platter is made for sharing, with lobster, prawns, squid and the seasonal catch, while the grilled lobster and seafood linguine are other highlights.
COSTA gets livelier in the evening, with live music every night alongside cocktails and wine. There’s also a kids’ playground, making it surprisingly family-friendly for somewhere that works equally well for dinner and drinks.
Where Is It? Jl. Cemara No.3, Sanur, Denpasar Selatan, Kota Denpasar, Bali 80227, Indonesia
Online: COSTA Sanur
Casual Dinner & Bar
Kaluma is open throughout the day, but we’d probably save this one for the evening. It’s a smart, modern restaurant and bar, with live music regularly taking over later at night.
There’s a broad menu of local and Western food, including steaks, seafood, pasta and local dishes. The slow-braised lamb shank is one of the heartier options, while the Nusantara spaghetti mixes pasta with distinctly Indonesian flavours.
The drinks are pretty serious here too, with a long list of cocktails alongside wine, beer and spirits. Kaluma is a good shout if you want to have dinner, order another round and stay in the same place for the rest of the evening.
Where Is It? Jl. D. Tamblingan No.64, Sanur, Denpasar Selatan, Kota Denpasar, Bali 80228, Indonesia
Online: Instagram
Relaxed Beachfront Dining
Sand Beach Bar is attached to ICON Mall, but once you’re sitting outside, it doesn’t really feel like a mall restaurant. The tables face straight onto the beach, so it’s a handy place to stop after shopping or while walking along the beach.
The menu is a broad mix of Asian and Western food. There’s plenty of seafood, including oysters, grilled octopus and a seafood platter, while the seafood pineapple fried rice is one of the more unusual choices. There are also burgers, steaks and pasta if seafood isn’t your thing.
We’d definitely choose one of the outdoor tables here. There’s music regularly, and the combination of cold drinks, sea views, and people passing down the beach walk makes it an easy place to hang around.
Where Is It? Jl. Segara Ayu No.27, Sanur, Denpasar Selatan, Kota Denpasar, Bali 80228, Indonesia
Online: Instagram
Spanish Seafood
Pescado brings a taste of Spain to Sanur, with a menu built around seafood, tapas and paella. The kitchen is led by a Spanish chef, and the focus is firmly on fresh ingredients and proper Spanish flavours rather than a huge international menu.
Paella is the obvious place to start, particularly the seafood paella or signature Paella Negra. There are plenty of smaller dishes too, including garlic prawns, grilled octopus and tuna tataki, which makes Pescado a good one for ordering several plates and sharing.
Wine fits the food particularly well here, and there’s Spanish sangria if you want something easy. We’d go with a few tapas first, followed by a paella for the table.
Where Is It? Jl. Duyung No.3, Sanur, Denpasar Selatan, Kota Denpasar, Bali 80228, Indonesia
Online: Pescado Bali
French Bar & Bistro
CORK French Tavern is one of the few places in Sanur dedicated specifically to French food. There’s a proper bistro menu, a long French wine list and plenty of smaller plates if you’re mainly here for drinks.
Expect classics such as beef bourguignon, duck confit, steak frites and escargots, along with cheese and charcuterie boards to share. Wine is available by the bottle or glass, so you can easily try a couple of different French regions over dinner.
CORK is especially good for a slower evening with a bottle of wine and a few plates between you. And if you’ve eaten enough seafood and tropical breakfasts for one trip, this makes a very welcome change.
Where Is It? Jl. D. Tamblingan No.140, Sanur, Denpasar Selatan, Kota Denpasar, Bali 80228, Indonesia
Online: Cork Bali
Renowned Sanur Cafe
Batujimbar Cafe has been a renowned spot in Sanur for years and remains a popular all-day option, opening early enough for breakfast and carrying on through lunch and dinner. There’s plenty of outdoor seating beneath the trees, and it tends to attract a mixture of visitors and long-term Sanur residents.
The menu is huge, covering Western and Asian dishes alongside plenty of regional favourites. Nasi campur is one of the signatures, while you’ll also find bebek betutu, rendang, bubur Manado, salads, sandwiches and pasta.
It’s the sort of easy-going cafe you could return to more than once during a stay. There’s also a market outside on Sunday mornings, which makes that a particularly good time to visit.
Where Is It? Jl. D. Tamblingan No.75A, Sanur, Denpasar Selatan, Kota Denpasar, Bali 80228, Indonesia
Online: Instagram
Indian Dining
The Royal Kitchen gives us something completely different from the other restaurants on this list. It’s on the first floor of ICON, with views out towards the sea, and is the Sanur branch of an Indian restaurant that first opened in Jakarta in 2007.
The menu is packed with North Indian classics, including tandoori meats, curries, biryani and a big selection of vegetarian dishes. Lamb biryani is a popular choice, alongside lamb chops, kebabs, dal makhani and plenty of paneer dishes.
There’s a lot to choose from, so this is another place where we’d order several dishes for the table. Add naan, rice and a mango lassi, and you’ve got a proper feast.
Where Is It? Icon Mall, Jl. D. Tamblingan No.27 1st Floor, Sanur, Denpasar Selatan, Kota Denpasar, Bali 80228, Indonesia
Online: The Royal Kitchen
There are plenty of great places to eat dinner in Sanur.
If you want a nice romantic dinner, The Restaurant at Tandjung Sari is a top pick for high-end Indonesian food, while Pescado is a top restaurant for Spanish seafood. Kaluma is a good option if you want dinner, cocktails and a livelier atmosphere.
It’s subjective, but Soul is one of our favourites for relaxed beachfront dining. COSTA and Sand Beach are also great choices if you want to eat with the sand and sea close by.
Yes. Sanur is generally very family-friendly, and plenty of restaurants welcome children. Shotgun Social is particularly good for families, with plenty of space, casual food and a kids’ play area.
For some of the most authentic and best Indonesian food, head to Sindhu Market at night or seek out some of the smaller local warungs, where you’ll find food to rival some of the best Sanur restaurants.
If you’d prefer something more high-end, The Restaurant at Tandjung Sari serves refined dishes with a beautiful beach setting.
Again, it’s subjective, and there are loads of great places to eat in Sanur for breakfast, but which is the best breakfast?
Le Croissant is a great choice for pastries, croissants, smoothie bowls and breakfast, while Rue Bali is another good option if you’re looking for a more modern brunch. Batujimbar Cafe is also open early with plenty of breakfast choices.
Definitely. There are lots of things to do in Sanur, and eating your way around its restaurants, cafes and local food spots is one of them.
The food scene is varied enough to make dining part of the experience, whether you’re after a quick breakfast, local dishes or somewhere nice for dinner.
Sanur is on Bali’s southeast coast, around 15 kilometres from Ngurah Rai International Airport. The trip to Sanur usually takes around 30 to 45 minutes, depending on traffic.
If you’re coming from the southwest coast, allow around 45 minutes from Seminyak or an hour from Canggu, so it’s close enough that you could be eating delicious food in Sanur at lunch, and hitting the beach club in Canggu by the afternoon.
A Grab from the airport to Sanur main street will typically cost around 110,000 IDR to 170,000 IDR.
Sanur’s food scene has plenty going for it, from street eats to beachfront restaurants serving a mix of local and international dishes.
Sanur offers something for everyone, and you could spend weeks eating your way around the town, but these 16 should give you a pretty good idea of where to start.
From cheap eats and breakfast to seafood, French, Italian, Spanish and Indian, there’s something here for just about every meal.
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