Let’s Talk Travel Insurance For Bali: Everything You Need To Know
FINNS Holidays is all about holidays in Bali, and tens of thousands of people visit Bali every year without a single issue. In fact, many
Bali is an island surrounded by some of the most life-abundant seas, and as such, seafood is part of its lifeblood. For visitors, it’s a seafood lover’s paradise!
From small local warungs and bustling seafood markets to top-end dining experiences, there’s something for every taste and budget.
In this guide, we’ve covered 14 of our favourite seafood spots around the island, whether you’re looking for freshly grilled fish, prawns and lobster or a memorable seafood dinner by the ocean.
Eat In Style
It should come as no surprise that FINNS Beach Club is at the top of our list with an impressive choice of seafood on the menu at Monsoon.
Take your pick from fresh oysters, sushi and sashimi, grilled octopus, soft shell crab, fish and chips, or a Fisherman’s Basket packed with crispy fish, calamari and prawns. There’s also the very popular seafood platter, loaded with king prawns, snapper rillettes, oysters and squid.
Of course, you don’t have to eat at Monsoon; in fact, you can order your fresh seafood from whichever part of the venue you wish.
If you’re spending the day in FINNS VIP, you’ll have even more to choose from, with an exclusive menu featuring dishes such as seared Japanese scallops, Blue River prawns, salmon and yellowfin tuna mosaic, and smoked tandoor barramundi, plus some of the finest caviar on the island, packed full of flavour.
Whatever you choose, there’s nothing quite like enjoying fresh seafood with a cold drink while watching the famous FINNS sunset.
Where Is It? Jl. Pantai Berawa No.99, Canggu, Kec. Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361
Online: FINNS Beach Club
Eat Like A Local
Located on Kedonganan Beach at the northern end of Jimbaran Bay, this one isn’t actually a restaurant, but a bustling fresh market selling everything the local fishermen have caught, mostly during the night and early morning.
Jimbaran Seafood Market, or Pasar Ikan Kedonganan as it’s known locally, is no doubt the most well-known and one of the most important fish markets in Bali. It’s where locals, restaurant owners and chefs come to buy the daily catch, as well as being an increasingly popular stop for visitors looking for an authentic local seafood experience. This, of course, makes it one of the top seafood spots on the island.
The marvel here is that you can choose your seafood and have it cooked for you at one of the stalls or small warungs outside on the beachfront. Of course, you can always just browse the market before heading to one of the many small restaurants on the beach, or those located on Kelan Beach just a little further up the shore.
For something fancier, Sundara Bali at Muaya Beach, on the southern end of Jimbaran Bay, has its own seafood and BBQ restaurant… and two guesses where they get their fresh seafood from! If you eat seafood anywhere in Bali, it ought to be seafood in Jimbaran, where the catch is freshest.
Where Is It? Jl. Pantai Kedonganan, Kedonganan, Kec. Kuta, Kabupaten Badung, Bali
Online: Jimbaran Fish Market
Balinese Seafood
Bale Udang offers something quite different from the beachfront restaurants on our list. Built around a large lake, you can enjoy your meal in one of the traditional bamboo dining areas over the water, making the setting almost as memorable as the food.
Seafood is a big part of the menu, with prawns taking centre stage alongside fish, squid and crab. The seafood set menus are a good choice if you want to try a few different dishes, with plenty of traditional Balinese and Indonesian flavours thrown into the mix.
It’s a particularly good option for families or groups who want a relaxed seafood experience away from the beach, and the unusual lakeside setting makes Bale Udang well worth adding to your list.
Where Is It? Jl. Nakula No.88, Pemecutan Klod, Kec. Denpasar Bar., Kota Denpasar, Bali 80119
Online: Bale Udung
Beachfront Favourite
Overlooking Double Six Beach, Pavilion Surf Club is a stylish beachfront restaurant and a great place to enjoy fresh seafood with uninterrupted ocean views.
The menu includes grilled fish, prawns and seafood platters, with plenty of choice if you’re in the mood for a seafood dinner by the sea.
Find a table overlooking the beach, order a cold drink or a glass of wine, and watch the surfers as the sun goes down. Stick around after sunset, and there’s often live music, making Pavilion an easy place to spend a long evening by the sea.
Where Is It? Jl. Pantai Double Six, Jl. Pantai Legian No.10, Legian, Kec. Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361
Online: Pavilion Surf Club
Oceanfront Fine Dining
Seasalt at Alila Seminyak takes a more refined approach to seafood, with wild-caught fish and responsibly sourced ingredients from Indonesian waters cooked over an open grill. Add the oceanfront setting and views across Seminyak Beach, and this is definitely one for a special seafood dinner.
The signature salt-baked seabass is a highlight, baked whole in a crust of traditional Kusamba sea salt and cracked open at the table. Elsewhere on the menu you’ll find jumbo prawns, grilled octopus, barramundi and tuna steak, among plenty of other choices.
Time your visit for sunset and grab a table outside on the deck, where the sea breeze and Indian Ocean views make Seasalt one of our favourite upscale seafood restaurants in Seminyak.
Where Is It? Jl. Taman Ganesha Jl. Petitenget No.9, Seminyak, Kec. Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361
Online: Hyatt Alilia Seasalt
A Local Institution
Warung Mak Beng has been a Sanur institution since 1941, and unlike most of the restaurants on our list, you won’t spend much time deciding what to order. The famous local warung has built its reputation around one simple set meal.
You get crispy fried fish, fresh fish soup, steamed rice and Mak Beng’s signature spicy sambal. The recipes have been passed down through generations, while the fish itself is sourced from local fishermen around Sanur.
Don’t come expecting fancy surroundings or an enormous seafood menu. Mak Beng is all about simple Balinese-style cooking, and after more than 80 years in business, it’s still one of Sanur’s most popular places for a local seafood experience.
Where Is It? Jl. Hang Tuah No.45, Sanur Kaja, Denpasar Selatan, Kota Denpasar, Bali 80227
Online: Warung Mak Beng
Seafood With A View
Malini Seafood & Sunset sits high on the cliffs of Uluwatu, with front-row seats to the Indian Ocean and, as the name suggests, some pretty spectacular sunsets. Seafood here is cooked over the fire grill, with the daily catch brought in from Jimbaran Market.
You can keep things simple with whole red snapper, grouper or seabass, or go for Jimbaran prawns, king prawns, grilled clams or lobster. There are also mixed seafood platters for sharing, served with rice, vegetables, garlic butter and a selection of sambals.
Come in the late afternoon, grab a table overlooking the ocean and stay for sunset. This is one of those places where the location is as much a part of the seafood experience as what’s on your plate.
Where Is It? Jalan Raya Malini No.151, Karangboma, Pecatu, Kec. Kuta Sel., Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361
Online: Instagram
Luxury By The Sea
Arwana Restaurant sits right by the sea in Nusa Dua, with tables overlooking the beach and a menu built around seafood cooked over its signature Basque grills. It’s a more luxurious choice, but the relaxed seaside setting keeps things from feeling overly formal.
You can start with seafood on ice, loaded with Bali lobster, tiger prawns, scallops, oysters and fish ceviche, or go straight for the grill. Jumbo tiger prawns, barramundi, salmon and locally caught Karangasem lobster are among the highlights.
If you’re looking for a romantic dinner in Nusa Dua, grab an outdoor table and enjoy some of Bali’s freshest catch with the beach just a few steps away.
Where Is It? Kawasan Pariwisata Nusa Dua Lot N2, Benoa, Kec. Kuta Sel., Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361
Online: Arwana Restaurant
Beachfront Seafood
Fisherman’s Club at Andaz Bali brings the flavours of Jimbaran-style seafood to Sanur, served right on the beachfront. The daily catch comes from local fishermen, with much of the seafood traditionally grilled over coconut husks.
Take your pick from fresh red snapper, barramundi, yellowfin tuna and jumbo king prawns displayed on ice, before choosing how you’d like it cooked. The grilled prawns are a favourite, while whole grilled red snapper is another great choice for sharing.
There are oysters and raw seafood dishes too, but we’d go for something straight from the grill. Grab a beachfront table, order a cold drink and enjoy some of the freshest catch of the day with your toes in the sand.
Where Is It? Jl. Danau Tamblingan No.89a, Sanur, Denpasar Selatan, Kota Denpasar, Bali 80228
Online: Hyatt Andaz Fishermans Club
Italian Seafood
Gente brings Mediterranean coastal cooking to Canggu, combining traditional Italian recipes with fresh local seafood and ingredients. You can dine al-fresco on the quiet terrace, or head to the air-conditioned indoor area when Bali’s heat gets a bit much.
The menu is packed with seafood delights, including swordfish carpaccio, tuna tartare, clams and mixed seafood. We particularly like the look of the Zuppa di Mare, a rich seafood soup made with baby squid and bisque.
There’s plenty of homemade pasta too, like the seafood tortellini, making Gente one of the best seafood choices in Canggu when you fancy something Italian rather than another plate of grilled fish and prawns.
Where Is It? Jl. Tegal Sari No.21, Berawa, Canggu, Bali, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361
Online: Gente Bali
Choose Your Seafood
Seafood Bu Rini is tucked away in Serangan, away from Bali’s main tourist areas, and this is one of the best seafood spots on our list if you want to keep things local. Don’t expect fancy surroundings; the focus here is firmly on fresh seafood and big flavours.
Choose your seafood from the tanks before having it cooked to order, with fresh fish, prawns, crab, clams, squid and lobster among the choices. Steamed and grilled fish are particularly popular, along with the Sauce Padang clams and prawns cooked in butter and soy sauce.
It’s a simple, no-frills dining experience and a great place to try some authentic seafood without the polished surroundings of Bali’s high-end restaurants.
Where Is It? Jl. Tukad Punggawa No.27, Serangan, Denpasar Selatan, Kota Denpasar, Bali 80229
Online: Seafood Burini
Modern Seafood
Bonito Fish Bar is the sister restaurant of the famous Mauri Restaurant, created by chef Maurizio Bombini, who brings flavours from his native Puglia in southern Italy to Bali.
As the name suggests, seafood is the star here, with a modern menu inspired by the Mediterranean coast. Signature dishes include tuna tartare and barramundi ceviche and handpicked Lombok oysters, while another must-try is the Bonito Rosetta, an Italian-style sandwich and one of the restaurant’s specialties.
This is a great choice when you want something a little different from traditional grilled seafood, with plenty of Italian influence and fresh seafood flavours on the menu.
Where Is It? Jl. Taman Ganesha Jl. Petitenget No.9, Seminyak, Kec. Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia
Online: Bonito Restaurant
Mediterranean By The Sea
Right on Pererenan Beach, Hippie Fish is a Mediterranean-inspired seafood restaurant with an indoor dining area overlooking the ocean and a rooftop bar offering front-row seats for one of Bali’s famous sunsets.
The menu follows the same Mediterranean coastal theme, with plenty of fresh seafood on offer. Tuna crudo and calamari fritti are among the highlights, alongside fresh oysters, grilled fish and seafood pasta.
Come for a late lunch and stick around as the sun goes down. With great views across the black sands of Pererenan Beach, Hippie Fish is one of our top Bali picks for Mediterranean seafood by the sea.
Where Is It? Jalan Pantai Pererenan no. 171, Pererenan Beach, Jl. Pantai Pererenan, Pererenan, Kec. Mengwi, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361
Online: Hippie Fish
Seafood Favourite
Shrimpis is one of Seminyak’s most popular seafood restaurants, and as you might guess from the name, prawns are the main event. In fact, the restaurant even farms its own Vanamei shrimp, with a focus on fresh, locally sourced ingredients.
The menu has plenty of seafood delights to work your way through, from fresh oysters and grilled octopus to seafood bisque and the catch of the day. However, we’d stick with the specialty and order a plate of grilled prawns, or try the peri-peri shrimp tacos for something a little different.
Shrimpis is casual, reasonably priced and refreshingly unfussy compared with some of Seminyak’s high-end dining experiences. With thousands of excellent reviews behind it, it’s easy to see why this has become one of the area’s favourite places for a seafood dinner.
Where Is It? Jl. Kayu Aya, Seminyak, Kec. Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia
Online: Linktree Shrimpis
The famous market at Jimbaran Bay is actually Kedonganan Fish Market, which we’ve mentioned at the top of our list. Kedonganan is the local name, while Jimbaran Fish Market is commonly used by foreign visitors.
Don’t worry about which name you use when getting there; local taxi drivers will know where you mean.
There’s no single answer, as it really depends on what you’re looking for. For a stylish seafood dinner with a famous sunset, Monsoon @ FINNS Beach Club is our top pick, while Kedonganan Fish Market is hard to beat if you want to choose your own fresh catch and eat like a local.
We’ve included everything from local warungs to oceanfront fine dining in this guide, so there’s something for every taste and budget.
Bali is known for an incredible variety of seafood, with snapper, mahi-mahi, tuna, prawns, squid and lobster among the most popular catches.
Traditional Balinese and Indonesian cooking often keeps things relatively simple, with freshly caught fish grilled over hot coals and served with rice, vegetables and spicy sambals.
Yes. Seafood is widely eaten across Bali, and reputable restaurants and busy local warungs generally take food safety and freshness seriously. Think, the seafood in Jimabaran is caught in the night, sold in the morning, and cooked the same day, you can’t get much fresher than that!
As anywhere, use common sense when choosing where to eat. Look for busy restaurants, seafood that’s properly chilled or kept alive in tanks, and food that’s freshly cooked before being served.
That’s a matter of opinion, but Bali is certainly one of the top Indonesian destinations for seafood lovers. As an island with a long fishing tradition, fresh seafood is readily available, while the huge choice of restaurants means you can enjoy everything from a rustic local meal to a romantic dinner overlooking the sea.
Of course, Indonesia is a huge archipelago, with thousands of seafood spots from the most luxurious restaurants to remote and charming fishing villages.
Whether you prefer eating fresh grilled fish at a local warung, choosing your own catch at a bustling seafood market or enjoying a memorable seafood dinner overlooking the ocean, Bali has something for every taste and budget.
We hope this guide helps you discover some of the best seafood restaurants in Bali and a few new favourites during your time on the island.
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