An indulgent Sunday Brunch

Reservations are essential to get a seat in this jam-packed, signature restaurant of W Retreat & Spa Bali- Seminyak, Starfish Bloo, especially for its Sunday brunch (12pm to 3.30pm). Located alongside Petitenget Beach, the semi al fresco concept boasts an extensive outdoor dining terrace facing crashing surfs, and a welcome Prosecco glass. which sets the upbeat, fun tone for hotel staffers to greet its patrons with a welcome glass of Prosecco. While chilling to live sets from its resident DJ, you can choose from a Sunday Brunch package (IDR535,000++) , inclusive of free-flow soft drinks; Food and Beverage Package (IDR1,150,000++), inclusive of free-flow Prosecco, wines, beers, cocktails, plus soft drinks; or Food and Champagne (IDR1,900,000), with free-flow Champagne and the rest. Children (3 to 11 years) pay half the price and get free access to a shaded Kid’s Corner. Overseen by director of cuisine, Jack Yoss, this sprawling buffet presents a staggering gourmet Asian and international feast, whether it’s through the interactive food stations or playful food displays. Premium products are reflected in artisan imported cheeses, grain-fed roasted meats, home-made desserts. Inspired by its seaside setting, freshly-caught seafood, ice-displayed or grilled on the Jimbaran-style barbecue, is another highlight. If you can still have room for more, an additional à la carte menu tempts with dishes like Truffle Polenta. Work off the calories and utilise the complimentary access to W’s beachside pools.

With limited seating and reservations-only – a more informal, family-orientated affair is served at the same time at the resort’s larger-sized Boneka Restaurant, a pioneer of Bali’s Sunday Brunches. Its Sunday Brunch (IDR 690,000, children 4 to 12 years, IDR345,000) commences with complimentary cocktails at signature King Cole Bar from 11am, and from 12pm until 3pm, the sumptuous international buffet unfolds with an outdoor grill station and succulent seafood, carvery meats, fresh oysters, desserts (including outrageous Valrhona chocolate fountain) plus house-made pass-around specialties and premium à la carte delights – from Wagyu beef to caviar. An additional Beverage Package (IDR 990,000) offers free-flow sparkling wine. Both St. Regis gourmet brunches include Children’s Learning Centre access.

Even old-timers have revamped their menus. In central Ubud, Casa Luna, flagship café-restaurant of Janet De Neefe’s hospitality empire, has enjoyed huge popularity since 1992, no doubt due to its relaxed café ambience and affordable, wholesome Balinese and Mediterranean-inspired dishes highlighting fresh local produce. Its à la carte style Weekend Brunch (Saturday and Sunday, 8am to 5pm), is a long-running favourite, and is constantly evolving to reflect its global leanings. A newly-launched menu combines breakfast favourites with healthy new dishes – we recommend the Blueberry Cornmeal Pancakes, topped with thick house-made yoghurt and coconut sugar (IDR60,000) and Tempe Florentine, a modern, healthy interpretation of Eggs Florentine (IDR49,000). Other goodies include Luna’s Brunch Antipasto and aptly-named Mega Brekkie, (IDR69,000) – Vegan Big Brekkie, with Baba Ghanoosh Turkish Bread offers a saintlier version. Don’t miss all-new Smoothie Bowls, like Nagabowl, with dragon fruit, house-made granola and black rice (IDR59,000) and refreshing, Iced Caramel Matcha Latte.

A growing wave of new brunch options on the island now include Monsieur Spoon, an artisanal French bakery and boutique café chain in Umalas, Canggu, Seminyak and Ubud, and justifiably popular for exceptional freshly-baked patisserie and boulangerie goodies. These include viennoiseries, with buttery croissants and brioches, French pastries, covering mille-feuilles, fruit infused macarons and salty caramel tartalettes and artisan European-style breads – multi-cereal, rustic sour dough, baguettes, New York-style bagels, etc – hand-made from 100 percent natural ingredients. The all-day café menu covers breakfasts, while a recently launched Monsieur Brunch is hosted at Monsieur Spoon Canggu on the first Sunday of the month (11am to 2pm). Priced at IDR150,000 (IDR45,000 for Les Enfants) this mouth-watering free-flow brunch presents savoury and sweet crêpes, sandwiches, pastries, croissants and much more, plus unlimited juices and hot beverages.

Brunches certainly get spicier at MOFO KITCHEN, a funky new café in Petitenget. Created by a brunch-obsessed, French-Indonesian couple, Foi and Thibault, MOFO KITCHEN focuses on all-day breakfast, brunch and lunch specialties (Tuesday to Sunday, 9am to 6pm) with a spicy twist. The menu is described as Western “Comfort food with no apologies” infused with quality ingredients and bold Indonesian flavours, especially from Foi’s native Manado (North Sulawesi). All-day breakfast selections feature European favourites and freshly-baked brioche, English muffins and more, including twists on brunch classic Eggs Benedict (IDR90,000), like French Benedict, with saucission, feta cheese and house-made Hollandaise sauce, self-explanatory Hangover Cure (IDR90,000), with premium leg of ham and Gruyère cheese, while Egg in a Jar (IDR85,000) presents smoked cheese, crispy bacon, caviar d’aubergine and summer veggies diced-up in a jar, with poached eggs and lemongrass foam atop. Fusion recipes reflecting Manado’s spicy flavours include Woku Panini, (IDR75,000) with finely-sliced braised pork belly enhanced with fresh Asian herbs and toasted open-sandwich Cakalang, with house-smoked skipjack tuna. Iced coffee frappuccinos take the heat off things.

At Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua Beach Resort, Cut Catch Cucina’s sumptuous Le Weekend Brunch à la Française is widely acclaimed for its French-focused gastronomic buffet. This March, Bali’s only French luxury hotel debuted an even more magnifique The Weekend Chic Brunch (Saturday and Sunday, 11am to 3pm), the island’s first haute couture brunch. Expect the same premium, indulgent buffet set-up as before, but with a more chic presentation – from dining floor fashion shows and stylishly presented displays to guéridons delivering to table’s fresh tuna tartare and sizzling crêpe suzettes. Buffet stations present distinctly French flavours, notably premium Charcuteries, and Cold, Terrines and Cheese bars, Roasted meats and viennoisorie. International flavours run from Balinese Warung and Seafood Bar to a wonderland-style, Dessert Corner with Candy Cupboard. Choose also from à la carte mini-dishes like pan-seared scallop mousse, or pass-around specials. Non-Alcohol Brunch Package (IDR 499,000++) is inclusive of free-flow soft drinks, mocktails and iced teas, but there are Alcohol Brunch Package (IDR699,000++) and Premium Brunch Package (IDR1399k++) – the latter, inclusive free-flow Champagne. Children under 12 go free and can escape to Kid’s Play Corner, while everyone can enjoy the beachfront swimming pools afterwards.

The island’s most lavish brunch is hosted at The St. Regis Bali, Nusa Dua, in its signature white timbered restaurant, Kayuputi – one of Bali’s most lauded fine dining establishments. This refined beachside haven serves premium Asian-influenced haute cuisine, Building on the century-old legacy created by The St. Regis founders, the Astor family, Astor Diamond Champagne Sunday Brunch offers an unparalleled gastronomic brunch experience. From 11am to 12 noon, pre-brunch canapés and aperitifs – including fine Champagnes and cocktails with St. Regis signature, Bloody Mary, are enjoyed at Kayuputi’s intimate Champagne Bar. Then comes an opulent sit-down brunch (12pm to 3pm) with a succession of hand-crafted plates served course by course and chef’s specialties pass-arounds, covering everything imaginable from roasted prime rib from the trolley, French cheeses and fresh oysters, duck foie gras and demi-tasse cup hot and chilled soups, plus additional à la carte grazing dishes. Sunday Brunch Package is priced at IDR 1,450,000++, while an Additional Beverage Package (IDR 1,450,000++) offers extra free-flow Champagne, premium wines and cocktails, plus digestifs and cigars that can be indulged at Kayuputi’s Bar.