New bars in Bali you don’t want to miss in 2021

The Gaijin from Manina, a speakeasy in Seminyak, Bali

Manina

Follow the smell of bakso and ask the walkie-talkied meatball hawker to show you the entrance to Manina. The red door entrance gives way to a low-light, intimate space that used to be known as Bikini. Seminyak’s elevated speakeasy bar is the latest brainchild of Adam McAsey of 8 Degrees Project, the company behind Sisterfields Café and Bo$$man Burger. “Despite the pandemic that has hit the tourism sector hard, we keep innovating, introducing new concepts, and adjusting to the circumstances. Manina is a candid project brought to life,” says McAsey.

Enjoy craft cocktails from head mixologist Arey Barker and some Bikini-inspired snacks. There are Kintamani Coffee Negroni (dry gin, sweet vermouth, campari, charcoal, and Kintamani Coffee) and The Gaijin with its refreshing notes of Japanese gin, yuzu black tea jam, lemon juice, egg white, and absinthe. Nibble on Beef Rendang Empanada or Bikini’s signature Chicken Liver Cigar in between your preferred libations. A bowl of hearty bakso afterward is always optional.

Open on Friday and Saturday, 4pm until late. Reservation via WhatsApp +62 813 3850 5054

Sunset and libation at The Writers Bar, Raffles Bali

The Writers Bar

Located on the top floor of Raffles Bali’s lobby, The Writers Bar is the perfect spot for sunset drinking. Armed with a remarkable collection of premium spirits, wine and Champagne; the iconic bar offers a panoramic view of the ocean. Don your best resort wear and ask the mixologist to concoct The Bali Sling for your sipping pleasure. Inspired by the Ngiam Tong Boon’s legendary Singapore Sling from Raffles Singapore, the cocktail is made of Sipsmith gin, grenadine syrup, jackfruits, frangipani, and blue pea tea.

The elegant bar also hosts monthly Curated Symposium Series, a curated one-day only event where you get to taste some of the world’s best artisanal spirits and liqueurs from specific regions or a country. Don’t miss the next event on Friday, 25 June when you get to taste curated gins from the United Kingdom, Germany and Belgium.

Open daily, from noon to midnight. For reservation, WhatsApp +62 811 382 09559 or email dining.bali@raffles.com

Sufian Mahmoud at Telu, Four Seasons Resort at Jimbaran Bay’s zero waste and sustainable bar

Telu

Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay kept its best secret within the lush ground of its verdant property. Telu, an aromatic herb and cocktail garden was recently unveiled as a dedicated space for head bartender Sufian Mahmoud to lead his sustainable cocktail workshops and private zero waste cocktail party in Bali.

Built from repurposed and upcycled materials, the open-air bar is also equipped with an arak cellar where antique clay ports are used to mature infused Balinese rice wine. Mahmoud’s creativity and passion for locally sourced ingredients, sustainable cocktail and culinary approach to cocktail making are evident in Telu’s private cocktail classes or Zero Waste Cocktail Party.

The first is available for Rp600,000/person and guests would be guided by Mahmoud to forage in the garden, slow cook liqueurs, simmer marmalade, and infuse pure arak with herbs and spices from the garden.

Priced at Rp6,000,000 for up to 20 people, the Zero Waste Cocktail Party is perfect for your next special occasion or get together celebration. The one-and-half-hour reception includes three BBQ canapés and three cocktails for each person. From tasty Prawn Betel Leaf to Gula Pasir (snakefruit arak and cascara), impress your guest with this new exciting approach in bartending.

Open daily by appointment. For reservation, call +62 361 701010 or email kadek.sukriani@fourseasons.com