There are two kinds of people in this world. Those of us that like to linger over our food and drinks over good conversation and others that eat brekkie on the go and lunch on their workstations. I have spent a large chunk of my time eating rushed meals but food is one of the greatest joys in life and and in my opinion, should be savoured.
I decided to spend my birthday in Bali this year and I was adamant I didn’t want a party. The afternoon before my birthday, Four Seasons Jimbaran invited me to witness Bali’s longest brunch that starts at 11 am and goes on until 5 pm and I was super thrilled. This place is surreal and you have to experience it to believe it.
I have many fond memories from my trips to various Four Seasons properties. You can read about my experiences here and here.
Sundara, ‘beautiful’ in sanskrit, is a gorgeous ocean front property with stunning views of Jimbaran Bay. The property is adjacent to the Four Seasons Jimbaran. Located 30 minutes from Nusa Dua and Seminyak and only about 15 minutes from the airport- it’s strategic location allows guests to come in and unwind and make Four Seasons and Sundara their hotel of choice.
For those of you who know me well, you’d probably know by now that brunch is my favourite time of the day because I get to spend it with people I love over a long, languid afternoon. Food is meant to be enjoyed with fine wine and conversation and not rushed over while you are on the go or running errands. Sundara Bali allows you to feel at home from the moment you step in as they invite guests to spend the whole day at the property. You can sunbathe, swim, catch up over cocktails, nibble on some tapas and dance the evening away as the DJ starts to drop some beats.
No one likes to wake up early on a weekend to catch the breakfast buffet so this works perfectly well. You come in to Sundara and order some cocktails as you wait for your food to arrive. You can choose to sit by the beach or the pool or sit indoors until the sun is no longer overhead. Many people love to spend time by the 57 meter infinity pool as they work up an appetite and wait for the food to arrive. While some of us like to potter around and take photographs for Instagram or chat with guests about their travels so far. Depending on where you sit at the restaurant, the views are remarkable- you can catch a glimpse of the mountains, dolphins frolicking in the sea and some fishing boats n the distance.
The service is impeccable but unobtrusive so if you would rather linger over your cocktails and wait an hour or two before you decide to eat– this is perfectly alright. Designed by Koichi Yasuhiro of Tokyo’s renowned Design Studio SPIN, Sundara spans 29,437 sq feet across two levels with seating for about 200 people. The space is perfect for brunches, intimate dinners with bae or a large booking for a wedding or office party.
The view is absolutely breathtaking and those of you make it here to Sundara must stay to witness the scintillating sunset, holding a glass of your favourite drink as the DJ starts playing some cool tunes. There isn’t a better way to unwind and to prepare yourself for the week that lies ahead. .Live music from Bali’s indie artistes wafts across the dining space as chefs come and finish your dishes at the table and the property has the DJ as well as some soulful singers from the island.
Brunch for me is synonymous with food and lots of it. Anyway, I digress. What I love most about the food at Sundara is that the food isn’t served to you buffet style but in tapas style plates that come to your table after you have placed your order. You can order from a range of carpaccio, sushi, traditional balinese style chicken, satay, seafood specialties or go straight to the hot tapas. The idea here is for people to share and try a variety of different dishes as opposed to ordering a main for themselves. I started my afternoon with a long, leisurely swim. Slathered on some sunscreen and ordered two espresso martinis and satay sticks.
The new menu is excellent and has been painstakingly crafted by the Executive Chef Pasquo King, Chef de cuisine Nick Philip along with a true Balinese Sous Chef Adi Jaya to create an international experience. The menu, as you will witness is carefully curated to showcase the chefs repertoire and divided into hot tapas, cold tapas and desserts. The dishes that stood out for me were ‘Chicken Betutu’, ‘tea smoked mahi mahi’, ‘chia parfait’ in the cold tapas section. I loved being able to sample several dishes instead of ordering a ginormous main. I ordered ‘black cod’, ‘soft shell crab’ and the quinoa goreng to begin with. For the teetotallers, there are plenty of non alcoholic beverages that the mixologist can whip up for you. I was pretty full by the time the desserts arrived but we all know that everyone saves the best for last. When you brunch, you must save room for dessert. Their desserts come plated beautifully and are a real treat to the senses. You should try the ‘taro ice cream with mini choux puffs’, black rice pudding for something traditional, the Japanese yuzu cream. If you are vegan, dairy free or avoiding grain– you don’t need to fret, they have plenty of diet friendly options to choose from. To view the comprehensive menu- have a look at the link http://sundarabali.com/menus/bali-longest-sunday-brunch/
The award winning mixologist, Javier De Las Muelas whips up delicious cocktails with local ingredients like starfruit, passionfruit, pomelo and chili. You can tell him what base you want and whether you want it spicy or sweet and he will create bespoke cocktails for you and your table. I have to admit that I did concentrate on the food and the view but I can definitely vouch for the espresso martinis – if you are into cocktails . Premium wines are conserved in state-of-the-art “Le Verre de Vin.” The wine list is presented on electronic tablets, making it fully interactive and informative and you can always ask the staff to assist you with a pairing if you feel confused.
Verdict- this place offers the perfect escape for honeymooners, couples, young families and expats over the weekend. The kids club next door will keep your children entertained while you sip on martinis with bae or work up an appetite at the 57 meter swimming pool. The vibe transforms from a Marbella style beach club in the day to an intimate fine dining restaurant at night. You can have the best of both worlds- barefoot beach vibe or enjoy dressing up and drinking martinis. Sundara has happy hours from 5-7 pm and promises one of the prettiest sunsets on the island I don’t see why you are still waiting to go- call them already and head there next Sunday.
Perfect for corporates, young couples with kids (kids club next door), honeymooners and solo travellers who are looking to unwind and meet likeminded people. It’s the perfect place for a celebration or even to pop the question. You can speak to Sundara about private parties, weddings and corporate functions if you are looking to book the whole space.
Quick Notes:
Sundara Bali
Four Seasons Resort Bali At Jimbaran Bay
Address: Jimbaran Bay, Kuta Selatan, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia
Phone: +62 361 708333
Reservations- recommended
Attire- Smart Casual
Inquiries- sundarabali@fourseasons.com
https://www.instagram.com/sundarabali/
Website- http://sundarabali.com/
P.S – the sunset was so spectacular. We went down to the beach, carried a change of clothes and made the most of the golden hour. We did some yoga near the caves and splashed around until the sun disappeared into the horizon. I hope you like the photographs and the video. Watch it here
Special thanks to Beby for organising this and to Rommy, Lisa and Rizky for all the photographs. Thank you for making my trip and my birthday memorable. I cannot wait to be back.
Photo credits- Rommy- https://www.instagram.com/rkw_/?hl=en
Make up and Hair- Lisa – https://www.instagram.com/lisabnt/?hl=en
Styling and Video concept- Rizky https://www.instagram.com/rizkybmb/?hl=en
Wardrobe- Lecoanet Hemant. Wearing Ayurganic on the beach and Genes at brunch.
