Kajin

From street level, the twinkling lights of Kajin beckon seductively but don’t even think about it if you haven’t made reservations – this intimate restaurant seats only 18 and is fast becoming Bali’s worst-kept secret. While the customer is king, the ingredients are also treated with enormous respect, melded into a contemporary take on traditional Japanese flavours. The sashimi set is an absolute must, presented like a floral bouquet with gleaming morsels of seafood nestled on ice amidst dainty flowers and seaweed. Make sure to also try the plum wine served on ice and the chuhai distilled from fermented sugar cane.

The best seats in the house are at the food bar under a gallery-style light installation, where you can watch the chefs crafting their culinary masterpieces. If you can’t get in to Kajin, take a table downstairs at Dahana, which serves more casual Japanese fusion. Owned by the same family, this long-standing restaurant is a favourite with expats and has a lovely garden setting with a tropical pool framed by pink bougainvillea and frangipani trees. Bonus: they also do great margaritas.  

Location

Seminyak is Bali’s cosmopolitan hub with exclusive boutiques, luxury beachfront resorts and the island’s “eat street”, a buzzing district brimming with world-class restaurants. Catch a legendary Seminyak sunset while sipping a designer cocktail at one of the hip beach clubs or sink into a beanbag with a Bintang at a casual beach bar on the sand.

Kajin| Jalan Petitenget 98X, Seminyak | +62 361 474 1464