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If your idea of the perfect Bali holiday includes white sandy beaches and clear blue waters, you need to include a pit stop in Nusa Dua to your island itinerary, STAT. Many travellers settle for the sun loungers dotted along the long stretch of sand reaching from Kuta to Canggu on the west coast, but for the true seaside connoisseur, Nusa Dua is the way to go. Besides beautiful white sand beaches, Nusa Dua is dominated by self-contained resorts and has until now offered little to do for day trippers and casual visitors. That’s all changed with the opening of Manarai Beach House. As soon as we heard there was a new cool beach club on the block, we knew a trip down south was in order.

Beach House, Bali Style

We arrive in Nusa Dua right around sunset, making our way through manicured gardens with the sound of waves lapping in the background. Nestled along Nusa Dua’s signature white sand beach, arriving at Manarai Beach House feels like unearthing a hidden gem.

Managed by the ISMAYA Group, a style savvy heavy hitter in the lifestyle and hospitality industry, Manarai Beach House is curated to the nines. The beach club has two pools, one with a cool swim up bar. The venue is incredibly spacious and guests get to choose between beachfront sun loungers, a shaded outdoor lounge and an indoor dining area. The beachfront views are obviously stunning but there are also so many beautiful details to look at here – I love the billowing batik fabrics suspended from the ceiling and the aqua blue tiki tiles covering the walls.

Unlike most beach clubs in Bai, Manarai Beach House doesn’t impose a minimum spend which makes it that much easier to simply sit back, relax and enjoy your time under the Bali sun. You should also keep an eye out for their special events. Since opening in late August, Manarai has already hosted super star DJ Jonas Blue with more exciting events in the pipeline.

Bali Manarai Beach House Beachfront

The Menu

Instagrammable beach clubs are of course something of a Bali staple but it’s rare to find a venue that’s not just about the photo ops – Manarai Beach House is very serious about the cuisine, too. In other words, Manarai is not just another pretty face but a fully-fledged dining destination.

With an ambitious menu taking you from breakfast to lunch and all the way to dinner, Manarai is the perfect all-day beach hang. The menu is curated by Executive Chef Stefan Poyet and offers a vibrant mix of Indonesian dishes and international cuisine. We love how substantial and full of flavour the whole menu feels – you’re definitely not leaving Manarai still feeling peckish!

We started our meal with wagyu beef sate served sizzling on the grill, with rich peanut sauce adding some Indonesian flavour. For the main course, we tried babi guling (Balinese suckling big) and a healthy power bowl to keep things light and fresh in the tropical weather. A lifelong dessert devotee, I couldn’t help but swoon over the banana pudding served with salted caramel – not too sweet but juust right.

Bali Manarai Beach House Bowl
Bali Manarai Beach House Wagyu Satay.

Cocktail O’Clock

A Bali koan: if you didn’t pose for a photo by the pool while holding a colourful cocktail, did you really even go to a beach club? Manarai Beach House’s cocktail list matches its tropical surroundings to a T, with fresh flavours of coconut, rum and tropical fruit consistent throughout. We tried the C Cup (vodka, coconut sorbet, coconut water and homemade vanilla syrup) and immediately found our new drink of choice. The cheeky names are consistent throughout – you could also order a Girlfriend, Yes!! (coconut sorbet and champagne) or go for a Sandy Bottoms (bourbon, homemade ginger honey, mint and bitters). One of the most exotic options is the Michelada – sambal spice mix, fresh lime, beer and dried chili.

Manarai’s mocktails are also very much on point – we loved the Very Berry Nolada (strawberry puree, pineapple juice and coconut cream). If you’re more of a wine person, Manarai also has an impressive wine list with the option of picking up a bottle to take away with you.

Bali Manarai Beach House Cocktail
Bali Manarai Beach House Sunset

Final Verdict

After being wined and dined on such an epic scale in such an impeccably styled setting, it’s impossible to leave Manarai Beach House without a big sun kissed smile plastered all over your face. With its superlative culinary offerings and luxe beachfront setting, Manarai Beach House is a very welcome addition to the Nusa Dua dining scene – and we for one can’t wait to be back.

Manarai Beach House
Location: Beachfront at Sofitel Nusa Dua, Lot N5, BTDC Nusa Dua
Tel: +62 361 4772727

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