In the trendy neighbourhood of Canggu, life revolves around breakfast: rainbow coloured smoothie bowls, yogi-worthy green juices, artisan cappuccinos and oh-so-Instagrammable stacks of pancakes. In the land of plenty, we have discovered a new favourite: Ji Restaurant’s devilishly lavish Sunday brunch.
Ji Restaurant is nestled along Canggu’s hipper than hip shoreline – just zip past the boutiques, cafes and designer villas lining Jalan Pantai Batu Bolong and you’re there.
Located at the luxurious Hotel Tugu, Ji is actually two restaurants rolled into one. Ji at Bale Sutra 1706 takes its name from the beautiful Chinese temple where the restaurant is housed. The temple dates all the way back to – you guessed it – 1706. Ji Terrace by the Sea is located up on the second and third floor and offers 180-degree views of the Indian Ocean and Canggu’s iconic surf breaks.
The Terrace is also where Ministry of Villas was invited to try Ji’s Sunday brunch!
Ji’s Sunday brunch is served every Sunday between 11am – 3pm. Thanks to the venue’s location on the building’s upper floors, the epic feast is accompanied by a fresh sea breeze and if you venture out into the balcony, direct views of the Indian Ocean. The restaurant’s historic design and the DJ’s fresh beats offer the perfect blend of grand Indonesian heritage and Canggu’s very hip present.
Ji Restaurant’s all you can eat brunch is priced at IDR 490,000++ per person (USD $35). As an added perk, buying the brunch package also gives you access to Hotel Tugu’s stunning swimming pool – provided that you’re still able to move after consuming all that food!
Because we are strong believers in having your cake and drinking Prosecco too, we also opted for the free flow cocktails and wine add-on, which is priced at IDR 490,000++ (USD $35) per person.
And this brings us to the main event: the food! Ji specialises in contemporary Japanese cuisine headed by Chef Colin Buchan who has earned the right to do some serious name dropping. Buchan previously worked at Gordon Ramsey Restaurant in London and was also the personal chef for David and Victoria Beckham. With credentials like that, our expectations were set pretty high. We’re happy to report that Ji did not disappoint.
Though the concept is all you can eat, Ji’s Sunday brunch doesn’t have the tired feel of a buffet spread. Instead, dishes are ordered off an extensive menu which means everything is served fresh as can be. All dishes come served on small plates, which makes them perfect for sharing and sampling. The petite plates mean there’s great variety but little danger of over indulging.
The mini pork burgers were delicious, and we loved the different varieties of sushi (salmon and tuna and swordfish, oh my!) In fact, it was some of the best sushi we’ve ever had in Bali! The chilled Prosecco tied the whole meal together perfectly.
Our brunch at Ji Restaurant was definitely a Sunday done right: plenty of great food, good company and more glasses of Prosecco than we could keep track of. It was one of those sun kissed days where we completely lost track of time and lived in the now.
And isn’t that exactly what you’re planning a trip to Bali for?
Ji Restaurant’s Sunday Brunch is available every Sunday between 11am – 3pm.
Priced at IDR 490,000++ per person, add IDR 490,000++ for three hours of free flow cocktails.
Ji Restaurant, Jalan Pantai Batu Bolong, Canggu, Bali
