When it comes to Bar Bar, I’m no hater.

There are actually now two locations for Bar Bar. Previously located out off of Bukit Timah road in the west/central part of Singapore, the old Bar Bar catered to a mix of in-the-know expats and trendy locals. The service was spotty (where isn’t it in Singapore?), ambiance sparse, and the location was a bit hard to reach even if you knew where it was. But the quality of the food, cheap beers, and these burgers keep the place packed enough to where opening another branch down by the river seemed a good idea.

I kept meaning to make a trip down with my schoolmate Asher who lives nearby (one of the first voices of support for the burgers here), but laziness usually overrode my desire to bite into this much-loved local burger… that and not wanting to pay double the cab fare than for the burger itself. Thankfully the new location is within walking distance (well a nice 15-20 minute walk) from my Chinatown home.

The new one is setup pretty much the same as the original, though it looks a bit more modern and planned out. Most of the seating is outside near the river just off of Robertson Quay… a short walk from the Gallery Hotel going the opposite direction of Epicurious. You walk inside to see the three different small kitchens at work preparing their different meals. There’s a Thai restaurant called ESarn serving my personal favorite variety of Thai food (will go back and check this place out soon).

An Indian restaurant, Sher Indian Food, offering western favorites Briyani and Chicken Tikka

And finally the Platterz. I guess they serve other food ( ) but I was here for the burger.

Prices are about half of any Dempsey joint and the flavors about double… funny how that works in Singapore. I went with the loaded up mushroom mozzarella burger which only comes out to 15.90 and got a 10 dollar pint of beer… still 5 bucks under just a burger elsewhere! The burger is pretty damn good. Best in Singapore? Well I’m still researching that . There are some nice touches though – Napa cabbage instead of lettuce gives the burger a nice crunch, the bun is covered in sesame which gives a nice nutty roundness to the flavor, and best of all, the meat itself has plenty of seasoning and interest so it doesn’t need to be drowned in fancy sauces to make an interesting bite. It’s just good on it’s own as meat and even better in the middle of two slices of bread with some cheese.

The burger at the original location is a bit flatter, more mushed in appearance. Think a high quality fast-food style burger from the US. The prices are also a couple dollars less out there. Both burgers are equally good though… it’s just that new location’s burger appears more high end. Both are worthy of attention and for hearty recommendations… hell, the original joint has burgers cheaper than some you’ll find at Carl’s Junior or Wendy’s! Plus there’s the added bonus of the other restaurants. Friends don’t eat meat or somehow not always in the mood for a burger? One stop shop that can make everyone happy

Forget those overly fancy high-end, mushy Wagyu burgers and give these a try. Saving money in Singapore tastes pretty good!

The New One
88 Roberson Quay

The Original
879 Cherry Avenue

Normally I slowly go through the meal and build up to the main point. This time, in case you get bored reading through all the various dishes and miss the finale, I’m going to start with a conclusion. The Spruce brunch does and does not live up to expectations.

The food, service, and general concept are all there. All good. Some great even. The popularity and booking procedure though keeps it from being a perfect brunch place for us. You see because they’re so popular, (deservedly so) they’re super busy. Families, groups, etc all pack it in from first serving to final serving. So if you make an early booking…. you’re eating on a time-line. For me at a brunch that’s a big no-no. Brunch is about unwinding with friends, relaxing and enjoying a lazy Sunday meal. No deadlines, no pressures. Catch up on the week, make some jokes, tell some stories. Maybe we stay as long as it takes to eat or maybe we order extra coffees and chat for hours… never know. I like having that option, not knowing that in 1 1/2 hours I’ll be needing to get up for the next group.

So that’s the only issue I have here. The food is excellent, and if you take a later booking I’m guessing this wouldn’t even be an issue… well apart from the general noise from so many happy diners, but that can’t really be avoided. In a sad twist of fate, the success that any restaurant needs to succeed is actually the thing that keeps us from enjoying this more. Others probably don’t share our leisurely Sunday plan and I would encourage those to enjoy Spruce, it deserves the attention more than some other “brunch hot spots”. Book in advance though, this brunch doesn’t seem to be losing momentum and seats are hard to get.

Back to the food. Everyone was satisfied. Pick your favorite, though it’ll be hard as you hungrily stare at the menu, and enjoy as there’s not a dud in the group.

Famous Spruce Burger for Breakfast

Spruce Breakfast Sandwich with roast potatoes

The Steak and Eggs Benny on Toasted Ciabatta with Black Pepper Hollandaise

Soft Scrambled Eggs with Basil Cured Salmon and Avruga Caviar

The Spruce Garden Brekkie

And you’ve got to try some of the breakfast pastries and cakes. The sea salt chocolate cake was incredibly rich, but incredibly tasty. Mmmmm….

Spruce
320 Tanglin Road
Singapore
247980
Telephone: +65 6836 5528

Cedele
I’ll start with the most surprising to me. Cedele. Sure it’s a city-wide chain and the focus is on healthy food, but they have a surprisingly good burger. In fact it’s easily in my top-5 for Singapore. It’s not your regular Singa burger… and maybe that’s why I like it so much. No fancy wagyu, no crazy toppings… heck they don’t even use a real burger bun! It’s a real, handmade patty that crumbles as you bite into it. The meat is succulent and juicy. They coat whatever daily, freshly made bread you choose to encase the patty in with a bit of tomato relish that jazzes up the burger just enough.

Cedele Burger on regular daily bread

I had my first Cedele burger when I was apartment hunting in Singapore. It was a long day spent checking out all the foreigner favorite housing complexes, all of which I hated. The only thing that still stands out to me about this day is that burger. I’ve come back time and time again and brought friends to see if it was a fluke, but it never is. The burger is always juicy and great. As a bonus it doesn’t come with fries, but with a side of lettuce…. so maybe not the most filling burger in town, but one that doesn’t leave me feeling as guilty Then again, since I’m not also indulging in a plate of fries, I let myself be talked into their equally awesome Sea Salt Cheesecake!

Cedele burger in a pumpkin bread bun!

Epicurious
I’ve loved their breakfast for a long time. Epicurious has become one of my go-to spots for a lazy weekend morning. Sadly it wasn’t until they hosted our first wine event that I began to think about it for post-breakfast eating as well. I saw they listed a burger and in the name of due-dilligence decided to give it a try

It’s good. It’s simple, unpretentious and damn tasty. It is what it is… there’s no options or crazy inventions. I think, not quite sure here, it’s cheaper as a lunch burger and up over 20+ for a dinner burger. To me it’s a perfect lunch burger and a great value for lunch…. in fact I wish it was offered for brunch as well (hint hint Helen if you read this). Like the Cedele burger, it’s not served with fries, but with chips… a bit of a shame because I love their roast potatoes during breakfast, so I know they could make some nice fries.

Brewerkz
Ok, this one might seem out of place on this list. Most people know Brewerkz and their burgers, and this list is supposed to be about some of my surprise burgers. To be perfectly frank, since it’s such a big place with a prominent Quay-side location…. I really didn’t have high hopes they’d deliver. In general I find that restaurants with “location” or other draws besides just the meal tend to lack a bit in the food department. The burgers here did surprise me though. Sure they aren’t going to win any awards as a blow-your-mind burger, but this place doesn’t need that kind of burger. The have two sizes, smaller for when you’re wanting light and large for a fuller meal. There’s a few different options… one with a pineapple (one of my favorite burger toppings), a blue cheese, sauteed mushroom, and onion burger, and many others. And the wagyu burger here is actually pretty nice. When I have friends come to town or am just looking for a spot to have some beers with friends and grab a quick bite, a burger and beer here fits the bill perfectly.

So there you have it. A few burgers that surprised me. A few that I regularly go back to because

they’re convenient for me (shouldn’t a burger be a convenient item) location wise

they’re great value for their price,

and they deliver in taste

Where are you favorite burgers Singapore? Weigh in now before the full write up hits so your favorites are represented

Paul

American Comfort Food in the Historic Xintiandi District

It’s been a while since I have seen the words “bar and grill” attached to a restaurant name. It took me a while to realize why it sounded both so odd and yet so familiar. And then I remembered…”bar and grill” are typical American-style restaurants. The kind you never see in Asia.  Japanese have their izakayas, Singaporeans have their food courts, the French have their bistros… and Americans? Well, we have “bar and grills.” You almost don’t have to look at a menu at a bar and grill of you are an American, you know what it means – it means a full bar menu plus steaks, burgers, probably a grilled fish or two, a hearty soup, some entrée style salads (for some reason always including a Caesar salad), a grilled chicken dish, etc, etc… And this is why Kabb in Shanghai felt so familiar, a true bar and grill in the American sense.

Paul ordered his usual, a burger. In this case, it was a Kabb Classic Beef Burger (85 RMB / $12.50 USD / S$17). When I asked Paul what he thought, he commented that it was a good solid burger, an “I-am-in-China-but-I-am-homesick-kinda-burger.” He was also impressed by the hearty beefsteak tomato slice on his burger as well – you just don’t ever see those in Asia.

I chose the Texas Chili Con Carne (75 RMB / $11 USD / S$15) and a Sam Adams beer. While I am not in the habit of pointing out the beer and wine we usually drink at meals, I must tell my beer loving friends with a penchant for Sam Adams Boston Lager, you can get it at Kabb in Shanghai! In 3 years in Asia I have yet to see this beer anywhere, except Kabb. The chili itself was exactly what I wanted to warm me up on a cold day – hearty, meaty, a little spicy and very satisfying. The only way I knew I was in China was because the chili came with rice instead of the American standard accompaniment for chili, good ole Saltine crackers.

So it’s not fancy, or particularly sophisticated, but “bar and grills” aren’t really mean to be. They are usually just casual places where people have some hearty fare and a beer or two. So for American comfort food in Shanghai, Kabb is your best bet.

Kabb Bar & Grill
Xintiandi
North block, House 5
181 Taicang Road
Shanghai, China
Telephone: +86 21 3307 0798

It’s safe to say I’m not the biggest fan of Dempsey Hill. On my better meals at the former army barracks location I’ve simply been underwhelmed… on others I’ve felt outright ripped off. What was once an unique escape in Singapore has become a “destination”… meaning the now crazy high rent prices result in overpriced meals compounded with an expensive cab ride. This has taken away any potential value for most locations for me. So I set off for a Saturday night meet-up with some friends at Contemporary Melting Pot and Bar (CMPB here on out) with some reluctance. Thankfully I was pleasantly surprised.

Upon arrival we knew that we had at least selected the trendy place for the evening. While many of the neighboring bars and restaurants sat empty, the outdoor dining areas at CMPB were almost completely full. The servers were quick to respond to our changes in seating as we had added a few extra to our group…. that might sound simple but I’ve seen discussion on adding another table to the party take as long as 10-15 minutes in some locations in Singapore

We sat down and purused the drink menu. Unsurprisingly, since it’s billed also as a bar, there was an extensive drink and wine menu. There were decent affordable wines by the bottle and big surprise for Dempsey… bottles of beers on special for LESS than 10 SGD!

The menu is simple and focused with a nice balance between hearty main courses and lighter options for those coming more for the bar. The rest of our group had yet to arrive so we ordered up a set of the calamari rings. The batter was lighter than expected allowing the calamari flavor to come through.

I’m still on my burger hunt so had to sample the burgers. There were only two listed but it was a hard choice for me this night as there were two great sounding options. CMPB features a Wagyu burger and a Foie Gras Burger! Both sounded excellent and again I was surprised to see lower than average prices on menu items. Normally a Wagyu burger (why must they all serve Wagyu burgers on Dempsey… can no one come up with anything unique?) on Dempsey lists out at 30 SGD at least. This one was only 26…. not a great deal different in price, but certainly better than others in the area. Two of us had the burger that night. The burger was in fact good… but lacking in consistency in preparation. Part of the selling point to me were the caramelized onions. I hate, loathe, despise raw onions on burgers. Judge for yourself if my onions were “caramelized”. I thought maybe the pressures were just too much since they were recently open and it was middle of rush on a Saturday night, but my late ordering friend received his burger with one side half caramelized and the other side raw. So a bit of sloppiness in the kitchen ruined what could have been a truly memorable burger night for me… oh well.

Joanna went with the Tackle of the Day (25 SGD)…. which we were assured was truly a fresh fish for the day and not just trying to dump old fish stock (have to be careful with fish specials). To her great delight it was grilled Salmon with summer veggies and potato croquette. The fish was well cooked and all the extras on the plate were executed nicely.

Another at the table ordered the Spaghetti Aglio Olio (a steal at 12 dollars) and was very happy with their choice.

Also enjoyable was the Truffle Wild Mushroom Fettucini. The truffle in the name is a bit of a misdirection as it’s just truffle oil (not going to get real truffles in a pasta on Dempsey for 16 SGD) but the wild mushrooms and pasta were decent enough on their own.

Of note for the CMPB to me were the salads. Both people who ordered salads were happy with their choices as the salads were fresh and plentiful… a surprise for a bar menu. The Proscuito & Tomato Salad (14 SGD) was a bit predictable… but still nice and well executed.

The Jumbo Lump Crab Salad with Tropical Fruits (16 SGD) was a bit more adventurous both in ingredients and presentation. On a side note, that martini glass is HUGE (though without something to provide perspective it seems like a regular martini glass). I would love to be have a mixed drink served up to me in that someday!

All in all we had a pleasant evening. I was a bit disappointed in the quality control of the kitchen personally, but to be fair I am attending dinners with a more critical eye than most…but I would consider raw onions a big let down and signs of inexperience at the pass. Having said that, everyone else enjoyed themselves, the vibe, and the cheaper than average (for Dempsey) drinks and food. For those that have been to Spruce I would say it’s a similar concept though not as refined as Spruce. Of all the places I’ve been to on Dempsey, though, I can actually see myself returning here in the future.

Contemporary Melting Pot & Bar
Block 7 Dempsey Hill
Singapore

It would be an understatement to say that I was excited to try Relish. I’ve been on an epic odyssey a search for my favorite burger in Singapore since arriving. Here was a whole restaurant devoted solely to the glorious hamburger in all its incarnations… not only that, but the burgers are individually paired with Belgian beers. It seemed like an instant recipe for success….We arrived to find Relish, not surprisingly for Singapore, in a shopping center. I still don’t like it, but I’m getting used to dining in malls and shopping centers so my spirits remained up.

The interior was modern, clean and fun thanks to the playfully illustrated walls… though to me a bit dark and moody for a burger joint. There are the “Singapore modern restaurant” obligatory chalkboards with handwritten specials, drawings, etc. In my opinion the chalkboard motif is a bit played out in Singapore these days, but it fits for a burger place and worked well in this space.

The menu was exciting and fresh. It was minimal, focusing on the mighty burger and not much else. I prefer a place with focus… if you can’t do one thing really well, why try to do 4 or 5? There were regular burgers, seafood burgers, lamb burgers, BBQ Char Siau Pork Burgers, and other interpretations.

I was here looking for a great classic burger so asked the server for her recommendation and was told the signature burger was the Wild Rocket Beef Burger with arugala, sarawak pepper cream, and sundried tomato relish (SGD 18 for 180G). I also decided to test out their beer pairings and so went with the recommended Saison Silly Belgian Ale (SGD 13). The burger came in a bit smaller than I was anticipating after the monstrous 200G Sunshine Cafe burger. The burger was good but not great. Most of the flavor came from the sauces and the meat itself was a bit mushy and under-seasoned.

A quick note on the beer. While I do like the clever packaging, colors and naming… it seems more like novelty Belgian beer that you’d never find locals drinking in Belgium. The beer bottles reminded me of the tourist hot sauce for sale near the town square in Santa Fe, New Mexico… the stuff a local wouldn’t be caught dead using. It had the basic notes and represented the style it was supposed to be but wasn’t the quality I expect from a 13 dollar Belgian beer. I think I’ll stick to the “local” beers in the future and go for Rochefort 10 or others when wanting a solid Belgian.

Joanna was wanting to go healthy that night and opted instead for a great sounding Grilled Portabello Tofu Burger with honey mustard sauce, caramelized onions, and spinach - with salad instead of fries. Another good but not great “burger”. Portabellos have a lot of inherent flavor potential and so she was surprised to have a rather bland tasting burger. As one of the only vegetarian options on the menu you’d expect this burger to really bring it in terms of taste… unfortunately for any diners not wanting meat, this isn’t really the case.

So our first visit left a bit to be desired. It was great seeing sub-30 dollar gourmet burgers in Singapore (the norm it seems when out on Dempsey Hill) but when you add any of the suggested drink pairings you’re immediately up in that territory again. The burgers were a bit above average for Singapore… but I don’t see us rushing to return again soon. I’ve had worse burgers in Singapore with much higher ticket prices so it’s by no means a failure, but unfortunately my quest for the best burger continues.

Relish Burger Pte. Ltd.
501 Bukit Timah Road
Singapore 259760
6763 1547

A chill seaside locale for brunch in Singapore

It was a typical Singapore afternoon….hot, sunny and humid. What better to do than chill by the water over a leisurely brunch with friends? So off we set to Keppel Bay Marina to meet a group of friends at Prive Bakery & Café.  Iced cappuccinos, sunshine, muffins, friendly conversation, mimosas and chill atmosphere await…

Prive Bakery & Care serves all day breakfast, burgers, sandwiches, pastas, bakery items and desserts. Its really a rather long menu with a great many options – nothing fancy, just breakfast and lunch staples and basics.

In his effort to sample every burger in Singapore, Paul ordered the LA Burger A 200g wagyu beef burger with Monterrey Jack cheese, avocado, a fried egg, tomato, lettuce and dressed with aioli (S$26 / $18.75USD). Paul really enjoyed the burger and felt like it was a solid execution. Often time wagyu burgers are a bit messy…all that fat that creates the flavor prevents the meat from binding, and thus wagyu burgers tend to crumble unless they are blended with another type of beef.  But the LA Burger was well crafted and sturdy. With that said, it still didn’t beat Paul’s benchmark – the PS café wagyu burger that lives large in his memory.

I ordered a BLT. Prive’s rendition was a hearty version with grilled whole wheat break, smoked bacon, lettuce, tomato, cheddar, a fried egg and aioli (S$13.50 / $9.75USD). Again, another solid execution….while it didn’t set my taste buds on fire, it was simple and satisfying.

Our dining companions had various pastas, omelets, sandwiches and such, and without boring you of the detail of the other 15 diners we were with…the comments were essentially the same. No one was unhappy, but at the same time, there were no oohs and aahs of spasmodic delight either.

At the end of the day, the main reason to come to Prive Bakery & Café is the view. Let me elaborate…in our opinion, Prive’s food is average….not bad….don’t misunderstand. But this is not destination dining. You’ll get a competent execution of culinary basics. Come here for the view and chill vibe…meet friends, have a drink a sandwich and relax on the marina edge.

Prive
2 Keppel Bay Vista
Keppel Bay Marina

I’ve eaten a lot of burgers in my short time in Singapore. I’ve eaten 100% wagyu burgers (not worth it) in trendy Dempsey Hill restaurants, gourmet cheese topped burgers in fancy 5-star hotels, sliders at wine events, and just about everything in between. Now I can add monstrously large, giant mushroom topped burger from a poolside canteen to that list

I was researching best burgers in Singapore online one Friday. I started seeing a lot of articles about a place called Sunshine Cafe. I found the phone number and called for a reservation… for some reason I was thinking it was some new Dempsey Hill hipster place. It’s not.

Finding the restaurant was a bit of an odyssey. Our “comfort cab” driver explored various parts of Singapore on our dime while trying to locate the restaurant. Eventually we were able to figure out that it wasn’t a separate restaurant near the apartment complex, it was actually a part of the complex. We hopped out of the cab and followed the sounds of kids splashing about to locate the pool.

Sunshine Cafe is… well let’s just say people don’t drive here for the ambiance. It’s tucked back in the apartment compound right next to the pool. They’ve more or less re-purposed what might have at some time been a snack stand or small convenience store. It looks like a canteen at summer camp.

Yup, this is Sunshine Cafe!

And here's the outdoor seating.

Thankfully the food is anything but canteen quality. They don’t offer a lot, but what they do offer is executed well. The signature Sunshine Burger is a massive 200 gram hunk of proper burger meat. If all that meat isn’t enough it’s also topped with bacon and a massive portobello mushroom.It’s a good burger. Better than most in town. I won’t crown it best in Singapore, but I think it’s up there among the top.

I’d say everyone should visit at least once. Go in a group and enjoy the 7 dollar beers and the massive burgers. Call ahead as space is limited and burger cook times can get a bit long (worth the wait).

Sunshine Cafe
83 Farrer Drive, Sommerville Park, Clubhouse.
Tuesdays – Saturdays
1200H – 2200H (Last order for food @ 2045H)
Sundays & Public Holidays
1200 – 1900H (Last order for food @ 1745H)

Our normal breakfast group was a bit thin this week… which was unfortunate for those who couldn’t make it because it was a highly enjoyable meal / experience. Sunday brunch at Graze is something we’ll be returning to enjoy soon.

Graze is located way out (for us) in the Rochester Park area of Singapore. The drive doesn’t take that long and you’re rewarded with a peaceful and serene outdoor dining area. I called ahead to make reservations earlier in the week (recommended) and was given a choice of outdoor or indoor seating. I asked the hostess which she thought was better and she suggested outdoor. I’m glad she did as it’s very pleasant outside (it’s covered so don’t worry about rain interruptions).

We’ve been to a few brunch spots and I’ve had difficulty with the menus because sometimes nothing really sounds good to me at the time. Graze was different in that I wanted just about everything on the menu. Unfortunately there were only four of us so we were limited a bit in our sampling of the menu.

We started with very smooth and creamy cappuccinos and complimentary toast (come before 12 to order breakfast / brunch).

I led the way with my usual – a burger. I have a soft spot for fried eggs on burgers so couldn’t pass this one up (sadly no pineapple). The meat was good, but fell apart a bit…something I don’t actually mind so much as I can at least be assured it’s not a pre-fab patty .

Joe also picked his usual, Eggs Benedict. They’re offered two ways – Classic or Salmon with Smoked Spinach. Joe’s a classic guy and his tastes were rewarded with this selection. Among the best he’s had in Singapore so far.

Kalpana went a bit off the path of the tried and true breakfast assortment, selecting the Avocado and Tomato on Grain Toast with Olive Oil and Rocket Salad. The Avocado came in amazing, large, green chunks…would love to have a guacamole from this place.

She also ordered the Eggs on Request and asked them to be filled with chillis. The dish tasted good, but looked a bit odd in presentation.

Joanna went all in, ordering the Cast Iron Pan – Bratworst, Smoked Bacon, Mushroom, Tomato, Country Potato, Fried Egg, Baked Beans, and Plum Chili Salsa. It was a sight to behold, but unfortunately suffered slightly from the pan. Obviously not all the dishes are cooked to order in the pan, but once dropped some can get a little over-browned / pver-cooked on the bottom.

We should have ordered the Dessert Sampler as so many of them sounded great, but instead ordered separately. Joe and I both went for the chocolate creme brulee with honeycomb ice cream. It was super rich with a dense pudding texture …. not a creme brulee, but good

Joanna ordered the Green Apple, Roasted Pinneapple, and Sour Cherry Crumble with Bourbon Vanilla Bean Ice Cream. It was good, but the ice cream didn’t taste like Vanilla Bean Ice Cream and was very close to the “honeycomb” ice cream.

All in all Graze is a highly recommended brunch spot for us. I could see Epicurious being a more visited location for us, with Graze being more of a special treat kind of place (prices are a bit higher). The setting is perfect for a comfy Sunday afternoon, lazily enjoying a hearty breakfast. Service can be a bit slow, so come prepared for that and you’ll enjoy your time there.

Also of note is the Sunday BBQ. Starting at noon you can order off a special Sunday BBQ menu that looks amazing. We will definitely be going back to try this out. The mashed potatoes, corn on cob, and meat dishes coming out of the kitchen to the late comers looked incredible….so look for that review soon.

Anyone else have an experience with Graze?

Graze
Address 4 Rochester Park
Open Sun 9.30am-3pm Tue-Sun 6.30pm-1am
Telephone 6775 9000

Be pampered within an inch of your life at the St Regis Bali Resort

With its opening in early 2009, this all suite hotel on the secluded barrier island of Nusa Dua changed the face of luxury in Bali. Typically I prefer a more modern design hotel…something spare and minimalist. Some of my favorites being The Library in Koh Samui, Thailand or The Delano in Miami’s South Beach area. But somehow the plush, Balinese meets Upper East Side Manhattan environment of the St Regis Resort Bali made me reconsider my usual defaults. Not only was I staying in a massive resort (usually a no go for me), but I was also staying in the secluded, gated, high-end tourist area of Nusa Dua (usually I prefer the quirky vibe of Ubud) – and I was LOVING it. I didn’t want to leave and let me tell you why…

From beginning to end, the experience was pure pampering. In fact the experience actually begins at the airport…the hotel met us at the airport and while we waited in a lounge sipping tropical cocktails, our visas on arrival were processed. No standing in lines with fellow weary tourists for us! We instead revived ourselves with cool lemongrass scented towels and a snack of fresh mango and papaya. Then upon arrival at the hotel we were shepherded into the King Cole Bar…god forbid we would have to loiter at a check in desk – the horror. Instead we sipped champagne while our passports were discreetly processed and billing arrangements were made.

Subsequently we were whisked away to our suite. The St Regis Bali is all suites as well as lagoon houses. Our suite overlooked a rather tropical looking wooded area further adding to the sense of island seclusion. The room was unusually large with a lovely balcony on which to take breakfast or cocktails or simply lounge and read. In fact while the on site restaurant Boneka presents a ridiculously lavish buffet at breakfast, we often preferred to stay in the room and have it served in our PJs. This is a particularly nice touch….room rates include breakfast and if you feel lazy like we did you can take a buffet sampler in your room for no extra charge.

But don’t completely miss out on Boneka….the breakfast buffet is superb in quality and abundant selection with the additional treat of servers bringing out special items periodically from the kitchen that are fresh creations prepared individually – steaming mini bites of stuffed crepes with mango salsa and the like. And speaking of food, Paul swears one of the best burgers he has enjoyed in Asia was at the Gourmand Deli at the resort. It was in fact a juicy morsel of ground beef, grilled to perfection on a toasted bun (I don’t know why more people don’t toast the bun – such a simple way to elevate the humble burger). The Gourmand Deli will also put together a picnic basket for the beach if you like.

If you are starting to show the strain from the abundant gourmet foods, high thread count linens and highly attentive service, then you can get away from it all in the Remede Spa at the St Regis Resort Bali. If I am really honest, it is ridiculously expensive compared to the $5-10 massage you could get in a more local place, but my goodness they come close to justifying the extravagance with the serene environment, flourishes of luxury like very elegant tea (or juice or champagne) presentations before and after treatments, access to complimentary sauna and steam after treatments, and more.

While I chose to spa, Paul chose to surf. And the hotel was super helpful in providing an English speaking driver to take Paul to the surf area of Kuta in Bali. While he surfed, I walked on the beach and napped by the pool, swimming up to the bar for the occasional local Bintang beer (one of my favorite Southeast Asian beers).

And so it went…lavish breakfasts, surfing, napping, massages, lazy pool time, cocktails and watching the fire dances on premises at sunset…and then more of the same on the following day. Vacation monotony has never been so thrillingly sublime.

At the end of the day, I would say the greatest asset of the St Regis may also be its flaw – depending on your point of view. The utter seclusion of the resort for me is not typically what I would seek out – I tend to be a bit more adventurous and as there is so much to see in Bali, Nusa Dua in general is not the most convenient hub for tourism. However, if you just want to disappear and get away from it all…or have a seriously romantic weekend…or if you have been to Bali a thousand times and are over the mountains of Ubud, the rice terraces and the volcano hikes, then the St Regis Resort in Bali might be just the thing for you. Personally, I cannot wait to get back.

St Regis Bali Resort
Kawasan Pariwisata, Nusa Dua
Bali, Indonesia 80363
Telephone: +62 361 8478 111