We ate at the Sundara Restaurant at the Four Seasons Resort in Jimbaran Bay twice, mainly because the sunset views there were completely epic, but also because there are several different experiences you can have there, from a formal dinner to more a tapas or sharing menu.

First, the sunsets. I mean, Bali has some of the most beautiful sunsets in the entire world, and being on Jimbaran Bay itself means you can witness this stunning spectacle almost nightly. Sundara is right on the beach, and has a great view of the sunset over the bay, with all of the colors and reflections off the water that make it ultra special. The restaurant has a large viewing deck with plush couches and chairs as well as tables so you can enjoy a cocktail while watching the sun go down.

The cocktail list at Sundara is extensive with all sorts of different concoctions on offer. We ordered all sorts of cocktails which were not only delicious, but also pretty with gorgeous garnishes. There is definitely something for everyone here, and there is also a zero-proof list as well, which was definitely a thing all over Bali.

The first night that we arrived in Bali, we watched the sunset on the deck, and then moved inside for a more formal dinner. While there were fans going, it was mostly open to the outside, where the air was pretty darn sticky, and so it was pretty warm in the place. The restaurant itself is very modern and is a huge open space with an open kitchen. Their special Koppa Ovens are fired up in the background.

We started with a multi-grain sourdough bread which was served with rock-hard seaweed butter and chicken fat butter. I didn’t really love either of these butters, and they were ultra cold, so cutting into them with the wooden knife provided was a challenge. That said, the bread itself was fresh, crusty, and flavorful, and you really didn’t even need the butter.

We had two appetizers which were the “Smoked Balinese Pork Martabak” and the “Chilled Fois Gras and Smoked Duck Breast”. These were my absolute favorite dishes of the evening. The Martabak was something I had never had before, and was crunchy on the outside, and soft in the middle with really flavorful pulled pork inside. The fois gras and duck were melt in your mouth delicious – not much different or unique from other preparations, but you can’t go wrong with this combo!

For the mains, Brian and I split the “Sundara Signature BBQ”, which they said was good for two people but probably better for four! I am not a huge meat eater, so it was way too much for me, and the whole thing was a bit overwhelming. There were four types of meat – a barbecued chicken with a very sweet sauce, veal sausages, beef short ribs (which were my favorite) and pork ribs, which were fall-off-the-bone tender. This was all served with a salad, cole slaw and french fries. All delicious, but oh-so-much food! I would recommend this more for three-four people, especially if you’ve already had appetizers.

I was really starting to feel the pain of our long, 40-hour travel day that preceded this dinner, so we skipped dessert this time.

On our second trip back to Sundara, again we had an epic sunset to watch, as well as delicious cocktails to enjoy it with. This time, though, we stayed outside to have our dinner, which was fun and a total vibe, especially since they had a nice five-piece band playing out there as well to add a bit of groove to the evening.

We were all tired from a busy day, and we were super indecisive about what to get, so we basically ordered almost everything off the outdoor snack menu. We were again treated to the delicious multi-grain sourdough, and the butter was not so hard to spread this time. I still didn’t love the briny taste of the seaweed butter, though, so I skipped it. We also got focaccia, jamon iberico, cheese and mushroom croquettes, mini crab cakes and mini lobster rolls. Everything was fresh and delicious, but I think we all agreed that the focaccia stole the show. Four Seasons, I think, really cares about its bakery and bread products because the bread at this resort, and at Sayan, was absolutely outstanding, and the best bread I think I’ve ever had in the tropics.

I got some dessert this time, which was vanilla and pistachio ice cream, which was served with a big roll of waffle, though not in the shape of a cone. It was the perfect end to a delicious evening.

We absolutely loved eating at Sundara – so much so that we came here twice. The sunsets are really what set this place apart from all others on the property, but the food is really outstanding as well, and the cocktail list is extensive and interesting. Cheers!