New Koral Restaurant in Bali Lets Families Eat With Fish

“Under the sea” takes on new meaning at The Apurva Kempinski Bali, whose brand-new Koral aquarium restaurant offers a bistronomic experience for marine fans of all ages.

“As Bali’s first underwater restaurant, Koral promises something completely unique. Our bistronomic concept combines all aspects of the dining experience, with elegant dishes inspired by local flavors, a warm and welcoming ambiance and the one-of-a-kind opportunity to dine inside a tropical aquarium,” said Vincent Guironnet, general manager, The Apurva Kempinski Bali.

The restaurant serves locally sourced Indonesian fare in an upscale, laid-back setting with a soundtrack — inspired by the sounds of life below the waves — setting the mood.

Overseen by executive sous chef Imam Fayumi, the menu takes advantage of the abundance of seafood available off the Indonesian coast, as well as the fresh produce grown in the archipelago.

Signature dishes include tomatoes Bedugul, lump blue crab and locally inspired prawn & lime, served with spicy dabu-dabu salsa, potato gnocchi and tomato and chili sauce. Can’t decide? Koral offers a four-course tasting menu featuring seasonal ingredients with sommelier-selected wine pairings.

The restaurant also offers a live cocktail station — Mom and Dad might want to try a Spiced Ink Mojito with spiced rum, squid ink mint syrup, lime fruit ginger and kaffir leaves — and a selection of Indonesian craft beers.

Younger members of the family — if they can tear themselves away from the aquarium windows and glass-roofed tunnel of colorful tropical fish swimming — can take advantage of the dedicated kids’ menu featuring popular movie characters, and a tempting selection of fresh juices and mocktails made with exotic Indonesian ingredients, such as Balinese wild berry, jasmine tea and lavender purée.

The property opened in the upmarket Nusa Dua area of Bali in February 2019 and pays homage to the culture and history of the tropical destination, known as the Island of the Gods, particularly the Majapahit empire, said to have brought prosperity to Indonesia during the 13th–16th centuries.

The décor features teak wood ceilings, walls made from traditional red clay bricks and the black and white tegel floor tiles, once popular among the royal court, further adding to the sense of historic splendor.

The 475-room, 5-star hotel is located on the cliff of Nusa Dua, overlooking the Indian Ocean and set within a tropical garden. More than half of the accommodations feature private plunge pools, while other amenities include indigenous spa treatments, meeting rooms and even chapels for the romantically inclined.