Lombok · Eating
Where to eat in South Lombok.
The places we send guests to — by neighbourhood. Beach lunches, Kuta dinners, the warungs around the corner.
South Lombok is not (yet) a fine-dining destination, and that is part of the appeal. The food scene is built on small, family-run warungs and a growing handful of restaurants in Kuta — most of them owned by people who have been here for years and got the menu right.
From the villa, your options break into four areas: walking-distance warungs, Selong Belanak ten minutes west, Kuta twenty-five minutes east, and the beach clubs at Tanjung Aan and Mandalika further east still. Below is what we send guests to in each.
The other option is to skip the drive and let our private chef cook for you in the villa kitchen — see the in-villa experiences for that.
Restaurants by area
Where we send guests.
Selong Belanak & Mangkung
Coco Beach
~10 min from villa
On the sand at the western end of Selong Belanak beach. Grilled fish, nasi goreng, fresh juices, cold beer. Best for a long lunch after a surf lesson. Mid-afternoon you have the place to yourself.
Beach restaurant — Indonesian and Western · $
Selong Belanak & Mangkung
Sempiak Villas — Laut Biru
~10 min from villa
On the hill above Selong Belanak with one of the best sunset views on the south coast. A more polished menu than the beach warungs — fresh pasta, salads, grilled fish. Reservations advised in high season.
Hotel restaurant — Mediterranean lean · $$
Selong Belanak & Mangkung
Local warungs near the villa
5–15 min walk
A handful of small family-run warungs within walking distance of the villa. Ayam taliwang, plecing kangkung, gado-gado, rice and grilled fish. We can recommend the one cooking that night when you check in.
Sasak / Indonesian — under IDR 100,000 per head · $
Kuta Lombok
Ashtari
25 min by car
A garden restaurant on the hill above Kuta with panoramic ocean views. Vegetable-forward menu, smoothie bowls, fresh juices, good coffee. A long lunch destination with a yoga shala on the way out.
Hilltop garden — vegetarian, healthy · $$
Kuta Lombok
El Bazar
25 min by car
A small dinner spot in central Kuta — mezze, lamb tagine, hummus, fresh bread. Reliably good for years. Reservations recommended.
Mediterranean / Middle Eastern · $$
Kuta Lombok
Bush Radio
25 min by car
Cocktails, low lighting, and a short food menu. The most consistent night-out spot in Kuta. Good for couples on a sunset-out-then-dinner evening.
Cocktail bar with food · $$
Kuta Lombok
Krnk (Krank)
25 min by car
Wood-fired pizza, fresh pasta, an Italian wine list. The pizza is what you want after a long beach day. Big portions; family-friendly.
Italian — wood-fired pizza · $$
Tanjung Aan & Mandalika
Boho Beach Hut
~35 min by car
On the sand at Tanjung Aan, framed by the two viewing hills. Sun loungers in front, food and drinks behind. Pair with sunset on Merese Hill, ten minutes up the road.
Beach club — small plates, smoothies, sundowners · $$
On the road home
Roadside warungs near Mawun
On the way back from Mawun or Mawi
A row of small warungs at the Mawun turnoff. Fast, fresh, and IDR 30–60,000 per head. The kind of place locals eat lunch.
Nasi campur, mie ayam, satay · $
Restaurants in Lombok open and close season to season. We update this list quarterly; if you want a same-day recommendation for tonight, message us on WhatsApp.
A few things to know
Eating in South Lombok.
Sasak food is its own thing. Lombok's local cuisine is not Balinese and not generic Indonesian — it is Sasak, the food of the island's majority people. Spicier than most Indonesian regional cuisines, with a few signature dishes worth seeking out: ayam taliwang (grilled chili chicken), plecing kangkung (water spinach with chili-tomato sambal), beberuk terong (eggplant in chili-lime sauce), and sate bulayak (skewers with a coconut-and-rice cake). Order them anywhere you can.
Halal is the default. The majority Sasak population is Muslim, so most local kitchens are halal. Pork is available at Chinese and Western-leaning restaurants in Kuta, and at the few Hindu-owned places. Beef rendang and chicken curry are the safe bet everywhere.
Tipping is appreciated, not required. A 10% service charge is included on most restaurant bills in Kuta and Mandalika. Warungs do not charge service; rounding up the bill is welcomed but not expected.
Ramadan changes the rhythm. During Ramadan, some local warungs close during daylight or operate behind a curtain out of respect for fasting customers. The tourist-facing restaurants in Kuta operate normally. Ask us if you are not sure where to go in any given week.
The villa kitchen is yours. Both villas have a fully equipped open kitchen — gas hob, oven, refrigerator, freezer, espresso machine, full set of pans. If you want to cook, send us a shopping list and we will pre-stock the fridge. If you want someone else to cook, we book the chef.
Frequently asked
Eating, answered.
Can we eat at the villa instead?
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Yes. Daily breakfast is included with your stay. For lunch and dinner, you can book our private chef to come and cook in the villa kitchen — a five-course meal of Indonesian classics or Mediterranean, ingredients sourced fresh that day, served on your terrace. See the experiences page for details.
Can the villa stock the fridge before we arrive?
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Yes. Send us a shopping list 48 hours before your stay and we will stock the fridge with your essentials before you walk in. You only pay grocery cost plus a small service fee.
How much does a meal out cost?
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A warung lunch is IDR 30–60,000 per head — about USD 2 to 4. A relaxed dinner with drinks at a Kuta restaurant is IDR 200–400,000 per head, USD 12–25. Beach clubs at Tanjung Aan are similar to Kuta. Prices include tax and service unless noted.
Are the restaurants near the villa good for kids?
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Coco Beach and the local warungs near the villa are casual and family-friendly. In Kuta, Krnk and El Bazar both work well with children. The beach clubs at Tanjung Aan have shaded seating, sand to dig in, and food kids will eat.
Are reservations needed?
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High season (June to September, December–January): yes, especially for dinner at Ashtari, El Bazar, and Sempiak. Off-peak: usually walk-in. We can book on your behalf — just message us on WhatsApp the day before.
Is the food safe?
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Yes. The restaurants we recommend have been operating for years and we know the kitchens. For street stalls and unknown warungs we suggest a few simple rules: eat where the locals eat, look for high turnover, and stick to bottled or filtered water. The villa supplies filtered drinking water throughout your stay.
Want a chef in the villa instead?