Balique Jimbaran: Dinner in an Antique House Full of Curios

On Jl. Raya Uluwatu, almost opposite the InterContinental Bali Resort area, stands a restaurant that looks more like an old house that never stopped collecting: Balique. Fabric-shaded lamps, slowly turning ceiling fans, an open roof and antiques from across the Indonesian archipelago fill every corner. Its owners, interior designers Zohra Boukhari and Blaise — the names behind Balquisse Living — have essentially opened their private collection to the public, complete with an Indonesian kitchen taken seriously.

Not a beachfront seafood shack — this is a family home

Jimbaran is synonymous with grilled fish on the sand. Balique goes the other way: it sits on the main road, under warm light and high ceilings, with tables arranged like a large family's dining room. It is run as a family business, and many of the staff have worked here since the day it opened.

• Colonial-antique interior — cabinets, lamps and curated trinkets; lovely to look at without feeling like a museum.
• The story of the kitchen — Ibu Made, who cooked for the owners' family for more than 20 years, eventually brought her recipes into the restaurant kitchen.
• Best for family dinners, birthday celebrations, or a long unhurried lunch.
• There is a children's menu, so family groups do not have to improvise.

Rijsttafel: the fastest way to taste the archipelago

The best-known dish here is the rijsttafel for two — a table full of small plates designed as an introduction to regional cooking. The contents are genuinely named, not just "assorted sides":

• Soto ayam, beef rendang, sate lilit and chicken satay, gado-gado
• Ikan pepes, ayam kalas, bali kenus (coconut calamari), perkedel jagung
• Nasi kuning, sweet tempeh, krupuk, sambal
• To finish: dadar gulung, godoh and es buah

If you are not ordering the rijsttafel

• Nasi campur — rendang, chicken betutu, bali kenus, turmeric rice and corn fritter on one plate.
• Ikan pepes — snapper wrapped in banana leaf with coconut milk and lemon basil.
• Tuna sate lilit and ayam kalas — the two most honestly Balinese choices.
• Entrecôte béarnaise — a recipe from The Bistrot, the same family's French restaurant.
• Desserts — black sticky rice pudding, ginger crème brûlée, or chocolate fondant.

Practical Info & Reservations

• Location: Jl. Raya Uluwatu No. 39, Jimbaran, South Kuta, Badung 80361 — View on Google Maps
• Opening hours: lunch and dinner, daily 11.00–23.00.
• Price range: mains around Rp90,000–200,000; allow roughly Rp250,000 and up per person for a full meal, and more if you order the rijsttafel for two.
• Reservations: through the Chope booking system on the Balique reservation page, or by WhatsApp. Official site: balique-bali.com. Booking is advisable for weekend evenings.
• Instagram: @baliquerestaurant
• Access & parking: on the main Jl. Raya Uluwatu route towards Uluwatu, about 10 minutes' drive from Jimbaran Beach and 15 minutes from Ngurah Rai Airport; parking is available in front of the restaurant.

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