The Bali Bible welcomes to ilLido Bali, the hot young Bali based sibling of ilLido Singapore to Seminyak. For 10 years now ilLido Singapore has been the go to for Italian fare in South East Asia. Fortunately for Bali bound fans of both fine dinning and traditional Italian fare, ilLido has opened its doors at the former Warisan site. Landing itself in one the most sought after, iconic spots in Seminyak, ilLido has already piqued the curiosity of many. A ready established name and reputation coupled with an iconic destination, at ilLido you will find Italian cuisine that is a perfect fusion of the traditional and the contemporary with cocktails and wines to match.

Renowned restaurateur Beppe De Vito created the original ilLido atop a high cliff of Singapore’s Sentosa Island. Engulfing dinners with views of seas, skies and greenery the elegant restaurant showcases Italian Gastronomy at it’s best. Inspired by the playful and leisurely Island vibes of Venice’s Lido Island and Singapore’s Sentosa Island ilLido the restaurant has always been an unpretentious hot spot for fine dinning. Over the past 20 years, De Vito has created some of Singapore’s most established and acclaimed dining destinations. He is a pioneer of the Italian dining scene in Singapore, having opened ilLido in Sentosa 10 years ago, when the dining scene was just starting and destination dining was still a foreign concept. ilLido quickly established itself as a highly sought-after dining institution and continues to set the gold standard for Italian cuisine in Singapore. De Vito’s growing stable of restaurants and bars currently stands at 6, which includes the highly anticipated 9000-square-feet Aura at National Gallery, Singapore that will open by 1 October this year.

In Bali ilLido encompasses all of the principles of it’s Singaporean sibling along with the best of the Balinese hospitality and refined Italian elegance. This 200-seater restaurant and bar is an uber-chic, relaxed Italian dining locations that sets one of the best benchmarks in town for authentic Italian food and value for money. “ilLido Bali is about staying true to the quintessential Italian soul while breaking away from the stereotypical perception of what an Italian restaurant should look or have on the menu. We want to be the first real Italian restaurant in town. That’s evident from our insistence to the quality of the food and beverage selection we have on offer as well as our affable, non-snobbish service and atmosphere,” says De Vito.

ilLido Bali’s extraordinary selection of classic Italian cuisine, world-class wines and craft cocktails makes it a welcome Italian addition to the buzzy Seminyak enclave of trendy restaurants. Stepping into ilLido Bali, the welcoming and relaxed atmosphere transports us to an enchanting summertime in Italy. Having taken over the iconic location of Kafe Warisan, the revamped space - in dulcet tones of mahogany, deep grey and bronze and in timbered furniture made with the finest teak - is an all-new vision of contemporary Italian luxury blended with traditional Indonesian architecture. We also love ilLido Bali’s sun-kissed courtyard, surrounded by lush trees and a spacious portico in terracotta floors, making it the perfect spot for chic alfresco dining. A charming 24-seater pergola, entangled with vines and flowers, is an intimate alfresco area for dining under the Bali sky. The sprawling restaurant and bar also caters to private parties and events of up to 300 guests, as well as catering at external venues for special occasions.

“Italian food is about exalting the natural flavours of the ingredients; our main focus in our kitchen is the produce - the freshness, the provenance and the seasonality of the ingredients,” defines De Vito who created the menu in conjunction with Italian chef Luca Masini. We were impressed with the selection of appetizers presented in sharing portions, emphasizing the restaurant’s emphasis on quality. The Grilled Octopus with Nduja is a modern interpretation of an age-old Venetian favorite; the soft, smoky heat of the homemade Nduja amplifies the succulence of the grilled octopus for a truly satisfying dish. Other sharing plates include the homemade Pumpkin Gnocchi Gratin and the Bone Marrow, Salsa Verde and Radish Crostini, which are perfect for groups of friends or family to commune over meals. In true Italian tradition, all the pastas on the menu are homemade daily, such as the Ricotta Cheese Tortelli that is paired with an authentic, home-style amatriciana sauce. Moving onwards to mains, the Black Cod with Prawn Cacciuco is a scrumptious homage to the emblematic fish soup of the Tuscan coast while the Angus Beef Tenderloin with Bone Marrow Crust is a must-try from the original menu of ilLido Singapore. All appetizers, served sharing-style, are available all day from 11:30am with main courses served only for lunch and dinner.

The adjoining bar, stylishly decked with chic plush seats and lit by a warm soft glow, is an all-day destination for relaxed conversations or buzzy catch-ups over ilLido Bali’s extensive selection of sharing appetizers, world-class wines, fine spirits and craft cocktails. Each and every cocktail on the menu is an original creation of ilLido Singapore’s very own mixologist Jody Adler and features unique homemade infusions with fresh tropical fruits. ‘One Night in Bali’ is a refreshing tipple of ilLido Bali’s own home-infused cinnamon-and-star-anise vodka, pineapple juice, coconut and lime, while the ‘Balini’, a delicious combination of Prosecco and guava, is a twist on the popular aperitif Bellini. The wine list is a swoon-worthy compilation of the best in Old and New World wines, with a strong emphasis on Old World Italian classics such as Barolo, Brunello and Amarone and France’s Bordeaux and Burgundy.

We really think ilLido Bali has managed the restaurant trifecta- great food, great drinks and great atmosphere. Call in for cocktails and a lite bite throughout the day or for Italian fine dinning to be enjoyed over a few courses.  The choice is yours. A three-course set menu is available daily for lunch at IDR180,000 per person.

ilLido Bali is located at 38 Jalan Raya Kerobokan, Banjar Taman, Kuta, 80361 Bali, Indonesia. Reservations can be made via info@illidobali.com or by calling +62 361 731175.