The first thing about AKASA Restaurant & Bar that will take your breath away is its location and design. The restaurant is perched on the highest level of Jumeirah Bali’s cliffside terrain, overlooking the frothy waves that crash against the majestic cliffs of Uluwatu. Attempts to catch an unobstructed view of the setting sun or whiling away while sipping cocktails and staring out at the waters that glitter under sunlit skies are made easier by simply grabbing a seat here. Still, the natural vistas aren’t the only sights to see here.
Its interior echoes the resort’s design, inspired by the Majapahit-era golden age of Java. The indoor dining especially is reminiscent of a stately banquet hall where royal Javanese families of that time would entertain with amazing affairs and ceremonies. That’s exactly the type of service patrons can expect here: attentive servers ensuring every need is met, an atmosphere steeped with regality, and, of course, an elaborate spread of dishes.
The menu revolves around the rich tradition and flavours of Bali while incorporating other Asian influences, including culinary elements from Thailand, Japan, and Korea. Heavily inspired by the bounty of the sea, fresh seafood stars in many of the dishes, including flame-grilled tuna tartare, a tropical Jimbaran prawn salad, robata salmon, and Papua crab rice. Still, one of the dark horses is the yakiniku caramelised lamb cutlet: tender, flavourful, and nothing short of spectacular.
Cocktails also offer snapshots of the glorious yesteryears, comprising a drink selection that is simply hard to resist. Try The First King with papaya-infused blanco tequila, or The Palapa Oath with East Indies gin and timut pepper.
