Situated a stone’s throw away from the main retail and dining street in Seminyak, Kilo Bali is a quiet oasis, tucked away along side streets and lush greenery. The restaurant was opened just last year and adjoins the Uma Sapna resort, providing guests with delectable dishes right at their doorsteps, be it through their extensive breakfast and in-room service menu, or their spread of dishes and drinks for dinner.
Any visitor to Bali’s burgeoning dining scene will tell you about the incredible architecture in the area, and Kilo Bali isn’t one to fall behind. The glass-panelled walls let in plenty of morning and afternoon light, creating the perfect setting for our photoshoots, while the concrete and marble finishings added just the right amount of contrast to the nature both inside and outside of the space.
Over the course of three days, we made Kilo Bali our home as we photographed the architecture, interior, food and beverages, and the incredibly warm and welcoming staff — the results of which can be partially viewed on the Kilo Bali section of this website.
We started with the food, under the skilled hands of Kilo’s executive chef Manel Valero, who whipped up dish after dish and made sure everything was plated to perfection. The shots were kept straightforward and simple, with the lighting placing the focus on the food itself. We got a look and taste of the fresh, quality produce used in Bali, as well as the effort and imagination that goes into the making of each dish. Chef Manel introduced us to some new items on the menu, such as the Crispy Soft Shell Crab with compressed watermelon and Thai red curry gravy, and also made sure to serve up some old favourites, such as the Truffled Tai Yuzu Roll with fresh crab meat, snapper, and tempura flakes.
We also photographed the staff at Kilo Bali, some of whom we found out to be young students on a work placement, while others had been cooking for over a decade. While the language barrier was sometimes difficult to overcome, they gamely posed for their photos and answered our questions to the best of their abilities, and always with a smile, no matter how shy they were.
As night fell, the drinks followed, each of them uniquely crafted and conceptualised. We watched the Kilo Bali space transition from day to night, transforming from a light-filled, airy daytime area into to a cosy, warm setting for dinner and drinks, becoming an intimate spot for gatherings with friends, family, and loved ones.
If you happen to find yourself in Bali one day, be sure to drop by for a visit.
Kilo Bali is located at:
22 Jalan Drupadi
Seminyak, Bali
Indonesia 80361
For reservations, please email bali@kilokitchen.com or call +62 361 4741006
Kilo Bali opens daily for dinner from 5.30PM-11PM, and for drinks from 5.30PM-12AM.