Restaurant Review: Bella Vista Cafe Legian Bali

We chose Bella Vista Cafe Legian for a simple meal due to the proximity to our hotel and the excellent Trip Advisor ratings. It is #2 in Legian after all! The coffee scene is big even in Bali and Bella Vista pitches to this market but also serves up more substantial plates for lunch and dinner. With a diverse menu there is something to appeal to most. Read on for all the details …

Bella Vista Cafe Legian Overview

The unassuming shop front of Bella Vista Cafe Legian is set back from the street to make room for a rustic bench with cushions and is easy to walk past. Once inside however, a bigger space than the entrance alludes to awaits. We chose to eat in the air-conditioned main dining room but venture further down the back and you will find a quaint courtyard with two bigger tables that are perfect for groups. We were the only diners inside and we almost made a hasty exit as this never bodes well with me but our server arrived before we could do a runner and we didn’t want to appear rude. Bella Vista’s menu covers café staples like salads, sandwiches, cakes, coffee and juice as well as some traditional Indonesian dishes. Check them out on Facebook here.

To Start

We shared a mixed platter of onion and squid rings to start. I love onion rings. I mean I seriously love onion rings, but I am constantly amazed at how many places get this simple dish so wrong. Bella Vista Cafe Legian got it just right. The generous cut of the onion ensured the crumb didn’t overwhelm and each ring was perfectly cooked to a crisp golden brown. Unfortunately that’s were the accolades stop. The squid was inconsistent with some being chewy so it like a lucky dip, never knowing what you would get. The accompanying sauce was so bland that it was impossible to determine exactly what it was trying to be. Tartare perhaps? After the first taste I gave it a wide berth. A sweet chili or honey mustard for the onion and fresh lemon slices for the squid would have been better.

The Pies

When we saw meat pies on the menu we knew exactly what we were going to have, steak & onion for me and beef & Bintang for The Hubs. Aussie kids grow up an a staple diet of meat pies served piping hot and slathered in tomato sauce. I have nostalgic memories of messy chins and being scalded by delicious fillings. Like anything, meat pies can be disastrous or divine. We were hoping for the latter but as soon as the plate hit the table I was deflated. I had conjured images in my mind of home-made pastry rolled with love and puffed to perfection. Imagine my disappointment when the pie in front of me was clearly made in a jaffle. That said, the fillings were both tasty and the mash and gravy made the meal.

Final Thoughts

Bella Vista Cafe Legian did not live up to my expectations after reading such glowing reviews. With a little more attention to detail I think the experience would have been a lot better. I revisited the reviews after my visit and the coffee and juices were much applauded, neither of which we tried. I can definitely see this café being popular with the coffee set looking for an early morning caffeine fix and while I will never say never, I probably won’t rush back in a hurry.

If you liked this you should check out my other Bali restaurant reviews and my epic list of 110+ amazing things to do in Bali.

Have you been to Bella Visa Cafe Legian? Did you have a different experience than I did? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. If your new to Bali you should start with my My Bali basics post. It’s a must read for first timers. 🙂

Until Next Time …