RUMARI South Kuta

@rumaribali is a portmanteau of the Indonesian words for house, sun, and moon. Perched high in the hills over Jimbaran, with mesmerizing views of the bay, Rumari lives up to its name. As the sun dips below the horizon, the sky glows amber-pink with wisps of lavender, and dinner is served on the open-air terrace.

This is the place @gchef1 has called home for the past four years. It’s a far cry from his native Lyon, but Chef G has a deep understanding of Southeast Asian flavors, after working his way across Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia. He employs them to stunning effect in dishes like the organic duck egg with coconut and Kristal caviar; delicate mud crab with green chili, green mango, and torch ginger flower; and a vibrant dish of crayfish, chili, and heirloom tomato. But the umami-rich course of octopus and silky eggplant, dotted with the tiniest urutan pork sausages, is perhaps my favorite dish. The dessert of orange, lemon, kefir lime, and Lintong coffee provides a refreshing end to the meal. Less