Potato Head Beach Club, Bali

Potato Head Beach Club Bali

Words: Kirsten Durward
Photos: Monica Tindall & PHBC

Walking into Potato Head Beach Club in Bali is an extraordinary experience. A sweeping bamboo archway leads us forward and opens into a more expansive space. To the right are active recycling operations. To the left, sustainability art installations and dead ahead a vast Brutalist-inspired main entrance. Dramatic architecture is set against lush green nature and vast sky beyond Seminyak Beach.

Winding our way through to Potato Head Beach Club, we are awed by the use of recycled antique Indonesian window shutters and the vast proportions. Modern club mix greets us, pumping from a state-of-the-art sound system through the seemingly endless amphitheatre-like space that is the beach club. We are immediately drawn to action at the vibrant curved bar and chat with the friendly staff before being escorted to our poolside daybed.

Potato Head Beach Club, Bali

Potato Head Beach Club is undoubtedly a destination of choice for the day tripper in search of a good time. Its beachside location encompasses three restaurants, three bars, an infinity pool and a spacious lawn area with a laid-back party vibe, offering a range of tasty food and beverage. But what makes the place work and truly fun is the good-natured and friendly waitstaff, who joke and tease along while providing efficient and helpful service.  

Potato Head Beach Club Bali has a reputation for good times but also for solid sustainability practices. They’ve eliminated all plastic straws, coasters and cocktail napkins, and drinks are served only in reusable containers such as coconut shells or wooden cups. Furthermore, they have an ace upcycling program fabricating plastic waste into trendy furniture and magnificent installation art pieces that soar and inspire throughout and over the entire structure. They even won the inaugural Sustainable Bar Award for Asia’s 50 Best Bars in 2018. We are happy for low-guilt sensory pleasure!

Potato Head Beach Club Menu

To lay some healthy foundations, we start with two flavours of Potato Head’s Jamu (IDR 50K ++). The Energy Ginger with turmeric, lemongrass, pandan leaves, black pepper, cinnamon, cloves and lime has quite the bite and promises to detoxify and boost energy. The Balance Ginger is a touch sweeter with coconut palm sugar softening the zip of turmeric, galangal, lemongrass, pandan leaves, black pepper, cinnamon, cloves and lime. It, too, claims health benefits – anti-aging properties, and I wonder if I should invest in a daily tipple. 

Further preparing for an afternoon of cocktail exploration, we line our stomachs with the Gulai Sayur (IDR 85K ++) from the Kaum menu (available upon request until 2 pm). This local soup is a delicious and restorative concoction of local vegetables and tofu in a gentle aromatic coconut curry sauce.

The Potato Head Beach Club menu has enough variety to take guests throughout the day, from lunch to snacks to dinner. The Emerald Smoothie Bowl (IDR 85K++) pledges another dependable founding with its nutritious blend of spirulina, kale, banana and pineapple. Smooth, thick and packed with goodness, it’s topped with crunchy homemade granola, and its cool crunch is flawless on a warm afternoon.

Monica’s Poke Bowl (IDR 115K ++) features sesame-crusted watermelon masquerading as tuna (no need for the masquerade in our opinion, the watermelon stands alone) atop nicely seasoned red rice. Smooth avocado and chipotle mayo contrast with a crunchy tomato and corn salsa to make this a colourful and textured combination.

Hummus (IDR 85K ++) with dipping vegetables is always a favourite when sipping cocktails. This one comes with resonant flavours of olive oil and dukkah, accompanied by fresh, crisp baby carrots, cucumbers, radishes, and capsicum. Dipping heaven!

The day is drawing to a close, but our cocktail tasting has made us a little nibblish, so a pizza being carried past looks very tempting. We order Pizza Margherita (IDR 110K ++), and I am very glad we did. I rarely eat pizza in Asia, but this one suited my preferences perfectly. It’s a thin crispy crust with the simplicity of handmade Italian tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella and basil. The flavoursome slices are a perfect end to our day.

Cocktails

Potato Head Beach Bar claims to be Bali’s destination for balanced and refined cocktails. The team continually evolve the drinks menu made to international standards with exotic ingredients that resonate with the surroundings. The descriptions certainly look spectacular so let’s see what we think of the tastes.

Passionello Martini (IDR 135K ++) impresses with the distinct flavours of tamarillo and passion fruit, emboldened by brem (traditional Balinese rice wine) and citrus vodka. It’s enlivened by a splash of sparkling wine.

Our lively waiter recommends the Pomelo Paloma (IDR 145K ++), and we concur with him that the tart-sweet flavour of pomelo blends well with tequila, grapefruit liqueur, and aromatic bitters to refresh the palate in the afternoon sun.

Kookaburra (IDR 145K++) is an immaculate concoction of mint and citrus layered with lemongrass-infused gin and topped with passion fruit. Embellished with a little celery, you might think this combination peculiar, but it works. It’s delicious, proof that we should keep innovating with unusual combinations.

We love all the expansive exoticness, but we also know the mark of a great bar is how well they do the classics. We taste one of our favourites – a Negroni with Tanqueray. The gin, vermouth and Campari are superbly balanced, and the ice ball rounds it off. 

Potato Head Beach Club Bali Review

Potato Head Beach Club in Bali is a ‘good time’ destination that sings with the sustainable and responsible approach woven throughout the concept. From the design to the locally sourced food to the environmental decisions, it is a positive experience on all fronts. A stunning beachfront location makes it unmissable for any fun-seeker in the locality. 

Reasons to visit Potato Head Beach Club:  Casual daytime fun, beachside location, innovative exotic cocktails, super friendly staff, commitment to sustainable practices.

Potato Head Beach Club Bali
Ground Level, Desa Potato Head
Jalan Petitenget No. 51 B
Seminyak, Kuta Utara, Bali, 80361
+62361 6207979
[email protected]
https://seminyak.potatohead.co/feast/beach-club/

Potato Head Beach Club Bali Opening Hours
Sunday to Thursday 9:00 – 00:00
Friday & Saturday 9:00 – 2:00

Find more travel recommendations for Bali here and stay up-to-date with our latest gourmet travel finds here and here.