Terrace Langkawi – Italian Restaurant & Deck
Words: Jacob Weber
Photos: Monica Tindall
Let’s make one thing clear from the very beginning.
Terrace at The Danna Langkawi is not just an exceptional restaurant by hotel standards.
It could compete for the crown of best restaurant in Langkawi.
The comfortable and stylish modern space is conveniently situated to offer some poolside shade from the blazing island sun. Head Chef Nasrun, a passionate and proud fellow who cares deeply about everything from the presentation of the food to the product knowledge of his staff, showcases classic Italian dining with a contemporary touch.
The pasta is homemade, and most of the seafood is caught locally. The wine list is well curated, with 10 wines available by the glass—and a fine Italian selection, of course.
Pronto, as they say.
Starters & Salads at Terrace Langkawi
The bread starter is about as Italian as it gets. Homemade ciabatta and breadsticks with olive oil and balsamic vinegar are served on a bed of cloves, star anise and other spices to set the tone.
We’re pretending we’re on holiday and carbs don’t count, so we order the Green Pizza Dough (RM158) from the specials menu as a shared starter (it’s actually a pizza main, but we’re improvising). It’s so-called because the use of spinach in the dough preparation process gives it a more verdant appearance than your standard pizza, and we’re all here for it. The texture is excellent, chewy and crispy exactly where it needs to be, and topped with a wholesome medley of more spinach, mozzarella, smoked salmon, grilled and semi-dried cherry tomatoes for an extra burst of sweetness, boiled egg, fresh basil and pine nuts.
The Anguria (RM42) is astonishingly good and highly recommended. The smoked watermelon carpaccio is so brilliantly executed that you could convince a vegan it was beef. The balsamic adds an intense acidity that elevates the watermelon’s natural sweetness. The avocado salsa is perfectly ripe. The presentation is just gorgeous. Everything is on point.
The Roasted Beetroot Salad (RM78) from the current specials menu is also an excellent choice. It’s all fresh and vibrant and delicious, with orange segments adding a sweet contrast to the roasted beetroot cubes that are cut to just the right size for spearing neatly with a fancy fork. The sharp, tart goat’s cheese dances around on the palate, and the toasted walnuts add a deeply satisfying crunch.
All of the greens used in the salads and sides here are grown locally, and you can tell. Some farmers deliver their fresh wares exclusively to The Danna twice a week, and they’re just bursting with healthy energy.
For the meal, we selected a Fleurs de Prairie Cotes de Provence Rose to accompany the seafood and meat. It’s crisp, dry, and well-balanced, with notes of red fruit and citrus before a nice acidity on the finish. It’s very refreshing.
Main Courses
Next, the creamy Risotto alla Zucca, or Pumpkin Risotto (RM64), starts subtly—you might even think it’s missing seasoning—before really growing into its rich, full flavour. The accoutrements—broccoli, roasted pumpkin seeds and almond flakes, and semi-dried cherry tomatoes—add bursts of sweetness and savouriness for extra profile.
We’re all very satisfied with the Tortellini Verdi (RM68): homemade pasta dumplings generously stuffed with ricotta and spinach and served with sage butter, ricotta cheese mousse, hazelnuts, and shaved parmesan. It’s exactly as indulgent as it sounds.
The Filetto di Branzino (RM102) is a locally supplied whole sea bass fillet baked with white wine in parchment paper to seal the flavour. It’s so moist it could be steamed. Clams, tomato broth, broccoli, and baby potatoes are a hearty supporting act.
The Guancia di Manzo Brasata (RM127) is stunning. Premium beef cheek is slow-braised for eight hours, and the soft, tender meat falls apart to the slightest touch. It’s almost as soft as the delicious carrot purée it’s served with, whose natural sweetness lifts the rich, irresistible meat.
Decadent Desserts
Il Limone (RM43) is a delightfully refreshing dessert that citrus fans will flock to. It has a tangy, tart sorbet-like texture, creamy yuzu and lemon marmalade, and a white chocolate shell—the perfect thing on a hot day at a high-class hotel.
The Chocolate Lava Cake (RM42) is on the more decadent side of the scale. Made with Valrhona Caraibe 63% chocolate and served with salted caramel ice cream, it literally oozes premium cacao goodness.
Sundowners at The Deck
After eating more than our fill, we descend to The Deck, a pleasant alfresco area with big, inviting bean bags and a beautiful spot to spend the sunset hours. It’s all about quality nibbles, gourmet pizza and, of course, cocktails (and beer, and wine, and …).
Cool by the Pool (RM42) is a juicy, refreshing blend of strawberry puree, light rum, coconut rum, orange juice and lime juice topped with soda water and a mint leaf. It’s tasty, tropical, and tempting to order another in the island heat.
Monica gets the classic Aperol Spritzer (RM42) and certainly approves. Aperol, prosecco and soda water are a simple but effective combination and suit the mood — lounging in front of a beautiful colonial mansion-looking hotel — rather perfectly.
The Gingerita (RM42) is equally simple but probably more effective; that’ll be the tequila, which works very well with ginger beer. Must make a personal note of that …
We’re stuffed, but we can’t resist a few light bites. The Bavetta Di Manzo (RM43) is great: grilled Black Angus Australian beef skewers with homemade barbecue sauce for dipping. The sauce is made with baked pineapple, which is beautiful and adds a rich sweetness to complement the beef’s natural flavour.
The Gamberi in Salsa Rosa (RM42) also looks right at home. Poached local shrimp tails are served with avocado and pink mayonnaise, with a little lemon vinaigrette to tie it all together nicely. It’s so fresh that you can convince yourself it’s counterbalancing the booze …
The Tagliata Di Tonno (RM42) is thick, generous, juicy slices of Atlantic Ocean yellowfin tuna and goes down a treat. The fish has plenty of flavour, and the pepper and olive salsa are just a welcome bonus.
Terrace Langkawi
We take our time polishing off the small plates and sipping our cocktails, squeezing every minute out of sunset here as we possibly can — before it’s time to reluctantly peel ourselves out of our bean bags. Still, maybe there’ll be time for one more snack later …
Reasons to visit Terrace at The Danna Langkawi: classic Italian dishes masterfully prepared; pleasant ambience in a shady, stylish space by the beautiful pool area; a wide variety of colourful, healthy, vibrant options to suit vegetarians, pescatarians and meat-eaters; excellent and attentive service; The Deck is a perfect spot for cocktails at sunset.
Terrace & The Deck at The Danna Langkawi
Telaga Harbour Park Pantai Kok
07000 Langkawi, Malaysia
+6 04 959 3288
[email protected]
www.thedanna.com
*pork-free
**al fresco and air-con dining
Terrace Langkawi Opening Hours
Dinner 4 pm-10 pm
The Deck Opening Hours
4 pm – late
Find more recommendations for travel to Langkawi here and stay up to date with the latest gourmet happenings in Malaysia here and here.