With a big-name brand like Cafe Del Mar, it wasn’t hard to drum up interest in our review team to go out and see if their Bali location lived up to the iconic brand and the expectations that it engenders in potential customers.
It’s one of the world’s most famous chill-out club brands, and its music label is famous all over the world, even in places with no beaches.
But does the Bali location deliver all the thrills of the same brand in Ibiza, the club’s original location, or is it some way from becoming an Indonesian legend? Our team went to find out, and this is what they learned at Cafe Del Mar, Bali.
Introduction – Getting To Cafe Del Mar Beach Club, Bali
Cafe Del Mar, Bali is on the island of Bali in the Republic of Indonesia. It’s a short flight from Australia and most of Southeast Asia, but if you’re coming from further away, you may need a long-haul ticket to get to Bali.
That’s not necessarily a bad thing, mind you, given that this beach destination is much cheaper than St. Tropez, Mykonos, Ibiza, Miami, etc., you can often save the cost of your flights (and then some) with cheaper accommodation, beach clubs and other expenses.
Once you’re in Bali, getting to Cafe Del Mar is easy. It’s on the Canggu-Seminyak border, and that means it’s in the heart of the island’s most popular spots.
It’s also a short drive from the airport and most of the other beach towns, even Ubud in the central region, aren’t too far away.
When you arrive, you’ll find that there’s a decent-sized parking area (though it may still be overflowing on the days when they have a major event).
You should be aware that this beach club is not accessible from the beach, and you cannot leave the club via the beach either.
Where Is Cafe Del Mar Beach Club, Bali? Jl. Subak Sari, Canggu, Tibubeneng, Kec. Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361
Online: Cafe Del Mar
Opening Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day except for Nyepi, the Balinese Day of Silence
What’s Available At Cafe Del Mar Beach Club, Bali?
Cafe Del Mar is disappointingly underappointed for a major name beach club, and it has fewer facilities than most of the other big names in Bali.
There are two pool bars in the same pool, another bar – the Island Bar – at the back of the club and a restaurant. It also has some comfortable seating areas, including some peculiarly positioned cabanas which are too far from the pool to be of much use in our opinion.
Our Detailed Review Of Cafe Del Mar Beach Club, Bali
We apply a consistent approach to assess every beach club, ensuring equitable treatment for owners, management, and staff, and delivering reviews in a standardised format for easy venue comparisons.
- The assessment procedure is as follows:
- A review team is assigned to examine the venue.
- All members must visit the beach club, though they can do so individually and not necessarily on the same day.
- At the venue, each reviewer fills out a scorecard, rating the club from 1 (lowest performance) to 5 (highest performance) across specified categories, while also noting their experiences.
- Once all scorecards are submitted, the team meets to review their findings and determine final category scores.
- A selected team member then writes the review, incorporating the group’s consensus and scores, before it is published on our website.
Reservation and Booking Process
We like a good booking system, and while the booking process at Cafe Del Mar is not perfect, it is better than many other beach clubs.
You can book online fairly easily, though be aware that their website may trigger the anti-virus software on your computer (it did on ours). Nothing malicious ended up on our system, but really, we expect a little better than that.
Booking is as simple as choosing your date, seating and covering your minimum spend as a deposit.
However, we have to note that in our experience, this club rarely gets super busy, and you can often just walk in and do the same deal as you can online. We don’t recommend this strategy for other busier beach clubs in Bali, like FINNS or Potato Head, for example, but it’s fine for Cafe Del Mar.
Ambience and Atmosphere
The aim at this beach club is to chill out in keeping with the main brand in Ibiza, and we think to the greatest extent they achieve this.
To be fair, we don’t think it’s all that challenging to develop an environment where people can relax on the seashore in the sun.
It’s noticeably less busy than other beach clubs in Bali, which helps to create a relaxing vibe, but it does mean that it’s not as social as it could be, too.
Location And Accessibility
There’s really nothing to criticise about the location, apart from the fact that this beach club is physically cut off from the beach.
Otherwise, you will find that driving to the Seminyak/Canggu border is easy enough, as is taking a Grab or Gojek.
You will get a great view of the ocean at sunset, too, which is a big deal for many people when choosing a beach club in Bail.
Aesthetic And Design
We think Cafe Del Mar is attractive enough inside, but it all feels very corporate. There’s a hint of “franchise” about the whole thing, and while this does, of course, ensure that certain standards are being met, it also makes it feel a little bland.
If you want a stand-out experience in a beach club, it needs to feel unique, not part of some larger entity, and we didn’t feel that at Cafe Del Mar.
It still looks fine in your Instagram feed, mind you, it’s just lacking the wow factor when you compare it to the island’s leading beach clubs.
Staff Friendliness and Professionalism (Service Standard)
The staff here weren’t the best we’ve encountered at a beach club in Bali, but they were certainly more than good enough.
The Island of the Gods has a reputation for friendly service, and places like Cafe Del Mar can build on the local aptitude for service and improve on it.
There are still some minor teething problems, and they really should be looking to upskill their staff to deliver a standout experience.
Service Speed and Efficiency
It wasn’t the fastest or the most efficient service that we’ve ever received, either, but it was good enough that nobody felt like filing a complaint about waiting times, either.
Overall, it feels a bit like Cafe Del Mar in Bali is coasting on the brand’s reputation rather than trying to add to it by being exceptional themselves.
Food Quality and Variety
Cafe Del Mar Bali has a decent menu and while there’s no local offerings on the menu, if you like Mediterranean style grub, you won’t be disappointed with the amount of choice.
We also thought that the food was tasty enough even if it wasn’t the best we’ve ever had in a beach club either.
Beverage Selection and Creativity
We didn’t have any issues with the overall beverage selection, there’s more than enough choice here to ensure you won’t get bored with the drinks.
However, the drinks are often weaker than you’d expect and a touch on the watery side. They look great in Instagram photos, but at these prices, we’d expect them to pack a bit more of a punch.
Cleanliness and Hygiene
We thought that Cafe Del Mar was clean and hygienic throughout and that the pool area was very pleasant, indeed.
The water is clean, and you won’t have any worries about swimming to cool down on a hot Bali day.
The toilets were also pleasant and clean, and that’s very important on a day out drinking.
Comfort of Seating and Lounging Areas
The seating around Cafe Del Mar in Bali is generally comfortable, but we did see a few pieces of furniture that could have used a bit of an overhaul and clean-up.
However, given that you don’t pay to use a daybed in Bali, it’s not a terrible deal any which way.
Music and Entertainment
We expected more from Cafe Del Mar than we got in Bali, to be blunt. This is a brand that built its reputation on its music and entertainment.
Yet, in Bali, it’s bland and uninspiring. It’s not terrible, you can certainly chill out to it, but there’s nothing memorable about it at all.
Seasonality
This is Bali, baby! There’s no real seasonality in this part of the tropics, and while there is a rainy season, it doesn’t rain that much even at that time of the year.
There’s only one day of the year that beach clubs close in Bali, Nyepi, which is the mandatory holiday for the Balinese festival of silence in either March or April.
Otherwise, you can enjoy the sun, sea and sand all year round, and it’s great!
Pricing and Value for Money
The prices in Cafe Del Mar are a little on the high side for the overall quality of experience, but they certainly aren’t a rip-off.
Given that Bali is always better value for money than most beach club destinations around the world, you can’t really go wrong with any of the clubs on the island in this respect.
Beach Access and Quality
You don’t get beach access at this beach club; for whatever reason, they built this beach club with an outflow between the pool and the beach.
The only way to access the pleasant beach in this area is to leave Cafe Del Mar entirely, and no, you can’t go back in again if you do, at least, not without agreeing to another minimum spend.
Sustainability Practices
They have no sustainability report, and there are very few claims to sustainable practices at Cafe Del Mar, Bali.
Some local sourcing of ingredients and products, but that’s about it. Given the big strides that clubs like Potato Head and FINNS are making in this area, we think Cafe Del Mar can do better, particularly with the kind of brand strength it has behind it.
But something is better than nothing, right?
Exclusive Perks for Guests
You get a beach towel and a daybed if you agree to a minimum spend, which is not a particularly standout offer as it’s identical to most other beach clubs in Bali.
We’d really like to see clubs like Cafe Del Mar go the extra mile when it comes to inclusions, even if it means introducing a VIP tier and charging a bit more for it.
We don’t mind splurging when we’re on holiday.
Safety and Security
You will get a friendly and professional welcome at this beach club, which will include a bag check, which we think is important to ensure the safety of the guests inside the club.
There have been no serious incidents in Bali’s venues for a very long time now, and it’s venues that are taking security seriously, which helps to continue this track record.
We also felt that there were enough security staff in the venue that if any trouble were to break out, it would be swiftly dealt with without disturbing other guests.
Event Hosting Capabilities
Cafe Del Mar allow events of all sizes up to the total capacity of the beach club, and if you were organising a large corporate event, you can buy out the whole club for the day.
They also have a team on-site which can help with the customisation of the venue, menus, etc., to ensure that they deliver the kind of experience that you expect.
We didn’t hold an event at Cafe Del Mar for this review, but we’re pretty convinced that they do a decent job of things.
Consistency of Experience
In the main, this is a beach club that some of our reviewers are quite familiar with and talking to some other regular guests and reading online reviews backs up our feeling on this.
Mostly, Cafe Del Mar is a pretty consistent experience, but there’s no doubt that big events here are either a huge hit or a total miss with very little in between.
That’s a shame, because it makes spending money on a pricey ticket a bit of a gamble. Will you be the only one there to appreciate it? Or will you be squeezed in like sardines, unable to really move around and enjoy yourself?
Additional Amenities and Facilities
We feel that Cafe Del Mar has the bare minimum of facilities to qualify it as a beach club rather than a restaurant by the sea.
Sure, you’re in Canggu/Seminyak, which means you can find anything else that you need easily enough within a short walk or drive, but we can’t help but feel that this Cafe Del Mar entity would have more of an identity if it had something to distinguish it from the background noise of beach clubs.
Bali has over 100 beach clubs now, and that makes it a real challenge to stand out from the crowd, and we don’t feel like Cafe Del Mar is doing that.
Summary
If you’re hoping to find the Ibizan haven that is Cafe Del Mar in the Southern Hemisphere, then Cafe Del Mar, Bali, is going to leave you feeling a bit disappointed.
Overall, we thought their food offering was pretty good, and there’s no doubt you can get a tasty meal here, but the drinks ought to be better mixed and contain more alcohol at these prices.
Most of all, given that this is a beach club that is absolutely associated with world-class beach club music, we’re shocked at the absence of a definitive musical vibe. Where’s the sonic image?
You’re in a great spot to enjoy an ocean sunset view, which Bali is famous for, and overall, it’s decent value for money, but there are much better options in Bali including the nearby FINNS Beach Club, which is the world’s best beach club.
FAQs
Can You Go Swimming At Cafe Del Mar Beach Club, Bali?
Yes, Cafe Del Mar has an infinity pool, and it’s a decent size. It’s aligned with the oceanfront, which means you get a nice view of the Indian Ocean as you swim.
We found that the area for the pool was clean and well-maintained, and it was a good spot for a cooling dip in the heat of the Balinese day.
However, there’s no beach access at this beach club, which means you can’t get onto the beach to swim in the ocean from here (in fact, given that the way to the beach is blocked by a dirty water course, we doubt you’d want to).
We’d also note that you must either rent a towel from the beach club or agree to a minimum spend if you want to swim – they don’t allow you to bring in a towel.
What Is There To Do At Cafe Del Mar Beach Club, Bali?
Cafe Del Mar is a beach club with a reputation for chill-out tunes, and that’s really what they’re all about, even in Bali.
You have DJs playing tunes all day long, and sometimes, they have events where they bring international artists to Bali. These events are usually subject to an extra fee, sometimes a quite substantial additional fee.
We should be clear that Cafe Del Mar has hosted several events where sales of tickets were very poor, and then the events can feel somewhat empty; however, some of their other events have been super busy and overwhelmingly crowded.
It’s best to ask around before you book tickets for an event at this beach club if you want to avoid either situation.
Is Cafe Del Mar Beach Club, Bali A Child-Friendly Venue?
Partially, Cafe Del Mar is pretty clear on their website that they consider this beach club to be aimed at adults and alcohol and adult behaviour may be found throughout the beach club. There are no gated areas for children or for families.
However, children are allowed into Cafe Del Mar as long as they stay with their parents or guardians throughout their stay.
Children may not enter Cafe Del Mar without a parent or guardian, and the club won’t allow them to use the pool, rent a daybed or cabana, etc., without a parent being present.
Who Is The Owner Of Cafe Del Mar Beach Club, Bali?
While Cafe Del Mar is an international brand, their arrangement in Bali is a little complicated – they are not owned by the same people who own the Ibizan original Cafe Del Mar.
Instead, they operate under license to a local consortium of investors.
Final Thoughts On The Review Of Cafe Del Mar Beach Club, Bali
Cafe Del Mar in Bali is not Cafe Del Mar, Ibiza. This is a fairly important distinction because otherwise, you may end up setting your expectations for a day out at this beach club too high.
It’s a decent enough beach club for Bali, and it has all the basic amenities that you could expect. However, it doesn’t really live up to the brand’s reputation, and there’s no doubt that you won’t be getting an experience at this Cafe Del Mar that’s equivalent to the parent company in Ibiza.
Cafe Del Mar is one of the world’s biggest beach club brands, and the one in Ibiza set the tone for a generation of beach clubs.
Its younger sibling in Bali has a lot of growing up to do if it hopes to get anywhere near that standard in the future.
