Jimbaran seafood cafes must already be on your must-visit places for your Bali holiday trip, especially if youa are a seafood lover. Not only is Jimbaran Bay one of Bali's best places for memorable sunsets, but it is also the most popular coast to enjoy grilled fresh seafood. Many seafood cafes line the white-sand beach locally known as 'Pantai Jimbarans'.

Mostly open afternoon until late, each of the venues within the row of Jimbaran seafood cafes in the bay offer fresh-grilled seafood served at candlelit tables on the white sand. As the sun goes down, the horizon features faint lights from the Ngurah Rai Denpasar airport and traditional fishing boat lanterns at sea.

You will notice similar setups as you approach the Jimbaran seafood cafes from the beach; wooden tables with parasols down to the tide's edge and some adorned with attractive palm leaf decorations. Drop-off from the main entrance and you will see grills and live seafood displays under signboards of each cafe that show different stock and 'catches of the day'.

From several dinners we had at different cafes, we noticed slight variations in the homemade sambal (traditional chilli sauce) in form and spiciness. Mild competition among these venues means good service; staff and waiters are attentive and speak simple English.

Ease into a chair as a small dish of salted nuts and/or kerupuk shrimp crackers comes served as intro to accompany your beer or drink of choice. Birthplace of ikan bakar Jimbaran or 'grilled snapper a la Jimbaran' with the essential sambal, these cafes offer selections of red snapper, crab, calamari, prawns and lobster served with steamed rice, and traditional side dishes of spicy plecing kangkung (stir-fried water spinach) and fresh fruit platters for dessert. Use your fingers as part of the experience; a bowl with water and slice of lime comes as standard 'rinse'.

Look out for two sambal varieties, the famed red paste and another pungent version called sambal matah (comprising fresh chopped chilli, shallots and lemongrass). Try out both if you can handle, or simply ask for a modified, milder version in advance. Some of the Jimbaran seafood cafes even have French Fries, fried rice, chop suey and other western and Asian cuisine on their menus for variety, and even expand their seafood selections to barracuda, grouper, mahi-mahi and kingfish.

'Meals on wheels' dot the beach with street vendor-style grilled sweet corn as snacks. Some peddlers also offer handicraft items. On the entertainment side, occasional strolling musicians roam throughout the Jimbaran seafood cafes, and help set the mood, playing songs by request for diners.

Enjoying fresh sea food in Jimbaran is recommended in the afternoon because the sunset view is so exotic. While sunset down, the panorama is amazing and romantic. Rent a car in Bali and drive by yourself is the best way to get to Jimbaran Beach. By driving yourself, you can browse the restaurant you want to choose according to your taste. And this is also a part of your holiday adventure trip in Bali. If your hotel is in the Seminyak or Kuta area, please drive your car towards Denpasar Airport. East of Denpasar Airport there is a main road called By Pass Ngurah Rai, follow this road until you see a traffic light, then turn right onto Jalan Uluwatu. This area Kelan Village than also has white sandy beach call Kelan Beach.

Jalan Uluwatu is a road that passes through Jimbaran Village. About 800 meters ahead, there is an intersection, turn left. You are in the Jimbaran Village area. Please turn right towards one of the roads leading to the beach where a collection of cafes are located. If you turn right at Pemelisan Street or Pengeracikan, you will be at Kedonganan Cafe area, turn right at Bukit Permai Street you will be at Muaya Cafe area. There are 3 groups of cafes that offer seafood in Jimbaran, including Kedonganan Beach, Jimbaran Beach and Muaya Beach. All of them almost have the same design and menu. The restaurant group at Kedonganan Beach provides better service, cleanliness and a more attractive cafe atmosphere than the others.

If you stay in one of the hotel or villa in Jimbaran area, you can come on foot while enjoy local village atmosphere, simply take an easy stroll along the sand and pick an unreserved table. Although its 'first-come, first-served' most of the time, reservations are necessary during the holiday seasons when it is usually packed.

A local taxi cooperative holds a monopoly in the area. You can come in by any public transport, but going out leaves you no other option. In case of no meter, negotiate your destination and rates beforehand.