Sugarsand in Seminyak is an unusual beach club in that it’s famous for offering eclectic Japanese cuisine on its dinner menus, more than it is for the pool or the drinks.
So, we were curious to find out if Sugarsand had more to it than the creations of Chef Syamsul Rizal or whether the fine food was all that was the draw to this corner of Seminyak Beach.
Our team was dutifully despatched to Sugarsand and this is what they learned.
Introduction – Getting To Sugarsand
Getting to Sugarsand is very easy and you can get a Grab or Gojek to the front door.
If you want to drive yourself, there is parking nearby and you can walk to the venue very quickly from there.
Where Is Sugarsand? Jl. Double Six, Seminyak, Kec. Kuta, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361
Website: Sugarsand
Opening Hours: Open daily, every day except for Nyepi, from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
What’s Inside Sugarsand?
Sugarsand consists of a restaurant and bar area with a pool area and some seating around the pool.
Our Review Breakdown For Sugarsand
Our review for Sugarsand follows the same format as we use for every beach club review. Our reviewers visit the club and then give it a rating out of 5 (1 being the worst, 5 being the best) for a set of 20 different categories.
This gives a final score of between 20 (the worst possible club) and 100 (the best possible club). And to ensure this score is a fair reflection of our feelings about any given club, the team votes on the scores before the review is published.
Once a review is in print, it will be, at least, a year before we revisit a club and review it again. Our objective is to be constructive so that the beach club experience across Bali continues to improve and delight visitors.
You can find a summary of all the best beach clubs in Bali (and their scores) here.
Pre-Club Advertising
We’ve seen some small adverts for Sugarsand and they do have a website online, but overall, this isn’t a place that’s investing a fortune in advertising.
This may be because their biggest focus is selling seats in the restaurant for the sale of spicy tuna sushi, chicken katsu sandwich and wagyu gyoza.
However, this does mean that as a club it’s not always busy and guests may find themselves the only ones around the pool.
Location
This location is right on Seminyak Beach which is one of the most popular spots for tourists on the island.
The beach itself is attractive and there are plenty of other restaurants, bars, etc. within walking distance.
The sand can get quite crowded at times, though, due to the popularity of this spot and if you want a quiet beach environment, there are more relaxed places elsewhere in Bali.
Booking Process & Seating Options
Because Sugarsand is primarily a restaurant, if you want a seat in the dining room then you can easily book this online.
However, if you want to chill out by the pool, you will need to turn up as a walk-in.
While we don’t think this is going to be a problem most of the time, in peak seasons, you may need to get there very early if you want a daybed.
Entry Fee
There is no entrance fee at Sugarsand and we wholeheartedly approve of that.
Everyone should be able to enter a club and see what it looks like and feels like before they spend any money.
Minimum Spend
There is a minimum spend at Sugarsand but only for seats around the pool.
This is a fairly reasonable 400,000 IDR for a daybed that can seat up to three people.
If you fill the bed, then 133,000 IDR per person will get you exactly one cocktail in Sugarsand, each.
There is no minimum spend to sit in the bar or the dining room but you will need to order from the menu if you intend to sit in the restaurant for long, especially at lunch and dinner time.
Thus, SugarSand stars on our best Bali beach clubs with no minimum spend requirement list.
Welcome And Security
We were impressed with the welcome at Sugarsand, the staff were very friendly.
The security team was super helpful too and helped us cross the street to get into the club.
However, they didn’t carry out a bag search and we think that for everyone’s security, a bag check should be carried out at any major beach club or restaurant in Bali.
Inclusions
Anyone who opts for a minimum spend will be provided with a towel per person for use in the pool.
If you’re in the restaurant, you can use the pool too but will need to rent a towel.
There are shower and toilet facilities available that are accessible to everyone.
There is no premium or VIP service available though, it’s a towel and that’s it, which is a pretty standard thing for most beach clubs in Bali but an area for potential improvement too.
Service
We enjoyed talking to the staff at Sugarsand who definitely know their kiwami wagyu bollar blade from their gindara miso and can walk you through the locally sourced ingredients in each dish.
We liked that they were also enthusiastic about upcoming events such as the beach barbeques that they hold on Friday and Saturday nights.
This felt like the kind of Balinese hospitality that we expect in beach clubs but quite often don’t get.
Entertainment
When we visited Sugarsand the music was piped in and there was no evidence of a DJ or any other kind of entertainment.
However, there is a DJ platform at the club which suggests that they may have live DJs on at other times.
Pool Quality
There’s only one pool at Sugarsand and it’s quite small for a beach club pool, however, it’s a decent size for a pool attached to a restaurant.
Overall, we were impressed with how clean it was and you wouldn’t be afraid to jump into the water here and chill out in the Bali sun.
Menu/Drinks Pricing
We couldn’t make head nor tail of the pricing logic at Sugarsand.
Some food items felt like excellent value, others felt incredibly overpriced.
The cocktails were reasonably priced though in the same kind of ballpark as most other high-end beach clubs.
Food And Drink Quality
The act of offering eclectic Japanese cuisine helps to ensure that this beach club stands out for food and the menu is excellent.
Chef Syamsul Rizal creates truly fine food and his lunch and dinner menus are legendary.
However, if you’re not lovers of Japanese food, there’s nothing else on the menu at this restaurant.
The cocktails were strong and tasty though and felt like good value for money.
Sunset View
One big reason to go to beach clubs in Bali is to see the sunset and unfortunately, while this haven or relaxation may tick many of the right boxes, it’s not the best place to see sunset.
That’s because the view of the ocean is obstructed by a restaurant and a road from a large part of Sugarsand.
There is a part of the restaurant that touches Seminyak Beach, however, where you can get a nice sunset view but you might have to move around a bit to find it.
Music And Ambiance
The vibe of this restaurant is definitely upscale and you feel privileged by being in this place, it’s quite chic too.
However, the music was the usual unmemorable stuff that we’ve heard far too many times in Bali’s beach clubs.
We really wish venues would do more to distinguish themselves in this respect as good music can add a lot of enjoyment to the day.
Payment Options
You can pay be cash or card in Sugarsand and you won;’t have any problem paying for the fine food made from locally sourced ingredients on their lunch and dinner menus.
However, we couldn’t see any signs for QRIS payments and they certainly don’t support any crypto currency payments.
Exit Process
Leaving this beach club is as easy as your arrival. It’s a restaurant, there’s only one way in or out.
You won’t get lost and you should get a cheery farewell from the staff as you depart too.
Transportation
Getting to Sugarsand is very easy and you can take a Grab or Gojek. There’s also a car park nearby where you can park for a small fee.
However, once you’re outside, there are quite a lot of tasxi mafia in this area and you may be harrassed to take a taxi.
It’s best to book a Grab or Gojek before you leave the club and only leave when they’re close by.
Social Media Presence
Sugarsand has a decent Instagram account which gets updated semi-regularly and other social media presence too,
However, there seems to be some bizarre trend among Bali beach clubs at the moment where they take pictures of an empty venue.
It makes Sugarsand feel dead and deserted rather than busy and fun. Social media should be a celebration of the details of a venue with shots at night and during the day. This isn’t it.
Other/General Comments
As a restaurant, we have no hesitation in enjoying Sugarsand the spicy tuna sushi, chicken katsu sandwich, wagyu gyoza, gindara miso, kiwami wagyu bollar blade, etc. are all top notch and Chef Syamsul Rizal really knows his stuff.
But guests looking for more than a restaurant are going to find that this club lacks a little in the small touches that other beach clubs excel in.
Our Overall Opinion Of Sugarsand
If you love fine food culture then you’re going to find Sugarsand is worth a visit for its dining room and lunch and dinner menus.
However, as beach clubs go, we need more than spicy tuna sushi and a spot on Seminyak Beach to recommend it.
And this club is pleasant but the experience isn’t as memorable as it could be, except for the food.
Want to branch out with more beach club experiences? See our reviews of Mano Beach House and Alila Beach Bar too!
FAQs
Can You Swim At Sugarsand ?
Yes, you can swim at Sugarsand. There is a small pool that is available for the use of all guests, however, you only get a towel included if you agree to a minimum spend for one of the poolside daybeds.
What Can You Do At Sugarsand ?
You can eat at Sugarsand and it’s the Japanese menu of locally sourced ingredients that brings most visitors in. They also have a great range of drinks and you can swim in the pool as well as relax in the sun.
You may find our guides to beach club etiquette and beach club dress codes, helpful to have a good time here.
Is Sugarsand A Family-Friendly Venue?
Children are allowed into Sugarsand but there are no special facilities for them and they must be kept under the watchful eye of an adult. We’ve got a list of family-friendly beach clubs.
Who Owns Sugarsand ?
Sugarsand is part of the Hotel Indigo Bali Seminyak Beach and it’s own by PT Bali Perkasasukses and it’s managed by the InterContinental Hotels Group.
Final Thoughts On Sugarsand
Sugarsand is an amazing Japanese restaurant but as a beach club, it’s only OK.
If you want some fine dining then this is a great place for lunch and dinner, but we wouldn’t make a special trip to sit by the pool here.
