Cafe Del Mar Ibiza is one of the world’s most famous chill-out clubs. The brand is associated with the laid-back beach lifestyle with a hint of decadence and you can even buy CDs and Vinyls produced by their music team.
But does Cafe Del Mar Bali match the standards set in Ibiza? Or does the brand have a bit of work to do before Cafe Del Mar Bali achieves legendary status?
We sent our team to find out and this is what they learned.
Introduction – Getting To Cafe Del Mar Bali
Cafe Del Mar Bali is near to the Canggu border with Seminyak on Jalan Subak Sari. It’s relatively easy to get to by Grab and Gojek and there is complimentary parking available if you intend to drive yourself.
The parking area is reasonably sized but we should note that if Cafe Del Mar Bali has a sold-out event, you might find it a challenge to park at this beach club if you arrive a little late in the day.
Where Is Cafe Del Mar Bali? Jalan Subak Sari, Canggu, Tibubeneng, Kec. Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361
Website: Cafe Del Mar Bali
Opening Hours: Open daily, every day except for Nyepi, from 10 a.m. to 12 midnight.
As with all clubs in Bali, you can expect to pass through a security check on entrance where you will be asked to leave any forbidden items (such as cameras, outside drinks, etc.) at the door.
You can’t enter this club from the beach nor can you pass out of the club onto the beach and back inside, so if you want to visit the beach – you will want to do it before you arrive or after you leave.
What’s Inside Cafe Del Mar Bali?
Cafe Del Mar has fewer features than some of the bigger beach clubs on the island. There are a pair of pool bars at either end of the single large pool. There’s the Island Bar at the back of the beach club as well as an onsite restaurant.
If you are coming as a large party you can access a range of “suites” which are sort of upscale cabanas for relaxing in, however, these are as far away from the pool and the beach as it’s possible to be inside the club.
Our Review Breakdown For Cafe Del Mar Bali
As with all of our beach club reviews, Cafe Del Mar Bali is being judged on a set of objective criteria which are ranked from 1 (worst) to 5 (best).
As there are exactly 20 criteria this gives a potential score of between 20 (worst) and 100 (best) for each club.
Our team votes on the reviews and scores before we go to press to ensure that the numbers are broadly reflective of all our experiences with the club.
All of our reviews are for a minimum of one year from the date of publication before we return to update them if there are any significant changes.
Pre-Club Advertising
Cafe Del Mar Bali does advertise its events online and to a lesser extent its beach club services, but it’s not one of the big players in this space and if you’ve visited Bali and not seen their ads, we wouldn’t be completely surprised.
We wonder if they think this is because they can rely on the reputation of the parent brand to carry them without the need to invest in this kind of advertising?
And we’re not sure that brand is strong enough, in our experience Cafe Del Mar Bali is often nowhere near as full as it could be.
Location
Cafe Del Mar Bali is in a decent location between Canggu and Seminyak and it’s easy enough to get to. However, and this is no fault of the club, the roads in and out of this area can get very busy at times.
That means if you’re trying to secure your pre-reserved daybed slot, you should always allow plenty of time to travel to the club and expect it to take a while longer to get home too than the map suggests it should.
There are plenty of other amenities within walking distance of Cafe Del Mar Bali too, so you shouldn’t find yourself bored if you want to check out the local area.
The beach is attractive and looks good when sunset arrives and the lights reflect on the wet sand.
However, there’s a reason you can’t get out onto the beach and that’s because there’s a river outlet that separates the club from the sand. It’s not a very nice river, either.
We can’t work out why they didn’t reroute this when they were building Cafe Del Mar Bali.
There are other beach clubs not far from Cafe Del Mar including COMO Beach Club and Ku De Ta, why not check out their reviews too?
Booking Process & Seating Options
You can book online easily enough with Cafe Del Mar Bali and we’ve found that in practice, on most days, you can also just walk into the club.
You are free to choose any of the available beds and their associated minimum spend (not all beds at Cafe Del Mar Bali have a minimum spend, mind you).
Given that this isn’t the biggest club, most places inside have a nice view of the beach and the Indian Ocean. They all get access to the pool as well.
However, their website triggered an alert from our anti-virus software and we’ve deducted a point for that – it’s not good enough in 2024 for a site not to be fully tested and Cafe Del Mar Bali is, sadly, not the only site on the island doing this.
Entry Fee
There is no entrance fee at Cafe Del Mar Bali and unusually there’s no minimum spend required if you want access to their single beds.
These beds aren’t in the best position in the club, as you might expect, but this does mean that Cafe Del Mar Bali performs very well in this category.
We think all clubs should offer free entrance as it means that prospective guests can get a feel for a place before they commit to anything.
Given that a big suite here is quite pricey, checking it out first is a sensible thing to do.
Minimum Spend
The minimum spend is not levied on all of the day beds, but it is payable on the majority of them and in the private suites. Nonetheless, Cafe Del Mar qualifies for the best beach clubs in Bali with no minimum spend list.
This is simply an amount of money that you agree to spend on food and drinks in exchange for getting a nice seat.
With 6 seater beds available for a minimum spend of as little as 1,000,000 IDR (that’s about $65 USD or $100 AUD) we don’t find that the minimum spend at Cafe Del Mar Bali is a hardship.
You’re guaranteed to spend that much easily if you’re just hanging out as a group and indulging in a few drinks and dishes from the menu.
Welcome And Security
While we didn’t find the welcome at Cafe Del Mar Bali to be exceptional, it was warm, friendly and professional.
As you would expect at any beach club in Bali, they did search our bags before allowing us inside. But we didn’t have any forbidden items to leave at the front desk.
Because Cafe Del Mar isn’t the biggest beach club, you won’t have any problem finding your way to your bed after you pass through the entrance.
Inclusions
As long you commit to a minimum spend then you are entitled to access to the pools, free high-speed Wi-Fi throughout the venue and complimentary towels for use in the pools (you can’t take the towels home with you).
There are no premium services available in addition to this basic range, however.
This puts Cafe Del Mar Bali squarely in the middle of the pack for inclusions.
If you don’t agree to a minimum spend, you can still swim but there’s a rental fee for the towel of 60,000 IDR with taxes and service charges on top.
Service
We feel that service is the key to a great beach club. If you visit FINNS Beach Club, for example, you will find that the level of care elevates your whole day.
Sadly, while Cafe Del Mar Bali offers perfectly adequate service and the staff are friendly and helpful, there’s nothing that really stands out about the experience either.
You could be in any generic beach club on the island. There’s nothing that gives the service here a “Cafe Del Mar” brand feel.
Entertainment
This is an area that we think Cafe Del Mar Bali is quite lacking in, sure there’s some minor entertainment but again, nothing that quite lives up to the value of the brand.
We can’t imagine going to Cafe Del Mar in Ibiza and feeling that the management was as laid back about things.
And we think this is a real shame because Bali needs a few more beach clubs that are really investing in entertainment and trying to beef up the beach club experience.
We wanted to be wowed by our time at Cafe Del Mar Bali and instead, we felt distinctly underwhelmed.
Pool Quality
There may only be one pool inside Cafe Del Mar Bali but it;s a nice pool that stretches all the way along the front of the club.
There are a pair of pool bars (one at either side of the pool) where you can enjoy cold cocktails while soaking up the sun or enjoying the sunset.
One thing we’re pleased to report is that the water quality at Cafe Del Mar Bali was good and the pool was sparkling clean.
We’d much rather swim in the pool at Cafe Del Mar than in the Indian Ocean water nearby which isn’t always clean and isn’t always safe, either.
Menu/Drinks Pricing
Cafe Del Mar’s restaurant is called The Arcade and all the food within the club comes from this restaurant.
It has a large menu with a range of Mediterranean dishes anas well as some Asian favourites.
The prices are a bit higher than in some of the local restaurants but you expect that at a beach club. We like that they have some large dishes designed for sharing with big groups.
Food And Drink Quality
Cafe Del Mar Bali has a good reputation for food and we weren’t disappointed with the items we were served and we thought the food on other people’s plates around the venue looked good too.
However, the drinks are sometimes a bit on the weak side and we don’t think that’s good enough at all. If you charge a premium price for cocktails, then they need to deliver a premium kick too.
You should also know that their kitchen closes quite early at 21.30 and they won’t take any orders after that.
Sunset View
This stretch of the Bali coastline has a wonderful sunset view and Cafe Del Mar Bali is in an excellent place for you to enjoy watching the sun’s rays light up the Indian Ocean and the sky at the end of the day.
There’s nothing quite like being in the tropics for sunset. However, there is no view of the sunset at all from the premium suites at the back of this club.
Music And Ambiance
We have to admit we were expecting a lot from Cafe Del Mar Bali when it comes to their music and we think we may have been expecting too much.
Sure, there are beats but it’s not memorable or distinguishable from the music at any other beach club.
The Cafe Del Mar name is strongly associated with incredible chill-out music but on any given day at Cafe Del Mar Bali, you wouldn’t know it.
Overall, it’s an EDM experience but not a standout experience based on the Cafe Del Mar brand and it should stand out.
Payment Options
You won’t have any problems paying at Cafe Del Mar Bali and they accept cash or cards throughout the venue.
As with all beach clubs in Bali, tax and service charges are levied on top of the bill but this is clearly stated on the menus as it is required to be by Indonesian law.
Exit Process
You leave Cafe Del Mar Bali the way that you came in and while there’s no fanfare or special treatment on the way out – it’s not at all onerous to get out and be on your way.
Transportation
You can get a Grab or Gojek at Cafe Del Mar Bali but not from within their grounds and outside the taxi mafia are waiting which can be very annoying indeed.
You’re also free to park in the Cafe Del Mar Bali car park and your car should be safe and secure waiting for you when you’ve finished your day by the Indian Ocean.
Social Media Presence
Cafe Del Mar Bali certainly has a social media presence and, at least, their Instagram account actually has pictures of people inside the club having fun.
However, it’s not updated that regularly and there’s not a lot of variety in their feeds. We feel that there’s real room for improvement.
Their blog is also not very useful, it feels like an exercise because they think they need something there, rather than as a service to potential customers.
Overall, Cafe Del Mar Bali’s social media presence could be better.
Other/General Comments
With a name like Cafe Del Mar’s to live up to, we think each location around the world should be setting a standard for the local clubs to follow.
In the case of Cafe Del Mar Bali, there’s nothing wrong with what they do, there’s just nothing about it that stands out. It feels very generic and that’s not in keeping with the strength of the Cafe Del Mar brand at all.
Our Overall Opinion Of Café Del Mar Bali
We enjoyed our experience at Cafe Del Mar Bali and wouldn’t be too upset to return. But we feel that this legend of Ibiza still ha s a lot to prove down here in the Southern Hemisphere.
The food’s good, the drinks could be stronger, the vibe needs an identity, the pool is clean and the sunset is lovely.
It’s not bad value for money, but we don’t think it’s the kind of place where lasting memories are made, either.
Cafe Del Mar appears in our list of the best clubs in Canggu as well as the best clubs in Bali, but why not find out who ranks above them?
FAQs
Can You Swim At Cafe Del Mar Bali?
Yes, there is a single but spacious infinity pool on the oceanfront facing the Indian Ocean where you can enjoy a swim during the heat of the day as you look out over the beach and waves.
Guests who wish to use the pool must ensure that they have arranged a towel with Cafe Del Mar Bali.
As with all beach clubs on the island, you can’t bring your own towel in with you and trying to use the pool with an outside towel is likely to get you removed from the premises.
What Can You Do At Café Del Mar Bali?
Cafe Del Mar Bali is a beach club which means it’s a place to eat and drink while enjoying pool facilities and entertainment and music.
There’s a bar that serves cocktails, a restaurant making delicious food and a large pool to swim in. They have DJs providing tunes all day long and occasional events including world-class acts.
However, it’s important to note that Cafe Del Mar Bali doesn’t always see amazing sales of tickets at these events and while they are sometimes very crowded, at other times, they may feel a little empty.
You should think carefully before paying a substantial premium to enter Cafe Del Mar Bali for events for this reason.
Is Café Del Mar Bali A Family-Friendly Venue?
Sort of. As the Cafe Del Mar Bali website explains, Cafe Del Mar considers itself to be primarily an adult venue and cocktails from the bar are served throughout the beach club with no restrictions.
There is no special family area, but children may enter Cafe Del Mar Bali with their parents as long as they remain under the supervision of their parents throughout their time in the club.
Entrance to the club is not available to unaccompanied minors and they may not rent a cabana, use the pool, etc. without their parents being present.
Who Owns Café Del Mar Bali?
The Cafe Del Mar brand was founded back in 1980 in Sant Antoni De Portmany on the Mediterranean Spanish island of Ibiza. However, Cafe Del Mar Bali is owned by local investors as a semi-franchise of the original Cafe Del Mar.
Final Thoughts On Our Café Del Mar Bali Review
Cafe Del Mar Bali is not Cafe Del Mar, Sant Antoni De Portmany, Ibiza. While Cafe Del Mar has the basic beach club facilities that you would expect, it’s not the polished performance of a major brand that we’d expect from this name.
Their club presence in Ibiza, Spain is deservedly one of the most famous in the world. Cafe Del Mar Bali has a lot of catching up to do.
