The Fisherman’s Club is part of the swish Andaz Bali by Hyatt resort complex in Sanur and the emphasis at this club is less on “party” and more on “fresh fish”.
They boast that the local fishermen deliver directly to the restaurant so that they can then grill them on coconut husks which is a traditional Balinese way to BBQ.
Intrigued by this proposition our team decided to sally forth and see if the Fisherman’s Club was the kind of place that we’d like to hang out in and this is what they discovered.
Introduction – Getting To Fisherman’s Club
Getting to Sanur is straightforward enough and it’s not all that expensive to jump in a Grab or Gojek to reach this resort.
You can also take your own transport as there’s plenty of parking onsite at the resort and it’s free to use for guests of any part of the complex.
However, Bali traffic can be a nightmare and if you’re travelling any distance to get to the Fisherman’s Club, you will want to allow plenty of time to ensure that you keep your reservation.
Once you arrive at the resort, as you’d expect at any 5-star hotel, you will be ushered inside to a table almost immediately, in a friendly and professional fashion.
Where Is Fisherman’s Club? Jl. Danau Tamblingan No.89a, Sanur, Denpasar Selatan, Kota Denpasar, Bali 80228
Website: Hyatt
Opening Hours: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, except Nyepi
What’s Inside Fisherman’s Club?
Fisherman’s Club is an upmarket restaurant with dining and bar facilities. It is an attractive open-air design building with outdoor dining areas too.
Our Review Breakdown For Fisherman’s Club
We review every beach club in Bali in the exact same fashion. This allows us to be consistent and fair to the owners of the beach clubs by offering clear criteria for assessment.
It also means that our readers can enjoy a series of reviews that are very easy to use to compare and contrast two different beach clubs (or more).
Our team visits a beach club, though we don’t send everyone at the same time or even on the same day most of the time, and then they rank that beach club from 1 (worst) to 5 (best) in the categories found below.
After everyone on the team has crafted their opinion and rating, the team meets up to discuss the beach club and to vote on the final score in each category.
Then, one member from the team is assigned to write up the review. They take into account the discussion and the voting on the final scores.
Once this is done, the review goes live on our site, where it will remain for, at least, one year, before we return to re-review a club and make any changes as necessary.
Pre-Club Advertising
It’s fair to say that we haven’t seen any advertisements for the Fisherman’s Club in Sanur. We’re sure that the hotel advertises and that people probably stumble across its Google listings but they’re certainly not making any real effort to ensure that the place is full.
This may not be a big deal if you want peace and quiet, but many people appreciate the social aspects of dining out when they’re on holiday, particularly at a beach bar and that requires other people.
Without any advertising, there’s no guarantee of that and it’s a shame, particularly, when a facility is as nice as this one.
Location
We like Sanur, it’s easy enough to get to and it’s an attractive place that makes it a popular destination for families seeking somewhere a little less pricey than Nusa Dua and a little less busy than Canggu, Seminyak, etc.
We don’t love the drive from the rest of the island, mind you, but there’s very little we can do about the Bali traffic and nor can the venue. However, we would stay in the area if you want to get the most out of your time in Sanur rather than spend a whole day in traffic.
The Fisherman’s Club is beach front and has a lovely view out over the ocean and we like that there’s onsite parking and a choice of seating.
Booking Process & Seating Options
We commend the Hyatt for taking some care and installing a decent booking system for this restaurant. We get very frustrated by the absence of booking facilities at beach clubs in Bali.
This booking system is very easy to use, you choose the place, the number of guests, the date and time and then you can even pick which area of the club you want to sit in.
However, you can’t choose your precise seat, only a rough location. We’d also note that reservations made through this system are only held for 15 minutes, if you’re later than that – they may give away your seat as they see fit.
Entry Fee
In keeping with the best practices for beach clubs in Bali, this beach club does not have an entrance fee.
We don’t believe that there’s any reason for a beach club to charge you to come in and take a look around and decide if the vibe’s right for you.
You will, of course, have to pay for any food or drink you consume, but there’s no additional fee on top.
Minimum Spend
There is no minimum spend at The Fisherman’s Club and while, at first glance, that may feel like a good thing, there is a downside to this.
While you are not obligated to spend any minimum amount, you also don’t pay a deposit and that means there’s zero incentive for them to hold your table if you are a few minutes late.
In fact, as we’ve already mentioned, 15 minutes late means they can give your table away at this restaurant.
We’d be pretty miffed if we travelled across Bali to get here, got caught in traffic and then had no seat to use.
Welcome And Security
As you’d expect from a 5-star hotel of this calibre the welcome is second to none and you will feel valued and at home from the start.
However, there are no bag checks and while we appreciate this may suit their upscale vibe, we like bag checks.
They help to ensure that everyone is safe and protected and it’s not hard to incorporate a security process that gets the job done without leaving people feeling threatened.
Inclusions
There’s no minimum spend, no entrance fee and this is a restaurant and not a beach club (marketing aside) and that means there’s nothing included for free at all.
We would note that because this is not really a beach club, there are no towels or shower facilities to be had, so while you can swim in the ocean here, you may not want to unless you brought a towel and don’t mind being covered in sand until you can get home and shower.
Service
This is a 5-star hotel establishment and it’s part of an international chain. Not only do you get the kind of Balinese hospitality that you’d expect from any place on the island but it’s highly polished and professional too.
We found the staff to be kind, attentive and efficient and to have good knowledge of the menu and other offerings.
Entertainment
It’s a restaurant and not a party restaurant at that. So, there’s nothing in the way of entertainment here, a little piped background music but really a focus on conversation and the sound of the ocean.
And while that doesn’t get a high score in this category, it’s just fine with us. Sometimes, you just want to chill over a good meal.
Pool Quality
As there is no pool at the Fisherman’s Club, it won’t come as a surprise that they score the lowest possible score in this category.
Hotel guests may access the pools in other parts of the resort, but if you only come to dine, then you won’t get access to the pools.
Menu/Drinks Pricing
How fresh is the sea food at Fisherman’s Club? Well, mostly you pick it out of a tank and then they cook it for you, it doesn’t get any fresher than that, really.
However, it does mean that it tends to be pretty expensive and as this is a 5-star hotel, that’s “very expensive” for Sanur.
Food And Drink Quality
We think the price tag is justified both by the setting and by the quality of the food. While there’s no doubt you need to be a seafood eater to really enjoy this place (there are only a couple of non-fish options on the menu) but if you do, you’re going to love it.
It’s one of the best places to eat seafood BBQ outside of Jimbaran (which is legendary for this kind of food).
Sunset View
Sanur doesn’t do sunsets. It’s on the wrong side of the island and while there is a lovely sunrise in this part of the world, Fisherman’s Club isn’t open for it.
That doesn’t mean that the view is terrible, it’s actually quite lovely, but there’s no doubt that a Bali sunset is a special touch that people travel a long way for and it’s not to be found here.
Music And Ambiance
They pipe in their music at Fisherman’s Club and that’s OK. It’s a restaurant and it’s meant to serve as a backdrop to conversation rather than be a main event.
That’s fine, we don’t need a banging playlist while we eat dinner by the seaside.
Payment Options
They take cash and all major credit cards at this location, but we didn’t see any adverts for QRIS payments and that’s a bit of a shame because if you’ve got a local bank account, it’s the best way to settle a bill.
Exit Process
This is a restaurant rather than a beach club and while it’s not “small”, you’re not going to have any trouble following your footsteps back to the front door.
When you do leave, you can be picked up at the front and the staff will wish you a hearty goodbye. It’s a very positive last impression of the Fisherman’s Club.
Transportation
Sanur is pretty good for transport, though it’s a bit less busy than Canggu, Seminyak, etc. there’s not that much in it and you shouldn’t wait for too long for a Grab or Gojek to take you home at any time of the day.
Social Media Presence
With only 15 posts on the Instagram account, none of which manage to feature a single person in the Fisherman’s Club, I think we have to say that the Hyatt clearly doesn’t rate Instagram as a means of connecting with their customers.
That might be fair enough, as we don’t know what the demographics of Instagram are for their audience, but really, this is one of the worst efforts that we’ve ever seen.
There are warungs with a budget of 1,000 IDR a year for their marketing and they do better than this.
It’s a shame too as this is a restaurant that is worth showcasing on social media and it doesn’t take a lot of effort to give people an accurate picture of what they can expect inside a venue.
For a huge hotel chain, this is really disappointing. It wouldn’t stop us from going, but it offers no additional encouragement to visit, whatsoever.
Other/General Comments
It’s not a beach club, it’s a restaurant and that’s OK. Fisherman’s Club is exactly what you’d expect from a BBQ restaurant run by a 5-star hotel chain.
If that’s what you’re in the mood for, it won’t disappoint and if you’re looking for a beach club, choose a different venue.
Our Overall Opinion Of Fisherman’s Club
Fisherman’s Club is a great example of why you shouldn’t just let review scores be the be all and end all of a review.
This is an excellent restaurant by the sea and if you’re in the mood for some fresh seafood, you can’t go wrong.
No, it’s not a beach club, but that’s OK, we all get hungry, right? Yes, it’s a bit expensive for Sanur but the value in the quality of ingredients, ambience and service is there to justify it.
We wouldn’t travel from our side of the island for this place, but that’s because Jimbaran is closer to us but if we were in Sanur, we’d stop in for dinner without thinking twice particularly if we had something to celebrate.
FAQs
Can You Swim At Fisherman’s Club?
No, there is no pool at Fisherman’s Club. However, there is beach access and you can swim to your heart’s content in the ocean on Sanur beach.
Swimming in the sea is free of charge and quite safe as the area is shielded from tidal currents by a reef. Many families choose Sanur for their holidays because of this.
However, this is a 5-star hotel restaurant and it doesn’t provide any towels or shower facilities if you decided to jump in the drink for a splash about.
So, make sure to take a towel with you and be aware that drying down is easy enough, but washing any sand, etc. off will have to wait until you go home.
Guests of the hotel may, of course, use the hotel’s pool but those who just come for dinner are not able to access these facilities.
What Can You Do At Fisherman’s Club?
You can eat and drink at the Fisherman’s club while enjoying a pleasant view of Sanur Beach. While the hotel describes this restaurant as a “beach club vibe”, there are no daybeds, there is no pool and there is definitely no party vibe.
However, if you want a seafood BBQ restaurant in Sanur, there’s no doubt that the Fisherman’s Club excels in that respect and you should be able to enjoy a tasty meal.
Is Fisherman’s Club A Family-Friendly Venue?
Yes, as with nearly all 5-star hotels in Bali, children are welcome throughout the resort and the local staff will be genuinely delighted to see them.
However, there are no special facilities for kids in this restaurant area and there’s nowhere for them to run around, either.
So, if your kids are coming to eat with you, that should be fine, but if you were hoping for a few hours of peace while the kids keep themselves entertained, this is not the venue for you.
Who Owns Fisherman’s Club?
The Fisherman’s Club is part of Andaz Bali which is a resort which forms part of the multinational chain, the Hyatt Group.
Their management team consists of both local and international staff.
Final Thoughts On Fisherman’s Club
The Fisherman’s Club is not really a beach club by any commonly held definition and while the management of this resort say it has a “beach club vibe”, we can only assume that they mean it’s outdoors in a very open-air style setting.
Putting that aside, however, The Fisherman’s Club is an excellent oceanfront restaurant in Sanur and it probably offers the best seaside BBQ outside of Jimbaran.
There’s something very pleasant about tucking into the catch of the day, straight off the grill as you enjoy the ocean breeze and sounds of the waves. It’s just a shame it’s on the wrong side of the island for sunset.
Overall, if you take it for what it is, you’ll enjoy a meal out at Fisherman’s Club, but don’t expect to hang out all day without getting bored.
