Well, we embarked on our tour of Bali’s beach clubs in late 2024, and we find ourselves finishing our first lap in mid-2025 at Ocean, a beach club in Discovery Mall, Kuta, Bali.
Our team is very happy to have explored over 100 beach clubs in their efforts to bring you reviews of every facility here in Bali, and this is what they learned at Ocean @ Discovery in their last major foray until they go back to do it all over again.
Introduction – Getting To Ocean @ Discovery
If you look at Google Maps, then you’ll see that Discovery Shopping Mall is very close to the main beach towns and to Denpasar Airport, and, in theory, it ought to be very easy to get here.
Sadly, those maps don’t show you the traffic that you’re going to have to endure to get to Discovery Mall. This is one of the busiest parts of the island, and that means what looks like a 30-minute drive might be an hour or even two, particularly at peak times.
So, be prepared for a crawl all the way to the front door of the mall. Of course, once you’re at the mall, you’ll need to do some walking to get to Ocean.
There is plenty of parking at Discovery Mall, but if you’re coming by Grab or Gojek, you can get dropped off fairly close to the front door.
It’s not too hard to find Ocean inside, but we did have to ask for directions once or twice to be certain we were on the right track.
Where Is Ocean @ Discovery? Discovery Shopping Mall, Jl. Kartika Plaza, Kuta, Kec. Kuta, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361
Website: Ocean
Opening Hours: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, except Nyepi
What’s Inside Ocean @ Discovery?
Ocean at Discovery is a restaurant with a view over the ocean. There are various tables to sit at and food and drink options on the menu.
This is not a beach club in the traditional sense, and there are no swimming pools, entertainment, etc. to enjoy here.
Our Review Breakdown For Ocean @ Discovery
We review every beach club in Bali in exactly the same manner. This allows us to be certain that we’re treating the owners and management of the places we review fairly and equally.
It also means that we’re able to deliver reviews in a consistent format that allows our readers to quickly compare different places without any hassle.
The process that we follow is this:
- Every person on the team must visit the beach club. They don’t all have to go together, at the same time, or even on the same day, but everyone has to go.
- Every person on the team must review the beach club against the criteria laid out below. They rank the beach club from (1) worst to (5) best in a series of categories.
- The team must meet up to discuss their experiences. Once everyone has been to the beach club, we bring the team together to discuss what they experienced and to vote on final grades for each category.
- One member of the team must write up the review. The review must reflect the discussions and experiences of our whole team and the final grades as agreed upon.
- The review is then published. Once it goes live on our website, it remains in place for a period of at least one year before we revisit the beach club and change scores, comments, etc., as required.
Pre-Club Advertising
We feel that pre-club advertising is an essential part of running a good beach club. It helps to pull the crowds in the door and gives the experience a really good social feel.
Now, we totally understand that this is a “beach club” in one of the most popular shopping malls in Bali, and it probably does OK for foot traffic, but we still haven’t seen any ads online or offline for this place.
And so, we’re unable to award it any points in this category.
Location
OK, Kuta’s not a bad place to be, even if the beach isn’t at its finest at the moment, but the traffic grind to get to the mall is a real annoyance.
And once you’re there, slogging through the mall to find it is also a minor inconvenience.
Having said that, once you’re in position, this place has a fabulous view out over the ocean, and there aren’t many places in this area that can rival it.
Booking Process & Seating Options
There is a booking system which is available directly from the website of Ocean, which, to be fair to them, already puts them in the top half of beach clubs here in Bali.
However, it’s a little bit basic, and while you can reserve a time slot and a table big enough for your party, you can’t specify where you want to be seated (it would be even better if you could pick your seat from a map).
Overall, it’s a decent effort, and you will get a written confirmation of your reservation and also a warning that if you’re late, they will give your seat away.
Entry Fee
In keeping with all the best beach clubs in Bali, Ocean does not charge an entrance fee. Given that this is a restaurant in a mall, we think if it did, it would swiftly go out of business.
However, we don’t hold with entrance fees wherever they may be; beach clubs should open the doors and let people walk in to take a look around for free.
Charging you for this privilege is not OK, and we’re glad that Ocean doesn’t do anything of the kind.
Minimum Spend
There is no minimum spend at Ocean either, and generally for this kind of setup, we feel that’s OK. It’s a restaurant and the practice of minimum spending tends to fall to beach clubs rather than restaurants.
However, when places don’t charge a minimum spend, they don’t take a deposit for your seat and that means if you’re late, they are incentivised to give your seat to someone else waiting for it.
We’d like to be able to lock in a seat wherever we go, because travel here in Bali is a pain at times, and we don’t want to miss out, because the traffic makes us 15 minutes late.
Welcome And Security
You will be warmly welcomed at this beach club when you arrive and shown to your seat with the minimum of fuss.
There is no security on the door and as you know, we like a bag search as we think it helps to keep places safe.
However, you will be searched as you enter Discovery Mall, so that’s something, at least.
Inclusions
There are no inclusions with your table but with no entrance fee, no minimum spend needed and no swimming pool – you can’t really expect much, either.
In fact, we’re not sure what they could reasonably include here, but we can’t give any points for nothing, either.
Service
The service here is very much local Balinese hospitality all the way. While the menu may be Western, the warmth and sincerity of the staff is all Eastern.
It’s not the most polished production, mind you, but that’s OK. The staff is a credit to the establishment and that’s all that matters.
Entertainment
This is a mall restaurant and as such, it’s not set up for parties and that means no entertainment of any kind is on offer at Ocean.
Pool Quality
Also, as a mall restaurant, they don’t seem to have been allowed to install a swimming pool. This is probably a good thing as it means the mall won’t get accidentally flooded one day, but it also means you can’t swim here.
There is also no beach access from Ocean, so you can’t go swimming in the sea either.
Menu/Drinks Pricing
Unfortunately, when you’re inside a mall, you can’t really charge the prices that local warungs do, or you’d be out of business.
There’s a good range of offerings on the menu here both Western and some tasty seafood, but there’s no doubt that it’s quite pricey for what it is too.
The alcohol pricing is about the same as most other places in Bali, mind you, it’s not excessive.
Food And Drink Quality
The food was tasty enough and the portions were large. We doubt that Ocean will ever be nominated for any awards for its menu items, but you’ll leave happy enough that you ate there and full enough that you won’t go looking for a snack straight after dinner.
The drinks are strong enough and decently poured though the presentation won’t win any awards for Instagrammable drinks, either.
Sunset View
This is one of the best parts of Bali for sunset watching. Sadly, the sunset isn’t visible from everywhere in Ocean and you should make sure to request a seat with a view.
Sunsets are a key part of the island experience for us and every time you can witness one, you really should.
Music And Ambience
The music in this place is piped in and it is pleasantly inoffensive. You won’t remember much of it 2 hours after you’ve left the place, but it won’t annoy you while you eat.
This is a backdrop for conversation rather than for entertainment purposes.
Payment Options
We should note that Ocean not only accepts cash and cards, but it also takes QRIS payments and expats and locals will be happy to hear it.
Exit Process
This is a mall restaurant, it’s not big enough to get lost in. Head straight back the way that you came in and you’ll be fine. The staff will wish you farewell as you go.
However, getting back to your vehicle or to the front door of the mall, might take you a little longer.
Transportation
It’s Kuta, there’s no shortage of Grab or Gojek services here, but they may need a little while to get to you while you wait outside the mall in the heat and traffic.
If you drove yourself, getting your vehicle back is easy, getting home is a bit more of a challenge.
Social Media Presence
We actually can’t understand why the social media presence hasn’t been updated when Ocean has clearly had a facelift since the pictures were taken.
It’s much better than it looks on Instagram and their marketing team really should fix this asap.
Other/General Comments
If you come to Ocean expecting a place where you can rest up for a couple of hours after some heavy mall shopping, you won’t be disappointed.
However, if you come expecting a beach club, you won’t find on, it’s very much a mall restaurant.
Our Overall Opinion Of Ocean @ Discovery
The food in Ocean is pretty good, the view over the actual ocean is lovely and the staff are kind and attentive.
It is in a mall, so you can’t expect huge amounts from the place, but what it does, it does pretty well.
Would we travel for Ocean? No. Would we stop in during a shopping spree in Discovery Mall? Yes, if we had time, we would.
FAQs
Can You Swim At Ocean @ Discovery?
No, you cannot swim at Ocean. Ocean is inside the Discovery Mall here in Bali and has no swimming pool as part of the set-up.
You also cannot directly access the beach from here (and even if you could, Ocean won’t have any towels or changing facilities for you to use).
That doesn’t mean you can’t incorporate a swim in the day that you visit Ocean, but you would need to visit the beach first or after you leave.
We should warn you that Kuta Beach is currently in a state of poor repair due to the construction of erosion defences and that it’s not the safest beach in Bali to swim at.
That’s because there are often strong currents in the ocean here that can drag you out to sea, even if you are a strong swimmer. We’d recommend sticking to swimming in your hotel pool rather than risk swimming at this beach.
What Can You Do At Ocean @ Discovery?
You can enjoy food and drink at Ocean in Discovery Mall, Bali. This is very much a mall restaurant with a nice view out over the beach and sea at Kuta.
There are no facilities for partying, swimming, etc., and as such, you should ensure that your expectations are in line with what’s on offer.
Is Ocean @ Discovery A Family-Friendly Venue?
Yes, as you might expect from a restaurant in one of Bali’s largest malls, this place is entirely family-friendly and children are completely welcome throughout the venue.
However, there are no real facilities for children beyond the ability to sit and eat and drink, so if you’re planning to spend a long time at Ocean, you might want to bring them something to entertain themselves with.
And you will be expected to watch your own children both for their own health and safety and to ensure that they do not annoy any other guests.
Who Owns Ocean @ Discovery?
The ownership of Ocean at Discovery Mall is not in the public domain; however, given that the menu is nearly 100% Western, we’d be surprised if this wasn’t owned by a foreign investor in Bali.
Final Thoughts On Ocean @ Discovery
Ocean is a fairly decent mall restaurant with a nice view out over the beach, though the beach itself is currently not in the best state for viewing.
It’s quite expensive, but you’d expect that from the mall setting; they have to pay higher rents than most places here in Bali.
But if you’re in the mood for a few drinks and some food while shopping, it’s just fine. But we wouldn’t recommend travelling to this spot just to eat here, and it’s certainly not what we’d consider to be a beach club.
