Pavilion Surf Club evokes hints of the easy-going surf culture of Bali and if you can get a seat on their open-air balcony as the waves roll ashore then you’re guaranteed to enjoy some sweeping water views over dinner.
However, we wanted to see if Pavilion Surf Club evokes the same kind of experience as a beach club. So, our intrepid review team decided to head to Pavilion Surf Club and find out. This is what they learned.
Introduction – Getting To Pavilion Surf Club
You can find Pavilion Surf Club very easily as it’s on the beachfront at Legian Beach. This is an easy location to get to from most of the island and while the traffic might delay your journey – that’s true of everywhere in Bali.
There is no onsite parking and if you drive, you will need to find a spot to park – which might be some walk away. Grab and Gojek, however, are free to drop you outside.
We recommend that you go up the stairs when you arrive to enjoy the unbeatable views from the open-air balcony while you relax.
Where Is Pavilion Surf Club? Jl. Pantai Double Six No.10, Legian, Kuta, Kec. Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia
Website: Pavilion Surf Club
Opening Hours: 8 a.m. to 12 a.m. daily except Nyepi
What’s Inside Pavilion Surf Club?
You can eat and drink at this spot in Bali while you enjoy unbeatable views of the water as the waves roll onto Legian Beach. There is no pool or any other facilities.
Our Review Breakdown For Pavilion Surf Club
We endeavour to rank every beach club in Bali in a similar fashion to ensure that we treat each business fairly and so that our readers can rely on us to deliver a consistent experience that allows them to easily compare venues.
That means that our team visits the place and ranks it against each of the 20 criteria listed below. They do not all visit on the same day or at the same time.
Then, they meet up at a later date and discuss their various experiences and vote on a final grade in each category.
One member of the team is then nominated to write up the review and once it’s published, it remains on our site for a period of, at least, one year before we revisit the club and amend the review as necessary.
Pre-Club Advertising
Pavilion Surf Club doesn’t do a lot of advertising, at least, not that we’ve seen. We do think that places should put effort into advertising as it helps to ensure that they are full and busy.
However, we’ve been to Pavilion Surf Club quite a few times in the last year or so and it’s never anything other than busy. So, they may feel that they don’t really need to advertise at the moment.
Location
Legian Beach is a great spot on the Indian Ocean and it’s one of the most popular tourist destinations in Bali.
It’s a very easy place to get to and you won’t have to explore too far if you’re staying in one of the other major beach towns.
Once you get to Pavilion Surf Club, you will have easy access to the beach and to the waves lapping against the shore.
Booking Process & Seating Options
We have to congratulate Pavilion Surf Club for having a very good booking system in place on their website. This is a fantastic example of a small place investing in the right technology to boost the customer experience.
You can select a date, how many people will be there, where you would like to sit and the time and book easily.
The only thing missing is a map layout of the venue, but overall, this is a facility that is better than at many of the big beach clubs.
Entry Fee
Pavilion Surf Club does not charge an entrance fee and we fully support that. We don’t believe any venue in Bali should be charging an entrance fee unless they have a special artist or event on which they need to cover the attendance fee of the artist.
Otherwise, you should be able to walk in, take a seat and enjoy meals and drinks without any other obligation except to pay for the things that you have ordered or consumed.
Minimum Spend
There is also no minimum spend required at Pavilion Surf Club and to be fair, we wouldn’t expect one either given that there’s no special seating – it’s all restaurant-style seats.
However, the downside of no minimum spend means that Pavilion Surf Club won’t feel obliged to hold your seats forever, particularly if they have guests waiting in a queue for them.
So, you will need to make sure that you reach this location on time for your reservation or risk losing your seats.
Welcome And Security
The staff will give you a friendly welcome at the Pavilion Surf Club and that’s about as far as things go, you will be expected to find your own seats.
There’s no security check and to be fair to the Pavilion Surf Club, there isn’t normally a security check in a restaurant here in Bali. But, we confess we still like security checks – they ensure that you’re in a safe environment and they don’t cost much to implement.
Inclusions
You can use the Wi-Fi for free at the Pavilion Surf Club but otherwise, there are no inclusions. We’re not sure what you’d want included, mind you.
With no pool or other facilities, there’s not much you need beyond the Wi-Fi and the whole easy going surf culture vibe doesn’t lend itself to tiers of inclusions based on who can pay, either.
Service
The service at Pavilion Surf Club evokes the feel of real Bali and you will recieve good service from locals who understand your needs and how their business works.
Sure, it’s not on par with the service in 5-star hotels or the best beach clubs in Bali, but it’s still very good and your order will be taken and your food delivered in a reasonable timescale.
Entertainment
They do have occasional live music at this place, but mostly your entertainment will be the conversation from the friends and/or family members that you brought with you.
That and the unbeatable views over the ocean from the open-air balcony, assuming you managed to grab a seat in that area.
Pool Quality
There is no pool of any kind at the Pavilion Surf Club and that means no swimming. You can, in theory, swim on Legian Beach but we wouldn’t recommend it.
It’s a popular surfing spot because of the waves, but the current can be vicious in this area and swimmers, even strong ones, could be pulled out to sea.
Menu/Drinks Pricing
There are plenty of bargains to be had on the menu and regular special offers. As we go to press, for example, you can get a 250g steak for 100,000 IDR (that’s about $6 USD or $10 AUD) – that’s a steal for anywhere in Bali.
There are also regular drinks promotions, where you can get beers or cocktails for cheap and even outside of happy hour, etc. they are very reasonably priced.
Food And Drink Quality
We can’t imagine the Pavilion Surf Club winning any awards for culinary excellence but it serves hearty food in decent portions and it’s all tasty enough.
The drinks are well-mixed and more than strong enough too. Overall, this place represents excellent value for money, particularly if you’re on a tight budget.
Sunset View
The sunset on this side of the island is always stunning and the sweeping water views over Legian Beach from the open-air balcony at the Pavilion Surf Club are first-rate.
You can’t however, see the sunset everywhere inside the venue and you do need to book the right seating if you want to enjoy Bali’s most famous spectacle.
Music And Ambiance
The music is piped in most of the time, though they do have live events. Mostly it’s inoffensive rock/pop aimed at the clientele (who are slightly older than the crowd in many beach clubs) who seem to enjoy it well enough.
It’s a great spot to kick back and relax or even have a small birthday party.
Payment Options
You can pay easily enough with cash or a card at this place, but we didn’t see any facility for QRIS or e-wallet payments which is a shame.
Exit Process
The Pavilion Surf Club is a small venue and you simply go back out the way that you came in. You will be wished a warm farewell as you leave.
Transportation
Legian Beach is easy to get to, though parking can be a pain if you’re driving yourself and you may need to walk quite a distance from your car to the Pavilion Surf Club.
Grab and Gojek can pick you up from right outside this venue and drop you off there too. However, given the location on a busy street – you may need to wait a while for your ride.
Social Media Presence
The Instagram account for Pavilion Surf Club exists and it has some content, it’s a bit promotional but it gives you a decent idea of what to expect when you visit.
Other/General Comments
The Pavilion Surf Club is not a beach club, it’s a beach side restaurant with unbeatable views at sunset over the waves.
Our Overall Opinion Of Pavilion Surf Club
If you want a spot for a sensibly priced lunch or dinner in the Legian area, the Pavilion Surf Club is an excellent spot and we regularly join friends there for a meal.
We wouldn’t travel from the opposite side of the island for it, mind you, but it’s a good spot for sundowners if you’re in the area.
FAQs
Can You Swim At Pavilion Surf Club?
No, there is no pool at Pavilion Surf Club and while you can swim on Legian Beach, the beach isn’t directly adjacent to the restaurant.
It’s a place to come and relax with friends after you watch the locals and surfers on the beach.
What Can You Do At Pavilion Surf Club?
You can eat meals, drink everything from coffee to cocktails and take a moment to relax away from the hustle and bustle of the local area. Kick back and join some friends.
Is Pavilion Surf Club A Family-Friendly Venue?
Yes, you can bring your kids to the Pavilion Surf Club. However, it’s not famous for offering any special facilities for children and you will need to make sure that your family sits together and doesn’t run around upsetting other customers.
Who Owns Pavilion Surf Club?
The Brown family from Australia runs the Pavilion Surf Club. They’ve done an excellent job of keeping the place open given that they began operating during the pandemic!
Final Thoughts On Pavilion Surf Club
The Pavilion Surf Club is, first and foremost, a beachside restaurant in the Legian Beach area and while it won’t be on anyone’s list of top fine dining destinations – it offers tasty food for reasonable prices.
It doesn’t compare to the best beach clubs, but that’s OK, it fills a different niche in the beachside eco-system and whenever we’re in this area, we stop by the Pavilion Surf Club for a nice meal and a few beers.
