For those with a more adventurous palate, try some of the island’s delightful local delicacies; not just safe to eat, but also cheap and tasty. Popular local snacks such as ‘keropok’ (prawn or fish crackers) and kueh lapis (traditional Indonesian layered cake made from spices, butter, sugar and eggs) can be found in abundance on the streets of Bintan and are sold by pushcart vendors.

For something more savoury, ‘soto’ (noodles in slightly spicy broth served with pieces of beef of chicken), ‘gado gado’ (Indonesian vegetable salad), ‘bakso’ (Indonesian meatball soup), ‘sate’ (marinated barbequed pieces of meat skewered through bamboo sticks, served with hot peanut sauce), ‘empal’ (Indonesian fried beef steak), ‘otak otak’ (Indonesian fish cake) and ‘Nasi Uduk’ (lemongrass-scented coconut rice) prove to be the most popular not just with the locals, but also with visitors, due to their mild yet flavoursome tastes.

Tempe’ (fermented soy beans) is also popular here. Versatile and tasty, it can be eaten in various ways – fried crisp as a snack or a side dish, or cooked in gravy or soup as the main meal. Pasar Oleh Oleh at Kota Sebung, near Bintan Resorts, has plenty of excellent restaurants specialising in local dishes, the most popular being Café Helo Helo, Bintan De Light Karaoke & Food Centre, Kota Sebung Pujasera (Hawker Centre) and Kintamani Restaurant & Bar. The Lotus Café at Angsana Resort & Spa Bintan is said to have the best prawn ‘keropok’ on the island, served with a nice bowl of hot and spicy ‘sambal’ (local chilli sauce).

Seafood is cheap, fresh and plentiful on Bintan Island, especially in non-touristy areas. If you’re looking for a unique dining experience, head to a kelong-style restaurants where you can enjoy spectacular sea views as you dine.

Amongst the more popular kelong restaurants are Kelong Restaurant, which has separate al-fresco and air-conditioned dining areas as well as its own bar, and Tun Teja 533 at Teluk Sebung, famous for its spicy mussels and sweet-and-sour squid. Pantai Grill & Bar and The Fisherman’s Table at Angsana Resort & Spa Bintan, as well as Nelayan Grill at Bintan Lagoon Resort, are popular resort restaurants serving freshly-caught seafood barbequed to perfection. A type of seafood dish that one should not miss when visiting Bintan Island is the succulent ‘Gong Gong Sea Snails with Chillies’, a popular local specialty which can only be found around Bintan and Batam.

Bintan Island is a haven of international cuisine. From Western classics to Asian staples, there is something for everyone on this island when it comes to food. Those who prefer their food served up like back home and those who are wary of trying foreign dishes in a foreign land can rest assured that they will not go hungry or run out of choices here. International menus can mainly be found in the bigger resorts, with in-house restaurants serving an extensive range from Japanese to Mediterranean specialties.

Nirwana Gardens offers an astounding range of international offerings through its resorts’ restaurants. There are four international restaurants at Nirwana Resort: Rin Restaurant (Japanese), Coffeeshop (International & Indonesian), Dino Bistro (East-Meets-West fusion) and Jeju (Korean), two at Mayang Sari Beach Resort: Spice (Indian & International) and Belle Ile (French & Mediterranean), one at Nirwana Beach Club (Western & Asian), and one at Indra Maya Villa: Baan Aarya (Thai).

Bintan Lagoon Resort’s Kopi-O serves authentic Asian & Western cuisine, with a themed nation-based evening buffet, while its two other international restaurants, Miyako and Orzo, serve Japanese cuisine and Mediterranean/Italian cuisine respectively. Banyan Tree Resort Bintan has two main international food and beverage outlets: The Cove (Italian, Southern French & Spanish) and Tree Tops (Western, Japanese and Asian fusion).

Opening Hours:
The Cove: Daily 18:30 – 22:30
Tree Tops: Daily 06:30 – 22:30; buffet breakfast 06:30 – 11:00
Address: Jalan Teluk Berembang, Laguna Bintan, Lagoi 29155, Bintan Resorts Read More...

Opening Hours:
Kopi-O: Daily 18:30 – 22:30
Miyako: Daily 12:00 – 14:30 & 17:30 – 22:30
Orzo: Daily 18:30 – 22:30
Address: Jalan Indera Segara, Site A 12, Bintan Utara, Lagoi, Kepri 29155

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Opening Hours:
Rin Restaurant: 11:30 – 14:00 & 17:30 – 22:30
Coffeeshop: 06:30 – 22:30
Dino Bistro: Sunday – Thursday 09:00 – 00:00, Friday – Saturday 09:00 – 01:00
Jeju: Daily 11:00 – 22:30
Spice: Daily 06:30 – 22:30
Belle Ile: Daily 10:00 – 22:30
Nirwana Beach Club: Daily 06:30 – 22:30
Baan Aarya: Weekdays 17:00 – 23:00, Weekends 12:00 – 14:00 & 17:00 – 23:00
Address: Jalan Panglima Pantar, Lagoi 29155, Bintan Resort Read More...