One of the most popular touristic and food spots within the hidden gem that is Lombok, what is the street food Senggigi scene, how is food in general, and is it worth stopping here for a bit?
We go hot and hard with our in-depth Street Food Senggigi Guide.
What the Senggigi?
Lombok is often compared to Bali, its bigger, more touristic sibling, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have its own charm. With a population of around 3.8 million and separated from Bali by the Lombok Strait, the island is predominantly Sasak in ethnicity and Muslim in religion. Senggigi itself is a coastal town in West Lombok and was once the main tourist hub before the Gili Islands stole the spotlight. It has since mellowed into a more laid-back beach town, with a still-thriving food and nightlife scene, albeit a bit faded from its prime.
Senggigi stretches along the coast with a series of beaches, hotels, and villas, and is about 45 minutes to an hour’s drive from Lombok International Airport. The town is surrounded by green hills, making it one of the more picturesque spots on the island, especially at sunset.
Why come to Senggigi?
Senggigi is not a paradise. It’s not perfect, and that is precisely why it works. Bali might have infinity pools and influencer bars, but Senggigi has that slightly busted charm where things aren’t quite what they seem, in a good way. A little rough around the edges, a little sleepy during the week, but come Friday night, the town’s bars can get pretty wild. There’s also something raw and appealing about it.
It’s cheap, it’s beautiful, and the beach is not overrun. The views are lush, there are volcanoes in the distance, and there’s real food to eat. And unlike some parts of Indonesia, you don’t feel like you’re constantly being sold something. It’s not the place to “be seen”, it’s the place to disappear to for a few days, eat street food, meet oddballs (of which there are many), and take it easy.
Street Food Senggigi Guide
OK, so street food Senggigi! Well, regular readers will know that I am not the biggest fan of Indonesian cuisine, or Indonesian street food, but overall the Senggigi street food scene is pretty diverse and eclectic, at least by Indonesian standards. There is also a small, but interesting, element of Lombok cuisine that influences the street food Senggigi scene.
Click to read about street food in Wamena.
Where to get street food Senggigi Guide?
So, where can you get street food in Senggigi and what should you eat?
Pasar Seni Senggigi (Senggigi Art Market)
This is in “downtown” Senggigi where all the best restaurants, bars and nightlife are (including my favorite restaurant). And as the market element suggests, you can also buy tourist crap here. Down by the market, the beach and on the main street you will find ladies selling satay, pisang goreng (fried bananas) and grilled seafood.
Senggigi View Point
This viewpoint of Senggigi Beach truly comes alive as the sun starts to go down and the staple of Indonesian street food, the bike-pulled carts, start to arrive. Jagung Bakar AKA grilled corn is a real favorite here, as are beef satay served with Lombok sambal (hot sauce). Vendors throw down blankets here and it makes a great place to hang out that is walkable to town.
The Beaches of Senggigi
The street food Senggigi, or rather beach food Senggigi scene, is also pretty epic, with stalls and sellers coming out in the late afternoon and early evening to service people as the sun goes down. Food tends to be simpler on the beach, but you can still find satay and the like here.
Senggigi Night Market (Pop-up Stalls near the main junction)
Alas, I did not manage to come and try here, with me even being unsure if it still exists. Senggigi seems to have a lot of empty buildings here and while I did like it a lot, the place has obviously seen better days. Apparently, you can get martabak, bakso (meatball soup), mie ayam (chicken noodles), ayam taliwang (Lombok-style spicy grilled chicken) here.
5 Best Restaurants in Senggigi
Senggigi is actually full of restaurants and resorts and this is certainly not a place that you will go hungry. Many cuisines are covered, such as Italian, western and even Australian, although you will always find Lombok dishes here.
Best Restaurant in Senggigi – Lotus Bayview
Located down on Senggigi Beach, this “Italian” restaurant has a very eclectic menu that obviously includes Italian fare like pizza, but also a number of Lombok and Indonesian classics. Seafood here is great, with the seafood satay and in particular the tuna carpaccio being pretty epic.
Willy’s Bar and Grill
A mainstay in the Senggigi scene, this is one of those hybrid places — part expat hangout, part local bar. Cold beers, solid grilled food, and you can get Aussie-style steak here too. Also screens sports and has a solid pool table setup.
Garden Restaurant
Aussie-run and Aussie-loved. Plays AFL games and is generally a solid spot for a fry-up or proper western-style meal. The cocktails are also among the best in town, with an atmosphere that’s chill without being dead.
Café Alberto
Located right on the beach, this one doubles as a guesthouse and restaurant. Italian-inspired menu with an Indonesian twist. Really nice seafood dishes, especially the calamari and grilled prawns.
Asmara Restaurant
A bit more “sit-down” than some others on the list, but worth the visit. Fusion of Indonesian, German and Western cuisine. Bit random, but in a good way. They also make their own sausages, which is rare for these parts.
5 Must Try Street Food Senggigi Dishes
Unlike in other locales, there is a real indigenous street food scene in Lombok and thus a few dishes you really must try. Here are our must-try street food Senggigi dishes.
Ayam Taliwang
Grilled chicken marinated in chili, garlic, shrimp paste, and lime juice. In my experience this tends to be really tender rather than overcooked as you see in the parts of Indonesia. Look for local eateries advertising “original recipe” (Asli Taliwang).
Sate Rembiga
Spiced beef skewers marinated in galangal, chili, and brown sugar that is cooked over charcoal.
Ikan Bakar Lombok Style
Grilled fish, typically snapper or tuna, coated in sambal and served with rice. Best had beachside — such as at Lotus Bayview. Also best when cooked lightly rather than overdone.
Plecing Kangkung
Water spinach served cold with a sambal made of tomato, chili, and shrimp paste. Apparently goes well with Ikan Bakar, but I have to say it was not my bag, baby.
Jagung Bakar
Whole corn cobs grilled over charcoal, slathered with a mix of margarine, chili, sweet soy sauce (kecap manis), garlic, and sometimes lime. An actually interesting take on corn on the cob! Particularly compared to China.
Nightlife of Senggigi – Top 5 Bars in Senggigi
The internet says many things about the nightlife of Senggigi, but also most of it is wrong — very wrong. Weekends are not all that busy and “clubs” such as Paradise seem not to actually exist. Another example of wrong information was “The Office Senggigi,” which while open during the day was closed on Friday night.
There are though enough places to get your booze on if that is your desire.
Happy Café Senggigi
A backpacker and expat legend of a venue. Has great live music and it would appear that every foreigner in the town comes here on a Friday night. Seemingly the place to make friends.
Garden Restaurant
Mentioned above for food, but worth listing again. Great for cocktails and becomes more of a bar scene later in the evening. You’ll see a mix of locals, expats, and people who’ve maybe stayed too long.
Willys Bar and Grill
Mentioned above, but again — a top bar to watch footy, drink cold beer, and get into random conversations with fellow travelers.
Capo Kitchen and Lounge
Looked very exclusive from the outside, as well as extremely loud and busy. Apparently another great place to make friends and influence people.
Marina Café
Trendy-ish and one of the newer spots to check out in town. Great cocktails, decent music, and a small upstairs area with a view of the main street. Feels more “bar” than “restaurant.”
Where to sleep in Senggigi
Senggigi offers a wide range of accommodation, from budget guesthouses to beachside resorts. Top pick goes to Dive Resort Lombok, known for its unbeatable location right on the beach, clean modern rooms, and on-site dive center perfect for exploring the local reefs. For backpackers, Windy Beach Guesthouse provides affordable comfort with a chill vibe.
Mid-range options like Puri Bunga Beach Cottages offer traditional charm and sea views. If you’re after something more upscale, Katamaran Resort delivers luxury without the Bali price tag. Most places are within walking distance to the beach, bars, and the street food Senggigi scene.
Getting in and out of Senggigi Guide
Senggigi is about 1.5 hours from Lombok International Airport by car, depending on traffic. It’s also an easy jump-off point to the Gili Islands, with Bangsal Harbour being about 45 minutes away. You can also arrange boat transport via Teluk Nare, which is more “private charter” style.
If you’re coming from Bali, fast boats from Padang Bai land in Gili Trawangan, and from there you can hop across by local boat or speedboat to Lombok. Senggigi is a convenient stopover for those going between Gili, Kuta Lombok, and Mataram, the capital city.
Conclusion on Street Food Senggigi Guide
For many, Senggigi and indeed Lombok are just transit points getting you to the Gili Islands, but in actuality this place offers a whole heap more.
Food-wise, the Street Food Senggigi, and indeed restaurant scene, I would opine has more flavour and variety than even Bali. Overall, this is not just a great place to visit, but long may it remain a hidden gem.
Click to check out my Indonesian Tours with Young Pioneer Tours.