Situated right next to Canggu is the quiet rustic village of Pererenan, which has recently seen a boom in trendy cafes and restaurants. One such is Shelter Restaurant, a contemporary fine dining restaurant helmed by British-born chef Stephen Moore.
Shelter also has a breezy cafe in Seminyak, although its Pererenan counterpart takes on a more laid-back, open architecture that incorporates natural stone, recycled timber, and plants into its space. Come evening, the restaurant is illuminated by candles to create a cosy and intimate atmosphere, where patrons can continue drinking in low-lit corners long after they’ve finished their meal.
The menu here is inspired by Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine, merging both regions’ histories: think spices, smoky flavours, and homely recipes. The restaurant also has vegan-friendly options.
Kick off your meal with their delectable appetisers such as Burrata With Roasted Marmalade (IDR125K++/~S$11.23++), which sees a jiggly burrata sitting atop a bed of molasses crumb, served with pita bread. Our favourite was the Warm Zatar Pretzel (IDR65K++/~S$5.82++), comprising house-made Greek yoghurt and Sumbawa honey. The pretzels were doused lightly with olive oil and sprinkled with zaatar—a blend of savoury dried herbs such as oregano, thyme, and coriander.
If you’re a fan of hummus, we recommend the Whipped Chickpeas (IDR75K++/~S$6.72++) too, served with oven-baked flatbread, lamb kofta AKA Middle Eastern spiced ground lamb, and mint yoghurt.
The mains are dominated by grilled and wood-roasted dishes with the likes of BBQ Pork Loin (IDR160K++/~S$14.33++) and Chermoula Crusted Chicken (IDR145K++/~S$12.99++). The former features tender pork loin marinated in cacao and chipotle for that smoky flavour, and then plated with green vegetables. It also comes with sweet roast apple jam to cut through those meaty flavours.
The crusted chicken is another dish that’s good for sharing. This consists of a mix of herbs and spices, as well as toasted ground hulled sesame. We enjoyed the juicy chicken thighs with their crispy golden skin, as well as the punchy chermoula paste, which had distinctive notes of fresh herbs, ground spices, and zesty lemon.
If you’re here for tipples, have a go at Shelter’s wide variety of cocktails, all especially curated by their in-house award-winning bartender. Try the Asian Gimlet (IDR150K++/~S$13.44++), a concoction of strawberry and green tea-infused gin, or the refreshing Mo-tini (IDR140K++/~S$12.54++), a rum-based cocktail infused with lime and mint.
For more good food in Bali, read our Canggu food guide or Seminyak food guide. For delicious Balinese food closer to home, read our Cumi Bali review for Michelin-approved Indonesian food in Tanjong Pagar
Address: Jalan Pantai Pererenan Nombor 133, Pererenan, Kecamatan Mengwi, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361
Opening hours: Daily 12pm to 12am
Website
Shelter Restaurant is not a halal-certified eatery.
Photos taken by Yi En Chew.
This was a media tasting at Shelter Restaurant.