Stylish Coctails

Two stone statues of the Buddha, head bowed in prayer sit at the entrance of Nero which opens on to the sidewalk of Jalan Legian. The design of the building is striking, and I am not at all surprised to learn that this is the work of renowned architect Giovani D’Ambrosio, who brought us other magnificent buildings such as Macaroni and  VIP.  The cuisine at Nero is Mediterranean, the ambience is contemporary lounge bar, and  the  cocktails,  prepared with style and panache come at very reasonable prices.

I wander around, marveling at the amazing mix of textures in the building materials; wooden panels, carved concrete tiles, slate, pebbles, and granite. The tables are made from coconut wood, and the kitchen, which occupies the centre of the restaurant is hidden behind a wall of mirrors. The design is modern, with a predominantly red and black decor, but the heavy use of stone gives it a touch of the old world.

We sink into plush black sofas and enjoy a round of Moscow Mules. ‘Mules’ were all the rage a few years ago and a Moscow Mule was always one of my favorites. Its been a while, but I am instantly reminded of why this was once my cocktail of choice. The classic taste is a mixture of premium vodka, ginger ale and ample fresh limes. The very pretty Blue Eyes reminds me of a lava lamp with its delightful swirls of  burgundy, pink and blue. This is a sweeter drink but its sweetness masks its lethal content of , four spirits and one liqueur. The Nero Sunrise is a customized version of the famous ‘Tequila Sunrise’ but is made with Arak instead of tequila. On the non alcoholic side of things there is a creamy and thick Mango Smoothy that is an absolute joy to drink.

The cocktail list is vast and includes Jumbo Cocktails, served in a 500 ml carafe, Aperitifs such as Lychee Martini Cosmopolitan and Espresso Martini. A frozen range which incorporates margaritas flavored in Strawberry and Grape. And at the other end of the spectrum, there are flaming shooters as well as wines, beers and top shelf spirits.

The Mezze Platter makes a wonderful accompaniment to our cocktails with its lovely selection of eggplant and zucchini dip, grilled mushrooms, Oriental kebabs, garlic bread, ham and leek rolls and assorted dips. It’s a teaser for an enticing menu that includes pizza and pasta, seafood, kebabs and Asian cuisine.

You can enjoy acoustic jazz on Saturday nights and a Dj spins Retro 80’s music on Thursdays. During our visit the music  is chill out, of the Buddha bar/Caf Del Mar persuasion and suits the mood and atmosphere well. This is a stylish and very comfortable venue with well made, well priced cocktails and great food.\AB



NERO Jalan Legian 384, Kuta, Bali
Ph +62 361 750 756 Open 10am - 12pm Seating 100  Kuta Map C - 1