Seminyak restaurant suffers fire

Talking to a Seminyak bar owner recently, I learned that while some businesses are sucking wind right now, others are doing well. Location and timing, seem to be 2 huge factors in determining success.

Take for example the closing of Run Jungle in Legian. In one form or another, it has been a part of the Bali tourist scene for 25 years. Legian is now ‘deadville’ as far a Aussie tourists are concerned, and its hard to run a business when your bread and butter doesn’t show up.

Jl. Dhyana Pura in Seminyak is always a busy late night street, but there have been some closers there too. These include Liqyuid, Spy Bar and Tu Bar. In there place others have opened, including gay-friendly Kwin. Further up the street Santa Fe and Galaxy continue to rake in the custmers.

A couple of days ago there was a fire at Lanai, formerly Benny’s, on Blue Ocean beach. It affected both Lanai and popular Italian restaurant, Zanzibar. Both are now closed. Blue Ocean beach is a mixing pot for trendy tourists and expats. The beach is still busy, its just that now there are not many places to eat. Main beneficiaries are the beach vendors who sell beer, and Blue Ocean. Ika, Jevon and I, ate at Blue Ocean last night and it was packed. The food is pretty good and many of the Lanai / Zanzibar regulars have moved over.

Let’s hope the fire damage can be fixed and things are back in business soon