Starz Diner at Hard Rock Hotel Bali

The Beat takes a look at the Kuta hotel’s Starz Diner which continues shining bright for its legion of fans.
As many others come and go, the iconic Hard Rock Hotel has been keeping watch over Kuta Beach for nearly twenty years. That equates to a lot of guests who need feeding, but for almost two decades The Hard Rock Hotel’s Starz Diner has ably been handling the job. Located just a few steps away from the famous Centerstage lobby area, the huge restaurant features ample seating both indoors and out, with extensive buffet options that cover breakfast and dinner, and an a la carte menu filling in for the lunch session.

In-keeping with the Hard Rock’s rep as a global brand, the theme at Starz Diner offers a taste of nations – with a particular focus on Indonesian/Balinese, Indian and Chinese cuisine. Working under Executive Chef Joachim Kreisel, an international team of specialist chefs – each one bringing their own local expertise to the kitchen – ensures that everything remains as authentic as can be. For example Balinese chef Pak Putra, who has worked at Hard Rock for over five years, uses recipes for his native dishes passed down to him from his grandmother. One of these is the phenomenal Ayam Betutu (125k++) – a Balinese classic of steamed chicken in spices, long beans, sambal chili served with rice. It’s a staple on the buffet, but is also available to order up a la carte during lunchtime throughout the week.


To double down on the Bali eats, check out Wednesdays at Starz Diner, which is dedicated to another local favourite: Babi Guling or suckling pig – also cooked up the traditional way by Pak Putra. He even has his own family-run warung out in the Batu Bulan area of Denpasar – worth looking out for if you’re headed out that way. Stopping by Starz early afternoon, I decide to check out the much-recommended betutu, while my buddy goes for the Sop Buntut (135k++) – tender boiled oxtail in a rich broth with veggies, fresh lime and green chili sambal. Both go down a treat, as does the massive slice of Oreo Cheesecake (60k++), which we split.

The dinner buffet kicks off at 6.30pm and runs until 9.30pm – meaning a whole three hours of grazing for just 250k++/person (50% off for kids under 12). Expect all the Indonesian classics alongside Chinese, Indian and European options like the hugely popular live cooking station that serves up up pasta dishes and other tasty morsels. Savvy diners should take advantage of the Starz Diner’s ‘early bird’ offer, where booking the day before you dine means the cost is just 175k++/person. Ramp it up to the F&B package (500k++/person) for a selection of free-flow beers, wines, cocktails and soft drinks to really make an evening of it.
Dan Ashcroft
Starz Diner at Hard Rock Hotel Bali
Jl. Pantai Kuta, Kuta
T. 761 869 | bali.hardrockhotels.net