Al Ponte, Nusa Lembongan

Al Ponte is the kind of spot that captures everything you want from a lazy island lunch — sea views, good food, and an unhurried pace. Set right by the channel between Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan, this breezy Italian-owned café serves up honest, home-style cooking with a focus on wood-fired pizzas, garlic prawns, and comforting pasta dishes that don’t try too hard — and don’t need to.

The pizza oven is always going, turning out thin, crispy bases with simple, satisfying toppings, while the garlic prawns (a house favourite) are rich, buttery, and made for sharing. You’ll also find a small pool, plenty of deck space, and views across the seaweed farms and colourful boats drifting between the islands — making it an easy go-to for lunch or sunset snacks.

Tip: Don’t skip the garlic prawns — whether as a starter or on a pizza. There’s a decent wine list, or you can bring your own bottle and pay a small corkage fee.