Page 12 - AHATA

A9
LOCAL Friday 17 May 2024

The Bali Restaurant: a touristic hot spot and lost gem on the island

(Oranjestad)—Once lo-
cated in what is now the
Renaissance Marina, the
Bali Restaurant was once
both a touristic and local
hot spot, and nowadays
it’s considered a forgotten
gem on the island.

Known as “the floating res-
taurant”, Bali first opened
in 1955 by Willem “Bill”
Strijland, who had experi-
ence in Javanese cuisine.
At the time, the restaurant
was pretty exclusive—
with space to host only 25
guests. Yet, 4 years later, it
was named the best res-
taurant in the Caribbean
by the Caribbean Tourist
Association.

The restaurant was proba-
bly most iconic for its Java- roofs. The restaurant was Schmand took over, the cian and composer, Toti pillars underneath the foun-
nese-inspired exterior with also expanded to host a restaurant saw yet another Arends. dation, resulting in various
its pointy, slanted roofs. total of 85 guests. This was expansion; this time com- leaks and overflowing of
However, the first version of “The New Bali”, who had its plete with a long bar and After 1989, the restaurant water into the restaurant.
Bali did not look like that at official (re)opening in 1972. dance floor, where guests was again handed over And as most great things
all but was still considered enjoyed live music from to other owners, and since come to an end, so did the
as one of the most popu- After 1972, when Ronny legendary Aruban musi- then suffered from unstable survival and maintenance
lar restaurants on the island of the Bali Restaurant.
at the time. The restaurant However, folks today still
saw three different owners reminisce its legacy, and
during its existence, during it’s now considered a lost
which it underwent various monument.
renovations and rebrand-
ing. Be apart of the conversa-
tion: if you or any family
In 1964, the restaurant was member of yours have a
taken over by Karel “Carl” memory of the Bali restau-
Schmand. Over the years, rant, whether it be a pic-
the restaurant needed ture or just a story, share it
constant renovation and with us! We would love to
repair, mainly due to its vul- see this legendary hot spot
nerability to leaks and the through the lens of our visi-
unstable pillars underneath tors! q
the foundation. However,
the biggest change made Source and pictures credit
to the restaurant happened to: “De Kolibrie op de Rots
in the year 1970—still under (en meer over de geschie-
the ownership of Schmand, denis van Aruba)” by Evert
when it got its iconic pointy Bongers.