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Nightlife and Cuisine in Langkawi's Most Surreal,
Outstanding Setting by Ani Razale |
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For those who have not set foot in
Langkawi in a while, and are planning
for great culinary adventure on the
island, you are in for a treat.
Make yourselves welcome at Pantai
Tengah, just south of Pantai Cenang, at
the south-west tip of main island of
Langkawi. Pantai Tengah today now hosts
trendy, unique up-and-coming restaurants
and bars.
The night is always young in this
district. When asked “Where can I go for
a great dinner?”, or “What can I do
later tonight?” the answer just might be
“Head to Pantai Tengah”.
And off with a steady piece of this
action is Sungroup of Langkawi (http://www.sungroup-langkawi.com),
boasting the best and trendiest eatery
and bars ever to hit this island. An
enticing variety of restaurants under
this chain is Sun Café, Matahari Malay
Restaurant, Sunvillage Grill and
Sunsutra. For a night of lounging or
chilling, head to Sunba Retro Bar or
Sunkarma Chillout Lounge.
And let’s not forget other remarkable
establishments under the Sungroup chain.
There is the very beautiful and secluded
boutique resort Sunset Beach Resort,
aside from the Sunflower Handicrafts
Shop for you to peruse for that souvenir
to take home.
Let’s check out their individual styles
and identity.
All Day Dining at Sun Café -
Sun Café will become your favorite place
to have great food all day everyday.
Boasting (and quite frankly, tales have
been told) of great service and
atmosphere, the truth lies not far
behind. Indeed, Sun Café has a casual
feel about it, allowing you to be
comfortable in shorts and flip-flops.
The selection of dishes is superb, both
in presentation and taste – and does not
choke you budget-wise.
Have a try of their house specialty, the
Grilled Fillet of Barracuda. The sweet
and lemony taste of the grilled
Barracuda atop sautéed spinach and cream
sauce is simply delicious with potato
gratin at the side. To finish off the
meal, try the succulent and creamy Crème
Brulee for dessert. You won’t be
disappointed.
Another unique feature to Sun Cafe is
its open-air concept for a restroom
area. Within a short distance, along a
nicely landscaped walkway, you will get
to see and utilize this amazing his-hers
toilets overlooking the same glass pond.
You might ask, “How is that possible?”.
It is possible, and it is an out of this
world experience!
Tasting Tradition at Matahari Malay
Restaurant -
This is Sungroup’s award-winning
restaurant, serving authentic Malay
cooking by local kampung (read: village)
ladies. A favorite Langkawi eatery for
foreign and local tourists, you will
experience a blend of local herbs and
spices in their specialty platter called
Nasi Campur Kampung. The selection of
dishes in this platter is delicious, and
might even be a new experience for
Malaysian or regional guests.
This restaurant is set in an amazing
landscaped property, along with its
sibling restaurant, the Sunvillage
Grill.
‘It’s So Fresh!’ Seafood at Sunvillage
Grill Restaurant -
Famous for its freshly caught seafood,
this restaurant offers guests outdoor
patio dining or under a large gazebo.
The variety of dishes and accompaniment
is scrumptious and very tasty, and are
prepared made to your order. If seafood
isn’t your choice of ‘meat’, try the
chicken and beef tenderloin dishes. They
look so mouth-watering, accompanied with
vegetables and potato salad.
Repeat customers have returned to enjoy
more of what this delectable eatery has
to offer. Open from 6.00pm to midnight,
every night, your Langkawi dining
experience is sure to be a satisfying
and full one.
Sunsutra’s Unique Dining Experience -
A unique restaurant, reviewed as
avant-garde for its cuisine and
settings, Sunsutra offers a great
atmosphere for dining. Open from 6pm to
midnight, this restaurant is where you
should head for a delectable 3-course
meal. Be comfortable in its open-air
concept restaurant, where you might even
sit in a table and look up to see stars
in a clear night sky.
Dishes are competitively priced, with
acceptable portions that are superbly
presented. Sunsutra claims the best
dessert experience you can ever imagine
– their Chocolate Lava Cake. With a
warm, melted chocolate core in chocolate
cake, this is the dessert that will make
you come back for more.
Fun, Adventurous Night at Sunba Retro
Bar -
They claim, the night is still young
when you come through Sunba’s rustic
doors. Oh Boy, you are in for an
adventure! The staff is so friendly, so
engaging; you’ll feel right at home and
come by again the next evening.
There’s lively retro (the 60s to the
80s) music played by the resident DJ and
when you’re in at the right time, a live
local band will groove you with raw
musical talent. Sunba Retro Bar isn’t
just hailed to be a favorite place to
head after dinner, it simply IS the
place to be!
Friends gather together for drinks, have
fun, relax and unwind. The pool table
seems to be a popular retreat for some
‘Let’s Beat ‘Em’ healthy games and the
bar is so inviting, you’ll want to sit
there and lounge all night. Another
great feature of Sunba, the interior
resembles old Malay traditional village
houses from yesteryears, even the décor
of its restrooms. You’ll be struck by
its contrast to the fun you’ll
experience within Sunba’s walls.
Chilling Out at Sunkarma -
Music in the background: Modern
chill-out music. Choice of décor,
furniture and artwork: Modern and
contemporary. Initial reaction: Cool and
amazing hangout place!
This chill-out bar is the place to head
for a night to unwind and relax with
friends. Come over for great
conversation and drinks, be it coffee or
wine, and enjoy it outdoors at the patio
area or indoors at the cool black sofas
or the bar. Sunkarma will become a
favorite place of yours to unwind till
midnight.
Privacy, Seclusion and Beauty at Sunset
Beach Resort -
If you are returning to Langkawi for
holiday or vacation, forget checking
into those 5-star resorts or hotels. Opt
for a more ‘Closer to Home’ environment.
A place you won’t feel like just an
ordinary hotel guest.
Instead, choose the intimate setting of
Sunset Beach Resort in Pantai Tengah.
The moment you arrive, the reception
staff will make you feel so welcome,
you’ll be smiling with anticipation of
your entire stay. You’ll feel like part
of the family already.
You’ll have a lovely stretch of private,
secluded beach to lounge and enjoy the
Andaman Sea. A great complimentary
breakfast is made for your day,
available from 8 to 11am. And
housekeeping will be a great service to
you, making your stay a cherished
occasion.
Enjoy the public open-air concept loo
and shower area. You’ll be captivated by
its artful design and style. In fact,
the whole compound is captivating – lush
tropical trees with fragrant flowers,
winding walkways, and lotus ponds – a
tropical paradise! You will never regret
a minute of your stay, and will surely
hope to return once you head home.
For That Special Souvenir to Take Home -
Saving the best for last, a visit to
Sunflower Handicrafts Shop is a must.
You will find two of these sibling shops
at Sunmall area (next to Sun Café) and
at the Sunvillage compound. Open from
3pm till midnight, you’ll have ample
time to walk along the shop aisles for a
special gift to bring home.
Sunflower Handicrafts at Sunvillage is
housed in a traditional wooden
structure. So, true to its exterior, the
objects found within follow the same
natural flow. Wood carvings and masks,
lovely fabric of throws and cushion
covers, diningware and cutleries are
items to be found. Incense is a popular
item, and can be found in soothing
scents like Sandalwood, Rose and
Frangipani.
Sunflower Handicrafts at Sunmall has a
more contemporary, modern look and feel
to it. Bright colors lure you in, and
the crafts you’ll find are very modern
and exotic. There’s silver, pearl,
glass, bamboo, wood – objects can be
miniscule in size, or up to art that
will be checked onboard as an oversized
item.
Whichever Sunflower outlet you visit,
you will find that special souvenir you
just have to bring home. A remembrance
of your long-awaited trip to Langkawi.
For more information on Sungroup of
Langkawi, please visit
http://www.sungroup-langkawi.com.
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About The Author
Ani Razale is a freelance SEO
copywriter for Stampede Design
of Malaysia (www.stampede-design.com).
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