Makan La Vie

As a South African, who grew up in a country which arguable serves some of the best steak in the world, I think it’s safe to say I have a decent gauge in terms of measuring good meat. The restaurant is absolutely a classic take on a steak house with some French flair! I had the full course, my starter was the smoked salmon which melts in your mouth with every bite, the portions are incredibly generous and the flavors are the chefs own unique secret! Then for my main I had a 700g tamohawk medium done and it was perfection with each bite once again! The dry aging method used by the chef is unique and the barbecue used to prepare the meat adds the most incredible smoky flavor which you want from a wood fired barbecue, it’s a very unique taste! For a desert I went with the chocolate and ice cream, which was a very nice take on a lava cake, beautifully done nice and crispy in the outside and fluffy and explosive with chocolate sauce on the inside! To drink I had a passion fruit cocktail, dine with the restaurants own in house made syrup and quality tequila, it was absolutely delicious! The decor, cutlery and tables are beautifully laid out, the color palette goes perfectly and the owners Caroline and Mederic are very special people with a great energy. I’ll definitely be back! When you are on Gili Air and you are a meat lover, you can simply not fail to dine here, it’s an absolute must!!! Thanks for bringing down quality steak to the island.

Best French restaurant in Gili Air! Unforgettable dinner experience If you're looking for top-quality food in Gili Air, Makan La Vie is a must-visit. Hands down the best French cuisine on the island. We had perfectly grilled meats, crispy potatoes, and fresh vegetables—everything cooked over a wood fire, which gave it incredible flavor. The ambiance is calm and romantic, ideal for a sunset dinner or a quiet night out. Service was friendly and professional, and the whole place feels like a hidden boutique bistro. Great wine list too. Highly recommend this spot for anyone searching for fine dining or French food in Gilli Air.

If you want to treat yourself in a proper way - go there!!!!! We experienced the menu for the first time and we had to go crazy! We can highly recommend the whole menu. The quality is mindblowing and the service is high class! So attentive. We had also the chance to have a lovely chat with the owner. Such a beautiful soul she is. You can truly see, feel and taste their passion for their business. The details make always the difference. We had really an unforgettable romantic dinner over there! 10 Stars for this place! We will def come back...

Mul, the manager/supervisor, was very professional and welcoming. You can really tell he loves and believes in the place he works for — well done! It was a fantastic experience overall, from the owner to the entire team, but Mul truly made the difference. The food was outstanding. Of course, the prices are higher than the average restaurant in Gili Air, but absolutely worth it. This French restaurant is located along the main street. We stopped because we noticed the fridge where they dry-age their meat — and it definitely caught our attention! I had dinner here with my girlfriend. The restaurant is elegant yet warm and inviting. The staff made us feel comfortable from the very beginning, taking the time to explain and recommend dishes and the different cuts of meat. We started with the octopus — incredible. Then we tried the dry-aged sirloin, which was super tender, and the filet, also very good, though the sirloin was definitely our favorite. The lamb was soft, juicy, and perfectly paired with the ratatouille — simply delicious. For dessert, we had the crème brûlée, divine and surprisingly light, and the fruit crumble — if you’re a chocolate lover, you already know what to pick.

Amazing steak, tried both the sirloin and tenderloin. I preferred the sirloin even though it was the cheaper cut. The staff was wonderful. They are so friendly, polite and professional. The interior is really pretty too.

Everything was perfect. Incredible starters of French cheese, terrine etc. then a great freshly cut sirloin steak, burgers and lamb. Finished with dessert. Gan chatted to us (at our request) for a good 30 mins about local traditions, Lombok life and even Indonesian politics (again at our request) and was an absolutely pleasure. He was genuinely so happy in his work and a great advocate for this fantastic restaurant. One of our best meals in Indonesia this last month.

Last night we went to the restaurant Makan la Vie on Gili. A restaurant run by a very nice French couple. The service was very nice and accommodating. The restaurant itself is very nice and centrally located. The starters were very good and my son and my wife think they have never eaten such a good octopus. The main courses were also very tasty and of good quality. The dessert was also very tasty and fresh. After talking to the owner, it was clear that hygiene is very important and the dishes are even washed with treated water!!! So you can enjoy a salad or even ice-cubes in your drink without any worries. I can only recommend the restaurant. There is one small catch, however, it is quite expensive for Indonesia. But quality is definitely worth paying for. The three of us had a meal for just over 2.000.000IDR, which included an aperitif, starter, main course and dessert, as well as two glasses of red wine. Still water was free throughout the evening and was constantly refilled.