Last updated on August 27th, 2026 at 01:59 pm
If you’ve made it all the way to Nias, an Indonesian island off the coast of West Sumatra, it’s probably because you’re here to surf. Sorake Beach on the southern tip of the island is a world-class surfing destination, with “The Point” being renowned as one of the most perfect right-hand breaks on the planet.
Nias only sees a fraction of the number of tourists that visit the Mentawai Islands, which was one of the reasons we chose to come here (off-the-beaten-path travel is the best), and the other reason being that there are also beginner waves here during high season, so as a newbie to surfing it was ideal for me.
Nias ticked all of my boxes. The island is beautiful, the locals are incredibly welcoming, the surfing is super-accessible, and there are some great cafes and restaurants to eat delicious Indonesian food (which is finally growing on me), fresh mango smoothies, and lots and lots of seafood.
Most of the eateries in this area are on Sorake Beach itself, offering great views of the line-up, and during our time in Nias we went to pretty much all of them.
So here is your guide on what I think are the best places to eat in Sorake Beach, Nias!
RELATED POST: A Guide to Scuba Diving in Komodo, Indonesia
Keyhole Restaurant
Best for BBQ Fish
Keyhole Restaurant was undoubtedly our favourite restaurant in Sorake Beach. The barbecue fish was amazing, with the perfect flavour balance of spice and smoke, and served with rice and al-dente vegetables; it’s big enough to share between two people for 200k IDR (8 GBP).
The lovely family operation provides fabulous service, and the restaurant is outdoors and right on the edge of the water.
Everything we tried at Keyhole Restaurant was delicious; we kept going back again and again. Dishes start from 35K for fried rice – and go up to 400k for 1kg of barbecued lobster!
This is really good food, at really low prices, with lovely service. For me, Keyhole is the best place to eat in Sorake Beach, Nias.
Seabreeze Rumah Makan
Seabreeze is a little spot a few hundred meters up the way from Sorake Beach, a bit further towards Lagundri Bay. It sits right on the water, and is probably the only restaurant here that consistently catches a fresh ocean breeze (hence the name).
Seabreeze is a really peaceful, welcoming restaurant away from the hustle and bustle (Sorake doesn’t really have a main drag, but the area around “The Point” can get a bit busy at sunset with kids trying to sell you coconut doughnuts).
Seabreeze has a small menu, and every dish is made fresh to order, so it does take a while, but this is island-style, so where else do you need to be? Bring a book, have a beer, and enjoy the breeze while the lovely owner cooks delicious chicken satay. A meal and a drink will set you back 100k.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may get a commission if you purchase through this website, at no extra cost to you. I only link to products I use and love.
Shady Palm Hostel and Restaurant
Best for Breakfast
Another family-run place with lovely service, right next to Keyhole restaurant. We always felt warmly welcomed here, to be honest, though – that has been the vibe of the whole island.
Breakfast at Shady Palms is the star, whether it’s the delicious Dragonfruit smoothie bowl or the perfectly seasoned veggie omelette; all the food is lovingly prepared with generous portions. The prices are really reasonable as well, with breakfast dishes ranging from 20-50k.
Not sure what to pack for your trip to Indonesia? Check out the I Dream of Mangoes article:
The Only Female Backpacking Packing List You’ll Ever Need
Casa Bebas
Best for Coffee, Cake, and/or Pasta!
I don’t think I have ever had a Carbonara in Asia that tastes like a Carbonara should, until Casa Bebas, which makes total sense after finding out the owner is Italian!
This is an awesome spot with great views of The Point, pasta-focused with other nice brekky options, well-made coffee, homemade cakes and cookies and fresh juices.
Unlike everywhere else at Sorake Beach, Casa Bebas opens from 7am-3pm only, and it has such a nice vibe you could spend that entire time there hanging out. Casa Bebas has a community feel, with cute cats and dogs and inside/outside seating (most other restaurants are outside only).
It is a little bit pricier than elsewhere but definitely worth it. Juices are 40k, with pasta being 80-120k.
RELATED POST: Scuba diving in Raja Ampat – The Underwater Wonderland
Beo’s Pub
Best for tacos and pool
Beo’s Pub is a chill evening spot that’s best for post-sunset, as it doesn’t have the best view of the waves. It definitely gives ‘surfer vibes’ with a clean concrete aesthetic, ice-cold beers and a decent pool table.
The best thing about Beo’s, though, is the fish tacos, which we had four times during our two weeks at Nias! Freshly made flour tortillas with breadcrumbed fish piled high with crunchy cabbage and salsa, so fresh and suchhhh generous portions. 80k, and don’t bother ordering anything except the tacos.
MY NIAS PACKING ESSENTIALS:
RELATED POST: Is Bali still worth visiting in 2026?
Sosui
Sosui does seem to be one of the most popular spots on the beach, and we found the food to be freshly made and the portions to be generous; we just didn’t vibe with the place as much as anywhere else. Their mango smoothie is delicious though.
Hash & Family/Kevins Coffee
There is a new air-conditioned coffee shop opening which is adjoined to the Hash and Family Guesthouse and Restaurant. It doesn’t have a name yet, but the coffee is good, and Kevin is a lovely guy. This has potential to be a great spot to hang out to escape the heat of the middle of the day.
Daily Budget for Eating in Sorake Beach
A typical daily budget in Sorake Beach in terms of food and drink:
Unfortunately, drinking water refills are not a thing here yet, so we had to buy bottled water, hopefully soon!
- 3L bottles of water – 20k IDR
- Coffee self-made at homestay – 5k IDR
- Dragonfruit smoothie bowl – 45k IDR
- Instant noodles and 2 fried eggs (bought from shop and self-made at homestay) – 10k IDR
- Afternoon Cappuccino in a coffee shop- 40k IDR
- Curry, rice, and veggies (as an example) – 70k IDR
- 2 Bintang Beers – 30k each, so 60k IDR
Total = 250K
That’s 10 GBP per day spent on food, with a nice balance of eating out and in. You could halve that if you skip the beers and the fancy coffees, or you could spend more if you eat out for every meal and have lots of seafood!
For me, Sorake Beach in Nias has a really nice selection of cafes and restaurants, where you can find affordable Indonesian dishes and a few western options when you need some variety. Access to fresh fruit smoothies, young coconut, and icy cold beers is a bonus, and the hospitality from the locals was always on point.
I personally feel very sad to leave this little pocket of Indonesia, and all its lovely people.
Thank you for reading my travel guide on the best cafes and restaurants in Sorake Beach in Nias!
After staying on Nias, we went to mainland Sumatra to see the orangutans of Gunung Leuser NP, which was an incredible experience.
If you enjoyed the read, please consider subscribing to my blog, where I post articles once per week filled with travel inspiration and stories from my adventures around the world.
Happy Travels! xx
