Sanur (Indonesian: Pantai Sanur, pronounced sah-noor) is a coastal stretch of beach east of Denpasar in southeast Bali (about a 30-minute drive from Ngurah Rai International Airport), which has grown into a little town in its own right. A 5.1 km (3.2 mi) area of Sanur’s coastline, from Matahari Terbit Beach to Mertasari Beach, was reclaimed in 2008.
In 1906 the northern part of Sanur Beach was used as the landing site for the Dutch invasion troops during the intervention in Bali. During World War II, Sanur was again the entry point through which the Japanese forces landed to occupy the island of Bali.
Bali Beach Hotel in Sanur was built by Indonesian President Sukarno in 1963, and boosted tourism in Bali. Before the construction of the Bali Beach Hotel, only three significant hotels existed on the island.[2] Construction of hotels and restaurants began to spread throughout Bali.
Today Sanur contains a number of hotel resorts such as the Fairmont Sanur Beach Bali and the Hyatt Regency Bali (not to be confused with the Grand Hyatt in Nusa Dua). Sanur is also home to a growing number of popular villa resorts.
Also catering to the tourists are a burgeoning number of restaurants and shops spread around the coastal area. Many of these are Bali-grown brands that favor ingredients or materials original to the island. Among those, The Sandwich Bar, Flamingo Beach Club in Pantai Saba, or Italian Gelateria and restaurant Massimo is a long-standing institution, with queues to be seen on almost every night. Another Italian style in Sanur is resort wear boutique BIASA, a fashion pioneer on the island founded by art enthusiast Susanna Perini. There are plenty of other retail spots along the coastal area, which, in comparison to other destinations on the island, cater more to a mature group of Bali visitors.
