UNIQUE Rooftop Bar — Restaurant in East Nusa Tenggara

We came to this bar with high hopes after being recommended by friends to come. However, we were sadly let down by the service. One member of our party ordered a specific drink, along with other drinks and food items that we ordered. After 5 minutes, another waitress came and suggested that we "upgrade" the drink to another one which was more than twice the price. We said no thank you, but the waitress came with the "upgraded" drink anyway. When we tried to explain that we had actually ordered another drink, the bar tried to insist that we had ordered the "upgraded" drink and so could not send it back to the bar. After some back and forth, another waitress eventually gave us the drink we had wanted, but said that we had to pay for the "upgraded" drink as the drink was expensive and had already been made. Out of kindness, we decided to just pay for the drink as requested. But while we accept that it was an honest mistake and might be a translation issue, we were very disappointed that we were asked to pay for a mistake which was not our's. It also made us wonder if this was a deliberate policy to "upgrade" drinks for customers to get more money. On the plus side, the bar had excellent atmosphere and was otherwise a lovely place to be at, so it was a pity that our experience had to be let...

There are sunset views, and then there’s the sunset from AYANA Komodo’s rooftop bar. Nothing quite prepares you for that moment when the sky erupts into shades of orange, pink, and purple, reflecting off the ocean like a living painting.

With a front-row seat to this spectacle, I sipped on the WAECICU BEACH TONIC—a refreshing, herb-infused gin cocktail with cucumber, tomato, and a subtle chili kick. It was unexpectedly complex yet perfectly balanced, just like the way the sun lingered on the horizon before slipping away.

For something a little stronger, I tried KAFE LA BAJO, a cocktail infused with local Flores coffee and Arak Bali. The deep, bold espresso notes blended with vanilla and moringa cheese cream, creating a drink that was as much a dessert as it was a nightcap.

As the evening breeze rolled in, the bar's open-air design made it feel like we were floating above the ocean, just soaking in the magic of Labuan Bajo. It’s the kind of place where time slows down, conversations flow effortlessly, and every sip is a moment...

Such a great venue, with good service, a spectacular view and a lot of potential. Highly recommended for a drink or special occasion during a trip to Labuan Bajo. I suspect bookings might be needed. When we arrived shortly before sunset on a Friday, the bar wasn't staffed or set up. Arrangements were made promptly, nonetheless. Also, the cocktails are quite expensive (IDR200K or more) for Indonesia. This would be fine if the recipes were more elaborate, but they mostly only have one type of alcohol. This is more like a long drink. Despite the shortcomings, I would come back for the view, venue and...