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In too deep: Bali restaurant built inside a cave temporarily shut down over lack of permit

• 19 Juli 2022
• Insight
• Badung

BADUNG, NETIZENBALI.com - Officials in Bali have suspended the operations of The Cave, a restaurant built inside a cave in Pecatu that is run by The Edge Hotel over permit issues. The dining place has been in the spotlight amid questions about its impact on the environment as well as safety concerns. 

The hotel, ergo restaurant, is located on Pura Goa Lempeh Street in Pecatu Village, South Kuta District. Badung Satpol PP (Public Order Agency) today shut the restaurant down until further notice, as they said The Edge does not possess a license to run a restaurant inside a cave.

The decision was made after Satpol PP, along with Badung’s Cultural Heritage Bureau and Capital Investment and One Stop Service (DPMPTSP), inspected the restaurant this morning.

“The first conclusion is that the activities here [at the restaurant] are suspended,” said Badung Satpol PP Chief I Gusti Agung Ketut Suryanegara.

He elaborated that while The Edge has obtained permits, they only covered regular hotel and restaurant businesses.

“For the [restaurant] below (in the cave), for certain [they don’t] have permits,” he added.

Badung’s Cultural Heritage Bureau will investigate the cave itself to determine whether the site should be categorized as a cultural or historical heritage.

The official did not say as to when the restaurant may reopen or whether they would get the license at all. 

As previously reported, The Cave was launched in May this year and became infamous after a TikToker’s review of the restaurant went viral. (NB/ Coconutsbali)