Most romantic restaurants in Jakarta and Bali

What classifies as a romantic restaurant?

When Zomato, an online restaurant discovery guide, gave us their top five romantic restaurants in Jakarta and Bali, they didn't elaborate on what criteria they used to compile the list.

However, there are patterns in the lineup; certain elements that you would want from a place to go for a romantic meal a deux.

A rooftop location is one of the features often associated with romantic places. Lobbyn Sky Terrace, Gaia and La View all offer an amazing view - be it the streets of Jakarta, the valley of Ubud or someone else's roof. Do be careful of strong winds at places like these; you don't want to ruin your beautiful salon-styled hair.

Romantic scenery is not restricted to birds-eye views; Segarra offers stunning sea-views from the beachside at Ancol in North Jakarta.

Another feature considered to be romantic would be appropriate lighting. Dim lighting does a great job of enhancing the mood, as do coloured lights. None of the entries on this list forget the importance of lighting, using lightbulbs, chandeliers and candles.

Interior design also plays a large part; with the right surrounding scenery, simple design works well. Lobbyn Sky Terrace, Colonial Cuisine & Molecular and Emilie French Restaurant demonstrate how the interior does not have to be grand to get the right ambiance. However, a grand interior does work best; all our Balinese entries and the upscale dining places from Jakarta really hit the spot on this with their ebullient design.

On the menu, fine dining and almost any place that has its own dedicated chef are winners. Authentic Italian and French cuisine, meanwhile, receive plenty of positive reviews on Zomato. Segarra is the only seafood restaurant on our list, but we recommend that you avoid ordering crab on a first date - unless you are one of those rare beasts who can eat crab gracefully.

We should add that you're not obliged to splurge; on our list, only Mozaic, Emilie and Gaia cost, on average, more than US$100 for dinner for two.

Lastly, your perfect date needs the perfect table. A small table for two would be very nice; a table for four is still acceptable, but not with two-a-side chair layout -long tables lack that all-important intimacy.

Top 5 romantic restaurants in Jakarta:

1) Lobbyn Sky Terrace

Rooftop of Favehotel, Jl. Kemang Raya No.6, Kemang

2) Emilie French Restaurant

Jl. Senopati No. 39, Senopati

3) Gaia

46th floor of The Plaza, Jl. MH Thamrin

4) Segarra

Taman Impian Jaya Ancol, Jl. Lodan Timur, Ancol

5) Colonial Cuisine & Molecular

Upper ground floor of Kemang Village (Lippo Mall), Jl. Pangeran Antasari

Top 5 romantic restaurants in Bali:

1) Sarong

Jl. Petitenget, Seminyak

2) Mozaic

Jl. Raya Sanggingan, Ubud

3) Gardin

Jl. Petitenget, Seminyak

4) Rondji Restaurant

The Blanco Renaissance Museum, Jl. Campuhan, Ubud

5) La View

Kupu-Kupu Barong Resort, Jl. Kedewatan, Ubud