When people are choosing a surf camp, they usually compare the obvious things.
The accommodation. The coaching. The waves. The location. Maybe the yoga or the pool.
Almost nobody asks about the food.
Food has always been a big part of our lives. We love travelling for it, cooking it, sharing it, and discovering the local flavours wherever we go. So when we created Xanadu, we never saw meals as just another hotel service. We wanted guests to look forward to breakfast before an early surf, to enjoy long lunches after a morning in the water, and to end the day gathered around a table with people who had been strangers only a few days before.
Food isn’t just about filling up after a morning in the ocean. It plays a huge role in how you feel throughout the week – how much energy you have, how well you recover, and ultimately how much you enjoy your holiday.
Surfing makes you hungrier than you think
One of the comments we hear time and time again is: “I can’t believe how hungry I am.”
Surfing is surprisingly demanding. Even when you’re sitting on your board waiting for waves, your body is constantly working. You’re paddling, balancing, popping up, swimming, carrying your board across the beach, and spending hours under the tropical sun.
By the time you come in after a session, you’ve usually burned far more energy than you realise.
That’s why grabbing a quick coffee and a pastry before heading out rarely works for long. If you’re surfing every day, your body needs proper fuel.
We stopped thinking about “hotel food”
Over the years, our menus have evolved – not because the food wasn’t good, but because we kept learning from our guests.
We noticed that heavy lunches left people feeling sluggish in the afternoon. We realised some guests wanted something light before an early surf, while others couldn’t wait to eat the moment they got back. We saw how much better people felt after a week of fresh, balanced meals compared to grabbing whatever was convenient.
Now, when we’re planning our menus, we’re not just asking, “What tastes good?”
We’re also asking:
- Will this keep someone energised for their surf session?
- Is there enough variety for someone staying a full week?
- Will they recover well for tomorrow’s surf?
- Does it showcase some of the incredible local produce we have here in Lombok?
Those questions have shaped the way we cook today.
A taste of Lombok, alongside familiar favourites
One of the things we love most about living in Indonesia is the abundance of fresh ingredients.
You’ll find plenty of tropical fruit, locally caught fish, fresh vegetables, homemade sambals, tempeh, fragrant herbs and spices woven into our menus throughout the week.
At the same time, we know that after a long journey to Indonesia, not everyone wants local food for every single meal.
So we don’t believe in serving the same buffet every day, and we don’t think every meal needs to be an Indonesian classic. Instead, we like to strike a balance introducing guests to local flavours while also serving dishes that feel familiar, comforting and satisfying after a long morning in the ocean.
Everyone eats differently – and that’s okay
No two weeks at Xanadu are the same.
One week we might have a couple celebrating their honeymoon, a solo traveller learning to surf for the first time, someone preparing for a longboard competition, a vegan, a guest who’s gluten-free, and another with a severe food allergy.
That’s why we ask every guest about dietary requirements before they arrive.
Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free and pescatarian diets are all things our kitchen caters for regularly. If you have allergies or a medical dietary requirement, simply let us know in advance. We’ll always be honest about what we can accommodate and work with you to make sure you can enjoy your meals safely throughout your stay.
For us, it’s never been about creating a separate “special” menu. It’s about making sure everyone around the table feels equally looked after.
More than just a meal
One thing we’ve always loved about surf retreats is that meals bring people together.
Our welcome and farewell dinners are some of our favourite moments of the week.
On the first evening, everyone is still getting to know each other. There are solo travellers, couples, friends travelling together and people arriving from all over the world.
By the last night, those same people are swapping photos, laughing about wipeouts, planning future surf trips together and promising to stay in touch.
Some of the friendships that begin around those dinner tables continue long after the holiday ends.
Food is part of recovery
People often think recovery means stretching or booking a massage.
Those things certainly help, but recovery starts much earlier.
After spending a couple of hours in the water, your body needs fluids, protein, carbohydrates and plenty of fresh ingredients to help you feel ready to do it all again the next day.
That’s one of the reasons we believe in quality over quantity when it comes to our surf programmes. One well-coached surf session, followed by time to recover properly, often leaves guests progressing faster—and enjoying themselves more—than trying to squeeze in as many hours in the water as possible.
Good food is part of that equation.
The meals you remember
Ask someone about their favourite surf trip and they’ll probably tell you about an incredible wave.
But if you keep talking, they’ll often remember the breakfasts before heading to the beach, the long lunches after a great session, or the conversations over dinner that somehow lasted for hours.
Those moments matter just as much.
At Xanadu, we don’t see food as something separate from the surf experience. It’s part of the rhythm of the week. It’s how you refuel, how you unwind, and often how you get to know the people you’re sharing the experience with.
And if, when you get home, you find yourself missing both the waves and that breakfast of tropical fruit before an early morning surf, we’d say we’ve done something right.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is food included at Xanadu Surf & Yoga?
Yes. Meals vary slightly depending on the programme and property, but all guests enjoy daily breakfast, and our surf programmes also include nourishing lunches around surf days, along with our signature welcome dinner where everyone gets to meet at the start of the week. At Xanadu Retreat, guests also enjoy a farewell dinner to celebrate the week together and daily a la carte lunches.
Can you cater for vegetarians and vegans?
Absolutely. Vegetarian and vegan meals are something we prepare regularly. Just let us know before you arrive so our kitchen can plan accordingly.
What if I have food allergies?
If you have allergies or a medical dietary requirement, please let us know before your stay. We’ll discuss your needs with our kitchen team and always be transparent about what we can safely accommodate.
Is the food healthy?
We don’t like to label our food as “healthy” or “clean.” We simply focus on serving fresh, balanced meals that give you the energy to surf, recover well and enjoy your holiday. Some meals are inspired by Indonesian cuisine, others by international favourites but all are prepared with the same philosophy: good ingredients, plenty of flavour, and food we’d genuinely enjoy eating ourselves.
