The Hawker Legends program at NIHI Sumba is a culinary series celebrating iconic street food masters whose humble, authentic dishes have nourished communities for generations. Throughout the year, renowned hawker chefs will be invited to the island to share their stories, techniques, and timeless comfort dishes. Each experience is rooted in heritage, community, and deep connection, reimagined through the NIHI lens.
The series continues in July with Teba Cafe Jimbaran, a family-run institution that has helped define Bali’s iconic beachfront seafood dining culture for more than 25 years. Founded in 1999, Teba Cafe is rooted in the traditions of Banjar Teba and guided by a philosophy that food is best shared. Known for its fresh daily catch, coconut husk grilling, and a signature family marinade passed down through generations, the residency brings the spirit of Jimbaran to NIHI through a series of immersive dining experiences celebrating fire, sea, and Indonesia’s rich culinary heritage.
DATE
18th – 20th July, 2026
EXPERIENCES INCLUDED
The series opens in April with Soto Betawi H. Ma’ruf, one of Jakarta’s most storied culinary names. Founded in 1940, the institution has endured not through reinvention, but through consistency. Its recipe, defined by a delicately savory broth made with coconut milk and cow’s milk, has remained unchanged for generations. The guiding principle has always been simple: authenticity over excess.
DATE
9th – 11th April, 2026
A true @nihi journey that has only just begun.
Cherish is a graduate from the Rote Hospitality Academy. Today, he is proudly part of the team at @nihirote, welcoming guests from around the world and sharing the beauty, culture and stories of the island he calls home.
@rote_hospitality_academy is proud to help create opportunities for Rote’s next generation, providing the skills and pathways to build their futures on the island.
Where culture runs deep and nature remains wild.
From ancient traditions and the enduring bond between the Sumbanese people and their horses, to untouched coastlines, rolling hills and endless horizons, Sumba is a place shaped by both its people and the land they call home.
At NIHI, every journey is a chance to experience the island as it has been for generations: raw, beautiful and deeply connected to its roots.
.
#nihigram by @gedewahyuu_
Mornings to dream about.
Wake to the sound of rolling waves, swaying palms, and birdsong as the island slowly comes to life. Here, peace isn’t something you have to search for, it’s all around you. In the quiet, away from the everyday, you’ll find space to reconnect with nature, with the moment, and with yourself.
The simplest mornings often leave the greatest impression.
Experience one of NIHI Sumba’s most magical moments: swimming with horses at Nihiwatu Beach.
Deeply woven into Sumbanese culture, the local people have bathed their horses in the ocean for generations. More than just an adventure, it’s a rare opportunity to connect with these incredible animals while experiencing a tradition that has been passed down through the ages.
Join the daily swimming with horses experience and discover one of Sumba’s most beautiful and authentic rituals.
The soul of Sumba lives in its traditions.
Here, culture isn’t something preserved behind glass. It’s woven into every thread of ikat, passed from one generation to the next through age-old stories and legends, and carried proudly by the people who call this island home.
The bond between the Sumbanese people and their horses runs deep, shaped over centuries and celebrated in the ancient Pasola festival, where tradition, courage and community come together in one of Indonesia’s most extraordinary cultural events.
Even today, these timeless scenes can still be found along the beaches of Sumba, where horses roam freely and the island’s heritage continues to live on.
.
#nihigram by @gedewahyuu_
The first light spills across the ocean, the mist slowly lifts, horses wander freely along the shoreline, and the world seems to move a little slower.
This is the magic of mornings at NIHI, quiet, wild, and beautifully untouched.
Where wild horses roam the shoreline, endless palms sway in the ocean breeze, world-class waves roll onto untouched white sand, and every sunset feels like nature’s grand finale.
This is Nihi, a place where time slows, the horizon stretches forever, and every moment reminds you just how beautiful the world can be.
.
#nihigram by @scottybauer_
No notifications. No playlists. No endless scrolling.
Just birds singing, waves rolling onto the shore, and the kind of silence that reminds you what peace actually sounds like.
As the sky melts into brilliant shades of gold, amber, and fire, there’s no better place to be than on horseback along the shores of Nihiwatu Beach as the sun slips below the horizon. This is NIHI Sumba.
.
#nihigram by @lucaspinhel
Venture beyond @nihi to one of Sumba’s most beautiful coastlines.
.
Head out onto the open water to the best fishing spots and cast your line before continuing onwards to Konda where you’ll be welcomed by @kondamaloba.
.
Unwind between an oceanfront pool and Sumba’s turquoise waters while your freshly caught fish is prepared over an open fire before being served for lunch.
.
If you’re feeling like you need some more adventure, take to the water on jet ski and feel the wind in your hair as you explore the natural beauty of the bay.
.
This is an experience shaped and refined by the wild beauty of Sumba.
.
#nihigram by @gedewahyuu_
Follow us on Instagram @nihi
Contact Us
Getting Here
Share
