The most popular of Balikpapan's accessible urban beaches, located south of the city centre along the bay. The beach is used primarily by locals for evening walks and weekend recreation, and the surrounding area has a cluster of seafood warungs that do good grilled fish. The Balikpapan Bay views from here — particularly at sunset — are attractive, with the hills on the opposite shore visible across the water.
Melawai is not a swimming beach by international standards, but it's a pleasant place to watch the bay activity, eat seafood, and see how the city relaxes. The adjacent Manggar Beach, further south, is better for swimming.