19 best restaurants in Bali: Indonesian classics, vegan tasting menus and more (2024)

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The culinary diversity on this tropical island rivals any big city

By Regan Stephens

19 best restaurants in Bali: Indonesian classics, vegan tasting menus and more (2)

    Courtesy Watercress Café

    All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.

    Mahi-mahi ceviche, sriracha-caramel wings, and all-dessert degustation menus in... Bali? Indeed, the bounty of global cuisine here seems more appropriate for a cosmopolitan city than a tropical island. You have the Australians to thank for some of this culinary revolution – urbane chefs from the likes of Melbourne decamp to Bali to expand their culinary prowess along the beaches of Seminyak and in Ubud, the island’s spiritual hinterland. But Bali’s indigenous cuisine shouldn’t be ignored. Beyond the cheap and cheerful warungs are plentiful upscale restaurants serving authentic Balinese and pan-Indonesian menus, where one can sample babi guling (whole-roasted suckling pig) and gado-gado, a hearty, cooked vegetable platter with savoury peanut sauce. Feeling hungry? Read on for our favourite restaurants in Bali.

    Christopher Leggett/Courtesy Bo$$man

    Bo$$man

    If you pass by a tiny Seminyak burger joint with a megawatt interior reminiscent of a mid-90s hip-hop music video, you’ve discovered BO$$MAN. Proclaimed by most to be the best spot in Bali for burgers, BO$$MAN is run by New Zealand-born restaurateur Adam McAsey and chef Jethro Vincent, both responsible for Sisterfields next door. The BO$$MAN branding tries a bit too hard with the whole rap culture theme, but it's easy to laugh it off with burgers this good. The beef-based selections are 60-day dry-aged chuck cuts, moulded by hand on-site, and the pork selection – named Lucky Pig – is a babi guling-spiced pork belly, cassava leaf lawar, and sambal.

    Address: Bo$$man, Seminyak, Jl. Kayu Cendana No.8B, Kerobokan Kelod, Kec. Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361
    Website: bossmanbali.com

    Locavore NXT

    Locavore NXT

    After closing Locavore, a hot-ticket and hyperlocal eatery in Bali’s Ubud, Dutch-Indonesian chef duo Eelke Plasmeijer and Ray Adriansyah moved on to open the concept’s aptly named next iteration. Pitched up in the rice fields just outside Ubud, concrete-clad Locavore NXT takes the chefs’ wildly ambitious methods to a new extreme with 20(ish)-course tasting menus that draw on ingredients grown in the rooftop food forest, subterranean mushroom vault, and koji fermentation lab – and ones sourced from surrounding farmers, fishermen, and foragers. Seasonal menus could include imaginative creations such as honi pineapple with lardo and flower-flecked pudding from rice koji with bee pollen. For a full immersion in Locavore NXT’s closed-loop ethos, guests can stay overnight in one of the restaurant’s adjoining cabins and participate in a chef-guided tour and staff breakfast the next day. In the original Locavore’s place is now Herbivore, a plant-based tasting menu with the same steadfast dedication to Indonesian ingredients and the same ability to exalt simple vegetables.

    Address: Locavore NXT, Jl. A.A. Gede Rai Gang Pura Panti Bija, Lodtunduh, Kecamatan Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571
    Website: locavorenxt.com

    Ayam Betutu Pak Sanur

    A traditional breakfast and lunch spot just right off Ubud's main road, Ayam Betutu Pak Sanur feels like a small Balinese home. The star here is the ayam betutu, or Balinese chicken stew that's traditionally eaten for breakfast. It consists of chicken in a heady mixture of sweet soy sauce, shallots, garlic, turmeric, ginger, galangal, and chillies, all served over steaming white rice and accompanied by sautéed chayote, crispy fried egg, stewed chicken liver and gizzard, fried chicken intestines, fried noodles, and peanuts. Immerse yourself in Balinese culture by joining the locals for breakfast. Don't dally – the warung usually sells out by 11am.

    Address: Ayam Betutu Pak Sanur, Jl. Arjuna No.19, Peliatan, Kecamatan Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571

    Courtesy Sisterfields

    Sisterfields

    Sisterfields is an all-day Australian breakfast cafe that feels like it's been plucked straight off the shores of Sydney. Located conveniently in central Seminyak, the place is light and airy, with smart glass walls and marble-top tables. An all-day menu is casual, easy, and filled with crowd-pleasers like truffle scrambled eggs with mushroom and bacon, and Instagram-worthy acai bowls with blueberries and banana. If you don't feel like breakfast, try the house burger, a 1/3-pound beef patty topped with smoked cheddar, house sauce, and pickled onion rings. Don't sleep on the juice list, which features the Remedy, with apple, carrot, beetroot, and ginger; smoothies include ‘pash me’, with passionfruit, berries, mango, coconut nectar, and house-made nut milk. Naturally, the flat whites are also fabulous.

    Address: Sisterfields, Jl. Kayu Cendana No.7, Seminyak, Kec. Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361
    Website: sisterfieldsbali.com

    Babi Guling Pak Malen

    Warung Pak Malen specialises in one thing only: babi guling, whole roasted suckling pig, a signature of Balinese cooking and ceremonies. A set meal here consists of pork prepared in a variety of ways. First up is a heady spiced broth with pork, which you drink directly from the bowl. Then it's on to the main event, a bamboo plate piled high with rice, roasted pork, pork satay, fried pork, a piece of fried pork rind, some pork skin, and braised pork. Sides include traditional lawar, a mix of long-cooked vegetables, and spicy sambal. This is a meal that most visitors will try at least once – Balinese people eat it often – and Pak Malen manages to be a step above other warungs without abandoning its traditional feel.

    Address: Babi Guling Pak Malen, Jl. Sunset Road No.554, Seminyak, Kec. Kuta, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361
    Website: instagram.com/babi_guling_pak_malen

    Apéritif

    Apéritif

    It’s only fitting that you’ll kick off an evening at Apéritif, the elegant restaurant at Viceroy Bali, with its namesake drink. A host will escort you to Pinstripe, the polished new bar just a few feet from the restaurant, where you’ll have your first course of the tasting menu: a cocktail and canapés. Choose from a menu from head bartender Panji Wisrawan that draws on local and upcycled ingredients. Tasting menus, including a vegetarian and vegan option, showcase Indonesian ingredients and global flavours, as well as the skilled precision of Belgian chef and industry veteran Nic Vanderbeeken. (Look out for the venison wellington with rendang sauce, subbed with mushrooms for herbivores.) And although the vibe is unstuffy, there’s a touch of old-school fine dining glamour here, with a cheese trolley and cigar humidor. To really splash out, ask the sommelier for help choosing a bottle from the robust wine cellar that holds vintages dating back to 1855.

    Address: Apéritif, Br. Nagi, Jl. Lanyahan, Petulu, Kecamatan Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571
    Website: aperitif.com

    Room 4 Dessert

    Getting a reservation at Room4Dessert, a fêted all-dessert restaurant concept in Ubud, is as prized as receiving Willy Wonka’s Golden Ticket. There is an à la carte menu, but those who have the most fun here choose the nine-course tasting menu. It’s constantly changing, but one can expect Michelin-level plates like the New Wave (carrot, pumpkin seed, anise, and marigold) and The Sugar Refinery (coconut nectar chantilly, chocolate Toblerone, soursop, and Balinese meringue) with the option to pair them with mocktails or cocktails. This dessert-for-dinner concept speaks to our inner child, although the treats here are of a calibre only adults would truly appreciate.

    Address: Room 4 Dessert, Jl. Raya Sanggingan, Kedewatan, Kecamatan Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80561
    Website: room4dessert.com

    Courtesy Watercress Café

    Watercress Café

    Watercress is a low-key neighbourhood hangout, a quiet oasis on the outskirts of busy Seminyak. It's a chilled and casual breakfast spot decked out in rustic wooden tables and chairs. Beans from local roasters Milk and Madu form the basis for coffee drinks. Watercress also serves smoothies; the super cacao, with cacao, bee pollen, banana, virgin coconut oil, coconut milk, and dates, stands out. Watercress sources ingredients from local farmers throughout central Bali. Try the coconut and raspberry chia, made with house quinoa granola, tropical fruits, and local mandarin sorbet. There are also delicious raw desserts, including a single-origin chocolate tart and cheesecake.

    Address: Watercress Café, No.21 A, Jl. Batu Belig, Kerobokan Kelod, Kec. Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361
    Website: watercressbali.com

    Mama San Bali

    Mama San is among the island’s most popular restaurants, still filling up its two industrial loft-style floors with flavour hunters since it opened in 2010. It also hosts perhaps Bali’s most famous restaurant mural: a striking hand-painted portrait of fictional young madame Mama San, never too far to keep an eye on her 1920s gentlemen's club-style space where “she” serves Balinese, Indonesian, Thai, and Chinese dishes (via chef Will Meyrick) with fine dining twists. Thank goodness the terms “popular” and “excellent” don’t have to be mutually exclusive. Meyrick hasn’t lost his touch in the kitchen, creating standout Asian flavours like prawn curry, roasted Peking duck with cranberry hoisin sauce, and slow-cooked beef rendang. There's also a hefty and well-curated wine selection and a strong cocktail programme.

    Address: Mama San Bali, Jl. Raya Kerobokan No.135, Kerobokan Kelod, Kec. Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361
    Website: mamasanbali.com

    Ralf Tooten/Courtesy Kayuputi Restaurant

    Kayuputi Restaurant

    Kayuputi, a large, elegant restaurant at the St. Regis, features much of its namesake: "white wood" in Indonesian. Picture windows overlook the golden sands of Nusa Dua; an open kitchen holds court in the centre of the space, and a cocktail bar near the entrance is well worth a stop. The menu is marked by ultra-creative dishes, which might include everything from foie gras to fresh seafood. There are soufflés, stunning desserts, and an epic Saturday brunch where you can try a bit of everything. There's an award-winning wine list and great cocktails that reference the hotel brand's illustrious history.

    Address: Kayuputi, Kawasan Pariwisata, Jalan Nusa Dua, Benoa, Kec. Kuta Sel., Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80363
    Website: kayuputibali.com

    Nusantara by Locavore

    Nusantara is the sister restaurant to Locavore, once named Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants. While Locavore is a more blockbuster contemporary affair with watertight reservation openings, the more casual Nusantara (Javanese for “archipelago”) showcases the distinct regional tastes of Indonesia. The space is full of wood, traditional print pillows, and rattan partitions, making you feel as though you’re being treated to an Indonesian home-cooked meal. With dishes inspired by Sumatra, Sulawesi, Javam and beyond, Nusantara is a palatable journey of the 17,000-island nation and its provincial cuisines. Whether ordering small plates like stir-fried banana blossoms with sliced garlic, shallots, and chilli of North Sulawesi or mains such as the smoked, spiced octopus wrapped in banana leaves of West Bali, you’ll likely find the food to be novel, well-executed and – above all – delectable. Original cocktails keep things on theme with local ingredients such as pandan leaves, kayu manis stems, and lemongrass.

    Address: Nusantara by Locavore, Jl. Dewisita No.09C, Ubud, Kecamatan Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571
    Website: locavorenxt.com

    Courtesy Pica South American Kitchen

    Pica South American Kitchen

    Pica is centrally located on Ubud's bustling Jalan Dewi Sita strip, but its small and cosy set-up means that it's easily missed. With only seven or so tables, Pica is an intimate little restaurant, but what it lacks in size, it makes up for terrific South American food. Led by chef Cristian Encina, Pica has a great menu that includes starters like barbecue tiger prawns with a cashew crumble and Lombok baby scallops with grana padano. Mains include Peruvian roast chicken breast with a red wine glaze. Pica has good cocktails – cucumber Martinis and passionfruit caipirinhas – but the best thing to order here is wine, which is all chosen by the Chilean owner. Here, the selections pair perfectly with the South American food.

    Address: Pica South American Kitchen, Jl. Dewisita, Ubud, Kecamatan Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571
    Website: picabali.com

    Upper Room

    A decade after opening the first location of the popular local chain Livingstone in Petitenget, the same team elevating things with Upper Room, a dimly lit cocktail bar and lounge on the second floor of the bright, all-day cafe. Try the gin-based passion dimension, with carrot and housemade cilantro syrup, or anything from the thoughtful non-alcoholic menu – the cord is especially refreshing, with flavours of pineapple, coconut, basil, and lime. It’s not just cocktails, though. The kitchen, centred around a fiery grill, specialises in honey-glazed barbecued ribs. It wouldn’t be unheard of to start the day with a stand-out croissant and coffee made with locally-grown beans downstairs at Livingstone, and come back later for a lively night out.

    Address: Upper Room Bali, Jl. Petitenget No.88X Lantai 2, Kerobokan Kelod, Kec. Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361
    Website: instagram.com/upperroombali

    Courtesy Hujan Locale

    Hujan Locale

    Tucked down a nondescript road in central Ubud, Hujan Locale is a casual, stylish restaurant serving some of the best Indonesian food in town. Masterminded by chef Will Meyrick, who founded Sarong and Mama San in Seminyak, the concept here is a perfect meeting point between the local warung style of food and fine dining. Taking inspiration from around Indonesia, the menu here is extensive – come with a group of friends and fill your table with as many dishes as possible. Starters include soft shell crab with salted duck egg and red chilli; mains include Acehnese charred grilled octopus with sour starfruit. The cocktails, as flavourful as the food, merge the classics with local flavours. In the signature pala old fashioned, bourbon and bitters get a kick from housemade pala (nutmeg) jam.

    Address: Hujan Locale, Jl. Sri Wedari No.5, Ubud, Kecamatan Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571
    Website: hujanlocale.com

    Ghost Kitchen & Record Bar

    Depending on the kind of night you want, there are several ways to experience the buzzy new Ghost Kitchen & Record Bar, not far from Berawa Beach in Canggu on Bali’s southern coast. Settle into a cosy leather banquette on the first floor, surrounding an open kitchen where chef and co-owner Tim Stapleforth cooks dishes like prawns with sambal and creamy macadamia sauce and glistening pork chop with smokey pineapple on the wood fire grill. Or head upstairs to the breezy dining room with a separate cocktail bar and balcony. In the corner, find the wood-panelled DJ booth stocked with a trove of vinyl records. Order a cocktail, like the gin-based purple rain, tinged with mulberry and elderflower, and flip through albums from Marvin Gaye and Aretha Franklin to set the proper mood for peak sunset viewing.

    Address: Ghost Kitchen & Record Bar, Jl. Pantai Berawa No.99, Tibubeneng, Kec. Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361
    Website: ghostbali.com

    faruqadib/Courtesy Sangsaka Restaurant

    Sangsaka Restaurant

    Sangsaka is hidden down a nondescript road in Seminyak, so it's unlikely that you would chance upon it if you didn't know it was there. The intimate 50-seater is dimly lit and elegantly designed. Order a mix of the small and large plates; standouts include Jimbaran BBQ scallop, grouper with coconut, ginger, and turmeric, and fresh oysters with sambal granita. There's also a tasting menu – nine dishes over five courses – if you're looking to try as much as possible.

    Address: Sangsaka Restaurant, Jalan Pangkung Sari No. 100 Kerobokan, Kerobokan Kelod, Kec. Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361
    Website: sangsakabali.com

    Oliverra

    On vacation in Bali, there are nights – like after a day spent hiking on Mount Batur, for example, or surfing off the beaches of Uluwatu – when a casual dinner is best. And then there are nights for Oliverra. The sprawling Mediterranean restaurant at Umana Bali occupies one of the island’s most dramatic settings, on the southernmost tip of Bali atop limestone cliffs, roughly 200 feet above the Indian Ocean. The sleek space plays up the panoramic views, with a two-story wall of windows in the main dining room and a wide, open-air veranda. Start the evening there with a passion fruit-infused spritz or coconut Negroni while you watch the sun start to dip and the sky turn shades of pastel pink and purple, then head into the dining room for the fresh catch alongside local vegetables and herbs, or the four-course set menu, which includes memorable desserts infused with local ingredients like tropical fruit and coffee.

    Address: Oliverra, Jl. Melasti, Ungasan, Kec. Kuta Sel., Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80364
    Website: hilton.com

    Syrco BASÈ

    Syrco BASÈ

    After more than a decade cooking in the Netherlands, most recently at the helm of Pure C restaurant in Zeeland where he earned two Michelin stars, chef Syrco Bakker opened the much-anticipated Syrco BASÈ in Ubud early in 2024. The chef, whose grandparents originally hail from Indonesia, is laser-focused on ingredient sourcing and sustainability, leaning heavily on local produce and cultivating a garden on site, which grows tomatoes, lemongrass, and more. Local artisans even make some dishware and knives. Inside the warm and minimalist space, guests can opt for one of three multi-course tasting menus, including a plant-based option, or try the 14- or 17-course menu at Syrco BASÈ Ku, a chef’s counter within the restaurant.

    Address: Syrco BASÈ, Jl. Sri Wedari No.72, Ubud, Kecamatan Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571
    Website: syrcobase.com

    Red Gunpowder

    Red Gunpowder is a contemporary Indian restaurant in Pererenan, Canggu's charming and lower-key neighbour on Bali’s southwest coast. The dark dining room is illuminated by candles and strings of fairy lights, and rustic wooden walls and tables are surrounded by greenery that spills out to an open-air terrace. It makes a dreamy backdrop for a feast of claypot curries, dishes like slow-cooked octopus marinated in fragrant ginger masala, and an array of hot and char-speckled naan. (Try the unexpectedly delightful blue cheese variety.) Cocktails like the curry mule and masala chai sour, infused with Earl Grey tea and homemade masala syrup, are just as clever and unexpected. The restaurant hosts a sitar night on the first Wednesday of the month when an already-romantic meal is set to live string music.

    Address: Red Gunpowder, Jl. Munduk Tengah No.6, Pererenan, Kec. Mengwi, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80351
    Website: redgunpowderbali.com

      TopicsBaliIndonesiaFoodFoodie BreaksFoodie HolidaysRestaurantsAsiaDestination guides

      19 best restaurants in Bali: Indonesian classics, vegan tasting menus and more (2024)

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