Known as the spiritual heartland of Bali, Ubud is home to some of the island’s healthiest cafés. But you can also find in it restaurants serving Italian, Japanese and, of course, Indonesian, with those spots known as ‘warungs’, local, family-owned eateries.
Ahead, we share some of our current favourite Ubud restaurants. From a Kyoto-style restaurant with cocktails like Sesame Old Fashioned and Chocolate Manhattan, to institutions in the area that strive to be environmentally aware and socially fair, here’s where to eat in Bali’s spiritual centre.
Suka Espresso
Suka Espresso opened its first location in Uluwatu in 2016, then in Ubud in 2019 and Canggu in 2021. The Australian-style café prides itself on its coffee, though it also serves burgers, sandwiches and salad bowls. It’s open 7:30am to 9:30pm every day and until 10:30pm on Saturdays.
Alchemy
Plant-based restaurant Alchemy opened in Ubud in 2011 and then in Uluwatu in 2023. The menu is mostly gluten-free and with ingredients little cooked or heated above 43 degrees. You’ll find on the menu wraps, burgers, pizzas and salads, as well as smoothies, juices and tonics. The Uluwatu location also has an air-conditioned co-working space.
Portofino Ubud
No need for a Euro summer this year, you’ll feel like you’re dining in the Italian Riviera at Portofino. Start with whipped ricotta drizzled in honey, fried zucchini flowers or house bruschetta before moving onto mains like grilled snapper, prawn and clam linguine or fettuccine carbonara. Most dishes are available in vegan, vegetarian or gluten-free versions.
Kyoka Japanese Kitchen
Kyoka Japanese Kitchen is a Kyoto-style restaurant, serving the likes of chicken yakitori, gyoza and sashimi, alongside noodle dishes like tonkatsu ramen, nabeyaki udon and hiyashi somen, which are noodles that come in ice water with tsuyu dipping sauce. Cleverly-mixed cocktails include Sayonara Mother F#*ka, Chocolate Manhattan and Sesame Old Fashioned.
Muse Café
Bask in the sunshine on Muse Café’s rooftop, while tucking into a lunch and dinner menu, inspired by the cuisines of India, Middle East and the Mediterranean. Think lamb burger, butter chicken and veggie curry. Many dishes are vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free, and nearly all are made with locally sourced ingredients. Wash your meal down with cocktails like cucumber G&T, punch or iced margarita.
Donna
Terracotta-tinted Donna serves Latin American and Mediterranean tapas for lunch and dinner on its ground floor while its upstairs level turns into a club after-hours, open until 2am on Fridays. Start with soup or salad, before your choice of mains like meatball pasta, pesto vegan pasta and pan-seared barramundi. The restaurant and club opened in 2022.
The Elephant
Vegetarian venue The Elephant opened in Ubud in 2013. The restaurant strives to be environmentally aware and socially fair in its work practices. Breakfast dishes include porridge, breakfast burrito and banana pancake. For lunch or dinner, choose from pasta, bowls and salads. It’s the sister restaurant to Dumbo, an Italian restaurant next-door.
Milk and Madu
Milk and Madu is one of Canggu’s most popular cafés, with locations along Batu Bolong and in Berawa, and so another spot was set up in Ubud. Open from 7am to 10pm daily, it’s where you can order to satisfy nearly all of your cravings. The menu has breakfast items, salads, pizzas, burgers and sandwiches and mains like fish and chips and peri peri chicken.
TYGR Ubud
When TYGR opened in Canggu, it was the island’s first-ever hand-roll bar. Now it has locations in Berawa and Ubud. Alongside specialty and vegan sushi rolls, the menu offers Japanese dishes with a twist, like matcha brulee French toast, miso hollandaise salmon and build-your-own-bento with add-ons like avo, pumpkin slice and tofu scramble.
Kebun Bistro
Walking into Kebun Bistro, you’ll immediately be transported into a restaurant in Italy’s remote countryside. The space features wooden tables and chairs, antique chandeliers and rows of wine bottles. The menu includes salads, pizzas, pastas and mains. If you’re after a snack, order a caprese salad, a hummus pot or arancini balls from its tapas menu.
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