Ubud has become a hotspot in Bali for food lovers in recent years. With a taste of traditional and modern cuisine on the menu, and often a collaboration of both, exploring the best restaurants in Ubud is a must when visiting Bali.
It sure did for me. With countless eateries tantalising my tastebuds, the vast food scene can make it difficult to know where to take a seat.
So why seven restaurants? While I was fortunate to sample many venues here, these seven in particular stood out for me – the best restaurants in Ubud you just have to visit.
1: Donna
The first thing to know about Donna is that it always rates highly with locals and tourists.
This stylish restaurant’s passion is Mediterranean and Latin American fine dining, with classic dishes that take on modern interpretations.
Often, a restaurant has a signature dish, or excels in a particular course. At Donna, every single course is astounding, from starters to desserts. I’d say it’s my favourite restaurant in Ubud.
The restaurant itself is styled tastefully, and looks classy from the outside in. Soft lighting, stylish décor, and great music all contribute to the atmosphere people gravitate towards.
The wine list and cocktails are also excellent here – so much attention goes into every detail, with perfectly paired wines and cocktail masterpieces.
Donna is home to the perfect atmosphere, too – a vibrant social scene, with Friday parties featuring a DJ and live music on Saturday nights.
You can also indulge in a premium shisha experience with various tobaccos and hookahs. Clearly this restaurant is geared up mostly for adults, but children were made very welcome as diners here too.
And to top it all off, the service is ten out of ten. There is nothing Donna scores poorly on, and is an absolute must when you’re in Ubud.
Location: Jl. Monkey Forest No.67, Ubud, Bali 80571, Indonesia
Contact: +62 813-3750-9840
2: Hujan Locale
Hujan Locale is another very highly rated restaurant in Ubud, though here you will find Indonesian cuisine.
Their traditional Indonesian dishes are creatively redesigned to bring something new and exciting to the plate. The lovely waiter here helped me decide on the steamed ikan bumbu kuning, and it was absolutely beautiful. I hear the beef rendang is a favourite for many, as is their salted caramel popcorn ice cream.
Hujan Locale is a delightfully modern restaurant that maintains the traditional Indonesian feel. It’s a lovely place to spend time in, and the ambience is fabulous.
Despite what must be a strict effort behind the scenes, all the staff feel laid-back and friendly, and very helpful.
The combination of sensational food, warm atmosphere and excellent service makes Hujan Locale one of the very best, and it’s only a five-minute walk from the art market.
Location: -8.5073042,115.26504150000001
Contact: +62 813-5326-0275
3: Mozaic
Located in the heart of Ubud, Mozaic is a fine dining restaurant well-known for its ever-changing gastronomic delights.
With head chef Blake Thornley leading the kitchen wizardry, Mozaic showcases the wonders of Indonesian spices with French technique.
Mozaic’s recent redesign has brought an exciting new mixology lounge and private dining kitchen. There’s the roasting duck garden which is a great place to be amongst the action, though I quite liked being in the cooler, air-conditioned interior.
A special mention for Mozaic’s impressive wine selection, with over 200 different wines from all over the world, including an extensive range of natural and organic options. You can also pair your meal with a sensational cocktail list created by their inventive mixologist – they think absolutely everything through here so that each course can be fully relished.
And relish I did – the food here is outstanding. Every dish had something so intriguing to offer, with stunning presentation and unique flavours. It is the ultimate fine dining experience – a tasting extravaganza as opposed to merely a restaurant.
The staff here were also fantastic.
Location: Jl. Raya Sanggingan, Kedewatan, Kecamatan Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571, Indonesia
Contact: +62 821-4723-5550
4: Watercress Ubud
Now over to Watercress Ubud, which is a beautiful restaurant located in the bustling area of Monkey Forest.
This restaurant has been around since 2012 and was one of the first to start the new wave café culture in Bali.
When I arrived at Watercress, the waitress who greeted me was a true delight, a kind soul who really made the effort to take care of everything during my stay. It’s a much more relaxed vibe here – a welcome breather from fine dining, while also presenting some wonderful food.
They offer breakfast, lunch and dinner here, accompanied with a perfect brew of coffee, creatively decorated cocktails, and everything in between. I had the chicken cashew salad for lunch – it was huge, and absolutely gorgeous.
I returned for a second time and was greeted by the same friendly faces, only this time I was missing some home comforts and opted for their burger. Which sounds plain, but it was anything but. Probably one of the best burgers I’ve ever had, which I wasn’t expecting considering it’s a Western specialty!
Ultimately, Watercress feels like a comfort with a laid-back atmosphere, while hard work clearly goes on in the kitchen to prepare some incredible food. They work closely with local farmers too, for the highest-quality ingredients and sustainability.
As a local said to me, ‘Ubud wouldn’t be the same without Watercress’, and I agree. A real gem in the town, and definitely one to make a beeline for.
Location: Jl. Monkey Forest, Ubud, Bali, 80571, Indonesia
Contact: +62 813-3868-5599
5: Honey & Smoke
I’d made a reservation for Honey & Smoke, and I’m glad I did – like most of the best restaurants in Ubud with higher price points, this open fire bistro certainly required reservations.
Brought to us by celebrity chef Will Meyrick, this restaurant specialises in Modern Australian cuisine cooked with charcoal or wood fire. This is what creates the delicious, natural flavours to their dishes, making it quite a unique place to try.
The establishment itself is stylishly decorated. If you hadn’t have read this review first, I think you’d have been drawn to it if you were passing by. The interior is creative and vibrant, with inspiration drawn from the distinctive films of Wes Anderson, with features of a 1920s-style train carriage.
There’s a vintage ambience with its teak flooring and rustic doorways, and this adds a speakeasy atmosphere to the venue. But enough about face value – what’s the food like here?
Simply put, it’s fabulous. While Honey & Smoke has a heavy emphasis on fire-cooked dishes, it is not just a steak restaurant. The menu is creative, and offers something for everyone. (Even the menu designed especially for nut allergies is extensive here – an area most restaurants fail to accommodate quite so well.)
All dishes were immaculately presented, the drinks were delightful, and the staff were excellent. The price point is a little higher than it needs to be here, but I left feeling very glad I experienced Honey & Smoke.
Location: Jl. Monkey Forest No.67B, Ubud, Gianyar Regency, Bali 80571, Indonesia
Contact: +62 822-1515-1586
6: Batubara Wood Fire
Batubara Wood Fire is an absolute must if you love your steak. Always rating highly, this restaurant flexes the art of wood-fired cooking, and people flock here from across the globe to enjoy it.
The wood-fired cooking is what adds the extra touch of smoky goodness to the meat, and you can really taste the skill that goes into it.
I loved this place. So much so, I went back twice. Usually, a sequel visit is not quite as good as the first. However, somehow the second meal here was even better – I don’t think I’ve experienced that before!
You get to choose the type of meat and the weight, although I left it in their capable hands.
The place itself is lively and buzzing, with impeccable service from attentive and professional staff. It’s not air conditioned in here, so it can get very warm. It’s as open plan as it can be, and splendidly lit and decorated.
Here’s something different – they have a Spotify playlist for their backdrop music, allowing guests to groove along as they enjoy their meals. It’s not really a selling point for me, but a nice gesture and a great way to save a playlist to remind you of a great evening here in Ubud when you’re back home.
With its buzzing ambience and mouth-watering wood-fired cuisine, Batubara Wood Fire is a must for the steak connoisseur.
Location: Jl. Raya Pengosekan Ubud No.108, Ubud, Gianyar Regency, Bali 80571, Indonesia
Contact: +62 811-3811-7673
7: Portofino Ubud
After a friend of mine stayed in Ubud and went here twice in the three-day stay, I just had to check Portofino out for myself.
A recommendation that absolutely must be shared, Portofino Ubud is an exquisite Mediterranean-Italian restaurant that radiates sophistication.
That being said, the atmosphere here is relaxed, and very welcoming. I chose to sit outside, which is slightly elevated from the street in a lovely spot in the town.
The quality and taste of the dishes were delightful. I had the freshly made fettuccine in pesto and asparagus and it was exceptional. The desserts here are also magnificent, and the wine list was up there with the best.
The staff here were very caring and diligent, ensuring everything was cleared and delivered swiftly.
I’m so glad I visited Portofino, and can see why my friend visited more than once!
Location: Jl. Raya Pengosekan, Ubud, Kecamatan Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571, Indonesia
Contact: +62 821-4745-4470
Local Cuisine
Traditional Balinese Dishes
When you visit Ubud, traditional Balinese cuisine will give you a taste of their culture, flavours and unique techniques.
Babiguling – whole, spit-roasted suckling pig – is a popular dish. The tender meat is beautifully seasoned with spices and herbs like lemongrass and galangal, resulting in an aromatic, mouth-watering experience.
Ayam betutu is another favourite here. It is a slow-cooked chicken dish, marinated in a rich blend of spices such as turmeric, coriander, and chilli. The succulent, flavour-infused meat simply falls off the bone.
Fusion Flavours
Ubud’s food scene doesn’t just focus on traditional dishes. Chefs and their restaurants here love to experiment with the fusion of local ingredients and international influences.
At Copper Kitchen, they are committed to sustainability and locally-sourced ingredients. They offer a wide range of dishes like seared tuna with mango salsa, or the ever-popular nasi goreng topped with a crispy egg. This combination of Balinese staples and international twists creates memorable menus.
Melali Ubud, another fantastic dining option, offers a great mix of Moroccan-inspired cuisine and healthy dishes for a splendid post-yoga brunch or laptop lunch.
The fusion food trend is prevalent in Ubud, and I highly recommend exploring these delightful creations when in the area.
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