Call it a love, call it an obsession, call it fate – there has just always been a connection between bali and I. From my very first trip with Morgan in 2008 I knew that this would be a second home. That first trip we were actually here for 2 whole weeks and 3 days before we were to leave I was crying as I didn’t want to go.
I love the people, I love the energy, I love the calm amongst the hustle and bustle and more recently I have fallen deeply in love with…. the food.
It’s why we come back here a couple of times every year and our love affair with Bali is why we chose to get married here.
I truly do adore Bali and all the beauty in every tiny detail it has to offer.
Being a hugely regular Bali visitor, Morgan and I get asked a lot in PM’s and emails for restaurant recommendations, so I wanted to put this post together as your one stop shop for all things sunset drinks and good food in the Island of the Gods.
But firstly, to explain why this post even needs to happen, you have to understand WHY the food and restaurants is so spectacular.
Bali has been calling the best chef’s from all over the globe to it’s humble city as I believe they get to live in to their passion of cooking, but get the lifestyle that comes with it. So amongst all of the phenomenal and always not to be missed organic or healthy café’s spotted here there and everywhere, there are also some incredible more high end restaurants where you can have a dining experience deemed priceless that I encourage you experience on at least one of your nights out. I
I also think that just like anywhere in the world, you can have an extraordinary experience or an ok experience and I do believe it can come down to planning and knowing where to go. Don’t ever get me wrong either, I LOVE spontaneity when I travel, but I love that when I am adventure travelling, if I am going to bali to zen out and enjoy delish culinary delights every day and divine sunset drinks at night, I want to know exactly where to go and the places to hit. And I want to make sure I’m booked in so we get the best tables and they know we’re coming.
So with all of that in mind, below, broken in to areas – are my top tips for where to eat in Bali.
And I promise you, pick any of them and you are SURE to have the worlds best time not just eating, but drinking or enjoying the sunset or hanging out in some of the best spots in Bali.
Ubud:
Yoga barn – Incredible place for yoga that serves some of the best organic delicious food.
Moziac – gorgeous cocktails & amazing amazing fine dining food
Three Monkeys – Bustling groovy café offering food from contemporary to Italian (great pasta dishes)
Set in the middle of rice fields about 15 walk in through said rice fields – open restaurant where you sit on cushions and have 360 views of the rice fields. It’s all organic (as the name suggests) and all delicious. The walk there itself is beautiful so it’s a 100% must dine at if in Ubud.
Seminyak:
Ku De Ta – HAVE to go for sunset cocktail. Think on the ocean, smooth tunes, beautiful setting, great atmosphere.
Moziac – (same brand as in Ubud) – brilliant fine dining food & groovy bar/restaurant on beach (note: some of the best passion fruit mojitios in Bali)
Deuss – really funky for chill out, great for a bit of a crazier night ‘out’. Best place in Bali for a Sunday Session (in Seminyak, I would do Single Fin for a Sunday Session if i was in Jimbaran / Uluwatu).
Potato head – infamous in bali. BIG infinity pool bar / grass area. Yummy cocktails. You want to try to get a day bed by the pool but it can get really really busy in the busy season. So if you can get there earlier in the day, perfect. Always nice to have a meal in the restaurant too, for a big bar, the food is actually exceptional.
Mamma San – best indian in bali, fine dining and beautiful setting.
Metis – fine dining restaurant, delicious food. Our good friends from Melbourne who we consider the biggest foodies we know rate this as their favourite and the best restaurant in Bali (I still would choose Sarong over this but we always ALWAYS visit here when we’re in Bali).
Merih Putih – If you’re looking for a beautiful dining experience then you need to book in a table here (and I would suggest booking as it does get very busy – here, Metis and Sarong are all finer dining places you will more than likely have to actually email and book). Walking in it’s like an inside out magical feast for the eyes and the traditional Indonesian cuisine they serve (yep, it’s Indo inspired food) is done with a modern twist so you get to enjoy the cultural tastes of the beautiful country you’re in without feeling like you need to eat at a Warung.
Saigon Street – THE best Vietnemese food we have ever tried (from anywhere in the globe). Again, go with a full stomach and if you can, with another couple of two. You want to try to get as many small bites off the menu as possible and share a main or two as it’s just THAT good you want to try to taste it all. Puk Puk Chicken and the Pork Belly are our two fav menu items, with the BEST dessert we have ever tried being from here (I would go here if only for these). It’s off the ‘tiny bites’ dessert menu, and it’s deep fried coconut balls, with a soft hot caramel centre. Order 2 for 1 person (just trust me on that).
La Plancha
super bali. Beanbags on the beach attached to a bar – go for sunsets and a cold beer. You can go in bathers if you so wished and bare feet, it’s just a really relaxed, really casual awesome bar and setting.
Sea Circus – really really really yummy breakfasts (I prefer this place as a breakfast place above all else, but also great for lunch). It’s very groovy Perth cafe meets Bali.
La Luciola – on the beach, some of the best Italian food I’ve ever eaten.
Betlenut Cafe – VERY awesome experience dining and a place I tell ALL international guests to go for the experience of it. It’s a “cubby house” overlooking rice fields and it’s all open. ALL organic food and delicious organic food to boot.
Sarong
Thai/Indonesian/indian – fine dining and FREAKING DELICIOUS – beautiful decor, happening vibe. It’s a must go, this is one of Morgan and I’s favourite restaurants in Bali. TIP: Go a little earlier as there is a big gothic esque bar that you can sit at for pre dinner drinks. I love to go earlier and sit and have a cocktail or two then move to the table. You will need to BOOK IN ADVANCE as well. We will always book a day or so before we get to Bali as the popular times are always taken if you don’t book (and you don’t want a table at 9:30pm!)
Mustttttt go here. On the beach, happy hour from 4-6pm, amazing (!!!) cocktails, funkiest tunes in bali, just super relaxed atmosphere whilst being really upmarket. I always like to dress up a little for here, and then go out for a nice dinner (you can walk to sarong or Merih Putih from here). The happy hour cocktails are delicious and you get free margarehetia pizza for your table as you sip on the cocktails watching the sun go down.
Motel Mexicola
Mexican food as the name suggests. REALLYYYYY funky decor, cool tunes, great for dinner (& yummy sangria!!!) I love it lunch or dinner as food, decor and service is always impeccable BUT it really is a fun night out with friends if you’re in to fun music, atmosphere and general good times with delicious food.
La Finca – incredible Spanish tapas bar – best tapas I have had out of Spain (try the dessert plate too) and a MUST GO TO every time we are in Bali.
Barbacoa – Think sexy decor. Worlds best cocktails (order the Cosmo Kiss, it’s not on the menu but they will make it for you and its the best cocktail I’ve ever had). I.N.C.R.E.D.I.B.L.Y delicious Tapas. THIS is Morgans favourite restaurant in Bali hands down and in the last 3 years have come every single time without fail no matter what. Try EVERYTHING on the menu if you can. We have, and there isn’t one thing we haven’t wanted to eat 100 times more of. My favourite though? Pork Ribs and the cauliflower salad.
Watercress
Awesome, awesome breakfast / lunch and dinner – best espresso martinis in bali and best breakfast in Bali also. We have done all 3 dining experiences here – brekky, lunch and dinner, and each has offered a different atmosphere but absolutely delicious food, great service and yummy beverages.
Crate Café – really small hole in the wall but super infamous with the locals. GREAT for breakfast (smoothies / breakfast type food). Super basic ordering (think smoothies, coconuts and bread based dishes) but awesome wall for photo ops and a check in 😉
Milk & Madu – LOVE this place in Canguu for breakfast. Outdoor dining experience with great coffee and a big variety of menu options. This place wasn’t ever not busy when we would go every morning for breakfast whilst staying in Canguu
Sisterfields
Really popular cafe in Bali that is a fantastic little spot for a casual (and healthy) breakfast or lunch. I love it for the balance of healthy vs naughty. I can go here and grab a big yummy salad and smoothie whilst Morgan can still order a burger or smashed avo off the menu. Win / Win.
Jimbarian Bay
Cuca
Some of the best food I’ve ever had – one of the top restaurants in bali (in ours and others opinion). An absolute dining experience, and I think best as a couple romantic dinner. You can choose to opt for a ‘private dining’ experience where they can shut off your table to the surrounding tables with curtains or you can have more of a fun, vibrant dining experience at ‘the bar’ (which is like a sushi bar and you can watch the chefs make the food). My advice? Go twice and do both experiences.
Sundara
Attached to the four seasons (where we stayed pre wedding) Beautifulllll restaurant / bar. My recommendation? Book a sunbed at Sundara pool and bar for a day 🙂 There is a minimum spend but it’s SO worth it. You can take the 10metre walk up to the inside or outside restaurant area for lunch or dinner and dine on absolutely DELICIOUS and fresh food for breakfast, lunch or dinner. We have done all meals here, and again, one of our un missable restaurants whilst in Bali.
Rock Bar – attached to Ayana resort ..literally as the name suggests, a bar carved in to rocks. SUPER cool tunes, cold cocktails, AMAZING sunset viewing. DELICIOUS tapas. It can get busy, and hot – so you have to be ok with waiting to get in in busy season BUT worth it if you’re in to awesome bali dining experiences. Try to get a lounge and watch the sunset over the water sipping on a cool cocktail.
Uluwatu
Single Fin – amazing amazing for sunset drinks & chill out / photos. Much younger crowd, and I don’t like to stay on here to ‘party’ (I must be getting old!) but it’s great for a late afternoon drink over looking the ocean. Pizza is delicious but this place to me is more a go to for drinks vs food.
El Kabron
If you do nothing else, go HERE!!! closest thing to Santorini I’ve been. BEAUTIFUL place for drinks and DELICIOUS tapas. One of our absolute fav bars in Bali. Even if we stay in Seminyak we will book a driver out to Uluwatu for a sunset drink and dinner here. They also have a pool on the cliffsedge so you can swim and take in the sunset whilst sipping on one of their delicious cold cocktails. Once the sun has gone down, dry off, slip in to a nice dress and walk the few metres to the restaurant for a night of incredible food.
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So there you have it. The COMPLETE guide (in my humble opinion) in eating your way around Bali. There are lot’s of other GREAT spots (like ‘Sling Bar’ or ‘The Plantation’ or ‘Double Six rooftop bar’ – all those 3 listed restaurants are actually at the Double 6 hotel by the way) BUT I still don’t think they’re as good as the above listed places.
Next trip over to Bali, plan ahead, work out where you would love to go and book ahead so you have a plan knowing your food and sunset cocktails are all planned out, and I promise you your trip will go from an amazing 8, to a solid 10.
Happy eating gorgeous souls.
Love, Anna xo
Images: ALL my own, except La Planchaa credit here and cover photo, credit here.
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