Bali Restaurant Guide: 15 Great Places to Eat in Canggu, Seminyak, and Ubud

We love exploring local food. It’s why we travel.

Whenever we visit a new city, we try to experience as much of the regional cuisine as we can. We rarely go to restaurants that serve non-local food so if that means having to ignore a Japanese restaurant in Bangkok in spite of its great reviews and my love affair with sushi, then so be it.

But Bali is different.

We learned that on our first visit to the island in 2009. We stayed the entire time in Ubud and I remember having more difficulty finding authentic warungs than restaurants serving European food.* That’s what our guide Kadek told us as well.

I think a lot of that has to do with the fact that Bali has been such a popular tourist destination for so long that it’s become very international in feel. It looks and feels different from similar island destinations in Southeast Asia like Phuket or Bohol.

You’ll notice it in the island’s myriad hotels, boutiques, cafes, and restaurants, many of which are so polished conceptually that they’d probably succeed even in major cities.

Sure, you can find great babi guling and bebek goreng restaurants but I think limiting yourself to just Indonesian food would be doing yourself a disservice in Bali. For me, it would be like going to New York City and eating just hamburgers and hot dogs. You’d seriously be missing out.

The food in Bali is so diverse. For the first time ever, we’ve set aside that “local food only” mentality and focused on finding the best restaurants in Bali regardless of the cuisine. This Bali restaurant guide is what we came up with.

*We stayed in Ubud for a month in 2024 and we were happy to find many more Indonesian restaurants in town. I guess more and more tourists are open to trying local food, which is always a good thing.

THE BEST RESTAURANTS IN BALI

This Bali restaurant guide focuses on the popular tourist hotspots of Canggu, Seminyak, and Ubud. Of course, there’s a lot more to Bali but most first-time visitors to the island will probably spend time in any or all three of these areas.

Bali is one of the best places in the world for plant-based food so this list features both vegan and non-vegan restaurants.

CANGGU

These were five of our favorite restaurants in Canggu. For more pictures and recommendations, check out our larger list of the best restaurants in Canggu.

1. Revolver

Revolver is one of the most popular cafe restaurants in Bali. I’ve been to their branches in Canggu and Seminyak and both were buzzing with customers eager to enjoy their coffee and delicious dishes like this maple-glazed pumpkin and ancient grain salad.

Revolver isn’t a vegan restaurant but these were two of the tastiest and most thoughtfully put-together salads we’ve had so far in Bali. Absolutely delicious!

Revolver

Address: Jl. Nelayan No.5, Canggu, Kec. Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia
Operating Hours: 6AM-12MN, daily

2. Warung Sika

If you want traditional Indonesian food in Canggu – something delicious and easy on the pocket – then Warung Sika is the place to go. We walked by this humble warung (simple Indonesian restaurant) a few times and were intrigued by the large number of locals and tourists eating there. When our scooter-driving instructors recommended it to us without us even mentioning it, we knew we had to go.

Warung Sika offers nasi-campur-style meals. But instead of ordering a la carte, you pick out whatever dishes you want from their display and the servers scoop out a serving for you. Every dish is pre-cooked so you don’t have to wait at all for your food.

These two plates, with one bottle of water, set us back just IDR 64,000 (March 2024) in total. At today’s exchange rate, that converts to a little over USD 4!

Canggu isn’t the cheapest part of Bali so if you’re traveling on a budget, then Warung Sika is a great place to enjoy a meal.

Warung Sika

Address: Jl. Tanah Barak No.45, Canggu, Kec. Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80351, Indonesia
Operating Hours: 9AM-9PM, daily

3. The Sloth Bali

As described, Bali is one of the best places in the world to be a vegan and The Sloth was one of our favorite plant-based restaurants in Canggu. They offer a wide menu of all-day breakfast dishes, smoothie bowls, salads, sandwiches, burgers, and wraps. You can even put together your own salad bowls and nasi campur plates from their long list of plant-based ingredients.

What you’re looking at here is their vegan satay bowl featuring some of the most enjoyable plant-based proteins I’ve had thus far in Bali. Not only is their food delicious, but we found them to be fairly priced as well.

You’ll find smoothie and acai bowls everywhere in Bali but many reviewers say that The Sloth makes the best. I wouldn’t doubt it! This papaya smoothie bowl was amazing.

The Sloth Bali

Address: Jl. Pantai Batu Mejan No.90A, Canggu, Kec. Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80351, Indonesia
Operating Hours: 7AM-7:30PM, daily

4. Dua Hati

If you’re a vegan and want to tuck into 100% plant-based Indonesian food, then Dua Hati is a great place for you to visit. Most vegan restaurants in Canggu offer the usual salad bowls and wraps but Dua Hati was one of the few that offered mostly local dishes.

At Dua Hati, you’ll find Indonesian and Balinese favorites like satay, nasi goreng, and bakso. The beautiful plate below is their version of vegan nasi campur. If you’ve never heard of it, nasi campur refers to an Indonesian dish made with rice served with a variety of different viands. This vegan version can be enjoyed with “chicken”, “lamb”, or “fish” plant-based proteins.

If you’d rather not order a la carte, then you can put your own nasi campur plate together as well, a la Warung Sika.

Dua Hati

Address: Jl. Pantai Batu Mejan No.12D, Canggu, Kec. Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80351, Indonesia
Operating Hours: 7AM-9PM, Sun-Thurs / 11:30AM-3:30PM, 5-8PM, Fri-Sat

5. Gron Espresso Bar & Kitchen

Gron Espresso Bar & Kitchen is a stylish restaurant located in Tibubeneng. They’re known for their coffee and a delicious-looking lineup of meat and seafood dishes that we didn’t see anywhere else in Bali – dishes like roasted bone marrow over gnochetti sardi and oxtail fried rice.

We had the poke bowl, which was decent, but this gyu tan don was a show-stopper. It refers to an insanely delicious dish featuring thinly sliced grilled ox tongue served with scrambled eggs and furikake over Japanese white rice. My good was this good!

This gyu tan don was so delicious that we wound up getting it to go a couple days later. If you like beef or ox tongue, then you need to try this.

Gron Espresso Bar & Kitchen

Address: Jl. Raya Semat No.1, Tibubeneng, Kec. Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361
Operating Hours: 8AM-9PM, daily

SEMINYAK

The Seminyak restaurants featured here are from a previous trip but we do plan on going back soon to create a larger and more complete list, similar to our Canggu and Ubud restaurant guides.

6. Pak Malen

When in Bali, one dish you need to try is babi guling. It’s a Balinese food favorite and one of the island’s most famous Indonesian dishes. It consists of a suckling pig stuffed with an Indonesian spice mixture called basa gede, then roasted on a hand-churned spit over an open fire.

It’s typically served over steamed white rice with vegetables, pork satay, blood sausage, a spicy Indonesian sambal, and my personal favorite – a smashingly crisp shard of glistening pork skin.

Roast pig is an extremely popular Indonesian dish in Bali so every local has an opinion on which warung serves the best. I was on a private tour one day and I asked my driver to take me to his favorite suckling pig restaurant in Bali. He took me here, to Pak Malen, a no-nonsense Indonesian warung that’s known for serving some of the best roast pig in Bali.

As you can see below, they serve it with pork satay, lawar (vegetables with coconut), pork belly chips, sambal, soup, and the crispiest square of pork skin. We’ve had babi guling a few times in Bali and this was arguably the best.

For many locals, Pak Malen is one of the best Indonesian restaurants in Bali so be prepared for a wait if you go at peak times. It’s located along central Sunset Road in Seminyak.

Pak Malen

Address: Jalan Sunset Road No.554, Seminyak, Kuta, Seminyak, Kuta, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia
Operating Hours: 8:30AM-7PM, daily

7. Naughty Nuri’s

Naughty Nuri’s is a Bali legend. They first opened in 1995 in Ubud and became known for their Indonesian barbecued pork ribs and martinis which the late great Anthony Bourdain famously declared the “best martinis outside of New York”. It was Bourdain’s ringing endorsement that made us visit Naughty Nuri’s for the first time back in 2009.

The humble warung has since grown by leaps and bounds. On top of opening multiple branches in Bali and Indonesia, they expanded internationally to Kuala Lumpur, Phuket, Macau, and Melbourne. Their ribs and martinis are delicious but I can’t help but think that Mr. Borudain had much to do with their incredible success.

On our most recent trip, we tried to eat at the original branch in Ubud but it was closed at the time so we went to the Seminyak outlet instead.

Much has changed in the ten years since our last meal at Naughty Nuri’s, but one thing remains the same – their ribs are still fall-off-the-bone delicious. It’s a fun dining experience and one we’ll always look forward to on every return trip to Bali.

Like roast pig, Indonesian pork ribs is one of the best dishes in Bali. They’re made by boiling the ribs till fork tender then marinating and cooking them in a spice mixture made with a host of ingredients like kecap manis (Indonesian sweet soy sauce), lemongrass, shallots, galangal, coriander seed, and turmeric.

Of course, we had to have the ribs with Naughty Nuri’s famed martinis. I’m not a martini drinker so I can’t say if these are indeed the best martinis outside of New York, but they’re very good.

They didn’t do this when we ordered a martini at Naughty Nuri’s Ubud ten years ago, but here at Seminyak, the Indonesian servers danced around our table and sang “Shake It Off” while preparing our martinis. It was fun but a bit embarrassing since the whole restaurant turned to look at us. Ha!

If a restaurant has multiple branches, then we’ll try to go to the original though this Seminyak branch may have surpassed the original. It’s fun and fresh compared to the Ubud branch which feels a bit tired. You get that sense from their TripAdvisor reviews as well. The food sounds like it’s still great though.

Check out these cute flying pigs at Naughty Nuri’s Seminyak. Not only does Naughty Nuri’s serve some of the best food in Bali, but it’s one of the most fun as well.

In case you’re wondering, the restaurant was named after the owner Isnuri “Nuri” Suryatmi. Her nickname for her late husband – Brian Kenney Aldinger of New York – was “naughty”, hence “Naughty Nuri’s”. Sadly, Brian passed away in 2012.

Naughty Nuri’s

Address: Jalan Mertanadi No. 62 Kerobokan Seminyak, Kerobokan Kelod, Kec. Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia
Operating Hours: 11AM-10PM, daily

8. Chandi

Bebek betutu is an Indonesian dish we have fond memories of from our first trip to Bali in 2009. I did a search for “best bebek betutu in bali” and the Chandi restaurant often came up.

Bebek betutu is another Bali food classic. It’s a special Indonesian dish of steamed Balinese duck heavily seasoned with an Indonesian spice mixture called betutu.

The mixture is made by grinding over a dozen spices and ingredients like turmeric, ginger, galangal, garlic, candle nuts, and peanuts into a fine paste then sauteing it with coconut oil. It’s a time-consuming dish to make so you’ll need to order it at least a day in advance.

At Chandi, they make their bebek betutu with a blend of sixteen spices and serve it with duck sate over sugarcane and a salted duck egg salad.

Bebek betutu is incredibly moist and tender and practically shreds off the bone the moment it touches your knife. It’s also very aromatic to the point of being perfume-y. You can tell when you taste it that a whole lot of spices went into making this dish.

It’s traditionally a Balinese ceremonial dish so it’s a great one to try if you’re looking for a memorable Indonesian dining experience.

Chandi is located along busy Jalan Kayu Aya in Seminyak so it’s easy to find. As you can tell from their stellar reviews, it’s one of the best places to eat in Bali.

Chandi

Address: Jl. Kayu Aya No.72, Seminyak, Kec. Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia
Operating Hours: 12NN-12MN, daily

9. Warung Eropa

Bebek goreng is a another dish we enjoyed on our first trip to this island many years ago. Bebek goreng refers to a Bali food staple of crispy fried duck served with white rice, sambal, and a vegetable salad. It’s crisp and lean but still juicy with a nice bit of gaminess that you won’t taste in chicken.

Ten years ago, we had bebek goreng at one of the most famous Ubud restaurants called Bebek Bengil. This time, I had it at Warung Eropa which was cited by more than one source as having the best crispy duck in Bali.

I’m a sucker for snails so I ordered this buttery and garlicky platter of escargot to go with my bebek goreng.

Warung Eropa is a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence awardee with a solid 4-star rating. When it comes to bebek goreng, it’s one of the best restaurants in Bali.

Warung Eropa’s plain facade belies a dark and sexy interior. RAWR… *bites into that bebek goreng*

Warung Eropa

Address: Jl. Petitenget No.9D, Kerobokan Kelod, Kec. Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia
Operating Hours: 10AM-10:30PM, daily

10. Motel Mexicola

Motel Mexicola has to be one of the coolest and most colorful restaurants in Bali. As its name suggests, it has a Mexican theme though it isn’t a motel. Helmed by Chef Steven Skelly, it’s a Mexican restaurant by day that transforms into a bar and club at night.

We’re beyond the age of partying so I was here strictly for the food. Pictured below are the taco baja (fish) and taco de pollo (spicy chicken), both of which were very good.

Here’s another look at the chicken taco. I couldn’t decide whether I was more impressed with the food or the space. Wait till you see the interior of this place.

You can’t help but notice this restaurant when you walk by. Motel Mexicola looks like a scene from a Wes Anderson movie. It’s so eye-catching and rife with detail!

Like I said, this has to be one of the most festive-looking restaurants in Bali. Standing inside, it feels like you’re in a piñata! The colors and textures are so striking.

I can only imagine how bouncy this place gets at night. You could feel its energy even during the daytime.

One last look before I go. Motel Mexicola is huge with every section unique in color and design. I absolutely loved this place. They should have lucha libre nights here with winners getting free tacos.

Motel Mexicola

Address: Jalan Kayu Jati No. 9X, Petitenget, Kerobokan Kelod, Kec. Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia
Operating Hours: 11AM-1AM, daily

UBUD

This short list of five showcases our favorites but be sure to check out our Ubud restaurant guide for more pictures and recommendations.

11. Sun Sun Warung

We’ve been to many warungs in Ubud but Sun Sun is our favorite. From the taste and presentation of its food to the restaurant’s ambiance and menu prices, this restaurant ticks all the boxes and will give you a meal you won’t forget in Ubud.

Sun Sun Warung serves the usual Balinese and Indonesian favorites like gado-gado, mie goreng, and sate, but we highly recommend going for the nasi campur langit. It’s a version of nasi campur served with steamed rice that gets its attractive sky-blue color from butterfly pea flowers. Isn’t this dish gorgeous??

Sun Sun Warung serves vegan and vegetarian options as well so if you had time for just one Indonesian restaurant in Ubud, then it should probably be this one. Love this place!

Sun Sun Warung

Address: F7R6+PR8, Jl. Jembawan No.2, Ubud, Kecamatan Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571, Indonesia
Operating Hours: 11AM-9PM, daily

12. Plant Bistro

Bali is excellent for plant-based food but especially in Ubud where there are an estimated 30.7 fully vegan restaurants per 100,000 residents. We rarely met a vegan restaurant we didn’t like but Plant Bistro was definitely one of our favorites.

Located up a hill in the Blanco Museum compound, in one of the leafiest parts of central Ubud, Plant Bistro offers interesting and delicious plant-based dishes in one of the most beautiful restaurant spaces in town.

What you’re looking at here isn’t smoked salmon and cream cheese over toast. It’s marinated carrot and ve-scarpone cheese that looks and tastes almost like the real thing. Amazing!

Plant Bistro

Address: Blanco Museum Area, Jl. Raya Campuhan, Sayan, Kecamatan Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571, Indonesia
Operating Hours: 8AM-10PM, daily

13. The Wild Yak

We’ve been to many great restaurants in Bali, but The Wild Yak is definitely one of the most intriguing. Located in Nyuh Kuning Village, they offer a hyper-focused menu of slow-cooked dishes that were traditionally served along the Silk Road, from the Himalayas down to Central Asia. Suffice to say, I don’t think you’ll find another restaurant like this in Bali.

When we ate here in April 2024, they were open for just one day a week – on Saturdays for dinner – but they’re developing a set dinner menu that will be launched in June 2024. According to the cook and owner, they’re looking to expand their hours as well so I’m looking forward to experiencing that on our next trip back to Ubud.

The Wild Yak

Address: Jl. Nyuh Bulan No.4, MAS, Kecamatan Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571, Indonesia

14. 9 Angels & 9 Bambu

We went to a few of these vegan buffets in Ubud and 9 Angels & 9 Bambu was our hands-down favorite. It’s a humble warung set in a beautiful garden space right in the heart of downtown Ubud. Like Warung Sika (#2) in Canggu, you pay only for what you get but at 9 Angels, you serve yourself.

If you’re traveling on a budget, then 9 Angels is another great restaurant to enjoy a healthy and delicious meal without breaking the bank. When we visited in April 2024, a heaping plate of food typically cost us around IDR 45,000 (roughly USD 2.82). Don’t you just love Ubud?

9 Angels & 9 Bambu

Address: Jl. Goutama Sel. No.13, Ubud, Kecamatan Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571, Indonesia
Operating Hours: 11AM-11PM, daily

15. Rayjin

If you’re in the mood for Japanese food in Ubud, then one restaurant you should definitely consider is Rayjin. It’s a lovely restaurant along busy Jalan Hanoman that serves beautifully prepared and presented Japanese dishes.

There are many delicious-looking dishes on their menu but I recommend trying the gindara misozuke or grilled miso-marinated black cod. Served with a strip of crispy charred skin and a medley of mixed vegetables, it’s melt-in-your-mouth tender and unbelievably delicious, especially when paired with a bowl of Japanese white rice.

Rayjin

Address: No. 10Y, Jl. Hanoman, Ubud, Kecamatan Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571, Indonesia
Operating Hours: 12NN-10PM, daily

LOCATION MAP

People who’ve never been there often don’t know how big Bali it is. It’s huge with many interesting areas.

As described, the Bali restaurants in this guide are spread out between three main tourist hot spots – Canggu, Seminyak, and Ubud. To help you find them, I’ve pinned them all on the map below. Click on this link for a live version of the map.

BALI FOOD TOURS

It’s easy enough to find great places to eat in Bali, but if you want to really dive into the local cuisine, then you may want to go on a food tour. Simply put, no one knows Indonesian food better than a local so what better way to experience the best of Bali cuisine than by going on a food tour? Check out Get Your Guide for a list of Indonesian food tours in Bali.

FINAL THOUGHTS ON THE FOOD IN BALI

The island of Bali is one of those places that begs to be explored long-term. We’ve been there a few times and will continue to continue to come back as often as we can. You can expect this guide to expand after every visit. We intend to cover the best restaurants in other areas like Nusa Dua, Uluwatu, Jimbaran, and Denpasar as well.

It’s funny, coming from a similarly tropical country like the Philippines, I never thought Bali would captivate us, but it has. As I said at the top of this post, it’s different. From its healing vibe to the quality and diversity of its food, Bali truly is in a class of its own.

Disclosure

Some of the links in this Bali food guide are affiliate links, meaning we’ll earn a small commission if you make a reservation at no added expense to you. We really appreciate your support as this helps us keep this website going. Thank you!

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