Ubud | Indonesia Travel Guide

Top 10 Best Restaurants in Ubud, Bali

Ubud is famous for its food, besides culture, and this is one of the best places in Bali to sample a wealth of local Indonesian food. This is why it is also home to some of the best restaurants in Bali. One of the best things about Ubud is the sheer variety of bites on offer and you can spend the day sipping on freshly pressed local juices made with exotic fruits and sampling the street food bought piping hot from carts on street corners.

If your appetite and budget allow, then you can also enjoy a variety of fine dining in Bali which are located in Ubud, but there are also, of course, lots of affordable food to be found here.

Here are our very own top 10 best restaurants in Ubud.

Locavore

One of the most famous restaurants in Ubud is Locavore which is the brainchild of two chefs called Ray Adriansyah and Eelke Plameijer which has an emphasis on local ingredients. You can select from a variety of tasting menus here including one which features nine courses and is paired with wine, and just some of the highlights include traditional Indonesian oxtail or freshly caught barramundi.

Opening hours: 12 pm – 2.30 pm, 6.30 pm – 10.30 pm
Address: Jl. Dewisita No.10, Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571; Tel: +62 361 977 733

Famous Locavore restaurant in Ubud Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali, Indonesia — Famous Locavore restaurant in Ubud Kabupaten Gianyar, Ubud. Photograph by Indus and the Ubud Writers & Readers Festival.

Ibu Oka Warung

Ibu Oka Warung is one of the most famous spots in town and enjoys a strategic location across from the Royal Palace in Ubud. The reason to come here is for the babi guling which is traditional roast suckling pig. Expect it to be simple but delicious. Basically, you get large slices of roasted pig served with rice and some side vegetables, all of which are accompanied with a delicious spicy sauce.

Opening hours: 10.30 am – 10 pm
Address: Jalan Tegal, Ubud; Tel: +62 361 976 435

Ibu Oka Warung, one of the famous spot near Royal Palace in Ubud, Bali, Indonesia — Delicious roasted pig at Ibu Oka Warung. Photo by Kars Alfrink

Hujan Locale

Hujan Locale has made a splash on the Ubud food scene thanks to its delicious Asian cuisine. The restaurant is modeled in the colonial style and menus have headings such as ‘From the farm’ and ‘From the sea’. Some of the delicious plates you can expect here include juicy lamb curries inspired by Yogyakarta and fish curry cooked in the Acehnese style.

Opening hours: 12 pm – 3 pm, 6 pm – 11 pm
Address: Jalan Sri Wedari, Ubud; Tel: +62 361 849 3092

Bebek Bengil Restaurant

Bebek Bengil Restaurant translates as the Dirty Duck which is the main feature on the menu. The restaurant has a secret recipe developed in-house in the 1990s and the duck is boiled in a flavorful broth before being massaged with a blend of traditional Balinese herbs and spices. The meat is then fried until it blisters to create some of the most delicious duck on the island.

Opening hours: 10 am – 10.30 pm
Address: Padang Tegal, Jl. Hanoman, Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571; Tel: +62 361 975 489

Bebek Bengil restaurant is known for Dirty Duck as main menu, Ubud, Indonesia — Bebek Bengil restaurant is known for Dirty Duck as its main menu. Photo by (WT-shared) Shoestring at wts wikivoyage

Fair Warung Bale

If you want to support the local community while you have your dinner, then consider a trip to Fair Warung Bale. Owned by the Fair Future Foundation, the proceeds of your meal will go to healthcare in the Ubud community. Some of the items you will find on the menu here include toothsome curries as well as some international fare.

Opening hours: 9.30 am – 11 pm
Address: Jalan Sriwedari 6, Ubud; Tel: +62 361 975 370

Mozaic Restaurant Gastronomique

One of the best known upscale restaurants in Ubud is called Mozaic and is known for its French-Indonesian fusion food. All the dishes are the brainchild of Chef Chris Salans and you will find French dishes that have been made with local Balinese ingredients. One of the highlights here is the tasting menu which is made up of local treats like blue fin tuna and other fresh seafood delights from around the region.

Opening Hours: 17.45 – 1.00 am
Address: Jalan Raya Sanggingan, Ubud; Tel: +62 361 975 768

Cooking Class at Mozaic restaurant, Ubud, Bali, Indonesia — Cooking Class at Mozaic restaurant. Photo by Ubud Writers Festival

Cafe Lotus

Cafe Lotus is now actually a chain that exists all over Bali but it started in Ubud in 1982, so if you eat here you will be coming to the source. This restaurant looks out over a pretty lotus pond (hence the name) and you can come here to try the traditional Balinese dishes such as fish rubbed in a spice blend made of lemongrass, galangal, and turmeric which is then wrapped in banana leaves and cooked.

Opening hours: 7.30 am – 11 pm
Address: Jalan Raya Ubud; Tel: +62 361 975 660

Café Lotus a chain that exists all over Bali, Indonesia — Cafe Lotus chain in Ubud, Bali. Photo by Dee M

CasCades at the Viceroy

CasCades at the Viceroy is one of the most upscale restaurants in Ubud and you will dine in a Balinese pavilion covered with a traditional thatched roof. The restaurant looks over the lovely Petanu Valley and you can choose from French dishes that have an Asian twist. To that end, you will find Balinese, Japanese, and even Thai influences here and there is a tasting menu that comes with scallops, rack of lamb, and a selection of delicious cheeses.

Opening hours: 7 am – 10 pm
Address: Jalan Lanyahan, Banjar Nagi, Ubud; Tel: +62 361 972 111

Moksa

If you are a vegetarian or just want to eat more greens, then consider a trip to Moksa. This restaurant is based around a permaculture farm and is focused on simple yet delicious plant based meals. Some of the dishes are raw while some have seen a little eat and you can expect a changing menu with dishes such as vegan pasta made with vegetables and covered in ‘cheese’ made from nuts.

Opening hours: 10 am – 9 pm
Address: Gang Damai, Ubud; Tel: +62 361 479 2479

Try Moksa restaurant for vegetarian, Ubud, Bali, Indonesia — Try Moksa restaurant for vegetarian, Ubud. Photo by Xenia Blair and the Ubud Writers & Readers Festival.

Bebek Tepi Sawah

If you are in Ubud then one of the restaurants that you absolutely can’t miss is Bebek Tepi Sawah located at the Tepi Sawah Villas in Peliatan. The name is a reference to the ducks that line the rice terraces here and as a result, you can expect to find plenty of duck on the menu. If you are not a fan of this meat however then you will find plenty of other delicious plates featuring mixed seafood platters as well as delicious pork dishes like braised pork ribs.

Opening hours: 10 am – 10 pm
Address: Jalan Goa Gajah, Banjar Teges, Peliatan, Ubud; Tel: +62 361 975 656

Plenty duck menu can be found at Bebek Tepi Sawah restaurant, Ubud, Bali, Indonesia — Bebek Bengil (Crispy Duck). Photo by Naotake Murayama

1 Day Ubud Itinerary, Bali – What to Do and See

Ubud is Bali’s heart and soul, with so many things to do, you can easily spend more than one day here, but our itinerary will help you to maximise the time you have. Geographically it is also located in the center of southern Bali. Ubud can seem to offer too much sometimes, with rice fields to traverse, traditional dances to relish, art museums and galleries to explore, cooking courses and yoga classes to join and traditional markets and villages to discover.

In this 1 day itinerary in Ubud, you will check out the few main attractions in Ubud, then head out for a short excursion to the temple and rice fields and return in time for massage and spa, Kecak Dance performance and live music afterwards.

Ubud Itinerary Map

Morning – Market, Monkey Forest and Museum

Wake up early and check out the public market (pasar umum). This market is a beautiful chaos itself, offering many things in a bargain, from T-shirts and bangles to tea leaves and bananas. Start here before 8 am to catch the mass local produce before they disappear as the souvenir stalls take over.

From the market walk to the opposite to Ubud Palace, also known as Puri Saren Agung, to admire the architecture and the gamelan instruments on display. These instruments are used in the evening’s traditional dance performance. Then head on to the popular Sacred Monkey Forest of Ubud before it gets too hot. This is a lush jungle dotted with temples, transporting tourists away from the urban sprawl of Ubud. Then head south to the magnificent Aung Rai Museum of Art with expansive collections and beautiful gardens. From here head to Jalan Suweta for lunch of the famous roast pig (babi guling) of Ubud at Ibu Oka.

Lady selling flowers at the Market @ Ubud, Bali

Lady selling flowers at the Market at Ubud, Bali. Photo by David Stanley

Afternoon – Excursion of Paddy Fields and Temple

Then it is time to discover the wonders that surround the Ubud city. Head west and ride (you may want to rent a motorbike or hire a car for the half day) down the beautiful road to Kendaran, with sloping coconut palms flanked by paddy fields and volcanic mountains. On the way, we stop by at Tirta Empul, one of the top 10 temples to visit in Bali, with a complex of pools, temples and gardens. The hot water springs are regarded as holy in Bali and have the magical power to heal, resulting in its invasion by locals and tourists alike. At the end of the road, turn north to Tegallalang, a village handicraft shops.

Rice fields terraces, Tegalalang, Ubud, Bali

Rice fields terraces at Tegalalang. Photo by Pandu Adnyana

Evening – Kecak Dance

Return in time to Ubud to catch a traditional dance performance with live music. This is one of the must do in Ubud to sum up your experience. If there is still time, squeeze in some massage and spa at the many choices you can find in Ubud. End the day with a sumptuous dinner at one of the best restaurants in Bandung. After that, if you still have the energy, check out one of the many places that play live music at the center of Ubud.

Kecak Dance at Bali, Indonesia, Indonesia

Kecak Dance at Bali. Photo by Meru Muhammad

3 Days Itinerary in Ubud and Around, Bali

Ubud is Bali’s heart and soul, with so many things to do, you can easily spend 3 days here. Geographically it is also located in the center of southern Bali. Ubud can seem to offer too much sometimes, with rice fields to traverse, traditional dances to relish, art museums and galleries to explore, cooking courses and yoga classes to join and traditional markets and villages to discover.

In this 3 days itinerary in Ubud, you will explore in depth the village of Ubud with a full day walking tour, and then a day around the tourist attractions of Ubud and lastly a short excursion out to caves and rice fields.

Ubud Itinerary Map

Day 1 – walking tour of Ubud village

Today would be a walking tour day in the village of Ubud. The best starting point is the public market (pasar umum). This market is a mesmesrizing place itself, offering many things in a bargain, from T-shirts and bangles to tea leaves and bananas. Start here before 8 am to catch the mass local produce before they disappear as the souvenir stalls take over.

Lady selling flowers at the Market at Ubud, Bali. Photo by David Stanley

Continuing down the main road you will see Pura Dalem Ubud temple, closed to the public but good to admire from the outside. Further on is Pura Taman Saraswati, a majestic temple with a pond full of lotus flowers. Close by here is the Museum Puri Lukisan if you are keen on a collection of works by local and foreign artists inspired by Bali.

Walk down Jalan Raya Ubud to Panestanan and spend some time here enjoying the peace, passing yoga and meditation centers. From here you can choose either to explore the nature by doing one of the best walks in Bali at Campuhan ridge or get a motor taxi (ojek) and head to Neka Art Musuem for its marvelous artworks and lush gardens. End the day with dinner, drinks and dance at Jazz Cafe Tebesya.

Legong and Barong Traditional Dances, Ubud, Bali

Legong and Barong Traditional Dances. Photo by Arian Zwegers

Day 2 – Around Ubud

Wake up early morning and head to the popular Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary in Ubud. This is a lush jungle dotted with temples, transporting tourists away from the urban sprawl of Ubud. Exit through the southern gate to Nyuhkuning, a charming village renowned for its wood carvings. This village is also a good place for cycling (bike available for rent here) due to its flat roads.

Then head south to the magnificent Aung Rai Museum of Art with expansive collections and beautiful gardens. From here head to Jalan Suweta for lunch of the famous roast pig (babi guling) of Ubud at Ibu Oka. After that walk off the meal at Botanic Garden (open 8 am to 6 pm daily). Turn up at the main street of Petulu between 4-5pm to watch the flocking of thousands of herons and egrets there. End the day with a sumptuous dinner at Bali Buddha.

Monkey Forest at Ubud

Day 3 – Day trip excursions from Ubud

Today we will discover the wonders that surround the Ubud city starting with Goa Gajah Cave. This mysterious and fascinating cave is known for its T-shaped that was created over a thousand years ago. It contains Hindu and Buddhist artefacts and bizarre carvings around the entrance.A travel tip is to come here early before 9 am to escape the crowds from tours.

Next head on to Gunung Kawi, where massive shrines are carved into cliffs surrounded by stunning landscapes. Not far down from here is the Kafe Kawi, a perfect place for lunch. Further on we head to Tirta Empul, one of the top 10 temples to visit in Bali, with a complex of pools, temples and gardens. The hot water springs are regarded as holy in Bali and have the magical power to heal, resulting in its invasion by locals and tourists alike.

Head west and ride down the beautiful road to Kendaran, with sloping coconut palms flanked by padi fields and volcanic mountains. At the end of the road, turn north to Tegallalang, a village handicraft shops. Return in time to Ubud to catch a traditional dance performance with live music. This is a must to sum up your experience in Ubud.

Rice fields terraces at Tegalalang. Photo by Pandu Adnyana

Top 10 Things to Do in Ubud, Bali

Ubud is one of the popular town in Bali, famous for its arts, rice terraces, spa, and yoga. It is metaphorically a cultural center of Bali. The people here are also friendly while the architectures are beautiful and there are many tourist attractions to keep you entertained.

Ubud is geared very much to tourists, therefore, it does not lack in tourist attractions or things to do. out of 14 villages here, you can find many hidden treasures and fun filled activities among the people with their quiet everyday village life.

Here is our take on Top 10 Things to Do in Ubud for you:

Explore the rice fields of Tegalalang

Arguably the most popular thing to do in Ubud because of the beautiful landscapes that are lined with rice terraces, running through with brilliantly blue streams with dramatic limestones and valleys as a backdrop. The best way to explore this area is on a motorbike so that you can feel the cool refreshing wind while you hear every sound and see every sight in person. At the northeast of Tegalalang, you will find the classic rice terraces that are so revered all over Asia. Riding here will keep you well entranced as you see the greeneries stretch out as far as the eye can see. If you are not keen on motorbike, then you may find one of the rice fields trekking tours that will take you around.

Rice fields terraces. Photo by Pandu Adnyana

Take an Ubud cycling tour

Cycling is one of the top activities in Ubud, being a place of beautiful and amazing sceneries. Besides many of the cycling tours includes sampling the delicious Balinese food along the way and also interacting with the locals. There are many cycling tours to choose from or if you want it to be a leisure one, try out the electric bike tour. Some of the other famous bike tours are Greenbike Cycling Tour, Baligobike, Bali Bike Baik and Bali on Bike.

Rent bicycle at Ubud, Bali. Photo by Made Yanuarta

Watch Kecak Dance

Kecak Dance is one of the most popular traditional dance in Bali and one of the best place to watch it is in Ubud. This dance is from the legend of Legong and Barong, a dance from the south of Bali, with a story of a never-ending battle between good and evil. It is more commonly known as the fire dance that is set to impress. Watch this dance at its origin at the road to Sanur within Ubud and you will definitely enjoy the authenticity of it.

-> Find the best hotel deals in Ubud at Booking.com *

Visit the art museums

The most important art museum in Ubud among the many here, Neka Art Museum features many traditional paintings. This museum distinct itself with creatiuons of Suteja Neka, a private collector, and dealer of Balinese arts. Opened in 1982, this museum has continued to hold great selections of works from many famous Balinese artists. The other art museum that is worth visiting is the Agung Rai Museum of Art (ARMA Museum). Here it differed with many cultural activities. It is also home to many well known international Balinese artists. There is also a kafe (cafe) with tea and coffee inside.

Neka Art Museum. Photo by Zenubud from Bali

Visit the temples in and around Ubud

Being the cultural center of Bali, Ubud comes with a number of interesting temples to visit. The two main temples located within the city center is the Pura Taman Saraswati, well known for its lotus-filled pond and Pura Dalem Ubud. Just about 10 minutes drive from the center is the Goa Gajah temple (elephant cave), which main attraction is the carved entrance and the Lord Ganesha (the God with the elephant head) inside. The two other notable temples that you must visit, with just 30 minutes drive away, are the Pura Tirta Empul and Pura Gunung Kawi temples.

-> Read more at Top 10 Temples to Visit in Bali

Pura Tirta Empul temple, Ubud. Photo by Christ06

Walk around the Ubud Market

This double story market is located at Jalan Raya Ubud, just around the corner of Jalan Monkey Forest. It has many stalls selling all kinds of items from woodcarvings, batik, sarong, souvenirs and so on. Local tip is to go upstairs to scout for your bargain as the price is usually lower up there, but bear in mind that you would need to hone your haggling skills.

Ubud Market, Bali. Photo by Jos Dielis

Take a walk in the Sacred Monkey Forest

Though not exactly what you would expect to do here, the sacred Monkey Forest turns out to be one of the places travelers come to whether out of curiosity or for some good old laugh. Besides being entertained by antics of the monkeys, the area is actually a lush forest with old carved stones that will make a wondrous walk. Just take care of your belongings as the monkeys can be really cheeky!

Sacred Monkey Forest. Photo by D.Meutia

Take up a cooking class in Ubud

Balinese cuisine is well known around the world and most travelers here enjoy the food very much. What could be better than eating them but to learn how to make them? You friends and families back home will definitely love you for it. There are many cooking classes here and some of the famous ones here are Lobong Cooking Class, Payuk Bali Cooking Class or Paon Bali Cooking Class.

Yoga Hall, Ubud, Bali. Photo by Joanna Penn

Have a Yoga session

If self-pampering is not enough, it is time to rejuvenate yourself with yoga. The classes here are well run by locals and expats alike, and you will have quite a number of choices to choose from. Two of the popular yoga studios are the Yoga Barn and Radiantly Alive. You will be sure to find one that suits your level so don’t worry and enjoy your yoga.

Relax with spa and/or massage

Ubud is popular for offering good spa and massages at very reasonable prices. You will be spoilt for choice as you go out and walk around, you will bound to find some good ones. These pampering sessions are top notch in true Balinese hospitality, it will leave you feeling like a princess and well rejuvenated from all the constant traveling and heat.

-> Check out Top 10 Best Area to Stay in South & Central Bali