Restaurants in Ubud: Where to Experience Authentic Balinese Cuisine

Ubud is where you can visit temples, get lost in rice terraces, and unexpectedly find yourself in a restaurant with a tasting menu and coconut foam. To avoid the “just any place” or “eh, it’s fine” experience, OnBali has compiled a list of trusted spots. I’ve picked the ones where you’ll actually want to stay longer. Here’s a short selection, and for the full list, check out OnBali’s guide to the best restaurants in Ubud – no fluff, just delicious and memorable spots.

1. Nautilus

Nautilus is one of the brightest spots on the list in Ubud, especially if you’re looking for more than just a meal but an experience. It’s impossible to start any list of the top restaurants in Ubud without mentioning it. The food feels like a dinner prepared by a chef who believes fine dining shouldn’t be boring.

What to try:

• Lobster with zucchini.
• Octopus with fondue and stracciatella ice cream.
• Oysters with coconut cream.

The interior is nautical without being kitschy, with warm tones and soft lighting. They’re open from 3 PM to midnight, and booking ahead is best. There are hardly any walk-ins – people come with intention. Sometimes, with two: the first is for a cocktail, and the second is to say, “Let’s go ahead and get the tasting menu.” The perfect spot if you want Bali food to linger in your dreams long after the meal.

2. Donna

Donna is a rare format for Ubud: restaurant, bar, and club all under one roof. By day, it’s tapas and passionfruit martinis. By night, the second floor turns into a full-on dance space with a DJ and music going strong until 2 AM. It’s right in the center, on Monkey Forest Street, but it feels like a night out in Barcelona.

The menu blends Mediterranean and Latin American influences – tapas, Polpo alla Donna, paella, passionfruit desserts, and plenty of heat, in both spice and mood. Cocktails come with flair: smoke, sparks, and skull-shaped glasses. Don’t stick to just one – this is where you order in rounds to try as much as you can.

The vibe shifts from lounge to rave. Downstairs: soft sofas, slow gin drinks, and low conversation. Upstairs: lights, music, and people clearly not ready to call it a night. Donna is the perfect choice if you’re looking for a meal at one of the romantic restaurants in Ubud, followed by drinks and dancing.

3. Aperitif

Apéritif feels like stepping into colonial-era Holland in the middle of Ubud’s jungle. Set in a 1930s-style mansion, the restaurant treats dinner like theater: seven courses, seasonal ingredients, local spices, and European precision. Everything is beautifully plated, expertly balanced, and intensely flavorful. But the real star is the atmosphere – spacious, calm, with polished service and lush greenery framed in every window.

The menu changes regularly, but expect unexpected pairings: tempeh ravioli, caramelized onion with Balinese shallots, or chicken infused with cape gooseberry. There’s also a vegan tasting option and pairing menus with wine or cocktails. The wine list features over 180 bottles, but don’t worry about choosing – the sommelier will handle that effortlessly.

Mariia Ipatova from OnBali also recommends visiting the Pinstripe bar next door: “They make arak-based cocktails and serve them in a marble hall with jazz and rice field views. If you ask, they might even give you a tour of both the bar and the restaurant.” For a truly memorable night, Apéritif ranks among the Ubud restaurants’ dinner spots you’ll want to experience. The combination of its atmosphere, incredible food, and attention to detail makes it stand out in Ubud’s vibrant dining scene.

4. Nusa by Suka

In Bali, there are places everyone knows – taxi drivers, DJs from the north of Canggu, you name it. Nusa By/Suka is one of those places. You mention “dinner in Ubud,” and instantly, someone will say, “Oh, the one with the wood-fired oven and grilled salmon?” Yes, that’s the one.

Their menu takes the Mediterranean and adds a little fire. Here, you can enjoy one of the best food in Bali:

• Wood-fired pizza.
• Handmade pasta.
• Grilled salmon with lemon and herb sauce.
• MB5+ Black Angus with chimichurri and smoked butter.
• Shrimp with garlic, addictive to the last bite.

The bar is equally impressive, serving cocktails made with local herbs and spices, crafted with a precision that seems to know exactly what you need. One guy at a nearby table ordered “just white wine” – a minute later, he was sipping orange wine, clearly smitten with the drink, the waitress, and the Bali vibe.

5. Room 4 Dessert

Room 4 Dessert isn’t just a place for sweets. It’s a 15-course evening experience – starting with savory bites, moving into desserts, and finishing with petits fours. However, by that point, no one’s counting. The menu changes often, but the concept stays the same: local ingredients, unexpected pairings, and presentations that make you want to hit record.

The format goes like this:

• 5 savory starters (yes, expect something farm-inspired with layered textures).
• 5 desserts (cashew with watermelon, lime with kluwak, and so on).
• 5 tiny finales (a farewell… that doesn’t feel final).

In the middle of Ubud’s ever-evolving dining scene, Room 4 Dessert easily stands out among the good restaurants in Ubud for doing something truly different. And the drinks take it even further. You can pair the set with one of four tasting options:

• Natural wine – IDR 1,890,000.
• Spirited (cocktails and alcohol) – IDR 1,540,000.
• Spiritless (non-alcoholic pairings) – IDR 1,290,000.
• Unpaired (food only) – IDR 1,090,000.

The whole experience unfolds in a tropical garden, where you’re encouraged to take a slow walk between courses. Cocktails are built around arak, fermentation, and fresh spices. It’s not the kind of place you stumble into – it’s either the grand finale of your evening or the start of something strange and wonderful. Bali food here becomes something bold, unexpected, and full of personality.

Conclusion

Ubud isn’t the place for lazy beachfront lunches. Here, food is part of the journey. Somewhere between temples and jungle trails, you’ll find dinners where octopus comes with ice cream and cocktails smell like grilled pineapple and flowers. The Ubud dining scene has a personality of its own: less predictable, more experimental. Local chefs aren’t afraid to mix tradition with fine dining techniques; the result is food that’s hard to explain – but easy to remember.

If you’ve already tried everything from our main list (or just want more), here are three spots that also deserve your attention:

• Cantina Rooftop Bar.
• Pica.
• Rüsters.

You’ll find more about them in OnBali’s article on the best restaurants in Ubud. Add them to your route – it’s not just about where to eat; it’s a mini culinary adventure through Ubud.