Indonesian Restaurants in Bali: Flavors You'll Never Forget

Best Indonesian Restaurants in Ubud

Hujan Locale in Ubud transforms Indonesian street food into a modern, elegant experience. Chef Will Meyrick — a Scottish chef who fell head over heels for Bali (and who wouldn't?) — focuses on local ingredients and reviving traditional recipes.

Source: @hujan_locale

Don't miss the chicken martabak and slow-cooked beef rendang — those Padang spices will open up a whole new world of flavor! It's best enjoyed with company, as Will Meyrick's portions are anything but modest. Most dishes are served on family-style plates, perfect for sharing. For larger groups or business dinners, you can opt for a set menu at 485,000 IDR per person, with wine pairing available for 390,000 IDR per person. By the way, the restaurant has a smart-casual dress code, so leave the shorts and flip-flops for the beach.

The creators describe Nusantara as an ethno-culinary portrait of Indonesia. It is similar to Kaum, but with an even broader focus, spotlighting lesser-known regions and their unique flavors. Don't expect any modern additions or ingredients that aren't native to Indonesia — everything here is proudly local, staying true to Indonesia's roots.

Source: @restaurantnusantara

The menu is a celebration of traditional dishes in Bali and across Indonesia. Forget the usual staples — here, you're ordering the kind of food you won't find anywhere else. Like jukut kelor mesanten — a dish from Munggu, South Bali, made from moringa leaves with genep and cooked in a shell of a young coconut over an open fire. Or go for the set menu and take a flavourful journey through the country. Pair it with a cocktail, and you'll have an experience worth talking about for years.

I can easily see this place becoming one of the best Indonesian restaurants in Bali for many. Gajah Putih takes dining to another level. You're enjoying your meal while watching a live theatrical performance! If this isn't fine dining, I don't know what is.

Source: @gajahputih.bali

Here's how it works: you buy a ticket on their website for USD 110, which includes an 11-course set menu. There are two performances: Lingkaran, celebrating sunrise and traditional Balinese daytime rituals, and Malam, focusing on the mystery of the night. I've been to both and recommend choosing the vibe that speaks to you — bright and uplifting or dark and mystical. Sadly, there's no option for vegans or vegetarians.

This is modern Indonesian dining inspired by a key moment in Bali's history — the 14th century, when the Majapahit kingdom conquered much of the Indonesian archipelago, bringing Hinduism and Buddhism with it. The restaurant is in a 350-year-old Javanese Joglo, a traditional house with a pyramid-shaped roof nestled in the middle of an active rice field.

Source: @ceritamanisan

The menu at Manisan is a tribute to Indonesian flavors. The balakutak pekalongan — squid braised in its ink with shallot and garlic paste — left me speechless. And if bold flavors are your thing, get the mango sambal with chili and shrimp paste for its perfect mix of spicy, salty, and sweet.

Best Indonesian Restaurants in Nusa Dua

Located at The Ritz-Carlton, Bejana is more than just a place for authentic Indonesian cuisine — it's where Bali shows off. The food's fantastic, sure, but it's the terrace views of lush greenery and water that'll have you questioning if you're in a postcard.

Sources: @ritzcarltonbali, www.tripadvisor.co.id

Bejana offers seasonal tasting sets, with menus that change based on what's fresh and available. These usually cost around USD 110–120 for two people — a bit pricey, but absolutely worth it. From the main menu, I recommend the bebek betutu (slow-cooked duck) and sate lilit (Balinese skewers). On Saturdays, the restaurant hosts Balinese Buffet Nights, where you can sample dishes like an array of sambals and babi guling (suckling pig) — some say it's the best on the island!

Double Ikat, tucked inside a luxury spa resort, feels as indulgent as it sounds. The view of the infinity pool is breathtaking, and the vibe? Pure serenity. The creators say they drew inspiration from an indigenous weaving technique, which sparked the concept of blending authentic Indonesian and Balinese food culture with innovative modern cooking methods. And they've nailed it — no surprise it made the Top 100 Restaurants & Bars in Asia Pacific (by Marriott International) in 2021.

Source: @doubleikatrestaurant

You must try the grilled fish with sambal matah — it's a flavor bomb. I also love their festive celebrations, which have special menus for everything from Christmas to the Balinese holidays. If you’re a fan of open-fire cooking, visit their Sunday all-you-can-eat barbecue by the pool with unlimited classics like steaks, and Ikan bakar jimbaran, Indonesian grilled fish.

This certified halal restaurant offers a relatively small but expertly curated menu. With a name like Raja, meaning “King,” the goal here is to give you a truly royal experience.

Source: @rajabalirestaurant

As always, I suggest going for the tasting menu — why settle for one dish when you can try a bit of everything? You'll start with a traditional noodle soup, savor beef tenderloin, and, yep, finish with that refreshing mango sorbet. This sorbet is a classic South Asian dessert, and you'll see it everywhere. For couples, there's also a romantic set menu for two — if you're visiting with your partner, surprise them!

Best Indonesian Restaurants in Uluwatu

The Warung, named after traditional food stalls, is a spot that truly wows. Perched on a cliff's edge, it pairs jaw-dropping ocean views with some of the best Indonesian cuisine in Bali. It's a fresh take on timeless dishes that have been served in warungs for generations.

Source: www.tripadvisor.com

Every meal comes with sambals served in a congklak, a traditional Indonesian board game. It's like your lunch comes with a side of fun! If you're with friends, go for the megibung — a sharing feast served on banana leaves featuring herbed minced fish skewers, char-grilled pork, and all things delicious. And don't miss the nasi goreng (fried rice) with seafood, it's exceptionally good here.

Best Indonesian Restaurants in Canggu

Ulekan is another Indonesian food haven crafted by talented chefs behind some of the best Indonesian restaurants in Bali. Every dish here is a classic. Think comfort food with a modern flair, made with ingredients sourced from local farmers and fishermen. Even the wood for their grill is sustainably sourced!

Source: @ulekanbali

Speaking of the grill, look into the dishes under the Sate Sate section. Order a mix — chicken, mackerel, tofu — and pair them with sambals. After all, the restaurant is named after the tool used to make these iconic condiments!

Best Indonesian Restaurants in Kuta

This restaurant specializes in a unique cooking technique. Meat is coated in a spice blend, wrapped in bamboo leaves, enclosed in the stalk itself, and slow-grilled to perfection. The result is an incredible aroma and meat so tender it falls off the bone!

Source: @balitimbungan

Personally, I always get the bebek timbungan — duck prepared using this method. This might just be one of the best Indonesian restaurants in Bali when it comes to duck dishes! Get it with batun bedil for dessert — sweet sticky rice flour dumplings with coconut milk — and you've got a perfect day. By the way, if you plan a business meeting in Kuta, this is the spot. Two floors and a dedicated meeting area are ideal for great food and productive conversations.

Best Indonesian Restaurants in Seminyak

Kaum Bali is like time-traveling through Indonesia's history, one delicious bite at a time! There, you'll find dishes made using traditional techniques like bamboo grilling or pit roasting and get to try food from lesser-known Indonesian regions — Aceh, Sulawesi, and Maluku.

Source: www.tripadvisor.co.id

The restaurant's vibe is inspired by Torajan wood carvings decorating the walls. As for the food, I especially liked nasi sune cekuh, baked white rice with spices, — a traditional dish from the Nusa Islands. It's in the Journey Through Indonesia set. Their cocktails — infused with local spices and aged in claypots — are on the level of the best bars in Bali. By the way, they host cocktail masterclasses, and it's definitely on my must-visit list!

Chef Wiwik has been shaping Bali's fine dining scene for over a decade. Her restaurant, Merah Putih, is considered one of the top modern Indonesian restaurants in Bali, especially for elevated cuisine. Honestly, this is the kind of place that makes you want to show up in a dress.

Source: @merahputihbali

Choose anything — it'll give you one of the best culinary experiences in Bali. I highly recommend starting with the tasting menu for IDR 600,000 (USD 36). It's a true journey through Balinese flavors. You'll begin with duck soup and yellowfin tuna in tamarind, savor Sumatran braised beef cheek, and finish with a refreshing mango-coconut sorbet. Vegetarian and vegan options are also available. And if you enjoy a drink, get their signature cocktails or explore the wine list — over 200 options to choose from, so you're sure to find a favorite.

We've talked about modern Indonesian restaurants in Bali, most of them leaning towards fine dining. But I want to wrap up the list with something cozier — one of Bali's most iconic warung-style restaurants, Made's Warung. Over fifty years ago, it really was a roadside café. Now, it's a buzzing spot full of history and life. Imagine the stories those walls could tell!

Source: @madeswarung

Go for hearty, homey dishes from the Classic Made's Menu, like nasi goreng or tipat tjantok. And if someone in your group craves something Western, there's pizza and burgers, too. But Made's isn't just about the food — it's where people come to dance, sing, laugh, and meet. Looking for a party or maybe even a date? Head to Latin Night for Salsa every Saturday and dance your heart out. Who knows, you might even spot me there!