Michelin Worthy Restaurants in Bali: The Ultimate Fine Dining Guide

Seafood restaurants in Ubud? Groundbreaking! Chef Oleksii Ogorodnichuk brings a Ukrainian touch to Fish Kyiv, where the barramundi, squid ink butter, and red caviar taste like the sea is presented on your plate.

Nothing ever goes awry when you pair Smoked Coconut Crab with Nautilus’s Captain Salt or Kraken from the cocktail menu. Go the classic route by tasting the Lobster & Zucchini Pasta, then complement the oceanic flavor with a glass of Sauvignon Blanc. Or you can stick to the coastal theme by having Waves or Tuna from the cocktail menu.

In Chef Eelke Plasmeijer's and Ray Adriansyah's hands, local ingredients reach a new height at Locavore NXT. Thanks to the innovative and seasonal tasting menu championing only local ingredients, the restaurant would’ve made a great addition to the Michelin guide in Bali.

Source: @locavorenxt

Locavore NXT also nurtures sustainability through the Food Forest. They use anything the plants produce on the tasting menu. They also have a Mushroom Chamber where a variety of mushrooms are grown. Dining at Locavore NXT is the closest you get to the 5-star experience at a Bali restaurant.

Kubu at Mandapa presents you with a 10-course degustation menu, where every ingredient comes from local communities and has a twist of Mediterranean touch. The Jimbaran Lobster tastes fresh and oceanic thanks to the house-made Marigold vinegar emulsion.

Source: @kubuatmandapa

Taking a bite of the Mandapa Organic Jackfruit from the 10-course vegetarian menu while sitting at private bamboo dining pods near the Ayung River makes a grand, romantic dinner setting. If Michelin Guide operates in Bali, Kubu at Mandapa is certainly worthy as one of the top-rated Michelin-starred restaurants.

Roaring 1920s and Michelin-starred level experience? Say no more. Apéritif blends the bygone eras with Signature and Avant Garde degustation menu. Indonesia’s sambal hijau lends reasonable heat to Tokusen roast Carpaccio, while the pears in Kagoshima Wagyu A5 give you enough crunch and freshness.

Source: @aperitifbali

Apéritif also collaborated with Michelin-star chefs, bringing you closer to the best dining at a Bali restaurant. Pairing the divine Venison Wellington with the bitter-sweet Bluvadier cocktail or earthy Pinot Noir to complete your fine dining experience.

The closest Michelin restaurant in Bali, highly recommended Mozaic, lets you taste the local ingredients with a fine dining vibe. At Tripple Room, Seared Gindara puts the aromatic curry kemangi (lemon basil) purée in the spotlight. The Wagyu Beef Tartare takes rendang spice to a new level by pairing it with parmesan.

Source: @mozaicrestaurantubud

Book The Dining Room for a gastronomic dining set menu. Taste the citrus in the Foie Gras Snow alongside the smoked eel and candied beetroot. Meanwhile, Kalamansi Sorbet makes a great closing because who doesn’t like black rice, pandan, and coconut as dessert?

Two Michelin-starred Chef Syrco Bakker underscores the local products at Syrco BASE. Bali Bouillabaisse fuses the creamy rouille sauce into the seafood soup. In comparison, the okra brings crispness to the tenderloin stew when you take a spoonful of the Banteng Beef.

Source: @syrcobase

The tasting menu shows Chef Bakker’s creativity and knowledge of Indonesia’s food scene. The Wagyu Tokusen is paired with Indonesian pickle, while the Beef Tartare is cooked in rendang style. Syrco Bar, one of the best bars in Bali, delivers a cocktail inspired by Indonesia’s favorite dessert in Es Campur.

At CasCades, your typical Nasi Goreng and Mie Goreng get a makeover. The place is nestled high on Ubud’s Valley of The Kings, so the jungle view demands attention beside the food. Appreciate the variety of textures and Indonesian spices through Jukut Urab, Bebek Betutu, and Nasi Kuning from the Balinese Rijsttafel menu.

Source: @cascadesbali

If you can’t befriend the heat and prefer something familiar, there are Western menus at CasCades to get your appetite going. From Whole Butterflied Prawns to Truffle Mushroom Risotto, you get the flavors and comfort with the stunning view as the bonus.

The Cave by Chef Ryan Clift should get a Michelin star, if any, in Bali for the restaurant setting alone. Offering seven and ten-course menus, having Coral Trout with grenoblouise and barigoule fennel at this 22-seat subterranean restaurant inside a natural cave is the meal you will never forget.

Source: @thecavebali

Don’t worry if you’re on a vegetarian diet. Both of the multi-course degustation menus have vegetarian options. You get Kohlrabi Salad as a starter, then Gnocchi with collard and lion’s mane mushroom for the main course, and yuzu ganache, loomi sorbet, and rhubarb as the perfect dessert.

Everyone agrees Seminyak has the best ratio of cafes in Bali. But at Merah Putih, the comfort of Indonesian food like Otak-Otak is elevated to a fine dining level. We bet you’re familiar with Nasi Campur Bali, but try the Balinese Braised Chicken with urap (mixed vegetables) and quail eggs with tomato sambal.

Source: @merahputihbali

The grand setting with indoor plants makes a strong tropical statement to go along with your Mie Lobster, where slipper lobster upscales the homemade egg noodles. The Coconut Espresso Martini or Merah Putih Sour from the cocktail menu will complete your Indonesian-themed dining.

Forget the fried rice or noodles at Sangsaka. Instead, you’ll find plenty of Indonesia’s grilled and wood-fired oven cuisine. Kerang Bakar (scallops), Sate Lidah (smoked tongue), and Babi Pamarrasan (pork ribs and belly) show you the diverse repertoire of Indonesian grilled food.

Source: @sangsakabali

Once you finish Sate Kelapa (wagyu rib eye), head to Di Atas for a perfect post-dinner tipple in the rooftop bar. Ask the bartender for Pedas Manis with Espolon Blanco tequila, chili, and ancho reyes. Or enjoy every sip of prosecco as your pre-dinner drink to prepare your palate for the bold Indonesian flavor.

Looking for a cool brunch or a lunch spot in Nusa Dua? Let Kayuputi at St. Regis show you the good time. Whatever your fancy, whether it’s the Sumberkima Coral Trout or Seafood Linguine, forget your phone when you have a view of Nusa Dua Beach and the Indian Ocean to look at.

Source: @kayuputirestaurant

As the winner of the Best Award of Excellence by Wine Spectator for the fourteenth consecutive year in 2023, Kayuputi takes wine selection very seriously. Get ready to keep filling your glass with prosecco, Pinot Grigio, or Sauvignon Blanc as part of your brunch/lunch/dinner drink.

Casual and fine dining rarely belong in the same sentence. But Cuca does something right when it makes the cut in the Michelin Travel Guide. The Hawaiian Crackers seamlessly blend the flavor profile of smoked ham, melting cheese, and clove-scented sweet pineapple.

Source: @cucabali

Beyond the tapas, we put the cocktail menu on the non-skippable list. Sun-gria, a play on words of the classic sangria, blends red wine, iced fruit, and brandy soda. Moo will swoon anyone wanting alcoholic milk as the low-fat milk, dark chocolate, vanilla, and hazelnut liquor create a creamy and sultry drink.

Chef Maurizio Bombini takes you to Southern Italia through Parmigiano Ravioli, where you get the 24-month-old Parmigiano cheese ravioli served with onion consommé. Your taste buds will thank you when you try Pesce Spada, a swordfish belly with mushrooms, as part of the Discovery Tasting Menu.

Source: @mauri_restaurant

Martini Bianco as a pre-dinner drink, or sip your Wasabi Martini after the meal? Your choice! Anything from the bar will boost your Puglia-inspired dining experience at Mauri. We can’t even recommend the twisted classic of Limoncello Mule and Jasmine Negroni enough!

Once your palate hits the first bite of the Duck Ragu Arancini Ball while sitting on the outside terrace of Arcadia, surrounded by a lush garden, it’s hard to resist the cozy vibe. Choose the smoky and sweet Indonesian Fried Rice, and you’ll get the comfort of your home.

Source: @arcadia.ubud

For dinner, try Seared Foie Gras served with butter-seared brioche and caramelized pear purée. We bet you’ll like the Japanese Torched Tuna with soy truffle if you want something grilled. And whether you team Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, or Shiraz, the wine selection at Arcadia will keep you refilling your glasses throughout dinner.

Classic Indonesian cuisine, the Indian Ocean, and Nusa Dua’s clifftop are the triple threat you don’t know you need. From the softest Rendang Sapi (slow braised beef) to Bebek Betutu Gilimanuk (roasted duck in banana leaf), you can never place the wrong order at Bejana.

Source: Owner’s photos in Google

The Indonesian Archipelago Rijsttafel will take you to every corner of Indonesia. The finger-licking good Udang Bakar Madu with Yellow Steamed Rice mixed with Tumis Sayur, and you’ll finish everything in no time. Sit at the semi-outdoor wooden deck, and you’ll swear to have the best Indonesian food in Bali.

Think of Michelin Star as the Olympic for restaurants. Having good food will not cut it to warrant a star. A restaurant needs to have the highest standards in presentation, creativity, taste, service, ingredients, ambiance, and, most importantly, consistency. The restaurant can lose the star if one factor doesn’t make the checklist. Eating at a Michelin-starred restaurant is about having the crème de la crème of the dining experience.