Taste Gili T: 15 Must-Try Restaurants on Gili Trawangan

Nothing screams heaven like a beachfront vegetarian restaurant. The Banyan Tree gives you the best place to eat plant-based meals in Gili T. There’s no such thing as making a wrong order, whether you feel like having a Green Bowl with avocado, spinach, and kale, or prefer the savory Scrambled Tofu for breakfast. The Pulled Pork Sandwich made of jackfruit and served with peanut sauce is an unusual pair, but you will finish it in no time because together, the flavors work!

Sip your Coldbrew Lemonade and enjoy the tangy Key Lime Cheesecake while burying your toes in the sand. And don’t forget to snap some photos in front of their iconic exposed brick walls and green door for your social feed!

Let your quest for authentic Italian pizza in Gili Trawangan end at Pizzeria Regina. Cheese lovers will adore The Formaggi as the mozzarella, blue cheese, parmesan, and gorgonzola will get you into a cheese coma. Match the beachy vibes of Gili T with Frutidimare, where you can bite the perfect crust with the seafood goodness. But if you’re more of a pasta person, Ravioli Ricotta will get you to roll the fork while muttering, “So tasty!” endlessly.

Pizzeria Regina feels like coming to a friend’s house, and you enjoy the meal in the semi-open front yard. You get a homey vibe, a good plate of Pappardelle Pesto, and a Tequila Sunrise to get you through the dinner. Certainly, you don’t need anything else, do you?

You go to Manta Dive to dive, but Chappie’s Bar is where you go to eat in Gili Trawangan. The restaurant/bar is part of Manta Dive Resort, so you’ll always see divers in their wetsuits. But once you get the bite of Ben’s Special, a simple menu of two fried eggs and chicken schnitzel, plus French fries, you’re in for one of the best foods in Gili T. Maybe because you can sit by the beach while firing up your laptop (Chappie’s has one of the most reliable internet connections in Gili T), or play some board games while having the Falafel & Tzatziki Wraps.

The Happy Hour certainly makes Chappie’s an excellent spot for a sundowner drink. And if you need to catch some games on the telly, Chappie’s shows major sporting events at the bar, so you don’t miss your favorite sports even when you’re on holiday.

If you keep thinking about a Caprese pizza on your journey to the Gili Islands, Francesco’s Pizza will make you squeal in delight. You literally need only a minute's walk to this pizza restaurant from the Gili T port! The flatbread sandwich is ready to the rescue if any pizza on the menu doesn’t tickle your appetite. Pick your piadina base and toppings; we guarantee no one will bat an eye if you combine Serrano Ham with mustard.

The pasta at Francesco’s Pizza also deserves a spotlight. The Homemade Gnocchi with creamy or gorgonzola sauce is worth every bite. But the Salmon & Ricotta Ravioli will get you to declare Francesco’s Pizza as one of the absolute best restaurants in Gili T.

Casa Vintage Beach brings the bold and spiciness of Caribbean flavor to Gili T. Dig in the Jamaican Chicken Curry with your Bintang beer, and you’ll soon taste the most-hearty meals in Gili Trawangan. The Grandma Slow Cook Beef Stew will melt in your mouth as soon as you take a bite because the meat is so tender!

Pick the table under the shady tree, and feel free to go in and out of the ocean to cool down the heat from Caribbean Beef Chili. Don’t miss the Homemade Organic Wine to complement the rich flavors of the meal. But if your tummy starts acting funny, order Young Coconut, and you’ll be good to have another Langos Tomato.

Coffee & Thyme rhyme perfectly well with the tropical Gili T vibes. The All-Day Breakfast Menus gives you plenty of time to finish the Sunrise smoothie bowl and order a Golden Crispy Pancake (choose your battle between the savory or sweet!). The Taliwang Sandwich blends Lombok’s traditional sauce with the softest buns, sending you to the ultimate foodgasm.

Veggie lovers, the Green Club sandwich is going to be your best friend alongside the Vegan Bolognese. And don’t call it a brunch unless you have Coffee & Thyme’s signature drink, Crème Brulee Coffee, and the vegan-friendly Banana Bread while your eyes are glued to the ocean in front of you. If you don’t call it perfection, we rest our case.

Wajan Sister Café fills the gap of affordable eateries in Gili T. Don’t be fooled by its down-to-earth (yet very cozy) interior. Once you get the Beef Sambal Matah and take a bite, get ready for the golden combo of the tender beef and Balinese classic seasoning. The Jungle smoothie bowl should simplify your breakfast option because who doesn’t like the freshness of lime and cucumber with banana and apple?

The place is always jammed for a reason: you get a bowl of Crispy Chicken Curry with rice for only 45K! Throw fruit juices, smoothies, and milkshakes into the menu starting at 20K; every bite is worth every penny you spend.

Jali Kitchen is all about the best comfort food in Gili Trawangan. Attached to Jali Resort, the restaurant brings the familiar taste of your favorite Asian dishes. There’s no escaping a rich and flavorful meal here, from the spicy (but we can’t get enough of) Thai Green Curry to the Indonesian twist of tempeh in Tempe Balado Wrap. They also elevate Indonesia’s street food, Penyet, which you can have with chicken or tofu and tempeh.

There’s no such thing as making a wrong order at Jali Kitchen. Take your time browsing the extensive menu, even when you decide to go for Beer Battered Fish & Chips or Jali Beef Burger (and yes, we will silently judge you).

Kayu Café just ticks our boxes when it comes to a chic and healthy cafe in Gili T. Whether it’s the pancake, muffin, or Vegan Avo Toast, you know how serious they are about the breakfast menu. If you don’t mind getting scolded by a coffee snob, try Nuttycino from the Specialty Coffee section, and you’ll get a hazelnut and vanilla flavor that goes beyond the usual coffee taste.

Feel free to order Lamb Cutlet or Pork Chop, but it’s the vegetarian/vegan dishes that seduce us to Kayu Café. Banh Mi Jackfruit and Vegan Maki will remind you of many of the best cafes in Bali. The wooden tables and chairs are set in a high ceiling space, plus you get the front view of the ocean. We declare Kayu Cafe one of the best places to eat in Gili T you cannot miss.

You'll soon forget about your wetsuit and oxygen tank once you sit down at Fat Cats and have Burrito Grande. Seriously, the restaurant has the best menus for your post-diving refuel. Think of protein-packed Simple Grilled Chicken or Teriyaki Tofu Wrap if you’re vegan. You will want to order a second portion of grilled tuna rice bowl because the creamy Parmesan saffron rice will make you hungry again.

The column-less space with a glass window overlooking Gili T’s best feature (the ocean, of course!) makes a picture-perfect background for your Insta feed. Choose the table outside on the beach while you enjoy the big portion of Fat Cats Super Platter and sipping your Lychee Martini.

At Carpe Diem, you will seize your day full of good meals, just like the meaning of its name. No need to think twice if you need a full meal because the English Full Breakfast (they also have the vegan version!) will get you stuffed with deliciousness. One bite of the Chicken Baguette, we promise you will smile at the tropical bird murals inside the café because it hits your taste buds with juiciness and tanginess (thanks to the chipotle sauce).

But the perk of restaurants in Gili T is the beachfront seating. Eating your Burrito or Pomodoro pasta becomes a lot jazzier because you get the ocean view. And on a hot Gili day, nothing says comfort like gelato, so treat yourself to two scoops instead of one.

Scallywags live up to your tropical ideas of palm trees, white sand beaches, and fishermen's boats. Enjoying the juicy pork ribs, Mexican fajitas under the umbrella, or shady palm trees while seeing the waves roll by, what a pure bliss! But you come to Scallywags for its freshest seafood. Can you imagine the smell of smoky Grilled Teriyaki Mahi Mahi and devouring it under the stars?

But don’t hang up on the idea that Scallywags is only good to get the freshest seafood. Doesn’t matter if you opt for Chili con Carne or Indonesia’s Soto Ayam, having Mojito or Americano (not the coffee kind!) surely will make your night even merrier!

You can’t miss the grand bamboo structure, as this makes Pearl Beach Lounge one of the best restaurants in Gili T. Whenever you sip your Develish Vojito, you get a triple sensation: an ocean breeze, crashing waves and warmth in your belly. If you can’t miss a day without having seafood, the Seafood Platter will open your palate with a bang.

Have you ever wondered about the outcome of an Italian pizza crust with aromatic curry spices? One slice of Chicken Curry Croustards (thin bottom pizzas) will get you to the second one and more. If you wonder where is the closest you can get to a high-end dining restaurant in Gili T, no need to look further than Pearl Beach Lounge.

Planning a romantic dinner by the beach is easy when you have Ko-Ko-Mo in Gili T. The gap between tables is wide enough to comfortably have a private conversation. But the wow factor in Ko-Ko-Mo is, without a doubt, the seafood. We can literally go for the second plate of Grilled Atlantic Salmon or go all-in with the BBQ’D Seafood Platter, so you don’t have to pick between prawns or calamari because the menu has it all.

And if you’re more of a brunch or lunch kind of boy and gal, don’t pass the chance to pair your Pan-Fried Garlic Tiger Prawn with imported wines or go for the classic cocktails. And if you’re lucky, you may see the turtle hatchings at the restaurant! Don’t you think that’s a meal for the book?

We have no doubt La Cala Beach Club can compete with the beach clubs in Bali. The rustic aesthetic fits right into the Canggu vibe. Feel free to nibble Prawn Schnitzel and sip your Whisky Sour while lazily lounging on the sun chair or sitting pretty on the sofa. When hunger strikes, The Eggsplosive Burger should make you full enough until dinner.

What we love about La Cala is the hanging bamboo lamps and dim lights that add charms to the beach club. When you have dinner at La Cala, expect to have the smokiest BBQ Skewers. Whatever your tummy’s desire, whether you crave veggies, seafood, or meat, don’t forget the wine to go with it.