5 Places to Dine in Ubud, Bali
Bali, the Island of the Gods, is Indonesia’s number one tourist destination. Sitting right in the heart of Bali is Ubud, a district known for its alluring vista: stacks of green rice paddies and a dense forest housing hundreds of macaque monkeys. Ubud is also the centre of arts and culture scene in Bali; there are numerous galleries, rows of shops selling goods crafted by local artisans, and beautiful temples. It attracts local and international tourists, causing its food scene to flourish steadily throughout the years. Here are our suggestions for places to dine in Ubud.
1. Kafe Bunuté
The name ‘Bunuté’ is taken from the 50-year-old Bunut tree that grows in front of the cafe. It serves home-style Balinese delights and selected fusion dishes for lunch, dinner, and everything in between. Kafe Bunuté’s speciality is ‘Nasi Panggang’ -literally translates to baked rice-, made of white rice, a small portion of vegetables, shrimp, meat, and spices wrapped in a banana leaf, then grilled. You may not be familiar with ‘Nasi Panggang’ at first, but give it a try and the taste will surely leave a lasting impression on your taste buds!
2. Angkul-Angkul
Restaurant Angkul-Angkul -the Indonesian word for entrance gate- restaurant is located at The Ubud Village Resort & Spa. The restaurant welcomes diners to its two-storey pavillion, surrounded by lush tropical gardens and terraced rice paddies. Angkul-Angkul uses only the freshest and finest ingredients to create flavoursome fine dining dishes, aiming to give diners gastronomic delicacies in a romantic atmosphere.
3. Murni’s Warung
Murni opened Ubud’s first real restaurant in 1974 and it still remains first in the heart of many people today. The menu at Murni’s Warung is varied; it includes authentic Balinese dishes not served elsewhere, Indonesian, Chinese, and Western dishes. Besides good food, Murni’s Warung provides a sight for the sore eyes with views of the green hillside and the river. In addition to the warung, Murni also offers a place to stay and shop, plus a spa.
4. Ibu Rai Bar & Restaurant
Ibu Rai used the money from her late husband’s pension to open a small food stall near Ubud Palace around the late 1960s. The stall was frequented by travellers and slowly became famous; it started to get mentioned in several travel books as a recommended place to eat good food in Ubud. Nowadays the restaurant is run by Ibu Rai’s grandson. The menu consists of signature Balinese dishes and a mix of modern Asian flavours. Ibu Rai’s signature dish is ‘Beef Ribs with Red Bean Soup’. Come by and have a taste!
5. Ayung Organic
Designed as an open-air pavilion, Ayung Organic at Royal Pita Maha is the perfect venue to enjoy light refreshments. As the name suggests, the restaurant rests right beside the fast-flowing Ayung River. The chefs of Ayung Organic have created a menu of healthy cuisine using local ingredients and seasonal produce -fresh herbs, vegetables, and fruits- harvested from the resort’s own garden. Their specialities are ‘Free Range Chicken Soup’ and ‘Organic Lasagna’, to name a few.
Credits:
Photo © Angkul-Angkul
Text by Alexandra Karman