From ultra-sustainable seafood in the island’s hippest beach club to smoky-sweet desserts in laidback Canggu, there’s simply no better place to eat than Bali.
Bali’s unrivalled position as the ultimate multicultural tourist crossroads have led to a culinary scene that dazzles the tastebuds. From sumptuous cucina povera inspired by Italy’s sun-kissed southeast to modern Australian fare served with an abundance of flair, Bali’s flavours, aromas and concepts are equal parts tantalising and terrific. We know our readers are hungry for the island’s very best, so join us for seconds as we uncover our picks for the Top 10 Restaurants in Bali for 2023.
Bali escapes
Honey & Smoke, Ubud
Fire-focused and obsessed with sweetness and smoke, this Ubud darling serves expertly grilled modern Australian plates in the heart of Bali’s spiritual hinterland. Honey & Smoke’s sophisticated dining room is dripping with understated charm, but the hero is the food – appetisers like charred corn topped with honeycomb, pine nuts and whipped feta and fries served with chicken liver mousse dance playfully between fine dining and approachable. Try the restaurant’s signature dessert, Rum Baba – featuring black-charred pineapple, coconut ice cream and a generous spill of locally distilled Spice Islands rum – for a rip-roaring Pina Colada riff that’s worth gettin’ caught in the rain for.
Santanera, Canggu
It’s clear on approaching Santanera’s three-storey, exquisitely designed glasshouse exterior that this Canggu eatery is something special. The freewheeling sharing-focused menu is as inspired as the magnificent tattoo art covering its walls – old-world European flavours rub shoulders with Latin American innovations, but Bali’s extraordinary local produce remains the star of the show. Whether it’s aperitivos and sunset ocean views on Santanera’s rooftop, ceviche with passionfruit and woodfired duck fried rice in the dining room or classic cocktails in the restaurant’s hidden bar, Santanera guarantees an evening you won’t forget.
Billy Ho, Canggu
Easygoing late-night Asian bites paired with ferociously creative handcrafted cocktails – what’s not to love at Billy Ho? Show up late and nibble your way through dynamite spicy salmon sushi rolls, pork miso cabbage gyoza and Japanese milk buns (topped with a mouth-wateringly decadent green tea anglaise). An intimate interior – featuring dark shades, soft lighting and touches of bronze – cements Billy Ho the perfect choice for hungry travellers who love to talk late into the night. Tiramisu martinis and a peanut butter and strawberry old fashioned only make staying easier.
Skool, Canggu
Take a seat between the blazing open kitchen and the shimmering Indian Ocean and let Skool’s signature aromas – smoke, the sea breeze and subtle spices – work magic on your palate. Bali’s best produce is meticulously selected and lovingly caressed by an open flame to provide simple, breathtakingly delicious plates. Start with half a chicken, organically raised, carefully roasted and topped with pickled chillis before moving on to Skool’s wonderfully cohesive dessert menu – think charred strawberries with a simple meringue or whole slow-roasted spiced pineapple slathered in macadamia ice cream.
Rize, Pererenan
Rize is well-known within the sleepy seaside village of Pererenan for its excellent service and wonderful Indian-inspired brunches. Treat yourself to a late breakfast in the restaurant’s lush inner courtyard and let your worries drift away – try a smoothie bowl, using only whole fruits, raw cacao and freshly plucked edible flowers or the broccoli and charred kale eggs benedict, smothered in light bearnaise. The restaurant’s signature dish, masala dosa – a delicious pancake stuffed with potato curry, chutney and a dazzling array of spices – is another must-eat, best paired with a steaming mug of the house chai.
Mauri, Seminyak
Seminyak’s no stranger to cutting-edge culinary concepts, but Mauri’s combination of highfalutin’ haute cuisine – drawing on the produce of local Balinese farmers and its own hydroponic garden – and Puglia’s cucina povera peasant cookery traditions make for a dining experience that swerves past expectations. Boasting both an a la carte and signature tasting menu, Mauri’s plates brim with amore – 24-month aged parmigiano ravioli, barramundi branzino served with asparagus and beans are magnificent, while white stucco and elegant Pugliase design flourishes make for a dining experience that will transport you straight to the Adriatic Coast.
Ijen, Seminyak
Nowhere’s quite got that Seminyak swagger like Potato Head Beach Club, and the hotel’s radically sustainable – we’re talking ‘nothing left over, ever’ – restaurant, Ijen, works tirelessly to elevate raw ingredients and freshly-caught seafood into something extraordinary. Settle down into a chair made of ethically sourced local wood and recycled plastic and taste your way around the Bali Sea. Start with clams cooked in seaweed butter, oysters with ginger and tamari and a refreshing salad dressed with palm sugar vinegar and work your way through the Ijen’s beguiling cocktail list – all made with locally distilled spirits, many showcasing Bali’s almost spiritual national drink, arak.
Looking to discover the potato, the myth, the legend? Find out what’s Inside Bali’s Legendary Potato Head Beach Club.
Koral, Nusa Dua
Hidden deep beneath The Apurva Kempinski Bali, one of the island’s most luxurious five-star resorts, exists Koral, an underwater kingdom filled with gastronomic delights. Bali’s first aquarium restaurant draws inspiration from the grandness of the ancient Indonesian Majapahit Empire in its décor – including royal tegel tiling, red brickwork and teak furnishings – but the true magic is in the dramatic splashes of colour as marine life moves above and around you. Here, seafood is king, and if the fish mind they don’t complain – we recommend the Koral Degustation menu, with fresh oysters, Japanese seabass and slow-cooked spiny lobster lavishly tossed in a mango vinaigrette.
Lola’s Mexican Cantina, Uluwatu
Tacos, tequila and good times await at Lola’s Mexican Cantina. Vegans will adore the restaurant’s versatility, with hard shell tacos stuffed with jackfruit carnitas, flame-grilled vegetables, mushroom asada and refried beans being staples, and Lola’s lengthy happy hour will keep you laughing until way after the sun’s gone down. Feel like partying after dinner? In addition to the inspiriting cocktail and fresh juice list, Lola’s also offers a margarita bottle service for you to take back to your hotel, and the taqueria’s pineapple mezcal margarita is just the thing to beat the warm Balinese nights.
Alchemy, Ubud & Uluwatu
Alchemy takes local raw ingredients and transforms them into miracles for the mouth. It’s the most delicious kind of sleight-of-spatula – everything’s sustainable, vegan, gluten-free, raw and scrumptious. Try the smoked burger – served with pickles, tomato, secret sauce and slaw, it’s meatier and tastier than the real thing, or for a lighter bite go for the Asian salad with jackfruit ‘chicken’ strips, crispy sunflower sticks, all tossed in a creamy ginger dressing. Want to learn Alchemy’s wickedly fresh witchcraft? The restaurant also runs Alchemy Academy, its own culinary school, deep in the heart of the Ubud jungle.
Looking for more Bali inspiration? Check out Where to Stay in Bali: The Ultimate Guide to the Land of the Gods.
