It’s time for Michelin to come to Bali…
Bali’s high end dining scene will surprise you! While Michelin still hasn’t launched a guide for Indonesia (they only sell tires here), there’s a handful of restaurants in Bali that can definitely compete at the international level. We live in Bali and love dining, so we’ve tried many of the high-end degustation restaurants and tasting menu experiences across the island. In this article we highlight our 13 favorites, based on our own experience visiting most of these high end restaurants in Bali!
Fine Dining is relatively affordable in Bali, especially compared with similar restaurants in Europe or the United States. We therefore suggest even those on smaller budgets to give fine dining a consideration: this might be the most affordable place to try a Chef’s tasting menu (where the menu consists of multiple courses set by the restaurant).
Bali’s best restaurants can be found where the high(er) end tourists are. Typical hotspots with the best restaurants are Ubud, Seminyak and Uluwatu, with more and more fancy restaurants opening up in Canggu lately as well. The best restaurants are often part of luxury Bali hotels, but all restaurants listed below can be visisted without staying overnight. If you do want to stay somewhere overnight after your dinner, check out our list with the most luxurious hotels in Bali.
If you intend to treat your partner and yourself to a fine dining experience on your Bali Honeymoon, make sure to reserve a table in as far as possible in advance. These are all very popular restaurants that run out of seats!
Note that all prices of menus listed below are excluding taxes and services, usually around 20%. The order of these restaurants is by region: Number 1 is not necessarily better than number 12!
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1. Koral Restaurant - The Apurva Kempinski Bali (Nusa Dua)
The Apurva Kempinski Bali, Nusa DuaKoral Restaurant is situated under a spectacular acquarium at The Apurva Kempinski Bali in Nusa Dua, meaning you will dine surrounded by sea life. We saw manta rays, countless species of fish and even small sharks! However it is not just the surroundings that are impressive here. Recently the French one Michelin-starred chef Jean-Baptiste Natali joined Koral, and we really enjoyed all dishes that came out of his kitchen.
We believe Koral is a perfect option for honeymooners that stay in Nusa Dua or Uluwatu, especially if you can secure one of the six tables under the tunnel (book well in advance!). Tell the restaurant you are on a honeymoon, a diver might swim by to wish you and your partner a happy honeymoon from the water. Koral can accomodate other surprises too, like proposals or birthday congratulations.
We enjoyed an 8-course assorted menu which kicked off with unique appetizers which directly gave us the feeling we were experiencing fine dining. This was quickly followed by caviar on coconut jelly combined with potato churros, a surprisingly tasty combination. A few seafood dishes followed of which the lobster with shiitake mushroom was our favorite. The only meat dish during our experience consisted of tasty striploin veal with black truffle. Finally we were treated with a few rounds of dessert of which we loved the banana parsley with almonds most. At the end we were quite full, and we decided to take the mignardises home.
We didn't opt for the wine pairing as we had to drive back to Canggu, but we tried the mocktails and they were unique and tasty, especially the Desert Rose.
It is still a worthwhile experience if you can't book a table in the tunnel, but you would have to watch the sea life from the side restaurant. If at all possible, try to book a table in the tunnel as it does make the experience more special. These tables often get booked way in advance, especially for dinner, and you may be required to book drinks pairing with your tasting menu.
Gourmet menu around 100$ per person. 8-Course Zen menu around 170$. Add 60$ per person for wine pairing.
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2. Syrco BASÈ (Ubud)
10 min drive north of UbudWe think this is is the best fine dining experience in Ubud. Syrco BASÈ newly opened in early 2024 by a chef who was earlier awarded 2 Michelin stars leading a restaurant in The Netherlands. Unfortunately Michelin does not rate restaurants in Indonesia, so you'll have to trust us that the experience is at the highest level you can find in Bali!
Unique is the detailed attention to the traceability of each ingredient, all originating from Bali. The friendly staff is keen to explain more about the inspiration, origin and background of each dish. Next to the restaurant you'll find a large garden where local vegetables, herbs and spices are grown. Local seafood is an important ingredient many of the "moments". Many dishes have been inspired by local Indonesian and Balinese flavours elevated to new levels. Most tourists miss out on Sambal Dabu Dabu or Urap because it is simply too spicy - but Syrco's adaptation makes these flavours accessible without compromising on taste.
You have two options: either go for one of the 8-course tasting menus in the restaurant, or enjoy the intimite 17-course Ku experience where you can see Chef Syrco Bakker at work. We went for the 8-course experience in the restaurant, Olivia had the Pure Local menu while Dirk went for the Heritage menu (you can share, so why not order a different one each!). The drinks pairing is great, you won't just get wine: we tasted cocktails, teas, Balinese craft beers, wine and even sake.
Syrco BASÈ is a bit more expensive than some other tasting menu experiences you can find around Bali, and its a slightly out of the way in North Ubud (you'll need a taxi to get there) but you do get what you pay for: a world-class dining experience based on local flavors and ingredients served by super friendly staff in a tastefully designed restaurant.
Tip: the intimate 17-course Ku experience is not that much more expensive than the "regular" 8-course dining menu, so worth considering if you are splurging on a dinner here anyway!
8 Moments around 110$ (17-Course Ku experience 140$) exc. drinks pairing. -
3. Room4Dessert (Ubud)
Jl. Raya Sanggingan, UbudNot something you would expect in the Ubud jungle... The world's first fine dining DESSERT experience, made famous by the Netflix show Chef's Table. Chef Will Goldfarb is lauded to be the Best Pastry Chef in the world. He learned the trade at multiple well-known restaurants including the legendary El Bulli.
You won't need to have dinner before heading here, as the 5 course dessert experience starts with some savory snacks. These are followed by the five unique desserts, wrapping up with delicious petit fours. The courses can be paired with amazing cocktails or mocktails.
We visited Room4Dessert and enjoyed the experience a lot. In advance, we were a little afraid that it would be too sweet, or too much dessert in a row. We did feel a little full at the end, but considering how many desserts we just consumed it still felt relatively balanced. The staff is extremely welcoming and friendly, and they explain each of the dishes - many of which use locally sourced ingredients and flavors unique to Bali. This is a very unique experience that you won't be able to find anywhere else in the world, and for that reason alone we are happy to recommend it to any couple visiting Ubud.
5 Course Dessert Tasting (+snacks +petite fours): roughly 60$ p.p. (90$ with cocktails). -
4. Mozaic (Ubud)
Campuhan, just outside of UbudUbud's fine dining scene is ever-evolving. New restaurants constantly emerge and old favorites occasionally fade away. Mozaic Restaurant has been a beacon of culinary excellence for over 25 years. It was the first fine dining restaurant to open in Ubud, so it clearly stood the test of time. We had dinner here recently and understand why: an excellent Michelin-level tasting menu, a spectacular venue and reasonable prices.
Mozaic is located in Campuhan, a very green area just outside of downtown Ubud. From the outside it is hard to tell how large the restaurant is, but it consists of multiple, like the Tipple Room for casual a-la-carte dining, a romantic private gazebo in the garden for an intimate dinner and a Chef's Table where you can see the dishes being prepared right in front of you.
However the most popular option at Mozaic is the Dining Room, a tastefully designed room surrounded by glass so you can see the green surroundings. Visitors will start their dinner here, but at some point are asked to move to the lush garden for the second half of their experience if the weather is good. The garden has a large barbecue area where the chefs prepare the dry-aged duck.
Unfortunately it was raining when we visited, so we enjoyed the full six-course experience from the Dining Room. Olivia went for the botanical option, as friends of ours told us the vegetarian menu at Mozaic is uncompromisingly good. Dirk selected the regular seasonal menu. Both come in an 8-course version too.
Our highlights from the seasonal menu included the confit trout with Bell Pepper and the seared foie gras. The latter was served to us by the head chef in a spectacular fashion. One touch that makes dining at Mozaic unique is the platter of herbs, fruits, vegetables and nuts that is added to your table. Waiters use it to explain the ingredients that are used in dishes. Olivia's vegetarian menu was good, but she tasted bits of the non-vegetarian dishes too and liked those slightly better.
A unique twist at Mozaic is that you can not only choose between wine and cocktail pairing: they also offer a "Grape & Grain" pairing option, cosisting of both wines and cocktails. We both loved the drinks that were served, and even had a chat with the super passionate Balinese mixologist.
6 Courses: 85$. Grape & Grain pairing 60$.
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5. Arcadia (Ubud)
Tjampuhan Bridge, UbudArcadia is formerly known as Bridges Restaurant. The venue overlooks the the spectacular bridge crossing at Tjampuhan and has one of the best views of Ubud. If you plan to go here, definitely ask for a table overlooking the valley.
The restaurant offers both a-la-carte and tasting menus. Either are of great quality, but we would recommend trying one of their tasting menus, as they are extremely good value. You can choose your favorite: The Garden (vegetarian), The Pastures (meat), The Sea (fish and seafood) or Plant-Based (vegan) set menu. All of them offer 5 courses. You probably can't go wrong with either of these, but we really loved the seafood one.
The dishes are classic and of high quality. The only critique we could think of is that the food lost a bit of its connection with Bali and Indonesia, as its more inspired by Japanese and Italian cuisine.
5 Course Menu: roughly 40$ (60$ with wine or cocktail pairing). -
6. BLANCO par Mandif (Ubud)
Tjampuhan Bridge, UbudThe number one best fine dining restaurant in all of Indonesia according to Tripadvisor, run by award-winning Indonesian Chef Mandif M Warokka (Indonesians know him as judge in Master Chef Indonesia). This restaurant is part of the Blanco Renaissance Museum complex in Ubud, and overlooks the Tjampuhan bridge and valley. BLANCO par Mandif's dining room looks classy and is intimate, with only 20 seats.
This is one of the more expensive fine dining experiences you can book in Bali. You will however experience an 8 course tasting menu inspired by Indonesian flavours, plus additional aperitifs and mignardise desserts.
The signature degustation includes Wagyu Steak, Rock Lobster, Scallops and even Caviar are part of the current menu (this does change, check the website for the latest). You may choose a pescatarian or vegetarian degustation as well.
8 Course Signature Degustation Menu: 165$ pp (255$ with drink pairing). -
7. Kubu at Mandapa (Ubud)
10min drive north-west of UbudThe Kubu restaurant at the Mandapa resort (Ritz-Carlton) is situated in a spectacular open air bamboo building alongside the banks of the Ayung river near Ubud. For the most private experience, you could book a private "cocoon" overlooking the river as your dinner table.
This is a high-end fine dining option, with a smart casual dresscode and pricier than some of the other fine dining options in Bali (but still a great deal compared to fine dining elsewhere in the world). Guests are served an 11-course Mediterranean-European Degustation menu, composed by Indonesian chef Bayu Retno Timur.
Anyone who has been in Bali before knows that high quality European and international wines are difficult to find. You won't go wrong with the selection available at Kubu. We believe they have one of the widest selection of international wines on the island.
11-Course Tasting Menu: roughly 100$ (170$ with wine pairing).
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8. Sangsaka (Seminyak)
Seminyak, 5-10m drive from tourist areaSangsaka is a modern Indonesian restaurant in Seminyak offering one of the best tasting menus we have had in Bali, as well as à la carte options. Don't get confused with their website, it does not list the tasting menu but it does exist! We have added the 7-course menu from when we visited below, but the latest online reviews indicate that the menu is now 8 courses.
What we love about Sangsaka is the cozy ambiance (it is a small restaurant), personal attention and unique Indonesian-inspired dishes with a modern twist. Our favorites were the tuna with avocado and the dragonfruit dessert with elderflower. When we were visiting most of the guests were other couples, which is understandable considering the cozy and romantic vibe. It is a bit away from the main tourist area, so if you are staying near the beach in Seminyak we would suggest taking a 5-10 minute taxi ride to get there.
Tasting Menu: roughly 50$ pp. -
9. Mauri (Seminyak)
Petitenget, North SeminyakMauri stands for Maurizio, the first name of the South-Italian chef Maurizio Bombini, who runs this fine dining restaurant in Seminyak inspired by flavors from his home-town region of Puglia.
At Mauri, you can enjoy a tasting menu that comes very close to a level that would be rewarded by a Michelin star if it were in Europe. The classic option is the Signature Tasting Menu, but more adventurous couples might opt for the Discovery Tasting Menu (a bit more expensive too). However don't expect typical Italian food: while the dishes are inspired by Italy, you won't easily recognize the dishes as typical Italian - they are unique and creative,
TIP: You can upgrade your steak to Wagyu at a very affordable cost. While the portion is quite small, we do believe this is worth considering to level up an already great experience to something very memorable.
Discovery Tasting Menu: roughly 60$ pp (110$ with wine pairing).
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10. The Cave (Uluwatu)
Pecatu, 20 mins from UluwatuThe most spectacular fine dining experience you will find in Bali, in a real natural cave! We've been at The Cave and loved it, but its one of the more fancy and expensive fine dining experiences in Bali. You will pay a lot more here than in some of the other fine dining restaurants. Dining in a cave is a very spectacular experience though, and we believe it might be worth splurging on this if you love to experience something very unique.
The Cave is located in an actual natural underground cavern near Uluwatu that was only discovered a couple of years ago. They turned the space into a circular restaurant with around 10 tables for two people. This means capacity is very limited, book in advance! As we arrived early, before the start of the dinner the waiters suggested us to explore a bit of the cave beyond the main chamber.
Seven or ten courses will be served (we opted for seven), and between courses they will dim the lights and project a light show on the walls of the cave. The menu is designed by chef Ryan Clift, who worked with famous chefs like Peter Gordon and Emmanuel Renaut. We believe the food was very good and original, but the most memorable thing definitely is the setting in which it is served.
7-Course Set Menu: Roughly 105$ pp (200$ with wine/cocktail pairing). -
11. Cuca (Jimbaran)
Jimbaran (between airport and Uluwatu)Cuca is located a few steps away from Jimbaran Beach, just south of Bali's airport, It is roughly a 30 minute ride from either Uluwatu or Seminyak. On arrival you will walk through the large garden to reach the restaurant. We watched the sunset on the beach first before heading to dinner.
Cuca offers a Chef's Tasting Menu at great value. When we visited it consisted of 9 courses with outstanding tapas and desserts. Don't expect traditional Spanish Tapas dishes, the food is very original and based on local Balinese flavors and produce. The town of Jimbaran is known for Bali's largest fresh fish and seafood market, so expect some great seafood dishes being part of the experience!
We believe the restaurant is a great option for a honeymoon. They even offer the "ROMANCE @ CUCA" package (which you can reserve when booking a table on the website). With the romantic package your dinner will be served on a table with candles and roses. A bit cheesy but we did it (we are running a honeymoon site after all....) and it's all fun, they even had a surprise gift for us in the end!
Chef's Tasting Menu: roughly 45$ pp. Romance package roughly 15$/couple.
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12. Sa'Mesa (Canggu and Seminyak)
Two branches: Canggu and Seminyak.The happiest dinner experience in Bali. During your honeymoon, you probably prefer having dinner in a private most of the time. Sa'mesa is completely different. Here, you are seated at a large table with strangers who may become your friends by the end of the night!
Due to popularity, Sa'Mesa now has two branches: one in Canggu and one in Seminyak. The popularity is understandable, as this restaurant offers amazing value. An 18-meal(!) Italian home-cooked dinner experience is served. This isn't fine dining, but it is a unique tasting menu sharing experience that is worth being part of. We loved the Burrata, home-baked breads and fresh fish. To add to the experience, unlimited limoncello liquor is served for free. You can imagine the vibes by the end of the night after many shots of limoncello, it feels like one big celebration!
18-Course sharing dinner: roughly 38$ pp. -
13. Indigo (Canggu)
Berawa, CangguOn the other side of the Canggu shortcut, in Berawa, you will find a great place for high-end Sushi. Its a 20-minute drive from Batu Bolong, but by car this can take a bit longer sometimes if there is a lot of traffic. But its worth the effort heading here!
Chef Morita Shigehiko worked at the first Michelin-star restaurant in Kyoto before opening Indigo. He describes his food as "innovative with a traditional approach".
Indigo does not have a set tasting menu, but they do have great à la carte options instead. When we visited we got the "new style" salmon sashimi as well as the Signature Sushi Set (order this twice, one for each of you). You'll probably want to try some more dishes after enjoying these dishes. Lovers of steak might try the actual Miyazaki Wagyu.
No set menu. Signature Sushi Set roughly 12$ PP. Sushi from 5$. Wagyu 45$.
Written by Olivia & Dirk
Hi! We have put together this guide with a lot of care, based on our own experiences. As a couple, we have lived in Bali for the past 5 years, and we fell in love with the island. We have visited every corner of Bali, especially the romantic places ;-). While our articles do contain affiliate links, you can trust us to recommend only the experiences that we love.
Read more about us or let us help you organize your honeymoon for you!