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Fancy starter at a restaurant in Bali. Photo by Alana Harris- Unsplash
10 Best non-touristy restaurants in Bali
1. Motel Mexicola
Open: Sunday- Saturday
Cuisine: Mexican
Service options: Dine-in · No takeaway · No delivery
2. Warung Babi Guling Pak Malen
There is no better food to try than with babi guling or roast suckling pig. It’s a Bali food staple and one of the island’s most well-known Indonesian dishes. A suckling pig is stuffed with an Indonesian spice mixture called basa gede and then roasted over an open fire on a hand-churned spit.
It’s usually served with vegetables, pork satay, blood sausage, a spicy Indonesian sambal, and my personal favorite – a splendidly crisp shard of glimmering pork skin. Pak Malen is regarded as one of the best Indonesian restaurants in Bali by many locals, so expect a wait if you visit during peak hours.
Open: Sunday- Saturday
Cuisine: Balinese
Service options: Dine-in · Takeaway · No-contact delivery
3. Finns Beach Club
The Finns Beach Club is more than just a dining establishment. It consists, as the name implies, of a mega partying club with a captivating all-bamboo framework that is big and refreshing, as well as a blue-tiled luxury pool.
The menu, like most in Bali, features simple Indonesian food with a perfect blend of indigenous, international, and fusion cuisine, including a dedicated Sushi Bar.
The grilled squid with salt and Szechuan pepper, chicken wings with barbecue glaze, and the fish basket with beer-battered snapper served with tartar sauce are all highlights on the menu at Finns Beach Club.
Open: Sunday- Saturday
Cuisine: Balinese
Service options: Dine-in · Takeaway · No-contact delivery
4. Naughty Nuri’s Ubud
BBQ chicken being prepared on the grill in Bali. Photo by Gita Krishnamurti- Unsplash
Naughty Nuri’s has become a Bali legend. They first opened their doors in Ubud in 1995 and quickly became known for their Indonesian barbecued pork ribs and martinis, which the late great Anthony Bourdain famously declared to be the “best martinis outside of New York.”
Back in 2009, we went to Naughty Nuri’s for the first time because of Bourdain’s glowing recommendation.
Since then, the humble warung has grown by leaps and bounds. They opened for franchise and expanded internationally to Kuala Lumpur, Phuket, Macau, and Melbourne, in addition to four branches in Bali and one in Jakarta.
Their ribs and martinis are scrumptious, but I can’t help but believe that Mr. Borudain played a significant role in their phenomenal success.
Open: Sunday- Saturday
Cuisine: Indonesian-style BBQ
Service options: Dine-in · Takeaway · No-contact delivery
5. Club Med Bali
This location, too, is more than just a restaurant; it’s a full-service resort with pools, sports courts, golf classes, and trapeze lessons. The resort’s restaurant and bar offer a premium menu that includes almost everything.
Dining options include South East Asian, Continental, Italian, and Chinese cuisines, as well as premium wines from all popular and rare brands. The gleaming blue glass ceiling and walls give the restaurant a serene atmosphere that is enhanced in the evening.
Open: Sunday- Saturday
Cuisine: International
Address: Kawasan Pariwisata Nusa Dua BTDC Lot. 6, Jl. Raya Nusa Dua Selatan, Benoa, Kec. Kuta Sel., Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80363, Indonesia
6. Chandi
Waitress arranging cutlery before opening hours. Photo by Louis Hansel- Unsplash
Another traditional Bali dish is bebek betutu. It’s a traditional Indonesian dish of steamed Balinese duck heavily seasoned with betutu, an Indonesian spice mixture.
Over a dozen spices and ingredients, including turmeric, ginger, galangal, garlic, candle nuts, and peanuts, are ground into a fine paste and sautéed with coconut oil. It’s a time-consuming dish to prepare, so order it at least a day ahead of time.
Chandi’s bebek betutu is made with a blend of sixteen spices and served with duck sate over sugarcane and a salted duck egg salad.
Chandi is a gorgeous Indonesian restaurant, so this is an excellent opportunity to get dressed up for a ceremonial platter of bebek betutu. Chandi is one of the best places to eat in Bali, as evidenced by their rave reviews.
Open: Sunday- Saturday
Cuisine: Pan-Asian
Service options: Dine-in · Drive-through · No delivery
7. Watercress Cafe
The greatest part about Bali restaurants is their distinct menus, of which the Watercress Café is an excellent example.
Begin your day with a warm and refreshing breakfast accompanied by a cup of coffee or hot tea. Warm quiches, lasagna, sushi, and salads are available for lunch, as are burgers and sandwiches from the a la carte menu.
Open: Sunday- Saturday
Cuisine: Western
Service options: Dine-in · Takeaway · No-contact delivery
8. Warung Eropa
Warung Eropa has received a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence and has a solid 4-star rating. It’s one of the best restaurants in Bali for bebek goreng.
The plain exterior of Warung Eropa conceals a dark and sexy interior. RAWR… *bite into bebek goreng*
Bebek goreng is a popular Bali dish that consists of crispy fried duck served with white rice, sambal, and a vegetable salad. It’s crisp and lean while remaining juicy, with a pleasant smokey flavour that you won’t find in chicken.
Open: Sunday- Saturday
Cuisine: Balinese
Service options: Dine-in · Takeaway · No-contact delivery
9. Who’s Who
Who’s Who is a small but amazing location in Central Ubud, on Jalan Raya Pengosekan, Gianyar, to try some authentic and tasty Balinese food. This restaurant, located near the Brasco Bag Shop, is well-decorated and popular among locals.
With the most positive environment, one can taste delicious food here.
The dishes here are simply amazing and mouth melting, flavoured with expert homemade seasonings and sauces, whether it’s the pumpkin soup, the prawn salad, the smoked marlin salad, or the Apple desert.
The dishes are reasonably priced. Lunch and dinner are both served here, along with a delicious selection of drinks.
Open: Thursday- Tuesday
Cuisine: Balinese
Service options: Dine-in · Takeaway · No delivery
10. Tsavo Lion Restaurant
Light breakfast, some tea and a smoothie. Photo by Eve Lyn- Unsplash
The Bali restaurant with an African-themed main dining room separated from the prowling lions by wall-sized glass panels. Though the majority of visitors come to see the animals, the delicious cuisines add to their enjoyment.
The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and dining is included in the Safari packages you choose. The tuna steak and the Balinese crispy duck are the menu’s standouts.
Open: Sunday- Saturday
Cuisine: Balinese
Service options: Dine-in · Takeaway
