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 favorites, based on our own experience visiting most of these high end restaurants in Bali!

Kubu in Ubud. Kubu in Ubud.
Sangsaka in Seminyak. Sangsaka in Seminyak.
The Cave near Uluwatu. The Cave near Uluwatu.

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!

  • 1. Koral Restaurant - The Apurva Kempinski Bali (Nusa Dua)

    The Apurva Kempinski Bali, Nusa Dua
    Try to reserve one of these six tables in the tunnel, they get booked out far in advance! Try to reserve one of these six tables in the tunnel, they get booked out far in advance!
    What a way to enjoy our amuse, surrounded by fish and a diver wishing us a great time. What a way to enjoy our amuse, surrounded by fish and a diver wishing us a great time.
    Some restaurants at spectacular locations compromise on food. Not Koral, run by Michelin-starred chef Jean-Baptiste Natali. Some restaurants at spectacular locations compromise on food. Not Koral, run by Michelin-starred chef Jean-Baptiste Natali.
    If all tunnel tables are fully booked, you can also dine in the restaurant adjecent to the acquarium. Still amazing views (but we prefer the tunnel!). If all tunnel tables are fully booked, you can also dine in the restaurant adjecent to the acquarium. Still amazing views (but we prefer the tunnel!).

    Koral 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.

    Official Website

  • 2. Syrco BASÈ (Ubud)

    10 min drive north of Ubud
    We experienced the 8-course tasting menu in the main restaurant, which comes with original drinks pairing including cocktails, wine, beers, ice tea and even sake. We experienced the 8-course tasting menu in the main restaurant, which comes with original drinks pairing including cocktails, wine, beers, ice tea and even sake.
    The mackarel with garnishing inspired by sambal from Sulawesi island was spectacular. The mackarel with garnishing inspired by sambal from Sulawesi island was spectacular.
    Book the more intimate 17-course Ku experience to watch Michelin chef Syrco Bakker at work. Book the more intimate 17-course Ku experience to watch Michelin chef Syrco Bakker at work.
    Many ingredients herbs, spices and vegetables originate from the adjecent gardens. Everything else is sourced locally from around the island of Bali. Many ingredients herbs, spices and vegetables originate from the adjecent gardens. Everything else is sourced locally from around the island of Bali.

    We 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.

    Official Website

  • 3. Room4Dessert (Ubud)

    Jl. Raya Sanggingan, Ubud
    This dinner consists of 3 sections (savory snacks, desserts, petit fours), for each of which guests will move to a dedicated room. This dinner consists of 3 sections (savory snacks, desserts, petit fours), for each of which guests will move to a dedicated room.
    The highlight of the fine dining are the 5(!) dessert dishes prepared by the world's best pastry chef. The highlight of the fine dining are the 5(!) dessert dishes prepared by the world's best pastry chef.
    Olivia eagerly awaiting the next round of desserts. Olivia eagerly awaiting the next round of desserts.
    Recently, Room for Dessert opened its own herb garden adjacent to the restaurant. Many flavours used are unique to Bali and sourced from all over the island. Recently, Room for Dessert opened its own herb garden adjacent to the restaurant. Many flavours used are unique to Bali and sourced from all over the island.

    Not 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).

    Official Website

  • 4. Mozaic (Ubud)

    Campuhan, just outside of Ubud
    The Dining Room is a beautiful building surrounded by glass so it almost feels like you are sitting outside. The Dining Room is a beautiful building surrounded by glass so it almost feels like you are sitting outside.
    The dry-aged duck breast is one of the signature dishes of Mozaic. The dry-aged duck breast is one of the signature dishes of Mozaic.
    From starter to dessert, all dishes were beautifully presented. From starter to dessert, all dishes were beautifully presented.
    The private gazebo might be a good option for couples on a honeymoon. The private gazebo might be a good option for couples on a honeymoon.

    Ubud'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$. Grape & Grain pairing 60$.

    Official Website

  • 5. Apéritif Restaurant (Ubud)

    Viceroy Hotel, North-East Ubud
    The experience starts in the 1930s themed Pinstripe Bar. The experience starts in the 1930s themed Pinstripe Bar.
    A wide range of breads to choose from. A wide range of breads to choose from.
    The scallops starter was delicious. The sauce was pored over the dish by the waiter on the table. The scallops starter was delicious. The sauce was pored over the dish by the waiter on the table.
    The night was extra special as it was the first time for Olivia's parents to try Fine Dining! The night was extra special as it was the first time for Olivia's parents to try Fine Dining!

    Apéritif, part of the 5-star Viceroy Hotel in Ubud, is situated in an impressive colonial-style building with large Balinese art displayed on the walls. When we walked in Jazz was playing in the background and all the staff was dressed in classic attire. We immediate felt like stepping in to a different era. For us the experience was extra special, as Olivia's parents were visiting Bali (from Sumatra island) and they never tried fine dining before.

    While Apéritif offers extensive degustation menu's (up to 10 courses), we went for the very fairly priced 3-course TASTED! Menu. Three courses does not sound like a lot, but the experience also included canapés, an amuse, mignardises, as well as bread and butter. It took us almost 3 hours and was very satisfying, so the 3-course menu might be a great affordable way to experience Aperitif.

    We were first invited to the pinstripe cocktail bar which aims to bring back "the magic of the 1930s" (we believe it does a good job at that). We had a cocktail and canapes there first. The cocktails need some explanation as they are really special. Aperitif offers 10 cocktails inspired by famous people that used to live in Bali in the 1930s, including Charlie Chaplin. Our favorites include The Artist, a pistaccio-flavored cocktail inspired by painter Rudolf Bonnet, and The Prince, a spectacularly presented smokey cognac-based cocktails inspired by the noble Balinese Sukawati family.

    After enjoying the canapes, we moved to the dining room. The 3-course menu offered us some choice on dishes, so we all ordered different things to experience as many flavors as possible. Before the starter arrived, we were already treated with an amuse and a wide selection of bread and three different types of butter. For starter, our favorite were the Hokkaido Scallops with pineapple sambal and the rose-shaped Tokusen Wagyu Carpaccio. As a main, the Australian Lamb Rack, while only one piece, is really delicious. Olivia's parents both ordered the Black Cod and both enjoyed that a lot. For dessert we really enjoyed the Sensation White dish with mango, meringue and coconot, as well as the peanut mousse with raspberry.

    Finally, we were invited to move back to the Pinstripe bar to enjoy one more cocktail (some of us went for coffee instead) and some unique mignardises. Dinner at Apéritif was a very complete and satisfying experience, in the most classy environment we have ever seen in Bali. Compared to other fine dining experiences in the Ubud area it is very fairly priced.

    3 Courses (with many extras) for around 70$ per person. 9-Course Signature Degustation from around 125$ per person, already including one cocktail.

    https://www.aperitif.com/

  • 6. Arcadia (Ubud)

    Tjampuhan Bridge, Ubud
    The seating area is very open, with great views. Ask for a table overlooking the valley! The seating area is very open, with great views. Ask for a table overlooking the valley!
    Choose between a surprisingly good and affordable 5-course meat, seafood or vegetarian set meal. Choose between a surprisingly good and affordable 5-course meat, seafood or vegetarian set meal.
    You can pair your dining experience with either wine or cocktails. You can pair your dining experience with either wine or cocktails.
    The restaurant is located behind this old bridge at a beautiful spot in Ubud. The restaurant is located behind this old bridge at a beautiful spot in Ubud.

    Arcadia 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).

    Reserve

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!