Most best restaurants in Bali lists are collections of stuffy fine dining restaurants, and while there’s nothing wrong with the fine dining experience, there are plenty of gourmet menu options elsewhere on the island.
So, we decided to put together a list of the best restaurants with a little something of everything, from Indonesian food to a fun dining experience to fresh seafood dishes, and more. Now, you won’t find hot dogs here, but you will find plenty of Bali restaurants where you can enjoy great food and many a hidden gem that other lists won’t steer you towards.
So, without further ado, here are our picks of the best restaurants on the island.
Our 15 Best Restaurants In Bali
FINNS Beach Club, Canggu
FINNS Beach Club is the best beach club in the world, and if you’re in the mood for good food and a serious party, there’s simply nowhere you’re going to have a better time than at FINNS.
The beach club’s onsite restaurants have regularly ranked among the top restaurants in Canggu on TripAdvisor, and you can find plenty of interesting dishes to choose from, as there is a wide selection of kitchens serving diners here.
Then, once you’ve enjoyed some fairly priced food and perhaps some coffee and a dessert. It’s time to get some drinks from the bar and dance the night away while enjoying some of the finest entertainment in Bali.
That’s where FINNS really excels, and you simply can’t beat the show that the beach club puts on for its guests every single night of the year. If you love to party and to eat, you have to head to FINNS.
Where To Find It? Jl. Pantai Berawa No.99, Canggu, Kec. Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361
Online: FINNS
Steaksmith Restaurant, Nusa Dua
Steaksmith, under the leadership of Chef Adi, has come a long way in its first year of opening. What could have been yet another hotel steakhouse has gained a reputation for excellence.
Sure, it’s not the cheapest place to get a steak in Bali, but the meat is truly first-rate and will be cooked exactly the way that you like it.
Unlike with many new restaurants, the staff here have been superlatively well trained and the service is world-class.
Make sure to ask for the wine list and to find the perfect pairing for your dishes, as the selection here could make a Parisienne vineyard jealous.
We like that it’s a fairly small menu, as it allows the kitchen to focus on creating memorable experiences that really are in a league of their own.
Where To Find It? Kawasan Pariwisata Lot SW 4 & 5, Jl. Nusa Dua, Bali 80361
Online: Marriott
Unique Rooftop Bar & Restaurant, Jimbaran
This Mexican restaurant on the upper floor of the AYANA Bali in Jimbaran is a great place to catch a sunset view that is something you’ll want to write home about.
There’s nothing quite like enjoying a tequila-based cocktail and staring out over the jungle canopy as you indulge your taste buds.
The pork belly chicharrón is a wonderful way to elevate this Mexican staple to the next level, and the ensalada de jardín is one of our favourite salads anywhere in Southeast Asia.
Make sure to leave room for dessert, though, as their play on churros is absolutely exquisite.
Then, just let them walk you through the sumptuous cocktail list one last time before you head home for the night.
Where To Find It? RIMBA by AYANA Bali, Jl. Karang Mas Sejahtera, Jimbaran, Kec. Kuta Sel., Kabupaten Badung, Bali 8036
Online: AYANA
Akasa Jumeirah Bali, Pecatu
This cliffside restaurant offers flame-grilled (over an open fire) dining with an Asian twist, and the food is every bit as good as the view.
Head chef, Joan Achour, has been with the Jumeriah Group in both the Maldives and Dubai before arriving on Bali’s shores, and she knows her way around a kitchen.
If you feel like pushing the boat out, you could try the oysters and caviar, but there are plenty of more reasonably priced options for those of us on more mortal budgets.
We loved the beetroot tartare and the kizami oysters to start. Then the Tom Kah Giant Prawn was a spectacle to behold, and it complemented the Gojuchang Miso Black Cod to perfection.
They do a mean sorbet to help cleanse your palate when you’re done with the main courses, too.
Where To Find It? Raya Uluwatu Street, Pecatu, Kec. Kuta Sel., Kabupaten Badung, Bal
Online: Jumeirah
Warung Nia, Seminyak
A warung is an Indonesian Restaurant, and this warung specialises in pork dishes such as babi guling and pork ribs.
It’s a very relaxed place and very much a budget-friendly spot. They can easily rustle up some nasi goreng or mie goreng to go with your pork, and it’s a great way to try some authentic Balinese food.
If you enjoy the food at this warung, then you’ll be pleased to know that you can come back another day and take a cooking class here and learn to make most dishes on the menu.
Seminyak is often lauded for its fine dining restaurants, but this simple warung is a real highlight of any Bali holiday.
Where To Find It? Kayu Aya Square, Jl. Kayu Aya No.19-21, Seminyak, Kec. Kuta Utara, Bali, 80361
Online: Warung Nia
Boy N Cow, Seminyak
Boy N Cow is an absolute favourite among our staff members, and when we’re not enjoying our staff discount over at FINNS Beach Club, we love coming to this steakhouse.
It’s an unpretentious sort of place that lets the quality of the meat do the talking, and everything that meat has to say is good.
Expect a choice of the finest cuts of beef known to man and a wonderful wine list to pair it with. The starters are pretty good too, but the steak here is the main event.
If you want to make an evening of it, there’s a nice bar area upstairs, complete with a cigar lounge tucked away from the diners below.
Where To Find It? Jl. Raya Kerobokan No.138, Seminyak, Kec. Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361
Online: Boy N Cow
Samabe Cave Dining By Chef Ryan Clift, Nusa Dua
Then, our second option on this list is some fine dining. In fact, what could be finer than dining in a cave on a Bali beachfront, enjoying an 11-course tasting experience prepared by one of the island’s most famous chefs?
It’s not cheap either; this is definitely a place that you choose for a romantic meal for two when you want to celebrate an anniversary or maybe even to pop the question.
However, it’s great value for money and so much fun that you’ll have an extremely special night and a memory to last a lifetime.
Everyone who goes to Samabe Beach Cave for dinner agrees that this is much more of an experience than other fine dining restaurants in Bali, and that the locally sourced ingredients make for some of the finest dishes to come out of a kitchen anywhere in Asia.
Where To Find It? Jl Pura Barong, Barong Sawangan, South Kuta, Badung Regency, Bali 80363
Online: Samabe
Hai Ri Zen, Nusa Lembongan
This casual Asian eatery at the Hai Tide Beach Resort isn’t in mainland Bali; you’ll need to go out to the island of Nusa Lembongan to find it.
Fortunately, it’s only an hour or so away by boat, and many people say that a trip to the Nusa islands is one of the major highlights of their holiday, as it offers a very different pace of life compared to the mainland.
We loved the ocean view here, and it’s a super spot for sunset watching and enjoying some cold cocktails before you start eating.
Try the potato leek soup, it’s an outstanding dish, and it may be the best soup in all the restaurants in Bali. We were also impressed with the mushroom risotto, which was so full of flavour as well as being rich and creamy.
The apple pie was one of the best desserts we’ve had in a long time too; it was exactly the way we would make it ourselves, in fact.
Where To Find It? Mushroom Bay Nusa Lembongan, Jungutbatu, Kec. Nusa Penida, Kabupaten Klungkung, Bali 80771
Online: Instagram
Gabah Padma Bali, Legian
If you’re in a big group and you’re wondering where to go where everyone can enjoy a bit of everything, then Gabah Padma Bali could be the ideal place for you.
Their infamous one-meter platter (with extra pork if you can handle it) is huge and delicious. We love that they add a bit of theatre to the culinary performance and combine the service with a ritual, music and dance.
They love group bookings at Gabah, and you’ll find that if you have a huge group looking to enjoy sunset drinks, a bite and some live music, they can handle it as long as you book in advance.
Some friends of ours recently held their 40th birthday bash there, and the restaurant went all out to impress and even provided a birthday cake as part of the service!
We found that the staff here were among the friendliest and nicest people on an island famous for friendly, nice hospitality staff.
Where To Find It? ama Residence Padma, Jl. Padma, Legian, Kuta, Badung Regency, Bali 80361
Online: Instagram
Gioi Ocean Gourmet, Kuta
This beachfront restaurant in Kuta is one of the few things that seems to be thriving in that part of Bali, right now. While the beach has been damaged in recent efforts to protect it, you still get a nice view of the ocean while you are sitting at a table in this place.
As you might expect from the name, the seafood here is the star of the show, and it’s prepared in an open kitchen where you can be certain of the level of care taken to ensure its freshness and flavour.
We can also heartily recommend the crispy duck and rice with a hint of chili oil, it was an exciting dish that was worth distracting us from the fresh fish for at least a little while.
This restaurant also specialises in shisha/hookah and if you enjoy a hubbly bubbly by the sea, this is a very good place for it.
Where To Find It? Discovery Mall Bali, Ground Floor Beach Front, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361
Online: Instagram
Sky Lounge by Ely’s Kitchen, Ubud
If you’re looking for something different in downtown Ubud with a view over the Ayung River and the lush greenery around it, then you can’t go wrong with the Sky Lounge by Ely’s Kitchen.
As the name suggests this is rooftop dining and we recommend getting there before sunset to enjoy the best of the light.
We quite enjoy going here in the early afternoon for their high tea but if you can only go once, make sure you go for dinner as the menu is really good.
The Thai Beef Salad here is first rate and their Nasi Goreng Rendang (an interesting modern spin on beef rendang) is amazing.
We can also recommend their Asian cuisine inspired cocktails, you haven’t lived until you’ve had a Tom Yum Margarita, honest.
Where To Find It? Jl. Suweta No.88, Desa Bentuyung, Ubud, Kecamatan Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571
Online: Instagram
Copper Kitchen, Ubud
This contemporary rooftop bar in Central Ubud is a great place for a forest view while you enjoy a good mix of international and Asian cuisines.
We thought that the pumpkin soup was wholesome and just like your mum would make. The pork ribs, a Balinese classic, were so good that they’d be at home in any Indonesian restaurant.
The staff provide a warm and hospitable service that makes you feel welcomed and at home throughout the meal.
And while we very much appreciated the free lemongrass shots we were given, the cocktail list here is very much the star of the show.
Where To Find It? Jl. Bisma No.68, Ubud, Kecamatan Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571
Online: Copper Kitchen
Sleeping Gajah Kitchen & Lounge, Sidemen
Sidemen is still one of Bali’s less visited gems and this beautiful, stunning spot is worth the trip all by itself.
The views here are out of this world. We also like that they put on a traditional and authentic dance performance in the evenings for their guests to appreciate the culture of the island as they dine.
And the food is first rate too, with an emphasis on local dishes. The crispy duck and sambal is memorable for all the right reasons.
Make sure to rock up for happy hour as they do a generous buy one, get one free on cocktails before you dine.
Where To Find It? Banjar Tabola, Telaga Tawang, Kec. Sidemen, Kabupaten Karangasem, Bali 80864
Online: Sleeping Gajah
Gong Restaurant, Sanur
This restaurant in sunny Sanur offers one of the best combined Indonesian and Balinese dining experiences that we’ve ever enjoyed.
It’s set in a beautiful garden and you will be hard pushed to find a better nasi campur anywhere on the island.
It’s a little off the beaten path, mind you, so we’d recommend getting a Grab or Gojek to the door or you might not find it at all.
All told, if you want a touch of tropical paradise, while you dine, Gong won’t let you down.
Where To Find It? Jl. Tirta Akasa, Sanur Kauh, Denpasar Selatan, Kota Denpasar, Bali 80228
Online: Gong
Kynd Community, Canggu
There aren’t all that many vegan and vegetarian options on this list, but we think Kynd Community makes up for that because it’s the best vegan restaurant on the island.
If you love tasty smoothie bowls made with ingredients plucked from a lush garden in the local area, then this is the place to go.
You’ll also love the unique decor, which makes Kynd stand out from the crowd and draws people in from all walks of life to experience the plant-based wonders of their menu.
The staff are also as Kynd as the intentions of the restaurant and it makes all the difference in the world.
Where To Find It? Jl. Nelayan No.31, Canggu, Kec. Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361
Online: KYND
Final Thoughts On The Best Restaurants In Bali
If there’s a type of food you enjoy, there’s a great restaurant in Bali serving it somewhere. But our 15 top restaurants in Bali all have something unique about them.
We’d recommend visiting them all if you have the time, of course, if you can only visit one, we’d love it if you made it FINNS Beach Club. Bon appetit!
