The ultimate event for all the food lovers in Bali – Ubud food festival is the destination to try the best Indonesian food and the latest culinary inventions of local and international restaurateurs working on the island.
As we’ve been lucky to attend the festival, what to expect, how to sign up, and all the things you need to know before attending – in our guide for you.
Ubud Food Festival: What’s It Like?
For 3 days, every year, a large open space in Ubud turns into a platform for culinary rising stars and renowned figures in the Bali dining scene to shine. It was launched in 2015 by Yayasan Mudra Swari Saraswati – a non-profit supporting locals in need through art and cultural programs.
Food tours, workshops, discussions, tastings, live music – a melting pot of flavours, aromas, colours, and cuisines. From international staples to cheese made in Indonesia, Balinese arak (liquor), babi guling (suckling pig roasted whole), and other local classics.
Apart from food, although it is, of course, the silver lining of all free events, the festival tries to promote local artists every year, giving them an opportunity to showcase their arts and crafts.
Where Is the Ubud Food Festival?
Usually, the Ubud Food Festival takes place at Taman Kuliner in Ubud.
The location has been tested over the past years and has spacious rooms for discussions, covered food stalls, ample space for people to sit down and eat and at least two small stages.
Address: Jalan Raya Sanggingan No. 88X Kedewatan Ubud, Kedewatan, Kec. Gianyar, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571, Indonesia
How To Get To Ubud Food Festival?
Ubud Food Festival is right in Ubud, so you can easily reach it by taxi or your own rental bike or car. We highly recommend either coming on a bike a bit early or taking a taxi as when we visited over the years, parking wasn’t always easy.
Sometimes you will have to park on the side of the road, far from the location and walk. The streets in Ubud are not that wide, so it won’t be an option for a car, and the actual car park can be very far away.
What To Do At Ubud Food Festival?
Ubud Food Festival is not just a spot where more than 70 vendors will sell their food.
It is a place where you get a chance to learn about how certain products are made, what are the challenges and innovations local restaurateurs have in mind, participate in contests and talks, and, of course, share fun memories with friends.
Eat
Many foodies come to the festival to either support their favourite cafe or try as many different dishes as possible. Beat the crowd, come earlier in the day and indulge in eating amazing food!
From smoothie bowls to vegan and meat dishes, and even alcohol – there will be everything.
Food Tours
Every year, the event also organizes food tours, like a tour to see how an authentic babi guling is made or a trip to a winery on the East coast of Bali.
Every food tour will have a different price and group size limit so you should book in advance. Some tours take you quite far from Ubud so you will need to plan to spend the whole day with the tour.
Art Exhibit
The festival gives local talents space to showcase their work, whether it is art, murals, or something else.
There usually be a special opening event and then the artworks will be exhibited throughout the festival and a few days beyond.
Note, that the exhibition can be at a different location. For ex., in 2024 it was in a hotel, 5 km away from the Taman Kuliner location, not a walking distance exactly.
Workshops
There are creative and cooking workshops during the festival.
They vary every year, but you can expect to have a place to learn something new about cooking and permaculture, or try yourself at art, writing about food, and so on. Some of the cooking classes are pretty unique, for example, in 2024 you could learn how to make seared foie gras!
Note, that workshops are usually not free and happen at different locations. The average price is 200,000-600,000 IDR (20-60 AUD) per class without taxes.
Talks
A big part of the discussions held during the event is how to make the dining and food industry more sustainable, from farming practices to the use of plastic in packaging.
A series of talks is usually a paid event and spans a few days.
Live Entertainment
Besides live music, you can also visit what’s called Teater Kuliner or culinary theatre watch with your own eyes how some of the best chefs on the island are making their signature dishes, and watch movies about the culinary heroes of Bali!
The location has a stage where the bands will play usually once the sun is down.
Practical Tips To Attend Ubud Food Festival
The event is usually held over the weekend, so you can plan accordingly and stay a few days in Ubud.
During the day you can explore the food, meet people, and attend some lectures. In the evening, it is time for music and live entertainment.
The tickets are usually free, but you will need to use a cashless payment method during the Ubud food festival. You register and receive a bracelet that will serve as your wallet. You can top it up and use it to pay for food inside the festival grounds. What’s left will be refunded.
For upcoming years, follow the festival’s social media or sign up for the newsletter to get notified once the date is announced. Usually, the festival takes place at the beginning of summer (end of May or beginning of June).
Ubud Food Festival has accommodation partners – those hotels will have special packages for guests, from budget to luxurious.
Do a little research. The program will be published on the website and you can check what restaurants are participating. If you want to try food or attend the talks of certain chefs and Michelin star recipients, you can see what day it is happening.
Final Thoughts On the Ubud Food Festival
Ubud food festival is a true celebration of the food and restaurant industry of the island where the best and most delicious dishes are served and you can indulge in a wide array of delicacies and treats from all over the island and Indonesia, in general.
If you happen to be in Bali during this food festival, we highly recommend checking what special tasting events, food tours and workshops they organize this year. If you’re a chef or cooking enthusiast, it is an amazing chance to bring some memories and tips from Michelin-star recipients to your kitchen.
