Best Restaurants in Bali: Fine Dining to Local Gems (2026)

Seminyak is Bali's culinary capital for upscale dining. The area around Jalan Petitenget and Jalan Laksmana (Eat Street) packs more award-winning restaurants per square kilometer than anywhere else on the island. Sarong, helmed by chef Will Meyrick, is a pan-Asian masterpiece serving dishes like slow-braised lamb rendang and Mekong River prawn curry in an opulent colonial-era setting. Expect to pay IDR 400,000-800,000 ($25-50 USD) per person. Reservations are essential, especially for Friday and Saturday dinner. Merah Putih occupies a stunning cathedral-like bamboo structure and elevates Indonesian cuisine to fine dining heights. Their rijsttafel tasting menu (IDR 750,000 / $47 USD per person) is a journey through the archipelago's most iconic dishes, reimagined with premium ingredients and modern technique. The braised beef cheek rendang and coconut crème brulee are standouts. Mama San, also a Will Meyrick creation, takes a more casual approach to pan-Asian dining across two atmospheric floors. The dim sum selection and wok-fried dishes are superb. Budget IDR 300,000-600,000 ($19-38 USD) per person. Other Seminyak highlights include La Lucciola for Italian oceanfront dining, Bambu for refined Indonesian in a garden setting, and Bikini for modern European with a stellar cocktail program. Most Seminyak restaurants are open daily from 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM, with happy hour deals between 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM.

Ubud has earned its reputation as Bali's epicenter of sustainable, organic, and farm-to-table dining. The cool highland climate, proximity to rice terraces, and a health-conscious expat community have created the perfect ecosystem for ingredient-driven restaurants. Locavore, consistently ranked among Asia's best restaurants, sources 95% of its ingredients from Indonesian farmers and fishermen. Chef Eelke Plasmeijer's tasting menu (IDR 1,200,000-1,800,000 / $75-113 USD) changes with the seasons and pushes boundaries with fermentation, foraging, and zero-waste philosophy. Their more casual sibling, Locavore To Go (formerly Nusantara), offers accessible prices from IDR 75,000 ($5 USD). Hujan Locale, another Will Meyrick venture, celebrates the heritage recipes of the Indonesian archipelago in a gorgeous heritage building on Jalan Sriwedari. The smoked duck and sambal collection are revelations. Main courses run IDR 120,000-250,000 ($8-16 USD). Room4Dessert, from chef Will Goldfarb of Netflix's Chef's Table fame, delivers a boundary-pushing dessert degustation (IDR 850,000 / $53 USD) that doubles as performance art. Book weeks in advance. For lighter fare, Kismet serves Middle Eastern-influenced bowls and salads using Ubud-grown produce (IDR 80,000-150,000 / $5-9 USD), while Alchemy is a raw vegan institution with a build-your-own salad bar and cold-pressed juice counter.

Canggu's restaurant scene reflects its laid-back surf culture and international nomad community. The area between Berawa and Echo Beach is packed with creative kitchens that blend global influences with local ingredients. The Slow is an art hotel with a restaurant that takes Indonesian comfort food and gives it a refined twist. Their nasi goreng with wagyu beef and truffle (IDR 195,000 / $12 USD) is legendary. The space itself -- concrete, teak, and local art -- is worth visiting for the atmosphere alone. Open 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Ji Terrace by the Sea in Echo Beach combines panoramic ocean views with elevated Asian fusion cuisine. Sunset cocktails (IDR 120,000-180,000 / $8-11 USD) followed by grilled seafood platters (IDR 450,000 / $28 USD for two) make this the ultimate Canggu date night. Fishbone Local specializes in sustainably caught seafood prepared simply over charcoal. The daily catch board rotates based on what local fishermen bring in that morning. Expect IDR 150,000-300,000 ($9-19 USD) per main. For health-conscious dining, Shady Shack remains a Canggu institution with massive plant-based portions at IDR 65,000-95,000 ($4-6 USD). Equally popular is Milk and Madu with its all-day brunch menu and excellent coffee program.

Jimbaran Bay has been Bali's seafood destination for decades, and its beachfront grills remain one of the island's most iconic dining experiences. The concept is simple: pick your fresh fish, lobster, prawns, squid, or clams from an ice display, choose your weight, and watch it grilled over coconut husks right on the sand while you sit at a candlelit table with your feet in the sand and the sound of waves. The Jimbaran seafood strip runs along the beach south of the fish market, divided into three main clusters: Muaya Beach (closest to the airport), Middle Beach, and Kedonganan Beach. Menega Cafe on Middle Beach is the most famous, frequented by locals and tourists alike. A seafood platter for two with grilled snapper, prawns, squid, clams, rice, and three sambals runs about IDR 350,000-500,000 ($22-31 USD). Kedonganan Beach venues like Wayan and Lia Cafe tend to be slightly cheaper and less crowded. Budget IDR 250,000-400,000 ($16-25 USD) for two people. Arrive by 5:30 PM to secure a beachfront table for sunset. Most venues operate from 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM, though some open for lunch. Prices are negotiable at many stalls, but the posted prices at established cafes like Menega are generally fair and fixed.

You do not need to spend a fortune to eat well in Bali. Some of the island's most memorable meals come from unassuming restaurants serving traditional fare at local prices. Warung Babi Guling Ibu Oka in Ubud is arguably the most famous warung in Bali, serving legendary roasted suckling pig since the 1970s. A plate of babi guling special (skin, meat, sausage, rice, lawar) costs just IDR 65,000 ($4 USD). Open 11:00 AM until sold out, usually by 2:00 PM. Naughty Nuri's in Ubud started as a tiny roadside warung and earned a cult following for its massive pork ribs marinated in a secret sauce. Ribs with rice and salad cost IDR 115,000 ($7 USD). Their martinis are famously strong and cheap. Biku in Seminyak offers a unique high-tea experience in a gorgeous antique joglo (Javanese wooden house), with afternoon tea sets from IDR 165,000 ($10 USD). Warung Murah near Sanur is a no-frills local favorite where nasi campur runs IDR 25,000-35,000 ($1.50-2.20 USD). The rendang and sambal are made fresh daily. For the adventurous eater, Paon Bali in Ubud offers Balinese cooking classes followed by a full meal of everything you prepare, all for IDR 350,000 ($22 USD) per person.

Understanding a few local customs and practical details will enhance your Bali dining experience considerably. Tipping is not mandatory in Bali, but it is appreciated. Most upscale restaurants add a 10% service charge plus 11% government tax (sometimes written as '++' on menus), which means the listed price increases by 21%. Budget restaurants and warungs do not add these charges. If service was exceptional at a warung, leaving IDR 10,000-20,000 ($0.60-1.25 USD) is a kind gesture. Water safety is a common concern. Tap water is not safe to drink, so stick to bottled or filtered water. Ice at reputable restaurants is made from filtered water and is safe. Street food vendors sometimes use local ice, which carries slightly more risk. Food allergies and dietary requirements are increasingly well understood at tourist-area restaurants. Vegetarian and vegan options are abundant, especially in Ubud and Canggu. Gluten-free options are growing but less consistent. Always communicate allergies clearly, as some sauces contain hidden allergens like peanuts, shrimp paste, or soy. Restaurant hours vary by area: Ubud tends to close earlier (9:00-10:00 PM), while Seminyak and Canggu venues stay open until 11:00 PM or midnight. Most restaurants accept credit cards, but warungs and local eateries are cash-only. Grab (ride-hailing app) food delivery is widely available across South Bali and Ubud.