5 Best Restaurants in Ubud, Indonesia

Get what one satisfied diner from overseas called "the whole package"—exceptional food, presentation, and service—at Bridges. The menu features modern international dishes served with French flair. Several favorites, notably the chevre-beetroot brûlée, feature flavorful cheeses. Pumpkin-crusted salmon with cauliflower cannoli and fennel showcases the kitchen's skill and creativity, and the complimentary canapés and sorbet underscore the attention to detail. Wines figure prominently, and during the late-afternoon "Devine Hour," sample four for a very reasonable Rp115,000. Alongside Campuhan Bridge, the restaurant has a multi-level terrace built into a lush hillside overlooking the Wos River, making it soothing by day and dramatic at night.

People from all over the island make the pilgrimmage to Ibu Oka's for Bali's signature dish of babi guling, or spit roasted pig—though many swear the pork in their home village tastes better. You judge after ordering nasi babi (pork rice) served with dollops of pork, sausage, and vegetables. When the day's roast pig is finished, Ibu Oka's closes. The restaurant is located just north of Ubud Palace.

Calling itself Ubud's "first restaurant," Murni's Warung has introduced Balinese food to the likes of Richard Gere, Mick Jagger, Richard Branson, Jean-Claude Van Damme, and David Copperfield. Since opening as a warung (roadside stall) in 1974, Murni's has grown to four levels running down the river's edge. (Book a table at the bottom for the best views.) The menu has also grown, adding Indonesian and Western choices, but the foundation remains Balinese, with local standards like ayam betutu (spicy roast chicken), babi guling (roast pork), and black rice pudding, plus rarer specialties such as smoked curry duck. It's great for lunch; at dinner, don't forget mosquito repellant.

Barbecued ribs, shaken-not-stirred martinis, and frosty draft beers made Naughty Nuri's legendary. But other Indonesian and American stars abound: towering burgers sizzling from the gas grill in front, nasi campur (rice with dollops of meat and veggies), and Bali's onioniest garden salad. Thursday's Tuna Night adds sashimi, satay, and steaks to the mix. Finish with fried bananas and ice cream. Squeeze into a big wooden table and make new friends in this casual, open-air joint. If the crowds become too much, try Nacho Mama about 200 yards away—the menu is identical but with the addition of margaritas and Mexican standards.

Well hidden from the main road, Bodag Maliah combines local produce with serene rice field views. Spend the afternoon on the open-air upper level, enjoying cool breezes and lavish scenery over a Balinese crepe with local fruit and a glass of homemade wine. Generous portions of international dishes for both herbivores and carnivores feature vegetables freshly harvested from the organic garden (Bodag Maliah means "overflowing basket" in Balinese). Standouts at this place, also known as Sari Organik, include gado-gado (Indonesian steamed vegetables with spicy peanut sauce) and the restaurant's own feta cheese made with tofu.