Taste local food in the tropics. A trip to Bali for exquisite cuisine and stunning views

Enjoy a whole roasted pig offered to the gods with the locals

IBU OKA

Babi Guling is synonymous with Balinese cuisine. It is a traditional dish that is indispensable for Balinese Hindu festivals and celebrations, and is made by stuffing a pig's belly with spices and roasting it slowly. It is an ancient custom to offer it to the gods and then share it with everyone.
Warung Ibu Oka has three locations in Ubud where you can enjoy this special dish anytime. The first location we are introducing this time has an open-air space where you can enjoy your meal while watching the people passing by. It is also conveniently located right in front of Ubud Palace, so you can stop by while walking around the city.

Ibuoka's Babi Guling is served with crispy pork skin, tender and juicy pork, and pork sausage on top of rice. The pork is seasoned with various spices such as garlic and chili peppers, giving off an appetizing aroma similar to curry. It looks impressive, but once you try it, you'll be hooked!

Why not try Babi Guling with the locals, something you won't often find in tourist restaurants?

Enjoy traditional Balinese home cooking in a stylish café-style warung

biah biah+ (Beer Beer Plus) *Closed

Self-service is the norm at warungs frequented by locals, and many of them have an atmosphere that makes them seem intimidating at first glance. Among them, Beer Beer Plus, located along Jalan Rayapengosekan, a little way from the center of Ubud, is a place that even women can easily enter alone.
The stylish cafe-style restaurant has sofa seats in addition to table seats, so you can relax and enjoy your meal. A Japanese menu is also available, so you don't have to worry about language barriers.

The menu here has mild, easy-to-eat flavors aimed at tourists, and also offers some traditional dishes that Japanese people will find familiar, such as the pork sausage "ulutang goreng" and the croquette-like "burgdel kuntang."
The restaurant offers a wide variety of small dishes, so you can try a little bit of everything. The food is served on banana leaves, giving it a local feel.

Be sure to check out the unusual drinks. The menu includes "Jamu," a traditional Chinese herbal drink from Bali, and "Rice Wine" made from rice. You might think that Chinese herbal medicine is bitter and difficult to drink, but it has a gentle sweetness that makes it easy to drink.

Enjoy healthy food that will please your body in a "cafe" with a warm wooden atmosphere

KAFE

Ubud is a village that has long been a thriving center of artistic culture, including traditional dance and painting. Many yogis are attracted to the unique atmosphere that combines this artistic atmosphere with abundant nature, and the city is gaining popularity as a mecca for yoga, which heals the mind and body.
A popular cafe among yoga lovers is "KAFE" in the center of Ubud. Here you can enjoy healthy food made with organic ingredients, as well as vegetable and fruit smoothies. The cafe has a natural atmosphere, so you can visit in relaxed attire without hesitation.

Among the many menu items, the most popular is "Meg's Big Salad Bowl." This salad, made with local organic vegetables, is so filling that you'll be full after just one serving. There are also plenty of gluten-free and vegan options.
If you're doing yoga first thing in the morning, be sure to stop by this store. It's sure to be a great start to your day.

Enjoy a panoramic view of the beautiful rice terraces and a local lunch while feeling the breeze of Ubud.

Alon Alon Terrace Café

Located about 20 minutes north by car from the center of Ubud is a small village called Tegallalang, where Ubud's popular tourist spot, the Rice Terrace, is located.
Rice terraces are terraced rice fields built on hilly areas. Among the several rice terraces in Bali, the Tegallalang rice terraces are said to be the most beautiful in Bali and are also called the "Staircase of the Gods."
The rice terraces use a unique irrigation system in Bali called "Subak". This irrigation system was created based on the Balinese Hindu philosophy that "harmony between God, man, and nature brings happiness to people". This allows water to be distributed equally to the rice fields, allowing each farmer to grow rice fairly.

There are several cafes in the Tegalalang rice terraces that offer beautiful views. The Along Along Terrace Cafe, built to jut out into the valley, is a popular photo spot. We recommend the gazebo seats (a structure with no surrounding walls, only a roof and pillars) from which you can get a panoramic view of the rice terraces. You'll definitely feel relaxed by the vast Ubud nature that spreads out before you.

The recommendation here is nasi campur, a dish loved by the Balinese people. It is a one-plate lunch with rice and side dishes served on one plate. It is a very satisfying dish served with unique side dishes such as Indonesian skewered grilled "sate" and Indonesian fried natto "tempeh".

By the way, if you go to this cafe, we recommend wearing sneakers. There are many paths in the rice terraces, so go there with a trekking mood. Walking while admiring the beautiful plants and animals is also a special experience.

Experience the mystical experience of Balinese Hinduism on the "Island of the Gods"

After enjoying Balinese delicious cuisine, why not experience the unique customs and culture shaped by Balinese Hinduism?
Balinese Hinduism is a fusion of Hinduism and Buddhism, which were introduced from the neighboring island of Java, and the indigenous beliefs that were originally present on the island of Bali. More than 90% of the Balinese people believe in it, and because it teaches that "gods reside everywhere," offerings are made all over town and festivals are held in some village almost every day.

"Balinese dance" is performed during the festival. It is a votive dance performed during religious ceremonies, and "Legong," "Barong," and "Kecak" are said to be the three major dances. At the Ubud Royal Palace, Balinese dance performances are held every night from 7:30 pm.

The most beautiful of the three major dances is the Legong dance. Female dancers perform a splendid dance to the beautiful music of the gamelan. Their unique eye and hand movements have a mysterious power that draws you in instantly.

Another experience you should have when visiting Ubud is visiting a Balinese Hindu temple. Bali is dotted with temples in beautiful locations such as mountain slopes and cliffs.
We recommend the Tanah Lot Temple, which floats on the sea and is about an hour's drive from Ubud. When you look at the temple lit up by the setting sun, you can't help but feel the presence of the Balinese Hindu gods.

The people of Ubud, Bali, are all kind-hearted and cannot leave anyone in trouble. If you enjoy eating delicious local cuisine, the locals may be happy to talk to you, so be sure to visit a recommended warung. They may tell you about a special secret that only locals know.
By the way, although they are very generous, it is taboo to shake hands with the left hand or pat a child's head, as these are considered unclean in their religion, so please be careful. If someone is kind to you, don't forget to say "Teli Makasih" (thank you)!
*March is the month of Nyepi (the Saka New Year), the Balinese New Year. During this period, going outside, using fire, working, killing, and other activities are prohibited. Tourists are also prohibited from going outside, so we recommend avoiding sightseeing during this period.

Originally posted: November 16, 2018
*Some content was updated on December 4, 2024.

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