Bali, Indonesia Hotels and City Guide

Bali - Restaurants

Bali Dining - Local Cuisine and Customs

Dining in Bali is a culinary treat – local dishes make the most of the surrounding nature to include coconut, red beans, palm sugar, jackfruit, banana and star fruit. Some traditional dishes require a more adventurous stomach than others, such as Komoh (a thick soup sometimes made with pig blood) and Urutan (a local sausage made from meat-filled intestines).

The majority of meals though will include more familiar ingredients, with many dishes using chicken, fish and pork. Chilli, coconut, garlic, ginger, saffron, lemon grass and several kinds of shrimp paste are then added to that your dish that unique Indonesian flavour. Tropical fruit is in also abundance and the exotic flavours of Jack fruit, Dorian, and Dragon fruit shouldn't be missed.

More expensive restaurants usually offer a mixed menu of some Balinese and Western dishes, occasionally also serving fusion meals which combine aspects of both. Sate (charcoal-grilled skewers with small pieces of chicken, beef, pork or prawns), a somewhat upmarket delicacy, is served with a peanut sauce and can be found on a number of restaurant menus.

For a more authentic taste of traditional food and culture, head to a local market or stop off at a road-side food stall or warung. Two dishes you will encounter often at a warung are nasi goreng (fried rice) and mei goreng (fried noodles), both fried with an egg, vegetables and some chilli. Do not be surprised if the noodles used are the packet 2-minute variety - Indonesian cooking has a way of turning this college-student classic into a delicious meal.

Selected Bali Restaurants

The Watercourt Restaurant
Grand Hyatt Bali, Nusa Dua, Bali
Tel: +62 361 77 1234 | Fax: +62 361 77 2038

Telaga Naga
Bali Hyatt, Jalan Danau Tamblingan, Sanur, Bali
Tel: +62 361 28 1234 | Fax: +62 361 28 7693

Taman Gita Terrace
InterContinental Resort Bali, Jalan Uluwatu 45, Jimbaran, Bali
Tel: +62 361 70 1888 | Fax: +62 361 70 1777

Singaraja Restaurant
InterContinental Resort Bali, Jalan Uluwatu 45, Jimbaran, Bali
Tel: +62 361 70 1888 | Fax: +62 361 70 1777

KO Japanese Restaurant
InterContinental Resort Bali, Jalan Uluwatu 45, Jimbaran, Bali
Tel: +62 361 70 1888 | Fax: +62 361 70 1777

The Restaurant
Amankila Resort, Pantai Buitan, Manggis, Bali 80871
Tel: +62 363 41333 | Fax: +62 363 41555

Waroeng Tugu
Hotel Tugu Bali, Jalan Batu Bolong, Canggu Beach, Bali
Tel: +62 361 73 1701 | Fax: +62 361 73 1704

Padi
The Ritz-Carlton Bali, Jalan Karang Mas Sejahtera, Jimbaran, Bali
Tel: +62 361 70 2222

Ary's Warung
Jalan Raya, Ubud, Bali
Tel: +62 361 97 5053

Kokokan Club Thai Restaurant
ARMA Resort, Jalan Pengosekan, Ubud, Bali
Tel: +62 361 97 6659 | Fax: +62 361 97 5332

Bali Tipping Advice

A service charge of 10% is usually added to restaurant bills. If no charge is added, a gratuity of between 5% and 10% would be appreciated though not necessarily expected. Tipping taxi drivers and other service personnel is recommended. However, keep the amount at a reasonable level. As the currency of Indonesia has a tendency to be erratic, it is wise to check the relative values of the rupiah on a daily basis.

Hotels in Bali, Indonesia