UBUD TRAVEL GUIDE - PLACES TO EAT, PRACTICE YOGA, STAY AND WHAT NOT TO MISS
Whether you’re joining our yearly Bali Yoga Retreat or are visiting on your own here are our absolute favorite restaurants, yoga studios and places to stay in Ubud. This list is updated every year we come here and explore new gems!
WHERE TO EAT IN UBUD
Moksa. My absolute favourite restaurant a bit outside Ubud. You simply HAVE TO try their Raw Vegan Lasagna, Mongolian Jackfruit with mashed sweet potato and Uttapam rolls!
Sayuri’s Healing Café. Run by our friend, former house mate and super talented vegan chef Sayuri Tanaka this is the place to go for smoothie bowls, raw chocolate and the best vegan waffles! If you’re interested in raw food chef trainings, raw chocolate making courses or raw vegan dessert trainings, this is def THE PLACE to do them!
Mana Kitchen. This café/restaurant is part of the Mana Eco- Village, an eco-village near Sayan, a bit outside of Ubud. A quiet sanctuary (also has accommodation) with a super nice restaurant with all organic Japanse/Indonesian-style dishes, herbal teas and delicious desserts! Try the coconut cheesecake!
Casa Curandera. Excellent Colombian/Italian Restaurant serving the most delicious jackfruit arepa, impeccable pizza the best desserts in town! The brownie, the cheesecake, the cinnamon roll….go try them out!
Bambu Indah. Do me a favor and don’t miss out on this place. A restaurant out of this world (you’ll see it when you go!) at the Sayan ridge. Enjoy organic food while you
Zest Ubud. Huge Restaurant/ Café with an incredible vegan menu. What not to miss: The Big Breakfast Stack (image 2 below), The Keto Kale Bowl and The Green Chalice Juice.
The Elephant Bali. A restaurant we’ve been visiting for many years. Gorgeous view over the Tjampuan River, great food and the sweetest staff. Try the larb and carrot cake!
Milk & Madu. Modern Café/ Restaurant with amazing food all day long. Great coffee, food and service! Don’t miss out on the smashed peas with poached eggs on sourdough bread!
The Muse Café & Art. Cute café on Sri Wedari street (it’s worth the drive). Loved the Rainbow Salad, Chinese teas and delicious vegan cookies!
Namaskara Café. Excellent coffee, vegan brownie and super yummy smoothie bowls!
The Yoga Barn Café. While in Ubud you’ll most likely take a class or two at the world-famous yoga barn and this café comes very handy when you’re craving something after class! My favourite is the Vegan Caesar Salad!
Kafé. Same owners as The Yoga Barn Cafe but with a bit more selection. Great salads, Ayurvedic stews and raw and vegan cakes!
Puspa Warung. Local restaurant serving super cheap food Indonesian and Balinese food (cooked with coconut oil and no msg - which is very common in the local restaurants). Located on on Goutama Street. Don’t miss out on the delicious Jackfruit Rendang, Nasi Champur or Dadar Galung (green pancakes).
Sage Bali. Located a bit outside of Ubud, here you’ll find an amazing all-vegan menu with the best jack-fruit burgers. Definitely worth the drive!
The Yellow Flower Café. Super nice spot with a view over the valley in Penestanan.
Compound Warung (Jalan Gootama) A local restaurant right in the centre of Ubud. Cheap, yummy and a great place to try out local food like Nasi Campur and Dadar Gulung.
Mama’s Warung (Tebesaya Road). Another cheap local restaurant near the Yoga Barn. Go for the local jamu and Pepes Ikan (fish in banana leaf).
WHERE TO STAY IN AND AROUND UBUD
Nirwa Karma Ubud ***. Our favorite, good-value-for-money guesthouse located in the middle of the ricefields YET super close to Ubud centre (a 5 min walk and you’re in the busy area with all the shops and restaurants).
Alaya Ubud *****. Gorgeous 5-star hotel right next to the Yoga Barn.
KT. Kuaya Home Stay **. Family-run guesthouse right off the main road in Ubud. Clean, quiet and simple place. Great location if you don’t want to drive a scooter.
Singgah Villa ****. Beautiful modernised jogglo, a typical Javanese house with 2 bedrooms, huge living room and kitchen. Great if you’re staying longer and if you work remotely.
Krishna Guesthouse **. Located close to the city centre this nice guesthouse is also a great option if you want to be able to walk to everything.
Bambu Indah Resort *****. An incredible resort made all out of bamboo. Stay in unique rooms, joglos and houses designed by John Hardy. The resort has a bar overlooking the Sayan ridge where they serve incredible cocktails, there’s a bamboo elevator (with crystals inside!), a river restaurant and a whole natural jungle spa with sauna, cold plunges and hot tubs.
UBUD YOGA STUDIOS
The Yoga Barn. The oldest yoga “studio” in Ubud that is more of a huge spread out venue with 10+ yoga shalas, 25+ international and local teachers and with classes running from 7am til 8pm. We love going here for yoga cause of the huge variety of classes and many great teachers. The classes are usually really big with sometimes 80 people in class so if you’re looking for a more intimate study this might not be your place. Apart from classes there’s also huge selection of workshops, therapies, sound-healing and the nice The Yoga barn Café where you can sit and enjoy a fresh coconut or a meal after class.
Radiantly Alive. This is the yoga studio where we used to teach 2012-2013 and some of the staff are still there, making this place still feel a bit like home. There are several yoga Shalas, 5-6 classes a day which a bit smaller than at the yoga barn.
Alchemy Yoga Center. Beautifully designed Yoga Shala in Penestanan, sligthly outside of Ububd, right across the street from the well-known Alchemy Café (that has an amazing salad bar!).
BEST MASSAGE THERAPISTS & SPAS
Bali Healing Massage (Jalan Goutama Street). Do not miss Ayu - the best massage therapist in Ubud! We’ve come to her every time since 2012 and she’s without a doubt the best we’ve ever tried!
Darshana Veda Spa. This amazing Ayurvedic spa belongs to The Shala Bali where we host our Bali retreat AND luckily it’s also open to the public! The therapists are very experienced and the setting is beautiful. Make sure to book in advance cause it’s popular!
Cantika Zest. This is our second favourite place to go for facials, hair treatment and body scrub because of their amazing home-made, all natural products. The staff are the best! You can also come for a workshop and learn how to make your own treatment!
Iman Spa (Sri Wedari Street). Another high-quality spa (not necessarily in terms of decoration but bodywork!) that has been around since many years. This place is run by Balinese healer Nyoman and you’ll find many different treatments to choose from.
Ubud Aura Spa. Located next to The Yoga Barn (the small entrance) this place has a massage therapist called Dayu who gives an amazing body scrub and acupressure treatment. Highly recommended after traveling!
WHAT ELSE NOT TO MISS WHEN YOU’RE IN UBUD?
Eat a Durian - the football-sized spikey fruit that Naza loves!
Go to the local market in the morning and get mangoes, papaya, passionfruit, jackfruit and dragonfruit and make yourself the most amazing fruit salad!
Visit Pura Mengening - a less-crowded Water Temple 20 min north of Ubud. Here you can can go through a purification ceremony lead by a local.
Tegallalang Ricefields north of Ubud.
Drive up Andong Street and buy house decorations for wholesale prices.
Walk the beautiful Kejeng Ricefield walk, (starting at the main road Jalan Raya Ubud) get a coffee at DEAF café!
Go for the day to Bambu Indah, an incredible resort with a restaurant by the Sayan River.
Getting a feel for Bali?! Come join our annual Bali Yoga Retreat!
