This list of restaurants, cafes and warungs covers spectacular valley views, pretty garden views, and lush rice paddy views. If you are exploring around ubud you can often find a cute little gem amongst the emerald rice fields surrounding Ubud. These can be hit and miss...if it is a hit, please let me know! I'm looking for the food / setting combo for this list; amazing food and beautiful view.
Sayan House
Overlooking the Ayung River Gorge, Sayan House offers a breathtaking view to go with the fun cocktails and deliciously unusual Japanese-South American fusion tapas.
This is an upmarket place for the well-healed, and you need to book ahead if you can afford to drink and eat here, but you can always pop in for a soft drink just before sunset for one of the best views in Ubud.
Meru
Overlooking the beautiful 8th century temple, Pura Gunung Lebah, Meru has an eclectic but delightful international menu. Beautifully presented meals are balanced and delicious, and the coffee is excellent.
For later in the day (or earlier, if that's your thing) the cocktail list is great and reasonable, and happy hours are from 4-6pm daily. Meru is relaxed and pretty and great for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Teman Dedari
This weirdly spectacular restaurant has a set of enormous stone statues of characters from the great Hindu epics. You can't really see over the Ayung River valley as the hotel is in the way, but the surrounding vista is still gorgeous.
The extensive menu is strong on excellent Indonesian favourites, and western standards like hamburgers and pizza, with a large number of alcohol-free drink options for the many Javanese tourists that visit. It's fun, inexpensive and pretty, and the service is charming.
Sayan Point
With an arguably better panorama, and on the same side of the ridge as Sayan House, this little spot is way cheaper. Unfortunately the food and drinks are cheap in a way that I can't bring myself to promote, with its very ordinary Western-Indo menu and mediocre cocktails.
But that view! Try out an afternoon snack to view the river valley in its daytime glory, or come for a cheap sunset drink before going elsewhere for dinner.
Rüsters
Another great sunset spot, this one looks over the rice fields to the west of Ubud, but is just a few minutes south of the town. There's something for everyone here, with a Sunday market, ceramics workshops, a little store and high quality coffee. Its great for daytime too, but the best time is when the light starts to change at around 5.30pm.
I find the service a bit hit and miss due to the restaurant layout. The food is excellent but the portions are tiny for the price. However the cocktails are delicious and there is live Jazz on Wednesday and Friday evenings.
Wild Air
This lovely restaurant in the hotel on Jl. Bisma has a gorgeous view overlooking the Oos River Valley. If you eat here, you can use their pool for free and their food is excellent, breakfast, lunch and dinner.
The portions are on the small side for the price but it is a fancy hotel so actually pretty good value.
Indus
Looking over the Oos river valley and the Campuhan Ridge Walk, Indus is an excellent pan-Asian restaurant with emphasis on modern Indonesian.
This is a mid level restaurant in terms of pricing and great for lunch or an early dinner. There are often fun events like talks, art exhibits, salsa and jazz nights, so keep your eye on their instagram.
Elephant
The Elephant is perfect for a calm brunch with excellent coffee and a great menu. Alternatively, drop in for a late lunch and happy hour from 3-5pm (2-for-1 cocktails wine and beer).
They do a few vegan options but the menu is mostly high quality international vegetarian meals like laksa, pasta and salads. Try the asian sharing platter! The view across to the ridge walk is lovely, especially in the mornings.
Tropical View
The problem with restaurants in the most touristy areas is that you assume they will be crappy tourist traps. Often they are. But Tropical View, with it's twee name, is actually really good. It's right next to Monkey Forest and has a very pretty rice paddy view.
There is an expansive Indonesian-Western combo menu but the quality is high and it's great value. Their breakfast options are substantial and the coffee is decent, the drinks menu is great and there are loads of comfy places to sit and enjoy the greenery. I would even recommend this to digital nomads looking for cafes to work in. Watch out for the monkeys - I once had a biscuit nabbed right off my saucer and I'm sure he was eyeing my purse, the little maling (thief). Instagram.
Soul Shine
Soul Shine, with its very Ubudian name, is a lovely boutique hotel in Mas with high quality food, great coffee and a good array of drinks. It's built high over fields and jungle, and they've done a beautiful job with the decor. There is an annoying R150,000 minimum spend, but the food portions make up for it. Try the set breakfast!
Bebek Bengil - aka the Dirty Duck
Bebek Bengil serves high quality Balinese food looking out across some decent sized rice paddies despite being almost in the centre of town. It has lovely surrounds, excellent staff and some interesting menu options - a great way to try some local favourites. I'm not a fan of the fried duck which is the restaurant's namesake, but there are loads of options and the menu is popular with Javanese tourists.
Cafe Pomegranate
This is impossible to get to without a scooter, although you could technically do the hot walk along the teenie path through the rice fields. The menu is okay - a fairly standard Indonesian / western mix - not the best on the list but substantial and decent quality, just not very exciting. But the setting is lovely and worth the exploration time to get there.
Green Kubu
Up in Tegallang you'll find this pretty spot among the rice fields. Frankly the little walk from the car park is the best bit, but it's a delightful garden and the menu is very inexpensive. Go for the good quality Indonesian food rather than a western option. There is also a serious all-you-can-eat brunch buffet on Sundays from 11am.
Others
- Kelapa Muda: check the pool bar listings for this gorgeous spot
- The View: Panoramic rice paddy views at the upmarket Plataran hotel restaurant. Its pan-Indonesian food at mid-level prices.
- Swept Away: An expensive but stunning restaurant at the fancy Samaya hotel on the banks of the Ayung river.
- Dining Corner: High above the river valley, this is an upmarket but reasonable contemporary Indonesian restaurant at the Kayumanis hotel.
-Tis: another spot in Tegallalang, this overlooks the famous terraces and has a great Asian fusion menu and a gorgeous pool.
- Kubu at Mandapa: I can't actually afford to eat here but if you can do try to book in for dinner. It's a stunning spot right on the river. If this is slightly beyond your budget, the Mandapa also has a wonderful high tea (about USD40) so you can have a sticky beak at how the other half holiday while still enjoying amazing food. Ask the staff to take you down to the river in a buggy to check it out.