Ubud is always missed, and definitely worth a place to be explored. Even though you have been visiting Bali many times, you will put Ubud on your bucket list. Yes, indeed, it’s everyone’s favorite destination and is filled with charm and beauty that surely will be missed.
I’ve been living in Bali for 12 years and married a Balinese guy. It’s still not enough to explore Bali even though you’ve been living here for more than 10 years. Ubud never lost its beauty since my very first visit on last 2011. The difference is the crowd, yes the traffic is more hectic and stressful especially when you make your own drive, you need to deal with vehicles in great numbers.
I love Ubud, I even worked in one of the beautiful properties a five-star resort in Peliatan, Maya Ubud Resort & Spa for two years. Here I would like to recommend where to go, some tourist attractions, and also amazing things to do that can be done for solo travelers, couples or a group.
WHERE TO EAT
I would like to recommend where to eat from local warung, cafe & bakery shop, fine dining, also some restaurants from luxury resorts. Local warung means local eatery managed by locals, especially the legendary culinary the “Suckling Pig or known as Babi Guling a special dish that contains a portion of steamed white rice, delicious roasted pork meats, vegetables (lawar), satay lilit, pork satay, and of course the most wanted crispy skin served with side dishes; a small bowl of “Kuah Balung Babi” that surely will satiate your appetite.
You can also try Nasi Campur, a Balinese special mixed rice, that contains steamed white rice, served with a small portion of side dishes like shredded chicken, satay lilit, vegetables (lawar), sambal matah, nuts, traditional Ayam Betutu, and Kerupuk Kulit Babi (deep frying crackers made from the skin of pigs).
LOCAL WARUNG, RESTAURANT & PASAR SENGGOL
Make your stop for lunch, these are my recommendations to eat with a relaxing ambiance for maximum comfort. They have cleanliness, and parking availability, also the food service quality is good. Some local warungs will bring a homey atmosphere like you are dining in Balinese house overlooking the backyard.
What about Pasar Senggol? When you make your trip to Bali, you will hear and find “Pasar Senggol” almost everywhere. Pasar Senggol is a local night market where a wide array of food stalls is available offering local street food, snacks, and traditional Balinese dishes like Tipat Cantok, Tipat Plecing, and Rujak.
Again, I’m writing this according to my experience. Feel free to try another restaurant should you have any references or recommendations. You might check the location, then use Google Maps for the direction should you not familiar with, or the first time travel to Ubud.
- Babi Guling Ibu Oka 2. Located at Jalan. Raya Mas 191, Ubud. This is one of Ubud’s legendary local restaurants that provide traditional Babi Guling as its special menu.
- Babi Guling Ibu Ari. Located at Jl. Raya Andong, Peliatan. You can dine in with a small group since the space is quite spacious. The parking area is available both indoors and outdoor. You need to be careful when you make your stop in this area, due to the traffic. The Warung is quite close to the traffic light.
- Nasi Ayam Kedewatan Ibu Mangku. Located at Jl. Raya Kedewatan no. 18. This warung always full every day. When you plan to dine with a group of friends or family, you might not be able to sit closer to your group, since you need to share the table with others.
- Nasi Campur Bali Warung Teges. Located at Jl. Peliatan. When you arrived in Ubud early in the morning, this restaurant opens daily starting from 07.30 am. You might find a wide array of Kerupuk or crackers If you love local crackers like prawn crackers, Kerupuk Kulit Babi (mostly made from the skin of pigs) White Kerupuk, Kerupuk Bawang, and Kerupuk Kedelai.
- Pasar Senggol Peliatan. Opens daily starting from 5.00 pm or earlier. The parking area is quite spacious. You can explore the Balinese street food, and enjoy outdoor dining with a wide array of local dishes at a humble price that won’t hurt your wallet (^___^)
BEST BAKERY UBUD
Wide arrays of bakeries or cake shops are available, but these are my top 2 recommendations for the best bakery in Ubud.
- Kakiang Garden Cafe Ubud. Located at Jl. Raya Pengosekan. It’s a bakery, cafe, and restaurant that serve Japanese-style pastry, cakes, delicious donuts, desserts, also menus to be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This restaurant offers both indoor and outdoor ambiance with a semi-retro garden cafe style.
- Monsieur Spoon. Located at Jl. Hanoman. Find the best French pastries and desserts. It’s heaven for everyone who seeks a high-quality handmade French-style bakery. The croissant is the best!
HIGH-END RESTAURANTS
Here are the lists of high-end restaurants in Ubud. The last time I visited these restaurants was two years ago, please visit the official website and find the contact person for the detail should you need to find the updated information or the reservation.
- THE KELUSA by SAMSARA UBUD. You can enjoy dining in alfresco dining style for breakfast, lunch, or dinner at The Kelusa when you make your stop at Samsara Ubud. The resort offers an authentic Balinese style with the harmony of nature. The restaurant itself overlooks the view of the Ubud jungle. The restaurant opens for the public not only inhouse guests but ensures you make your reservation first before heading to this resort.
- MAYA SARI by MAYA UBUD RESORT & SPA. This is my favorite restaurant, an honest review not because I’ve been working for this property previously. Maya Sari Restaurant offers a truly Balinese and alfresco dining style overlooking the natural view of the Ubud jungle. You can enjoy different thematic dinners every night. There was a moment when you can experience your dining while enjoying the Balinese fire dance performance, acoustic, Barong dance, and another thematic dinner like Italian night, and local Balinese night. You can enjoy your breakfast, lunch, or dinner. The restaurant opens for the public not only inhouse guests but ensures you make your reservation first before heading to this resort.
- SCENE by THE SAMAYA UBUD. Most resorts in Ubud provide restaurants that overlook the jungle. The guests are spoilt with a natural view, dining with nature. The restaurant opens for the public not only inhouse guests but ensures you make your reservation first before heading to this resort.
- MOZAIC. It’s a well-known fine dining restaurant by Chef Chris Salans. When you seek a high-quality level of culinary, then this is the right choice to have the best fine dining experience. This restaurant offers a cool atmosphere, an open kitchen, and of course great service from the friendly staff and Restaurant Manager. Please visit their official website to check the menu, and opening hours also find the contact details for the reservation.
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
Ubud is known for its traditional crafts, art galleries, rice paddies, ancient temples, shrines, culinary, and famous landscapes. There are must-visit attractions that you should put on your bucket list.
Sacred Monkey Forest
Ubud Art Market
Strolling around Ubud Art Market is a must. It’s a popular tourist destination. Located in the heart of Ubud, in the main area, you can easily spot the markets. It is also known as “Pasar Seni Ubud”, where you can find the locals selling goods like souvenirs, merchandise, Balinese handicrafts, and paintings. Travelers love to hunt and buy many things from this market as hand carries gifts to bring back home. The most popular handicrafts crafted for women are rattan bags in various colors and sizes. Also, you can find some dresses and unique merchandise. Men usually love the arts, statues, and painting. Bargaining and negotiation skill is essential since the vendors will give a higher price, then you can mention the lower price to get the items that you are interested in.
The Blanco Renaissance Museum
It’s a must-visit when you’re heading to Ubud. It’s also a must-see destination in Bali. This museum is located in the hill area of Campuhan River, Ubud. It is a home gallery and studio of the late Don Antonio Blanco. It takes around five minutes to drive from Ubud Art Market. You can enjoy a wide variety of paintings and arts.
Goa Gajah
The Goa Gajah temple is one of the historic temples in the Ubud area. It’s located in the Bedulu Village, Blahbatuh Gianyar, approximately 15 minutes drive from central Ubud. The name Goa Gajah doesn’t mean that many elephants live inside the cave. Once you stepped into this temple, there will be a cavernous mouth at the entrance. This temple is still actively used for worship and ceremonies. As same with any temples in Bali, women during their periods are forbidden, and wearing a Balinese sarong is mandatory. You may find it at the entrance for rent should you don’t have your own sarong.
Campuhan Ridge Walk
If you love hiking or simply fresh walking in the fresh air, I recommend you to visit Bukit Campuhan during your visit to Ubud. Bukit Campuhan is one of some instagramable spots while you’re in Bali. Most visitors love to capture their moments and make some amazing videos during their visit. This walk definitely showcases the natural side of Ubud. You may witness a beautiful paved walk along the Campuhan Ridge. The best time to do the walk is early in the morning starting between 06 – 07.30 am to avoid the midday heat. Enjoy the beautiful sunrise or sunset, and don’t forget to bring your camera or cellphone to capture the moment. When you were lucky, you may see the locals do some activities during your journey.
Serayu Pot & Terracotta
Serayu pot is one of the popular art galleries in Ubud, a workshop studio where you can find various kind of handicrafts with clay as the basic material. Travelers and tourists are welcome to join the workshops like drawing classes and making pottery. You can strike a pose with the colorful terracotta and clay pot as the background.
Saraswati Temple
Make a visit to Saraswati Temple, also known as Ubud Water Palace with a beautiful pink lotus pond. In Bali, a temple is a holy place for Balinese Hindus, and this Saraswati Temple is one of them. Travelers and tourists are welcome to visit, however wearing the Balinese sarong are mandatory, and women on their periods are forbidden to enter the temple area.
Please check the official sites for the updated information and find the contact person should you need the details for the entrance fee, or new regulations to enter the tourist attraction.
Thank you for reading and visiting my website ^.^ wishing you a pleasant day ahead.