A Foodie's Guide to the Best Restaurants in Uluwatu [+ Map]

Uluwatu's food scene has really taken off in the last few years. Countless new restaurants have opened their doors in the area, offering everything from high-end clifftop dining to cosy brunch cafes and affordable local dishes.

We've spent the last few years eating our way around all the best restaurants in Uluwatu. I think we've probably eaten at most places on the peninsula at this point. And we've finally narrowed them down to this ultimate list of our absolute favourite places to eat in Uluwatu for all occasions.

Where to Eat in Uluwatu: Map

Our Favourite Restaurants in Uluwatu

1. Waatu

Sitting within the ultra-luxury Ungasan Resort, which is also home to Sundays Beach Club at the end of Melasti Beach, Waatu is a high-end yakitori and flame grill restaurant inspired by the flavours and ingredients of Indonesia.

The elegant restaurant doesn't use any electricity or gas to cook. Instead, they use indigenous cooking methods, where everything is flame-grilled over hot coals in their large open kitchen.

We ordered a selection of their signature yakitori and skewers. The wagyu beef was both of our favourites, but we also loved the char sui pork and the chicken. Each was a good size and came beautifully seasoned and in a delicious sauce. We'd suggest three skewers each, with a couple of sharing sides.

For lunch, you can also order lighter rice bowls, a wagyu sando, and woodfired pizza, while at night, there's a selection of premium steaks and grilled seafood too. The rich Bali Cacao Dessert was a highlight of our meal, so make sure to save some room!

When we visited in the evening, the restaurant had a very refined and sophisticated vibe, making it perfect for a special occasion or romantic date night on the quieter south coast.

2. Gooseberry

French restaurant Gooseberry has long been one of our favourite spots for all-day dining in Uluwatu. We've visited for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and have never once been disappointed by the incredible flavours and service here!

Hidden down a side street in central Bingin, the laid-back French bistro has a stylish indoor restaurant and lovely outdoor terrace with a swimming pool and covered seating. There's even an on-site swimwear boutique if you feel like taking a swim but didn't bring your bikini!

Gooseberry serves a modern French menu, which starts in the morning with breakfasts like fluffy omelette soufflé and sweet French toast. Evenings become a little more sophisticated, with many classic French dishes and open-flame BBQ, with premium steaks and grilled seafood.

One of my all-time favourite dishes at Gooseberry had to be their lunchtime gnocchi tartufo, with a creamy Parmesan sauce with sage and truffle oil. It's definitely one of the tastiest things I've ever eaten in Uluwatu. We love their indulgent toasted sandwiches too.

3. Wet Plate Kitchen

Hidden on a quiet street away from central Uluwatu, Wet Plate Kitchen isn't a restaurant you'd accidentally just stumble across, but it's definitely one worth going out of your way for.

The cool, low-lit dinner restaurant has an open kitchen concept, where you can watch Head Chef Rendi Cuanda and his team preparing their creative takes on popular Asian dishes. While not the biggest menu, every dish has been thoughtfully curated to showcase bold flavours and high-quality ingredients.

We started our meal with the lightly seared beef tataki, a selection of yakitori skewers, each perfectly paired with its own sauce, and the sea bass crudo with truffle ponzu.

This was followed by a beautiful black cod with miso yuzu and sea bass with a creamy feta sauce. We'd also highly recommend the khao soi, which tasted just like the ones we've tried in Northern Thailand (it's one of our favourite Asian dishes!).

The cocktails were just as well thought through, with creative names like the green apple-flavoured "Gojek". We tried their take on a Negroni, which added apricot alongside the classic orange flavour, and their fruitier version of an Aperol Spritz with mango soju - both were delicious!

The name "Wet Plate Kitchen" is actually inspired by an old-school photography technique where images are developed on glass using chemicals in a darkroom. It's a passion of the owners, who even have an on-site studio. They took us inside to see the equipment and some of their prints - it gives the place real personality beyond just the food.

They've recently launched a set tasting menu of their best dishes, which comes with a wet plate demonstration and your own photo. It's a lovely idea if you want a more immersive dining experience and a unique souvenir to take home (find out more here).

4. Mana

Mana is a gorgeous clifftop restaurant with panoramic ocean views over Uluwatu's dramatic coastline. It's just a 5-minute drive from Uluwatu Temple, making it a good choice for dinner before or after the famous Kecak fire dance.

The restaurant uses locally sourced Indonesian ingredients to create its menu of fusion dishes, inspired by Mediterranean, Mexican, and South American flavours. There are mostly small plates and tapas-style dishes that are perfect for sharing between a few people. The more you can try, the better!

We ordered 5 dishes to share between us, including beef rendang tacos, crispy potato bravas, fire-roasted eggplant dip, grilled asparagus, and chicken skewers, all of which were delicious and packed with rich flavours.

Mana has a large swimming pool and daybeds on its lower floor, which is great for a relaxed daytime experience in the sun. But we prefer to sit on the upstairs terrace around sunset and enjoy tapas and drinks while watching the sun dip below the ocean.

5. El Kabron

El Kabron is one of our favourite beach clubs in Uluwatu. But we recently discovered that it serves some of the most delicious Spanish food on the island too.

The beach club's upmarket restaurant overlooks the main pool and ocean, but has a lower minimum spend (just 400,000 IDR ⓘ pp) than the daybeds and sofas. We visited for an early dinner and got to enjoy their iconic nightly sunset party, with live saxophone, violin, and trumpet performances, from our dining table.

The menu is packed with authentic Spanish flavours, including lots of fresh seafood and sharing tapas dishes. We ordered the patatas bravas, which were some of the best we've eaten in Bali, the cheese croquetas, the Valenciana paella, and the churros, which were all incredible!

Food prices at El Kabron are definitely some of the highest in the area, but it's worth it for a sophisticated evening of amazing food and live sunset entertainment (come early and book a table at the front!).

6. Ours Uluwatu

Right on the busy road of Labuansait, one of our favourite areas to stay in Uluwatu, Ours is a chic and modern Scandi-inspired restaurant set inside a traditional Balinese building. The all-day spot feels classy yet casual, making it ideal for any occasion.

The menu features many Mediterranean flavours, with everything from hummus, croquettes, and calamari, to steak, chicken, risotto, and pasta. My favourite dish is their truffle risotto, but the pasta is also delicious!

Prices at Ours are a little high compared to elsewhere nearby. We'd definitely recommend coming for one of their deals, like steak night on Wednesdays and Sundays, or pasta night on Tuesdays and Thursdays. There are also happy hour drink deals between 4-6pm each evening.

7. Rockfish

Rockfish is a unique fine-dining restaurant built into a large cave on top of Uluwatu's dramatic limestone cliffs, roughly 70 m (230 ft) above the Indian Ocean. The cave opens onto a glass-floored terrace with sweeping views over the coastline and the crashing waves below.

The kitchen is headed by talented ex-NOBU chef Andrey Legkiy. It offers a gourmet menu that focuses on seafood, with everything from fresh shucked oysters and sashimi to grilled jumbo prawns and lobster linguine. There are several meat and veggie options too.

Not being fans of seafood ourselves, we ordered the Wagyu pichana steak and the char-grilled chicken. The steak was delicious, but it was the chicken that blew us away, paired perfectly with creamy potatoes and a rich truffle and sage sauce. It's one of the best things we've eaten in a while!

For dessert, we ordered the caramelised white chocolate, which was beautifully rich and indulgent. We'd definitely recommend leaving room for dessert.

Rockfish is currently very popular, so you need to book a table in advance. We managed to get a table right at the front, which had the best view (request this if you can!). But bigger groups will need to sit further back within the cave.

We'd recommend coming to Rockfish for an early dinner around 5:30-6pm, so you can enjoy the amazing views and (hopefully) a gorgeous sunset, before it gets too dark. Given the stunning location and high-quality food, prices are currently quite reasonable.

Best Brunch Cafes in Uluwatu

8. Artisan

Artisan is our current Uluwatu cafe obsession, with three locations on the peninsula: one on central Labuansait, one in Bingin, and one in Ungasan.

The brand started out as a specialty coffee shop and artisan bakery, but has since expanded into a go-to restaurant for any time of day. Their menu is known for its creative, flavourful dishes inspired by Asian, Mediterranean, and Middle Eastern cuisines.

We particularly love the brunch at Artisan, which goes far beyond your classic smoothie bowls and avocado toast. My two favourite dishes are the pear and brie toast with thyme-infused honey, and the burrata toast with sun-dried tomatoes and walnut pesto (yes, I really love cheese!).

During the day, their Uluwatu and Bingin cafes are popular with the area's local expat and digital nomad crowds, which means you'll often see people sitting around on laptops for hours.

However, the cafes are both spacious and have plenty of different seating areas across two floors, so there's space to enjoy a more laid-back brunch too.

Despite now being open for dinner, Artisan is usually not as busy in the evenings as during the day. We love their dinner menu, especially the creative pastas and sharing plates, so we think it's worth stopping by for dinner too.

9. Suka Espresso

Opened in 2016, Suka Espresso is one of Uluwatu's most established and popular cafes. The modern Australian-style spot is known for its fantastic specialty coffee, roasted in-house using beans from across Indonesia and South America.

The spacious cafe also does one of the best breakfasts in Uluwatu, with everything from smoothie bowls and pancakes to sakshuka and the indulgent big breaky plate. The avocado toast is one of the best in Uluwatu, while their 60,000 IDR ⓘ breakfast specials are fantastic value for money.

All of the cafe's seating is open-air, with just a few fans to cool you down, so we'd suggest coming early to avoid the worst of the mid-day heat. But if you do come by a little later, the lunchtime chicken katsu sando is also super tasty!

10. The Loft

The Loft has long been one of our go-to brunch spots when we’re in Uluwatu. The airy, loft-like cafe is a popular local hangout, with lots of cosy sofa areas and long communal tables perfect for making new friends after a morning surf.

For a great hangover cure, the bagel with bacon and eggs is a must try. We also love the unique flavours of the holy potato rosti. If we’re craving something healthier, we’ll usually go for the veggie-packed pumpkin salad. Or if you have a sweet tooth, the Loft Waffles are also delicious.

The brunch menu is available until 6pm every day. They also have plenty of vegan and gluten-free options.

Best Casual Restaurants in Uluwatu

11. Nourish

Nourish is one of the most popular casual all-day dining spots in Uluwatu, with two spacious restaurants on the peninsula. They serve a varied menu of Western dishes, with both healthy options and comfort food classics. With plenty of vegan dishes too, they've got something for everyone.

The restaurants serve an all-day breakfast until 4pm - we love the smashed avo stack and corn fritters here. Later in the day, you can order burgers, nachos, ribs, chicken parmi, loaded salad bowls, creative pizzas, and lots more.

Both of their Uluwatu restaurants are always pretty busy, but especially for the 2-4-1 pizza deal on Wednesdays and Sundays, or on Fridays for burgers and brews night.

12. Milk & Madu

Milk & Madu has long been one of our favourite restaurants in Canggu, and now they've opened a new restaurant in Uluwatu. It's one of our favourites, and somewhere we visit regularly for a laid-back dinner with guaranteed good food.

The casual restaurant serves Australian-style comfort-food dishes, with plenty of all-day breakfast options, as well as beefy burgers, loaded sandwiches, chicken parma, fish and chips, homemade pastas, and more.

Our go-to is their famous lava stone pizzas. We usually order the Summer Slice, which is topped with an entire burrata (so good!), and the Pumpkin Pie, with pumpkin, ricotta, and pesto. All pizzas are 2-4-1 every Tuesday and Sunday evening, making them fantastic value for money.

Like all their Bali restaurants, the Uluwatu location is spacious, welcoming, and very family-friendly, with many long, pub-garden-style benches, a dedicated kids' menu, and a large outdoor play area.

13. SISTA Dumpling

If you love dumplings as much as we do, SISTA Dumpling is a must-try. The small Chinese restaurant chain also started in Canggu, but recently opened a new spot in Uluwatu, which made us very happy.

SISTA specialises in delicious Chinese dumplings, with a huge menu of traditional and creative fillings to pick from. Some of our favourites are the curry beef gyozas, pork xiao long bao, and beef and truffle dumplings. They also have some great combo platters for groups, so you can try a variety of flavours.

You can also accompany your dumplings with some spicy meat skewers or hand-pulled noodles, including their authentic Szechuan mala beef noodle hot pot.

14. L'Osteria Pizza e Cucina Uluwatu

L'Osteria is one of our favourite Italian restaurant chains in Bali. Their Uluwatu restaurant is designed to resemble a rustic Italian countryside tavern, with stone walls, wooden beams, and a large sun-drenched terrace. It's perfect for a long Italian-style lunch in the sun with plenty of wine.

The menu has loads of delicious and authentic Italian dishes. Some of our favourites we’ve eaten here are the pumpkin and sausage risotto, the ragú arancini, and the homemade gnocchi alla Sorrentina. Plus, we always get the tiramisu to end our meal!

15. Rolling Fork

Rolling Fork is another of Uluwatu's most popular Italian restaurants. It has a laid-back, vintage style with a large terrace surrounded by jungle and a small kids' play area.

The restaurant offers a menu of traditional Italian flavours, including fresh homemade pastas, crispy pizzas, fresh grilled seafood, and quality imported meats. We always order the pasta here, which is served beautifully al dente with delicious sauces. They also come in generous portions.

While the food is great, the thing that really makes Rolling Fork stand out is its fun weekly events. Tuesday nights are their famous Latin party, with a full evening of Latin music, cocktails, and dancing. Fridays are live music nights, with a more mellow but still lively atmosphere.

16. Tarabelle

Tarabelle is a hidden gem on busy Jalan Uluwatu on the central Bukit, the main road that leads into Uluwatu. It has a cool yet casual vibe and a large menu of international dishes at affordable prices.

The restaurant has fantastic deals most nights of the week, including pasta and wine on Tuesdays, steak and wine night on Thursdays, 2-4-1 pizza on Fridays, and tacos and margs on Saturday. There's also live music several nights a week.

We've been to Tarabelle several times, and everything we've eaten has been great, especially the pasta (can you tell what my favourite food is!?). It's worth coming for their desserts alone, and their famous Tarabelle donuts are a must-try.

It's one of the more family-friendly spots in Uluwatu too, with a large children's play area and their very own kids club with regular classes and activities.

17. La Terrazza

The biggest draw of La Terrazza is definitely its incredible sunset view. The Italian restaurant is located on the cliffside above Uluwatu Beach, with multi-level terraces offering stunning views over the ocean.

We love to order a selection of their sharing plates, such as charcuterie boards, arancini, bruschetta, and crostini, to accompany some sunset cocktails. For something bigger, there's also a huge range of pizzas, homemade pasta, and plenty of meat and fish mains.

The restaurant sits just below the popular pool club Single Fins, which is famous for its huge Sunday night parties, one of the top evening activities in Uluwatu! We've visited La Terrazza several times with friends on a Sunday for sunset dinner and drinks, before heading up to the party a little later in the night.

The tables on the front deck have a 250,000 IDR ⓘ minimum spend around sunset, but we always meet this with dinner and a drink or two each.

Where to Eat Indonesian Food in Uluwatu

18. Yeye's Warung

For tasty and affordable local food, Yeye's Warung is a Uluwatu institution. It's a buffet-style Balinese restaurant in the heart of Uluwatu, where you can choose your rice, then pick from a huge variety of meat, veggie, and side dishes to create your own plate.

Our favourite dishes at Yeye's are the beef rendang and chicken curry, which are kept warm at the counter. It also has one of the best selections for vegetarians and vegans of any warung in Uluwatu, with loads of vegetables and plenty of tofu, tempeh, and chickpea-based dishes.

There's always been a great selection of counter food when we come for lunch or for an early dinner around 6-7pm. If you come too late in the evening, there's usually less of a selection left (like most warungs in Bali) and things are starting to get cold.

19. Warung Local

Warung local is another Balinese warung in Uluwatu that caters towards foreigners - i.e. the spice levels won't totally blow your head off (but you can ask for more spice if you want it!).

The modern warung has a varied counter selection of local Balinese and Indonesian dishes. We LOVE their sweet crispy tempeh - it's an addiction at this point! They also serve one of the best nasi goreng (fried rice) around, which is cooked fresh in the kitchen to your tastes.

If it's your first time in a warung in Bali, this is one of the best options, with name and dietary labels on all the dishes and a guide to ordering on the wall.