11 Quirky and Unusual Places to Eat in Bali

On an island with seemingly infinite places to eat, some restaurants choose to stand out with great food, others with stylish décor, but a handful are setting themselves apart because they’re... well, a bit weird. And we're here for it!

From quirky themed restaurants to cool immersive dining experiences, we’ve put together a list of the most unique and unusual restaurants in Bali that we've visited on our travels.

1. Merlins Magic, Ubud

Merlin’s Magic is a magic-themed restaurant in Ubud, with mystical candle-lit tables, robed waiters, and plenty of delicious and innovative dishes.

The restaurant is best known for its rather unusual method of ordering, in which “the food chooses you.”

In other words, you each receive a tarot reading as you first sit at your table. The three cards you pick not only represent your past, present, and future, but they also reveal your starter, main, and dessert.

For the full experience, you can stick with the dishes chosen for you. Or you can swap any of them for something else on the menu. While I stuck with all three, Emily (a fussier eater) decided to pick herself from the menu.

What makes Merlin's even better is that the food is just as magical as the experience. It's not just another gimmicky restaurant lacking in substance.

Each dish is thoughtfully crafted, bursting with flavor, and presented with an enchanting flair. The steak was perfection and we've both been dreaming of the burrata starter ever since! Plus who can resist a dessert with dry ice?

As of late 2023, Merlin’s is also hosting magical immersive theatre and dinner shows in their hidden backroom bar, accessible through a secret library door in their magic shop.

2. Koral Restaurant, Nusa Dua

For a fine dining experience in a truly unique setting, don’t miss Koral, Bali’s first-ever aquarium restaurant.

Located in the 5-star Apurva Kempinski Hotel in Nusa Dua, the luxury restaurant offers an amazing underwater dining experience surrounded by tropical marine life. Enjoy your meal while watching colourful fish glide past your table through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows.

During our visit, we saw thousands of tropical fish, giant rays, and even a reef shark. At one point, a diver entered the tank to feed to fish and say hello to guests.

The gourmet menu, crafted by Michelin-starred Chef Jean-Baptiste Natali, features elegant Indonesian-inspired dishes made with fresh seafood and the finest seasonal ingredients. Portions may be small, but the bold flavours and immaculate presentation make up for it.

You can pick from several set menu options, which start from around 1,050,000 IDR per person. Unsurprisingly, most dishes feature locally caught fish and seafood, but there are also vegetarian and vegan options.

3. Seven Paintings, Ubud

Seven Paintings is a newly-launched, art-themed immersive dining experience located within Ubud's Kaamala Luxury Resort, open to both resort guests and outside visitors.

The unique culinary journey combines a seven-course gourmet menu with amazing 3D visuals and interactive storytelling. Each course takes inspiration from a different artist, including Michelangelo, Banksy, and Van Gogh, with edible artworks and the opportunity to paint your own masterpieces with puree-based paints.

The entire dining experience is highly interactive, from start to finish, with much of the narrative being led by the Mona Lisa herself. You can expect colour-changing cocktails, desserts engulfed in dry ice, and incredible food illusions.

Seating at Seven Paintings Ubud is limited to 16 guests per session, so it's important to make a reservation in advance.

4. Rumah Gemuk, Bedugul

Rumah Gemuk was originally opened as a luxurious wedding venue in a large glass building overlooking Lake Beratan in Bedegul, northern Bali.

The towering greenhouse is filled with lush greenery and vibrant flowers, while majestic chandeliers hang from the ceiling, and spiral staircases lead to the upper floors. It’s all very Bridgerton-esque.

When the venue is not being used for weddings, it’s also a restaurant that's open to the public. There’s regular table seating on the upper floor, and a lovely lawn downstairs where you can enjoy a romantic picnic.

The restaurant’s picnic set menu includes a simple 3-course meal and drinks for just 265,000 IDR for 2 people. The meal is served in a picnic basket on a ready-laid blanket with plenty of cosy pillows.

There’s a small menu of Asian and Western dishes to pick from, including nasi goreng, chicken wrap, and mac and cheese.

The food was okay but nothing to write home about (the chocolate brownie was the highlight!) – but it’s still great value for the setting and experience.

The unique greenhouse restaurant is very popular, so booking at least a day in advance is best to avoid disappointment. You can try turning up on the day but you're not guaranteed to get a space.

5. Warung Bubble, Central Bali

Bubble restaurants might have peaked during the pandemic era, but the concept is still going strong at Warung Bubble (Wr. Bubble) in central Bali.

The restaurant's focal point is a beautiful pond featuring a fountain centerpiece with a dozen or so domes arranged around it for eating in. The glass domes vary in size, with some suitable for larger groups of up to 6/7 people.

While it’s a bit out of the way from most major tourist areas, Wr. Bubble is conveniently located halfway along the main road from south to north Bali. It’s our go-to stop-off whenever we’re heading up towards Bedugul or Munduk.

The unique warung has a huge food menu, including many Western and Indonesian dishes. Expect everything from pork ribs (our fave!) and pasta to nasi goreng and chicken satays.

There’s even a Balinese rayunan (traditional royal dinner) if you’re especially hungry!

Despite how awesome we think this place is (and super affordable!), it’s never particularly busy and there have been times when we’ve been the only customers. Definitely check it out if you're heading past.

6. Keramas Aero Park, East Bali

Keramas Aero Park takes inflight meals to a whole new level. The unique restaurant is housed inside a vacant Boeing 737 that looks out across the rice paddies on Bali's southeast coast (around a 40 minute drive north of Sanur).

The tightly packed plane seats have been stripped out and replaced with spacious tables and chairs for dining.

The menu is mostly Indonesian food, with a few simple Western dishes such as sandwiches, pizzas, and pasta. The prices are very affordable and pretty comparable to most other warungs in Bali.

The food is pretty standard warung-quality - but the Aero Park is definitely more about the experience than the quality of the food.

In between courses, wannabe pilots can take to the cockpit which has been left in its original condition.

Our overall thoughts? The novelty of dining on a plane is certainly unique and something that appeals to all ages. But we’d love to see them turn this into more of an immersive inflight dining experience rather than a basic warung on a plane.

7. Frankenstein's Laboratory, Seminyak

Frankenstein's Laboratory is a unique restaurant and cabaret experience in Seminyak where it's Halloween every single day of the year.

The unusual spot is decked out with spiders, cobwebs, and skeletons, with sinister costumed staff and face painting (extra fee). Plus, don't miss the creepy cocktail concoctions, including syringe shots and a cocktail sharer in a proper UV drip.

The restaurant hosts two nightly cabaret shows with spooky performances until late, featuring a live band, dances, fire shows, acrobatics, and more.

The earlier performance (6pm-8:15pm) is family-friendly, while the latter is for adults only. Not because it gets any scarier, but because it gets much rowdier, with drinks flowing and dancing on the tables encouraged.

Food-wise, you can expect classic pub grub, including burgers, pizza, and the largest chicken parma I've ever eaten. It's not gourmet dining, but it hits the spot when you've already sunk a couple of Mad Doctor's Punches.

If you’re a family with children or a group of friends heading on a night out in Seminyak, Frankinstein's is certainly a unique and fun dining experience. But it's not the spot for a romantic date night or low-key evening.

Booking is recommended but there was space for walk-ins when we visited.

8. Taman Dedari, Ubud

Hidden within the rice fields of northern Ubud, Taman Dedari is a traditional Balinese resort and restaurant with a rather unique feature in its garden; four huge angels, or "dedari," statues.

The towering angels stand over 10 meters high and were built by famous Balinese architect Dr. Tjok Gde Raka Sukawati. They're dedicated to the legend of Rishi Markandeya, an ancient Hindu saint, who saw an angel descend from the sky close to the Ayung River in Ubud.

Once a hidden gem, the statues are now becoming a popular photo spot. Although, it's still nowhere near as crowded as elsewhere in Bali.

You can visit the statues for free by buying something at the restaurant, which has plenty of outdoor seating overlooking the gardens and valley.

The restaurant is super affordable and has a wide selection of fantastic local Indonesian dishes. The beef rendang was one of the best we've ever eaten.

There’s an à la carte menu and lots of tables, so there's no need to make a reservation. You can also pre-book an afternoon tea or set menu package in advance.

9. X.O Burger Bali, Jimbaran

If a burger bar and an outdoor cinema had a love child, the result would be X.O. Burger Bali.

Nestled in quiet Jimbaran, the charming venue offers a cozy atmosphere that's perfect for a quiet date night. It’s open-air with a carpet of artificial grass and fairy lights strung overhead. There are two huge screens with plenty of bean bags perfect for cosying up and watching a movie.

While Bali has no shortage of open-air cinemas, X.O. Burger Bali is the only one showing movies every night of the week, sometimes even two screenings.

Movie genres vary each day with a mix of the latest blockbusters and all-time classics. We watched Oppenheimer here and were only joined by a couple of other people. Check their Instagram for the latest listings.

And what better to accompany a movie than some delicious comfort food? The casual eatery features a selection of delicious burgers, as well as hot dogs, sandwiches, and no less than six different types of fries (we went for curly)!

The food prices are a little higher than other burger restaurants, but given that the movies are free to watch, we still thought it was great value for money.

10. Le Petit Chef, Seminyak

Le Petit Chef is a unique immersive dining experience that's already captivated audiences all across the world and has finally made its way to the TS Suites in Seminyak.

The one-of-a-kind experience uses cutting-edge 3D projection mapping technology to project a virtual story onto your tabletop while you eat, guiding you through a 7-course tasting menu with a tiny chef.

The virtual "Petit Chef" takes you on a journey down the famous Silk Road, starting in France and stopping in the likes of Arabia, India, the Himalayas, and China, with each course corresponding to the country you're in.

With music and props to set the mood, each of the dishes is served in a creative way, our favourite of which was the Himalayan sorbet which came on a bed of dry ice we could activate ourselves.

The experience costs around 1mil IDR per person, which we don't think is too bad for 7 delicious courses and the fantastic digital show. It's much cheaper than Le Petit Chef elsewhere in the world.

11. NOIR Cafe, Denspasar

Downstairs, NOIR looks like any other coffee shop in Bali, offering a great range of coffee and a cosy outdoor terrace. But pass by the counter and walk up the stairs to find its hidden secret - Bali's first-ever 2D cafe!

Located on the outskirts of Denpasar, the small cafe is popular among locals, but is yet to be discovered by most Western tourists and expats.

The upstairs seating area feels like stepping straight into a cartoon, with 2D decoration, tables, and chairs. The coffee is fantastic and there's also a counter full of cakes and an affordable hot food menu (although we didn't eat anything ourselves).

While we wouldn't recommend going out of your way to visit NOIR Cafe, it is a lovely little spot to stop for a quick coffee if you're passing by anyway.