A Vegans Guide To Eating In Ubud, Bali

Ubud is a mecca for vegetarians and vegans.  It is one of those few places in the world where vegans can go and feel like they fit in, they are not the fish out of water there.  I knew I had to go to Bali and experience the food there even though it is literally on the other side of the world! I was on a mission and I succeeded!  I spent over two weeks exploring Bali and eating delicious vegan food.  I found some of the most incredible restaurants in Ubud that I could only dream about, where entire restaurants were devoted to vegan food and some were even fully raw vegan food.  I could order ANYTHING on the menu!!!!!  Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and everything in between!  What an awesome experience that is that most people (omnivores) take for granted-I know I did prior to becoming a vegan.  So here’s the lowdown on some of my favorite spots in Ubud to eat at, there were so many to choose from so I narrowed it down to my top ones.

ALCHEMY

Alchemy was at the top of my list, and it’s the first place I searched for once I made it to Bali.  It is a raw vegan restaurant located just outside of Ubud in Penestanan Village. It also serves as an educational center, a holistic clinic, and a health market.  This was my first taste of Bali and I have to say I was amazed!

Alchemy has such a chill hip vibe to it with lots of open air seating areas.  You can order from the menu where literally everything is raw and nutritious.  They have a fresh salad bar with every sort of green and vegetable imaginable to tempt your taste buds and a juice bar as well.  The menu consists of everything from soups and salads to pastas, pizzas, and nachos.

Alchemy also boasts a dessert counter that it out of this world with a large array of fresh homemade raw vegan desserts that you simply cannot resist!

CAFE VESPA

Cafe Vespa is located in Penestanan Village right outside of Ubud and not only was conveniently located about 5 minutes from where we stayed but also had a good variety of vegetarian/vegan eats.  Their menu is not strictly vegan but many of their items were.  It’s a small cozy restaurant with a coffee shop feel.  It’s a colorful little place with a lot of laptop customers and book readers.  The food here was good but a little on the oily side.

SAGE BISTRO

Sage is such a pretty little restaurant in a beautiful white house.  It is located right in Ubud off a main road. It is clean and classy and all the food here is vegan and so outstanding!

They serve a lot of small plates, bowls, and sandwiches and tacos.  The food comes out in a pretty presentation and the silverware comes with inspiration messages attached for that special touch that I just loved.  It is a quiet atmosphere with a minimalist feel.  I absolutely loved everything about this place from the ambiance to the food and the service.

CLEAR CAFE

Clear cafe has a couple of locations in Ubud which makes it oh so accessible.  This place is awesome!!!! We ate here multiple times because the food was so good!!!!! It is not an all vegan restaurant but they have a pretty extensive vegan menu.  They also have a great selection of raw vegan foods. There were so many options here it was hard to choose from, literally page after page of menu items.

Clear Cafe is probably one of the most coolest restaurants as far as design and decor.  From the street there is an unpretentious and almost secret entrance, a carved wooden circular tiny door you have to pass through while you duck your head.  You must leave your shoes outside but they have a shoe valet and give you a ticket.  Once inside you are like whoa!  The first floor is breathtaking with an entire side covered in lush greenery complete with koi fish and bamboo.  The second floor boasts a spa on site where you can get a massage or other treatments.  There is also a giant pole that you can descend down from to the first floor which was icing on the cake for me!  I was getting some laughs as many times as I ran up the stairs just to go back down the pole!

MOKSA

Moksa is a bit off the beaten path but I knew I had to go here.  It is a plant-based vegan restaurant and permaculture garden. It is located in Penestanan village in an almost remote area of rice paddies and local housing.  We took a walk on backroads heading to Ubud when we first stumbled upon it, a small sign pointing the way, and if you didn’t know any better you would not even know a world-class gourmet restaurant was right beyond the palms. Moksa is hands down the best food I have ever had in my entire life! The setting is so intimate and peaceful.  There are private seating areas on little huts or there is a main open air dining area.

I cannot begin to explain the quality and taste of the food, it was absolutely mind-blowing!  I will forever be dreaming about going back to Bali to eat here again.  It actually makes my mouth salivate just thinking about it.  This place is truly amazing and so is the service.  My mouth has never been so in love.

WARUNGS

Aside from all of the magnificent restaurants in Ubud you can also find vegan food at any local Warung. These are small family owned shops where they serve traditional Balinese food.  They are everywhere and are a way of life in Bali, you will see them all over the place.  The dishes are extremely affordable averaging about $1.50US a plate.  They always have a few vegan options like tofu, tempeh, and noodles.  This is a great way to taste the local flavors of Bali. Plus there are little markets literally everywhere that you can find fruits and vegetables at so even if you need a quick bite to eat it is extremely convenient anywhere in Ubud.