Raw. Organic. Vegan. Gluten-free. Macro-biotic.
In addition to being Bali’s artistic and creative centre, Ubud is also home to a fresh food culture where these health buzzwords dominate the cafe and restaurant scene. Natural ingredients combined with inventive preparations make feeding your body right a hobby instead of a chore in Ubud, especially when the storefront options are endless; so endless in fact, we felt the need to identify for you which Ubud eateries offer the best ambiences and even better pure, homestyle cooking. Prepare to love healthy eating at a whole new level!
1. Dayu’s Warung
This small warung off of Jalan Raya Ubud is the perfect spot to take a late morning break and recharge your walking batteries. Settle into the cushioned floor seating and order a cold refreshing juice and a large salad. Or choose from one of their many yummy soups, veggie starters or classic Indonesian dishes. All delicious and reasonably priced.
Location: Jl. Sugriwa Padang Tegal Mekar Sari, Ubud, Bali
2. Alchemy
“Your body is a temple; to eat intelligently is an art”
With this mantra in mind, Alchemy recently emerged in Ubud as a raw and vegan café, featuring a salad and juice bar, as well as a health store and holistic clinic. Selling various probiotic juices, fresh produce, raw desserts and local aromatherapy products, this cafe certainly acts as your one-stop-shop for all things “health”.
Opt for a fresh, homemade smoothie (try their PB & J for a sweet treat) before moving over to the salad bar to create your own organic blend of mixed greens and unique toppings. The vibrant atmosphere and buzzing energy are a fun one for kids as well. Bring them to the lounge area in the back for harness-swing entertainment.
Read more about Alchemy’s story here.
Location: 75 Penestanan Kelod, Ubud, Bali
3. Soma
Boasting a large garden and plenty of comfortable seating space in their new location, Soma is a raw food and drink haven popular with expats. A great place to chill out and hear some spontaneous music rifts, Soma’s health theory revolves around the power of raw food to hydrate the body with lots of nutrients and enzymes.
Thus, menu items include: “live” pizzas, antioxidant juices, herbal ginger kombuchas, wheat-free flat breads, raw cacao, et cetera.
Note: Meals can be a bit more expensive here than similar cafes in the area, but worth it for the fun ambience and novel food experience!
Location: Jalan Goutama, Ubud, Bali
Related: Go Zen: Meditation Classes and Retreats in Ubud
4. CLEAR Café
Possibly the forerunner of Ubud’s organic restaurants, CLEAR Café is set in a gorgeous space that combines classic Balinese style with modern design. The ground floor provides plenty of seating and tall, bamboo supported ceilings, while the second story is a bit more intimate in its tree-house-like configuration. You can’t go too wrong with the menu, with pages ranging from “Raw and Macro” and “World Flavors” to “Tonics and Elixirs” and “Cool Kids”. My favourite page is that of the Bali map highlighting the regions from which every ingredient originated from. Local cooking indeed!
For drinks, try their Jamu (Bali’s classic ancient ayurvedic drink with tamarind, fresh ginger, yellow and white turmeric) or Chai Iced Dream (homemade chai, cashew milk, with a hint of nutmeg). Note: They also have a front door Café Express if you’re just in need of a quick organic sweet on the go.
Location: Jalan Hanoman No. 8, Ubud, Bali
5. Kafe
Another staple on the Ubud fresh food circuit, Kafe is a well-known spot amongst seasoned locals for eating well, browsing wifi and sharing the latest yoga classes and events in association with The Yoga Barn. Founded on the principles of eco-conscious, sustainable living, Kafe’s motto is one of “Healthy food, yummy desserts, true espresso, great music… All in the heart of Ubud”.
I sampled “Meg’s Big Salad Bowl” (every veggie under the sun, with tofu-tempe crunch and toasted seeds served with tahini-lemon dressing. Yum!) and their special dragonfruit juice (dragonfruit, pineapple, lime) and left with a very full and happy belly. I highly recommend!
Note: For a fun cinematic experience, head over to The Yoga Barn every other Monday for a movie and buffet night. For times and more details, click here.
Location: Jalan Hanoman 44b, Ubud, Bali
With countless other organic cafes lining the streets of Ubud, we’re sure we missed more than a few on our list. Feel free to share with us your favourite au-naturel, fresh food cafe!
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