Ubud: A Vegan Guide to Bali’s Cultural Center

Ubud: A Vegan Guide to Bali’s Cultural Center

Few things compare to Ubud’s thriving vegan scene and heavenly plant-based creations. It’s as though the creative energy of the town is directly channeled into food menus and trendy spaces, and I’m definitely not mad about it. Between the months of January and April, I spent a total of six weeks in Ubud during which time I explored dozens of cafés and restaurants – this guide features my favorites. Let’s have a taste, shall we?

Alchemy – Bali’s first 100% raw, organic, and vegan restaurant, Alchemy is a gathering place for health-conscious creatives and live food enthusiasts alike. The menu consists of appetizers and mains, smoothies and cold pressed juices, raw chocolate truffles and vegan ice creams, and more delicious treats. There’s also a breakfast bar and a salad bar where you can create your own smoothie bowls and salad bowls, respectively. Smoothies are prepared with homemade nut milks and superfoods, and served with celery straws. Salads use produce from the restaurant’s organic farm and the toppings are minimally processed to preserve nutrients. My favorite dish was the Pasta Primavera, a bowl of leafy greens, fresh herbs, zucchini noodles, cherry and sun-dried tomatoes, capers, avocado, raw-mesan and mint tarragon pesto – it was divine.

Atman Kafe – With vegan, vegetarian, pollotarian, pescatarian, gluten-free, and raw options, Atman Kafe caters to any and all dietary restrictions. While they pride themselves on their Eggs Benedict and Eggs Florentine (supposedly the best in Ubud), there are several plant-based options as well. I usually created my own porridge or smoothie bowl from a list of base ingredients and toppings, which range from fresh and dried fruits to superfood nuts and seeds. The establishment consists of two cafés – Atman Kafe and Atman Nourish Kafe – as well as two Atman Collection shops, all located on Jalan Hanoman. Here you’ll find eco-friendly homewares, bamboo toiletries, healing crystals, and more of the sort – that’s what I like to call a one-stop-shop!

Bali Buda – Operating under the slogan ‘real food by real people’, Bali Buda uses pure people power to make their food as honest and wholesome as possible. This restaurant quickly became my friend Hille and I’s favorite meeting spot, not only for their delicious menu, but also for their inviting atmosphere. Between the newspaper menus and banana leaf presentation, the coloring pages and crayons, and even a shelf of earthing trays, it’s impossible not to fall in love with this place. FYI – Earthing, also called grounding, is the practice of recharging your body naturally through Earth’s electrical charge. Basically, you place your bare feet on a patch of dirt or grass and let the Earth work its magic – don’t knock it until you’ve tried it.

Clear Cafe – I must have walked by Clear Cafe dozens of times before realizing the goodness that lies behind their ornate round door – straight out of The Hobbit. With the motto ‘clean food for clear minds’ and a menu consisting of tonics and elixirs, breakfast foods, raw and macro plates, and world flavors (Indonesia, Thailand, India, Middle East, Mexico), my only complaint is there are too many options! I love that they source their ingredients from all around Bali – strawberries from Bedugul, cashews from Karangasem, coconut oil from Tabanan, greens and tangerines from Kintamani, palm sugar from Klungkung – and they have several vegan, vegetarian, and nut-free options – the Hint of India was incredibly tasty.

Earth Cafe & Market – A vegan shop and marketplace on the ground level and a 100% plant-based restaurant on the floor above, Earth Cafe & Market is ‘a whole life concept’ brand. They serve breakfast bowls all day, put a unique spin on otherwise ordinary raw recipes, and base their extensive menu on macrobiotic principles. I could always count on the Hummus with Benefits to satisfy my unquenchable hummus cravings (can anyone relate?) and the Dragon Bowl truly takes salad bowls to a whole new level. As for the marketplace, the shelves are stocked with healthy snacks and sustainable products to promote well-being and aid in the transition to a vegan lifestyle.

KAFE | Garden Kafe – An organically inspired café on a lively street in central Ubud, KAFE serves wholesome vegan and vegetarian dishes in a tropical yet quirky environment. They are environmentally-conscious, dog-friendly, and use Bali-harvested, organic, chemical-free produce whenever possible. Moreover, the KAFE family extends to Kebun Bistro as well as the Garden Kafe at The Yoga Barn, the latter of which became my regular hangout spot between yoga classes. I’ve therefore tried a handful of their colorful bowls and macrobiotic plates, my favorite is the Tiger Bowl with brown rice, steamed veggies, carrots, sauteed bok choy, kim chee, and marinated local seaweed topped with nori, cashews, and sesame seeds – yum!

Muse Café & Art – An all-in-one coffeeshop, restaurant, and wine + cocktail bar, Muse is surrounded by tropical greenery and infused with artistic elements. They focus on healthy comfort food with a modern fusion twist, and their contemporary cuisine takes inspiration from the Indian subcontinent, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean. It’s one of those places where the entire menu sounds amazing and deciding what to get is next to impossible. I ended up going for the Raw Lasagne, a culinary masterpiece of zucchini, raw pesto, cashew cheese, and raw tomato sauce. If you’re on the hunt for house-made, old fashioned, slow cooking that’s made from natural ingredients, Muse Café & Art will not disappoint!

Namaskara Coffee & Superfoods – A humble plant-based café with superfood lattes and powerhouse smoothie bowls, Namaskara Coffee & Superfoods is the perfect spot for an afternoon pick-me-up. They use specialty grade Kintamani beans for their coffee and source superfoods from local and organic farmers, plus they make their own almond and coconut milk. With a menu that is not only full of flavor, but is also packed with health benefits, you really can’t go wrong. The turmeric latte tastes like a savory cup of curry soup, and the maca mane latte is supposedly great for energy and concentration.

Radiantly Alive – A yoga studio with the slogan ‘come for yoga, stay for family’ and an in-house café serving everything from revitalizing smoothies and soulful desserts to hearty mains and sacred soups, Radiantly Alive is the place to be. I’ve tried the Shakti Bowl, the Super Yogi smoothie, and the Tropics Blast smoothie bowl on three separate occasions and have always been impressed. Psst – I recommend pairing your café visit with a yoga class for a fully nourishing mind, body, and soul experience. My favorite classes to date are RA Vinyasa with Kimberly and Kundalini Yoga & Sound with Amrita.

Sage | Bella by Sage – A beautiful restaurant serving vibrant vegan cuisine, Sage is a place to see and be seen in Ubud. They always choose local and organic when available, their portions are generous, and the relaxed ambience is incredibly soothing. I only made it there once since the place is a bit of a hike from town, but their Teriyaki Bowl was a 10 out of 10. During my most recent trip to Bali, Sage was in the process of opening a second location called Bella, an equally serene space with lots of potential. I stopped by for their soft opening and had a Mediterranean Platter with falafel, tabbouleh, and hummus – basically all my favorite foods. Given the good vibes and great location, I have a feeling Bella by Sage will quickly become a new favorite among Ubud’s foodie community.

Sayuri Healing Food – A raw vegan café that’s filled with love and good vibrations, Sayuri Healing Food is all about rejuvenation and longevity on physical, emotional, and spiritual levels. There are ongoing un-cooking classes and regular ‘sharing’ events to connect with one another and reconnect to the infinite universe. Sayuri herself is a raw, vegan, macrobiotic chef as well as a cookbook author (in addition to being the owner of Sayuri Healing Food Café & Academy, of course) and her passion for healing food is undeniable. The café attracts a community of creative peacemakers and the menu is both extensive and diverse – pictured are the Maca Mocha Smoothie, Sayuri’s Bowl, the Nigiri Sushi, and the Peak Performance Bowl.

The Seeds of Life – An inspiring and creative Raw Food Café & Taoist Tonic Bar with nourishing dishes and next-level drinks, the Seeds of Life gives rawism a whole new meaning. Their signature SOL Bowl is unlike anything I’ve ever had before and is a must-try in my book – a savory wooden bowl with marinated zucchini noodles, organic fresh moringa, garden greens, marinated olives, nori paper, kimchi, sauerkraut, fresh spirulina, ‘tempe’, coconut jerky, hummus, spirulina gomashio, tomato, cucumber, and a surprise topping of the day. As for drinks, their juices and smoothies as well as their tonics and elixirs all stem from three great systems of herbology – the Taoist, the Ayurvedic, and the Indonesian Jamu. They also offer Raw Chef Certification programs and Ashtanga Yoga practices for those looking to deepen their understanding of the raw vegan lifestyle.

And there you have it! Until next time…

With ♡, Julia Elizabeth

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5 Comments

  1. G
    June 6, 2022 / 08:43

    A new place which I’ve become actually obsessed with is Pizza Cult in Ubud. Amazing food, great service, such a cute venue and really affordable. Also a great place to bring your laptop and work from!

  2. January 15, 2020 / 11:45

    I love Bali too. It is such a wonderful island. Ubud is my favourite.

    • January 15, 2020 / 21:11

      We certainly have that in common! Thanks for reading, Brigid 😘

  3. The Travelling Guru
    May 30, 2019 / 21:09

    Great post! Visited Bali a few times and absolutely love the Alchemy!! Ubud is amazing! Craving to be there right now 😆😆

    • May 31, 2019 / 17:00

      Thank you!! Aren’t we all? 😂 I’m already looking forward to my next visit, whenever that may be.

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