This week I am kicking off the first edition of a new quasi-regular blog segment – Ellen Eats! Whenever I visit a new place I will be documenting the best and worst of the foods I encounter. Today we will be eating our way through Bali, and upcoming segments will feature the foods of Thailand, Japan, Singapore, Greenland, Belgium and many more.
So make sure to stay tuned and let me take you on many virtual eating tours around the world.
Maha Cafe, Ubud
Was the food at Maha Cafe particularly memorable? No, not really. But that being said, I would still recommend the place. The fresh mango juice (pictured below) literally tastes like the freshest mangoes ever were blended until perfectly smooth – which is even better than it sounds. The place is well located, within walking distance from both Monkey Temple and the Ubud Markets, plus is reasonably priced. There is free wi-fi and the outdoor dining area is very beautiful. If you are to visit Maha, keep your eyes peeled for the several big bunnies that have made this cafe their home; they seemed to like hanging out under the the chairs and couches.
Opening hours are 8am to 11pm Monday to Sunday. Expect to pay around $8 per meal.
Click here for more information.
Bali Bohemia
Jl. Nyuh Bojog, Nyuh Kuning Ubud, Bali
Another offering in Ubud! Between this and Maha, Bohemia is definitely more of the favourite. Located at the back of Monkey Forest quite a bit off the regular tourist track, Bali Bohemia is a wonderful place to stop for a relaxed meal. With couches, cushions and low set tables, the place has an inherently chilled and dare I say, ‘bohemian’ vibe. Offering a wide range of foods including some fantastic Indonesian options, the food here is nothing fancy, but certainly will not disappoint. Make sure to try the fresh squeezed pineapple juice – there isn’t much better on a hot Bali day.
Opening hours are 7am to 11pm Monday to Sunday. Expect to pay around $5 – $10 per meal.
Click here for more information.
Saigon Street
Jl. Petitenget No. 77X, Seminyak
Saigon Street is a vietnamese restaurant with a modern twist. The menu is fresh, varied and pretty damn inspired; while the extensive cocktail menu pairs extremely well with all that is on offer. The lemongrass chicken curry is so good you will have to restrain yourself from licking your plate clean in public, and the espresso martinis have a bit more of a kick than you may be used to. This is definitely one worth making reservations for.
Opening hours are 11am to 1am daily. Expect to pay around $30 per person for dinner including drinks.
For more information, click here.
Barbacoa
Jalan Petitenget No.15, Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung
Ugh, it really doesn’t get much more beautiful than Barbacoa. Located kinda between Kuta and Seminyak, this is a little slice of paradise.
Dinners here get very busy and require advance booking, but lunches are really quiet and chilled out, just the way I like them. Overlooking a lush green rice field and serving some of the best cocktails I had whilst in Bali, Barbacoa is definitely a place you won’t want to miss.
Make sure you try the chili-chocolate truffles that come on the dessert tasting plate, they are nothing short of heavenly.
Opening hours are midday to midnight Monday to Sunday.
For more information click here.
La Finca
Jalan Subak Sari No.77, Tibubeneng, Kuta Utara
La Finca is one place that I have mixed feelings about.
Is the place gorgeous? Absolutely – to be honest, whoever designed this did a brilliant job.
Are the drinks good? Definitely!
Was the restaurant service good? Fantastic!
So how about the food? Honestly – it was kinda hit and miss, but not so much that I would have written something semi negative about the place.
My issue is with the people employed to get taxis for diners once they leave. The place is really quite out of the way, the roads are not well lit and not many taxis went past. The only one that did wanted to completely overcharge us and I refused to get in. These men however, who were employed to help flag down cabs, instead kept trying to badger us to get into their own ‘cab’ which was obviously not a cab. When I made it clear that I was not keen on such a thing, because I have had enough of dodgy drivers to last me a lifetime, they all sat down and became rather uninterested in helping.
Luckily, the staff inside the restaurant were more than happy to call a bluebird cab for us and everything ended up fine, but the badgering from the people outside had left me with a bit of a sour view of the place.
Opening hours are 5pm to midnight. Click here for more information.
T H E L O W D O W N
Getting to Bali: Flights to Bali are frequent, check out adioso.com to find the cheapest dates to fly
Seminyak: While Seminyak is one of the most touristy areas in Bali, as a result it has an enormous amount of fantastic restaurants and bars – dive in face first!
Camera: Olympus OM-D E-M1 with M.Zuiko 12-40mm f2.8 lens
Remember: Your appetite and a hardened liver!
Don’t forget to add me on Snapchat and Instagram – @wwellend – for more foolishness and travel adventures!
The places are also good ah. I hope to visit them when I go there:)
Are you heading to Bali soon?
Not yet but I hope to visit there someday! 🙂
I love the food reviews and pictures.
Thanks Steve – I love good feedback 🙂
Ooh look forward to reading about your foodie experiences in Japan – I’ve just come back from Japan and the food was incredible! The slightly higher prices over there were definitely reflected in the quality of the food and the service, sure you won’t be disappointed by it 🙂
YUMMY. Everything looks so good. Your photos really accent the location and food, lovely.
Thanks so much Terry, I look forward to sharing more editions of Ellen Eats 🙂
Oh that just makes me even more excited!
We are hoping to get back to bali next year… we love the Indonesian food and all your beautiful pictures have me salivating! 😛
Good to hear! Hopefully it’s early next year so you don’t have to wait too long!
Salivating, yes, and also marvelling at how different cultures have different names and tastes and foods. Oh to travel the world.. But… Exchange rates are high in this part of the world
What part of the world is that?
Nigeria 😀
Beautiful pictures! Did you try Naughty Nuri’s? I recall they had really good pork ribs when I visited a few years back.
No I did not! But now I will add it to the list for next time!
Is there anything you wouldn’t eat, even in the name of public interest?
Anything with worms or maggots – I draw the line there!
Fair play to you. 😄
This is a fine idea. I will copy cat it, to pay homage to so many fine restaurants and coffee houses, in North America and western Europe, over the next several months. If I do stop at La Finca, I shall remember to get a cab through the auspices of the restaurant staff.
I look forward to reading such copycats!
Looks yummy 🙂
It really was 🙂
Everything looks delicious! I would love to go to Bali one day! 🙂
It is definitely worthy of a place on the list!
This post made my mouth water! I love your reviews 🙂
Awesome! These are the comments I love getting 🙂 thanks for reading!
From the food you ate to the words you used to express your travelogue; your choice is astonishing.
From the food you ate to the words you used to express your travelogue; your choice is astonishing. 🙂
I completely agree with you, words have taste too you know, that’s why even in the bible it says: lace your words with salt, so when you have to eat them they won’t be bitter.
Indeed, you are absolutely right Amie Sparks. 🙂
Thank you, 😀
Thank you so much! This is such lovely feedback!
Pleasure is all mine.
This was amazing and the food looks delicious! My grandmother is from Indonesia and moved to Singapore in the 50s. I haven’t been to Indonesia yet but I hope to in the near future! Looking forward to your adventures in Singapore 🙂
This is so beautiful.
Thank you very much 🙂 Glad you enjoyed
Another nice review for my next trip plan to Bali, especially Bohemia in Ubud. Ah, I’m mouthwatering now 😀
Bohemia certainly is awesome 🙂
I will visit it for sure 🙂
Heaven on a plate 🙂 Thanks for sharing
Ahh it’s now more tempting to go around Bali!! I will be waiting for Ellen Eats Japan edition 🙂
I’m looking forward to doing the tastebud research for that edition ha
I’m dying to go to Bali! Beautiful food, landscape, and people!
So true! Any plans to visit soon?
Chili-chocolate… ok.
Not for everyone – but it is good!
Mmmmm this makes me want to go to Bali right now…. or my fridge ahaha
Great photos and reviews. My daughter lived in Malaysia for nearly a year and has spent more time traveling around the region. So I’m somewhat familiar (vicariously) with experiences in the area and find it all fascinating. I hope you reach your goal to see every single country in the world.
Nice share.i’d love to try some on these places on my next visit there.