Want to know where the industry insider’s drink & eat? As a foodie turned restaurateur, who has lived in Ubud for the past 3 years, I am compiling my list of the best cafes for a daytime hang in Ubud. Plus a bonus mention of a restaurant that does some very unique coffee from Sri Lanka.
The cafes are listed alphabetically and are not sponsored. Just some raw and honest opinions of a person who went around this beautiful town trying to find the best coffee & brunch and in the course of that journey ended up opening one of his own.
Ame Bistro – for the Truffle Hunt
Why do we love it?
Ame brings some much needed flair to an otherwise standard brunch affair you will find in any cafe or bistro. A glass wall brings plenty of sun and air conditioning makes it ideal for co-working (they have limited laptop assigned seats). The coffee menu is great and serves a range of caffeine goodness that goes beyond the espresso based drinks.
What to order?
The batch brew is our personal favourite. The manual brew and espresso based drinks come with a diverse choice of beans for something stronger. Our favourite dishes there are the Truffle Scrambled Eggs & the Ame mousse for dessert. Ame is one the best cafes in Ubud.
Location: Jl. Raya Sanggingan No.87X, Kedewatan, Kecamatan Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571
Good Spot for Co-Working.
Foci – best focaccia!
Why do we love it?
Foci is focaccia paradise. These guys start early and bake their own breads. They pair them with some delicious cold cuts, choice of eggs and other bits for a small but great menu. They have limited seating and are located in one the busier roads but if you are lazy like me, you can definitely order in via Grab or Gojek.
What to order?
Their stracciatella and mortadella sandwich is one of my favourites. On some days, they serve a v60 coffee as well for a nice pick me up. The scramble eggs are the only side dish you need with them.
Location: The Umari, Jl. Raya Andong No.27, Peliatan, Kecamatan Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571
A small but good sandwich menu.
Old Friends – quaint.
Why do we love it?
Old Friends has been around the block for years and is the usual haunt for the expat community living around the Nyuh Kuning area. Made, the owner, has a coffee farm and roasts his own beans which are more on the dark and medium roast side. The casual decor and no rush attitude of the space is the perfect space for long conversations over a cup of coffee or their popular dirty chai.
What to order?
The dirty chai is a crowd favourite but my personal favourite is their V60 medium roast with ice.
Location: Jl. Nyuh Bojog No.5, Mas, Kecamatan Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571
Rustic and Charming Decor.
Powder Room – nostalgic sugar rush.
Why do we love it?
Powder Room is Room4Dessert’s casual cafe that serves a range of nostalgic sweet goodies. From bombolini to pop tarts as well as homemade chocolate bars & gummies, the menu is perfect for an afternoon pick me up. The most unique aspect of Powder Room is their decor and well throughout crockery for the drinks and food.
What to order?
The mulberry bombolini is rich, decadent and not overly sweet unlike most places. Pair this with their dark roast americano. The sourdough gelato is definitely a must try if you are looking to beat the heat of Ubud afternoons.
Location: Jl. Raya Sanggingan, Kedewatan, Kecamatan Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80561
Powder Room does Amazing Pastries.
Rusters – lifestyle destination.
Why do we love it?
Rusters isn’t just a space for a coffee while enjoying the rice field views. This space boasts a good roastery, an amazing bakery and a furniture and lifestyle concept store along with a pottery studio so you can spend pretty much half or a whole day here. And if you get too comfortable to move, pop by their recently opened french restaurant Sante for a sunset dinner.
What to order?
The V60 coffees are a must try but if you are not a traditionalist, then the oat milk latte is the one to order. W e usually pair the coffees with the pandan doughnut or the crowd favourite cardamom bun. The lamb kofta makes for a good and decadent lunch.
Location: Jl. Raya Kengetan No.44, Singapadu Kaler, Kecamatan Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571
Rusters recently opened a tea house as well.
Sage – plant based paradise.
Why do we love it?
Sage might not be the destination for coffee lovers but they serve some really good vegan dishes for breakfast and lunch. Located at the edge of the charming Nyuh Kuning neighbourhood, this cafe has been around for almost a decade and consistently ranks as one of the best vegan cafes in Ubud.
What to order?
Our favourite breakfast dishes are the pancake with all the fruit and berries as well as their chickpea omelette called Naamlette. W ash these down with their green juice. The tempeh taco is a no-brainer for lunch and dinner. They also deliver within 2-3 km radius so if you are too lazy to go there, just ring them for a delivery.
Location: Emas, Jl. Nyuh Bulan No.1, Mas, Kecamatan Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571
Sage is very popular destination amongst vegans.
Suka Espresso – for the classics.
Why do we love it?
Suka can be considered the flagbearer in Bali for the Australian style brunch menu. This two story cafe has ample seats to accommodate any tourists walking along the busy Pengosekan road in Ubud and serves pretty much every brunch dish imaginable. But do not mistake the large menu for a compromised quality as each dish is well created and gives you reasons to keep coming back.
What to order?
The asian scramble egg is rich and fiery and our go to dish for breakfast. The Bircher muesli is a must try for those who have a sweet tooth in the mornings. While the coffees are not out of this world, they do however put a decent cup of medium roast cappuccino.
Location: Jl. Raya Pengosekan Ubud No.108, Ubud, Kecamatan Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571
Suka is also located in Canggu and Uluwatu.
Tucky – specialty coffee & brunch with a twist
Why do we love it?
If you are a coffee snob (lover), then Tucky is the place to be. Their single estate coffee comes from Brazil and they do some delicious cold brews that come packaged in Wine bottles. The aesthetics are quirky and industrial with art from Bali’s infamous figurative artist RizRizz. The breakfast / brunch menu has all the usual suspects but is surprisingly different because of South Asian and Indian influences. The cafe is located in the centre of Ubud and is air conditioned, making it a perfect pitstop during your shopping spree or a casual day stroll. If you walk in here after 4pm, you will see this place turns into a wine & tapas bar called Bacari.
What to order?
Their avocado toast is one of the most unique ones in the town. Avocado marinated in two chutneys with sundried tomatoes and loaded with olives and saporito cheese. Our favourite egg dish is fried eggs with Indian inspired lamb on a sourdough. And while we cannot get enough of their cold brew coffee, the iced signatures such as salted caramel brew or the matcha kaya are worth a try as well. Definitely one of the best cafes in Ubud.
Location: Jl. Goutama Sel. No.15, Ubud, Kecamatan Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571
Tucky’s Coffe is some of the best in Ubud.
Ubud Coffee Roastery – coffee purists.
Why do we love it?
It’s all about good simple coffee here without any of the gimmicks that you find in today’s coffee shops. These guys have a wide variety of beans from different coffee estates all over Indonesia and serve them through espressos as well as filter coffees. They have two outlets in Ubud, one in the centre about 5 mins walking distance from Tucky and another in a residential neighbourhood of Penestenan.
What to order?
Pretty much any coffee or beans you order are done well. They also offer beans to go if you want to brew your own.
Location: Jl. Goutama Sel., Ubud, Kecamatan Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571
Ubud Coffee Roastery is popular among locals and expats.
Special Mention: Galle Club.
Why do we love it?
Bali’s first Sri Lankan and Coastal Indian restaurant is also bringing a unique coffee offering that is a staple part of Sri Lanka and South India. Inspired by the vintage coffee houses of a bygone Sri Lanka, their drinks menu serves a traditional Madras Style Filter coffee. This dark roast coffee is brewed for a longer period of time and is served at this charming restaurant throughout lunch and dinner. The restaurant serves it complimentary with every meal ordered in day until 5pm.
