5 Best Vegan Restaurants in Ubud + Hotels, & More

Ubud, Bali’s cultural and spiritual hub, is known for its vibrant art scene, holistic retreats, and picturesque rice fields dotted with antiqued temples. It’s where we kicked off our vegan tour to Bali, and it was my first introduction to the country. For a first visit to Bali, Ubud is a bit of a sensory overload — scooters zipping by, an endless stream of artisans and cafes, and, of course, colorful vegan dishes that will make your mouth water.

Given Ubud’s high-spirited atmosphere, I highly suggest you don’t spend all your time here. It won’t give you a balanced perspective of the country, and I guarantee you’ll want a little peace. My tip is to head to the countryside for a few days.

I’m sure having an idea of what Ubud is like is helpful, but you’ve come to understand its vegan scene, so let’s get into it! It’s undeniable that it’s a fabulous city for vegans to visit. You’ll find a plethora of diverse vegan restaurants in Ubud, absolutely showstopping hotels, activities, and more.

So, let’s jump in and break down all the fantastic places you must add to your Ubud vegan trip itinerary!

Must-Visit Vegan Restaurants in Ubud, Bali

Ubud has a fantastic vegan scene, and I was only able to scratch its surface! These are a few of the spots that I absolutely adored, and I know that you will, too! If you’re looking for vegan-friendly spots, scroll down to the “Important vegan tips” section, as there are some things you’ll want to know before you go.

Everything on the menu is made with the most healthful and superfood-packed ingredients, including plenty of fresh herbs, raw veggies, medicinal mushrooms, and more. Your biggest problem will be deciding; there are so many options, and you must save room for dessert! I opted for a falafel protein bowl topped with spirulina crunchies (where else will you find spirulina crunchies). This was a smart choice as it was filling and flavorful, but it didn’t put me over the edge so that I could indulge with a “Shy” sundae.

While I adored the colorful dishes, my full-on love affair was sealed when I learned about the company’s mission. They prioritize caring for people, the planet, and the community. They do this by creating good-for-you food, hosting special community services, and sourcing local, ethical ingredients. In addition to that, they’re also climate-neutral certified — it’s nice to go somewhere and feel good in more ways than one about supporting them.

While Zest is a definite joy for your eyes and ears, it’s also a joy for your tastebuds. The menu is massive! They’ve traversed the globe and veganized everything from schnitzel to jackfruit tuna sushi. I think I spent a full 10 minutes just examining the menu, trying to decide! Indecision really got me good, so we ordered three dishes (isn’t there a saying about going big in Bali? If not, there is now). For a boost of green, I went for the Moringa medicine bowl; I’ve had powdered Moringa before, but never fresh, and this was served with a delicious peanut curry-type stew. As I mentioned, I didn’t stop there; we also got the vegan fisherman burger and Burmese “egg” sushi! It was all super creative, and I was impressed by their use of whole foods, like shrooms, to create interesting flavors like fish!

It’s safe to say I felt like I needed to be rolled out of there, but I also wanted to order more. Come here hungry, very hungry! And, don’t forget to order dessert!

While the menu has a unique mix of options, the chef leading the charge here is Italian, so you shouldn’t skip his signature pastas and pastries. I know those are generally things you really think about when visiting Bali, but you’ll be disappointed if you don’t.

Sadly, we only had room for dessert when we visited, but it didn’t disappoint. The house-made, cream-filled bomboloni and ultra-creamy passionfruit gelato were top-notch. They’d be perfect after a bowl of purple risotto or a Margherita pizza! Also, they have house-made gluten-free pasta!

We visited during our group tour, and everyone indulged in different things — banana flower stew, kitchari, Nasi Campur, and more. The group gave it a resounding two thumbs up! Also, the menu is well-marked for dishes that contain dairy or honey. Most of the menu is vegan and gluten-free.

So, what makes this place so awesome? That’s honestly a tough question because there is so much. For starters, the staff is wonderful and helpful. If you need something special, they can help. If you have questions about where to go, they’ve got you. I loved interacting with everyone every day.

Second, the food (duh)! The restaurant is almost entirely plant-based. They use honey in some dishes but can remove it from most things. The first morning, I asked if yogurt could be made without honey; they said no problem. Every morning after that, the staff remembered that request! I barely remember what I did yesterday, let alone that someone wanted to omit one thing from a dish.

Third, the focus on wellness — this isn’t a go-hop-on-a-bike and be-well kind of place; they take a holistic approach with all of their activities, classes, and spa services. I had the opportunity to enjoy a Balinese massage, which was definitely one of the best I’ve had.

The last thing to keep in mind is that Fivelements isn’t right in Ubud. It’s located in a village called Mambal, about 25 minutes from Ubud by car. I think it’s the perfect location to explore the city, then leave all of its crazy energy behind and recharge here.

Is Ubud Vegan-Friendly?

Yes, Ubud is very vegan-friendly — I counted nearly 20 vegan and vegetarian spots, and that’s only counting the places that I easily found. I am guessing there are a handful of hidden gems out there to add to the count as well! Ubud’s vegan-friendliness has really been influenced by its huge influx of international visitors and residents. You can find quite a bit of veganized Balinese food, but you’ll also find various options from around the world. It’s important to remember this because Ubud is much different from other smaller villages that tourism hasn’t affected as much. On that same note, you will almost always find tofu and tempeh anywhere in the country and that is easy to make vegan-friendly!

Important Vegan Tips to Know Before Traveling to Bali

You’ll have an incredibly easy time in Ubud — you could exclusively eat at vegan restaurants and not even realize that sneaky non-vegan ingredients are lurking on menus — it’s nice to go somewhere and be blissfully unaware! So, if you go to a standard restaurant, there are a few things to be on the lookout for:

Shrimp paste and/or other fishy flavoring are in many dishes!

If you find a veggie dish, don’t assume it’s vegan or vegetarian; you need to ask if there is shrimp or fish. If there’s a language barrier, use Google Translate and type “shrimp paste” or “fish seasoning” into it. You could also tell them that you’re allergic to fish to be super sure. In addition to veggie dishes, traditional spicy sambal sauce usually has shrimp paste in it, too.

Cow’s milk isn’t common in traditional cuisine, but eggs are.

Aside from shrimp paste, you’ll also want to be on the lookout for eggs — at least they’re easier to spot (usually)!