Love up, Zen up and eat up in Ubud
Welcome to the super healthy heartland of the island where detox juices and smoothie bowls are the norm and 5 day cleanses are a way of life. A magnet for the healthier than thou yoga set, Ubud is a wellness playground. This is where you come for conscious eating, wholistic living and where food is so clean it becomes medicine. With everything from vegan eats, detoxes, juice cleanses delivered to your door, raw, macro, GF, organic and complete veg banquets - Ubud has you covered.
Image: Pumpkin & Beetroot Cafe
OK there are loads of famous Ubudian institutions like: Alchemy, Bali Buda, Juice Ja Cafe, Soma, Clear Cafe, Sari Organik and Sayuri Healing Food. Where you can fill up on detox smoothies, super huge salads, tempeh burgers, stock the pantry and do an ‘uncooking class’. But there are other healthy eating gems just waiting to be discovered.
Image: Sayuri Healing Foods
At the back of the Sacred Monkey Forest in the expat enclave of Nyuh Kuning you can head to the super stylish WAMM for all day free range, organic breakfasts and brunch (bring your appetite and stretchy pants, the serves are huge). Tuck into their superb salad bowls, kombucha frappes, synergy juices and GF desserts that will blow your matcha loving mind. Then just like magic, watch WAMM transform into a completely different concept at night - Mother. A candlelit, upstairs hideaway perfect for mocktails, cocktails and fusion faves.
WAMM Image: F E Douglas
If you are looking for another healthy haven after a trek through the steamy Monkey Forest just head to Swasti Eco Conscious Village and the home of the Beloved Cafe where they have daily specials and it is all about organic garden to plate dining. With regular music events, yoga classes and a spa - you will soon see why its a fave with NK locals.
Image: Swasti Eco Conscious Village
Keep heading out of Nyuh Kuning village, down the street to Bali Soul - a local warung serving up super healthy spins on traditional recipes. Or head to the hugely popular vegan hot spot Sage. Situated in digital nomad central just opposite Outpost this is on everyone's must eat at list. Folks have been flocking for the burgers smothered in homemade teriyaki and sexy salads for more than 3 years now - try the cauliflower rings, tacos and handmade rice paper rolls or just roll outta there after trying the desserts. Totally vegan and totally delish.
Image: AFAR - Sage
The Elephant has been home to some of Ubud’s best vegetarian ethically sourced and delish eats since 2013. As they say “it’s 100% vegetarian and 110% awesome!” This is earth friendly food with heart. And tucked just next door is its new stylish younger sibling - Dumbo. Seriously lipsmackin vegetarian Italian eats made in a roaring wood fired oven. Serving up sourdough based oozy pizza deliciousness, perfect arancini, squeaky fresh, perfectly dressed salads and almost healthy cocktails - the menu will have you booking asap. (Yes the Bloody Mary’s here are definitely healing.)
Image: DUMBO Ubud
You can judge from the scooters out front that the big kid on the Ubud block Zest is a hit. Bringing its divine interior, Instaworthy menu and a chef that shows his 100% commitment to Ubudian sustainability and connection - this is food that is “powered by plants and made for people”.
Image: Zest Ubud
The hub of raw food is definitely Seeds of Life Cafe where you can balance your Yin & your Yang with Chinese medicinal herbs in house at the Taoist tonic bar (can’t get more Ubudian than that). Then head to the cafe for their raw pizzas, laksas, Korean rolls, tacos and ferments.
Image: Seeds of Life
Join the “unicone movement” and get your guilt free, super food, sweet hit at Kokolato with GF, vegan, designer gelato and sexy flavours like raw cacao, jamu, smoky vanilla and moringa mint - you may not eat anything else in Ubud.
Too lazy after your yoga class to move? Most places in Ubud understand how exhausting cleanses and healthy living can be, they will deliver to your door, villa or poolside. So now you have no excuse. Take away at Alchemy is even served up in banana leaf containers for maximum clean and green eating.
Image: Alchemy
Image: Don Biu Warung Ubud
Image: Juice Ja Cafe Ubud