Vegan & Vegetarian Food in Bali

Bali ranks among the top five destinations globally for plant-based food, a combination of the Balinese Hindu tradition of vegetarian offerings, the long-established expat wellness community, and a tourism industry that has responded to demand. You can eat vegan for USD 3 at a warung using naturally plant-based local dishes, or USD 40 at a raw-food restaurant in Ubud. Both are legitimate options. This guide covers both ends of the spectrum.

Naturally Vegan Indonesian Dishes

Many traditional Indonesian dishes are plant-based without being labelled as such:

• Gado-gado: steamed vegetables, tofu, tempeh, hard-boiled egg (ask for no egg) with peanut sauce. IDR 20,000–40,000.
• Tempeh goreng: fried fermented soybean cake. IDR 5,000–15,000 as a side.
• Tahu goreng: fried tofu, often served with sambal. IDR 5,000–15,000.
• Nasi campur vegetarian: mixed rice plate with tofu, tempeh, spinach, and sambal. IDR 15,000–30,000 at local warungs.
• Sayur lodeh: mixed vegetables in coconut milk. Often vegetarian but confirm no prawn paste (terasi).
• Bubur sumsum: rice porridge with palm sugar, naturally vegan.
• Kelepon: pandan rice balls with palm sugar, naturally vegan.

Best Vegan Restaurants by Area

Ubud

• Alchemy: Long-established raw food and vegan restaurant. Everything is plant-based, organic, and cold-pressed where possible. Salads, bowls, elixirs. Mains IDR 80,000–150,000. Located on Jl. Penestanan Kelod.
• Sayuri Healing Food: Fully raw vegan. Japanese-influenced. Cakes and desserts are exceptional. IDR 70,000–130,000 for mains.
• Down to Earth Organic: Vegan-friendly with a wide menu. Comfortable setting. IDR 60,000–120,000.
• Moksa Plant-Based: Garden restaurant with a permaculture approach. Tasting menus available. One of the most ambitious vegan dining experiences in Bali. From IDR 200,000/person for the set menu.

Canggu

• The Shady Shack: The most popular vegan restaurant in Canggu. Long queues at peak hours. Excellent smoothie bowls, wraps, and burgers. IDR 60,000–120,000.
• Peloton Supershop: Vegan and organic. Strong cold-press juice menu. IDR 50,000–100,000.
• Betelnut Cafe: Vegan-friendly with an Asian fusion menu. IDR 70,000–130,000.

Seminyak

• Earth Cafe: Organic, vegan-friendly. IDR 60,000–130,000. Good smoothie bowls.
• Nalu Bowls: Acai bowls and smoothie-based food. Multiple locations. IDR 50,000–90,000.

Bali's Tempeh Scene

Tempeh is Javanese in origin but it's made fresh daily throughout Bali and is one of the most nutrient-dense plant proteins available. You can watch tempeh being made at the warung level — fermented soybeans in banana leaf parcels, sold in blocks at markets for IDR 3,000–5,000 each (a full day of protein for less than 30 cents). Tempeh used in Bali is often made from local Balinese soy which is slightly nuttier than Javanese tempeh. Ubud's organic food shops (including Bali Buda and Down to Earth) sell tempeh products.

Organic Markets

• Ubud Organic Farmers Market (Jl. Raya Sanggingan, Saturday 8 am–2 pm): Fresh produce, prepared foods, local vendors. Fully accessible to vegans.
• Canggu Sunday Market: Mixed market with several vegan food stalls. Weekly rotation of vendors.
• Bali Buda (multiple locations): Organic food shop and cafe chain with baked goods, salads, and plant-based packaged foods. Useful for stocking a villa kitchen.

Cooking Classes for Vegans

Several Ubud cooking schools offer plant-based or vegetarian-adapted classes:

• Paon Bali Cooking Class: Can adapt the menu to vegetarian/vegan with advance notice. IDR 300,000/person, includes market visit.
• Cooks in Bali: Offers a vegan Balinese cooking class specifically. IDR 350,000/person.

For a full 7-day food itinerary covering both vegan and non-vegan options across the island, see the 7-day foodie itinerary. For coffee culture at Bali's vegan-friendly cafes, the coffee guide covers the best specialty cafes.