9 Best Italian Restaurants in Bali To Transport You Straight To Italy

Italian restaurants…in Bali? Before you go questioning if I’ve got my wires crossed and countries confused, I’m here to let you know that (a) yes, I am referring to the Indonesian island, and (b) high-quality Italian restaurants in Bali are popping up all over the show. 

I realize that Italian cuisine is one of the most popular when it comes to choosing a restaurant model, but not all get it right. Take it from someone who lived in Southeast Asia for seven years. Pizza bases can be all wrong, pasta is out of the packet and sauces too watery, or dishes comprise the wrong ingredients entirely. 

However, you’re in for an Italian surprise in Bali, which, out of all the Southeast Asian hubs, is definitely one of the biggest playgrounds for internationals who now call its waters home. So, that means the Italian restaurants in Bali are often run by expat Italians, or the brains behind them are doing things right in the most traditional way! 

1. Amici: Run by an Italian maestro 

Take it from someone who recently returned from Tuscany, Amici — which means friends in Italian — is as legitimate as it gets. 

But, I mean, it makes total sense why. Not only is the head chef born and bred in the Toscana region, but between all of chef Enrico Bartolini’s restaurants, he has garnered a whopping (and pretty insane) 14 Michelin stars…I’ll let that one sink in for a bit. 

The cuisine is seasonal, the pukka Italian way, and the kitchen is run by Head Chef Alessandro D’Amico. Discover antipasti, fritti (fried), pizza, ravioli (an entire section dedicated to it), pasta, risotto, soups, and from the grill with its collection of meat and seafood. One dish to try? The ‘Ravioli al Tovagliolo.’ A  Piemonte speciality, the ravioli is purposefully served sauce-free…until you bite into the ravioli. Then it’s a party.  

P.S. The restaurant offers pasta-making classes. 

2. Mauri: Fine dining 

Wowee, talk about an exceptional food experience! Expect your dining to be elevated to new heights at Mauri, where fine dining Italian-style is at the forefront of this restaurant. It’s the type of cuisine you’d expect to find at a Michelin restaurant in Italy, or at least, one listed by the famous guide. 

Speaking of all things Michelin, often guest chefs make an appearance. Recently, two-star Chefie Francesco Dibenedetto graced Mauri with his skills in the kitchen. I’m here for it all. But the man behind Mauri is Chef Maurizio Bombini. 

Plates are exquisitely presented, and each dish (no matter what you order) boasts a sense of real refinement. 

Among the Italian restaurants in Bali, this is one of my personal favorites. Try the amberjack crudo, housemade Parmigiano ravioli with an onion consommé (WINNER), or the ‘Capesante’ comprising Hokkaido scallop, spiced pumpkin, quinoa, and Oscietra caviar. 

3. Cantina Bali Canggu : Incredible pasta

Cantina takes note from the typical Italian osterias (a more casual-style eatery you’d find on the streets of Italy). 

The atmosphere feels relaxed and inviting; the food is sublime! 

And I have to take a moment for the pasta menu, which is extensive (14 options), incredible, and offers diners the chance to lap up the type of pasta dishes you’d eat if traveling to Italia — forget such things like spag bog. Instead, sample pasta dishes like troccoli polipo e stracciatella, paccheri cacio e pepe, and gnocchi Sorrento.

Pizza is another speciality of theirs, done Napoletana style: because is there really other better way than the Naples original? (NO!) 

4. Numero Quattro: Trendy AF 

Numero Quattro has garnered quite the following among the top Italian restaurants in Bali…Set up along the Echo Beach road in Canggu, the crowds swarm here for a trendy night out — which Numero Quattro does oh-so-well. 

(With the same team behind Canggu’s tres-cool, Skool Kitchen, the puzzle pieces click!) 

Daily disco tunes set the mood; the Aperol citrus margarita is on fleek; and don’t surpass the tiramisu! 

Some of my yummiest bites are the anchovy toast (I re-fell in love with anchovy after eating the most simple yet delicious anchovy toast in Fiesole, Italy), crudo (I am always a sucker for it), and the ‘Casarecce’ pasta tossed with green zucchini (another ingredient I currently can’t get enough of) and pangrattato, i.e., crispy toasted breadcrumbs!   

5. Della Terra: One of the best in Canggu 

Not only is Della Terra one of the best restaurants in Canggu, but it’s also at the top of my list of must-try Italian restaurants in Bali!  

Cheffed up as an osteria, this ristorante also takes key notes from the type of eateries you’d hang out in in Brooklyn, NYC (where the Italian communities are tenfold). 

The ever-changing menu is influenced by the seasons and what’s available fresh, and is under the helm of Chef Vinny Lauria. Apart from the seasonal menu, ask for the chef’s Tasting Menu if you’re here come evening. 

Think mortadella, ‘Panzanella alla Caprese,’ ‘Sacchetti di Polpette’ (meatball ragù ravioli, vodka sauce, della terra ricotta), ‘Scampi Grigliata’ (king prawn, garlic butter, heirloom tomato, crispy shallot and a potato crisp), and, of course, gelato!

6. Gente: Gorgeous interiors  

Showcasing a variety of Italian regions across each dish, Gente’s philosophy circles around fresh Italian seafood and veggies. 

For plant-based and veg-eaters, it’s one of the top Italian restaurants in Bali for vegans and vegetarians. Order the ‘mousse di barbabietola’ comprising beetroot, chickpeas, cumin, tahini, lime juice, and sourdough bread, or the ‘spaghetti pachino, pomodoro e basilico’ is also divine, which comes with cherry tomatoes, tomato sauce and basil. 

Grab seats on the outdoor terrace, enjoying every bit of Bali’s sunshine. Or, if you’d prefer, there is indoor AC seating for when the heat beats! 

7. Cantina Classe Italian: Try the truffle carbonara 

With two locations in Bali, Ubud and Canggu, you can enjoy all that Cantina Classe Italian has to offer around different parts of the island — and trust me, you’re going to want to revel in all of its Italian goodness! 

Each space varies slightly in decor, but either option makes you feel warm and welcomed from the get-go; a big premise of Italian hospitality. (I especially love the Canggu one. The Ubud locale feels a bit more modern, with classic Balinese design infused into the space. But it suits the Ubud vibe.) 

On the menu, you’ll find an array of typical Italian bites. But the menus at each Cantina are slightly different. For me personally, some of the dishes are a little too Italian-American, for example, there’s a meat madness pizza (pepperoni, meatballs, caramelized onion, peppers, parm, and mozzarella). It’s a little too much for me: I stick to the Italian rule of two to three pizza ingredients MAX. 

8. Portofino Ubud: Amazing antipasto 

Named after the iconic Italian Riviera town, Portofino is renowned in the Ubud dining scene. 

Pasta is served al dente, with the perfect amount of bite, and the service is world-class. Many diners are surprised when they learn that there is no nonna (or Italian chef) leading the kitchen, the food is that good/authentic! Wait till you get a glimpse of the food presentation, too.  

Some of its yummiest dishes include the whipped ricotta (do yourself a favour), gnocchi, the pumpkin ricotta ravioli, and the lamb ragu aranici. They also do the trend-of-the-moment pasta: pasta alla vodka.

I’m a mega fan of a fabulous antipasto board. It’s the perfect snack for the table if you’re here for an aperitivo, and not a full-on meal. Opening from 11 AM; on the last day of the week is Sunday Italian brunch. 

9. L’Osteria Pizza: Regional Italian dishes 

From one location to six…L’Osteria Pizza is clearly doing something very, very right! 

Stepping inside, you’re immediately transported to Italy…The details in the decor are amazing, down to the last tile and aged-looking wall (like most restaurants in Italy). 

And I especially appreciate the fact that they don’t serve the typical Italian dishes you find at almost every Italian eatery, or like many of the Italian restaurants in Bali that haven’t quite got it right. Instead, plates like Piedmont-style ‘vitello tonnato’ feature on the menu: sliced veal (sorry, vegans) and a creamy tuna sauce. 

There are so many dishes to love, you’ll need a couple of days returning to L’Osteria to try them all. However, if you’ve just got one time to visit, do not, and I repeat, do not leave without ordering/saving room for dessert. You’re welcome. 

Talk about an Italian FEAST, who would have thought that the Italian restaurants in Bali were so good?! Well, now you know! 

Is it your first time exploring all that Indonesia has to offer? We suggest tucking into this Indonesia Travel Guide for all there is to know, from drinking water to appropriate wear. If you’re already familiar with all the know-hows and are searching for more of an itinerary than a guide, check out our Travel Insighter 2-week in Indonesia itinerary. Lastly, before you go, if you’re one who seeks off-the-beaten-track type travel, here are 3 reasons why Ternate should be on every Indonesia travel itinerary!

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