Ubud is super lush, we only spent one night here(we wanted to be by the ocean) but it was really nice. I would suggest Ubud for anyone who’s keen on shopping, yoga, seeing the rice paddy’s & the naughty monkeys in the monkey forest. If you hit the monkey forest take of anything valuable and leave it in the villa, and watch your pockets as they pick pocket!

We stayed at Pertiwi Bisma 1 in the villas there, it was our most expensive accomodation this trip but totally worth it. The villas were stunning and there were two infinity pools looking into the rainforest. You could easily walk to the monkey forest or if you are keen to get around at the right price, get in touch with Wayan on Whats app +62 822-3708-7860 , he’s a local Ubud guy and he and his brother own three taxi cars in total. Its about 50k idr into town ($6) but worth it in the heat. He also sent us his brother to drive us down to Uluwatu when we were leaving ubud, we negotiated 450k idr for the trip. Pay no more then this.

We drove up from Canggu we paid 300k idr with a privet driver. Prob could have got it for a little less but we organized through the villa we were staying in and were happy to pay it for the 1 hour trip.

Foods and Drinks

Seniman

Best coffee in Ubud. they do cold drip and they also have ‘posh fries’ on the menu with truffle oil and parmesan, yum! This would be a good place to do work and use their wifi.

Naughty Nuri’s

Ribs. The best god damn ribs ever (I don’t even like pork). Also the veggie curry here is delicious. The strongest martini I’ve ever had too, Andrew Mcconnoll (Supernormal, Cumulus Inc., and Cutler & Co ect.) said they did a damn fine one and I would agree, but you wont be able to see after just one. The mi gorgeng actually tastes like packet mi goreng, we couldn’t decide which one was modelled on which, was the indo mi a spot on replica of the authentic thing? or.. did they serve us indo mi?

Room 4 Dessert

Really cool looking little place near Nuri’s, offering desserts and cheese boards and a pretty epic wine list. The building itself is cuper cool and worth a look.

Yellow Flower

Josh’s Sister Zoe swears by the Nasi Campour here, it’ll break the bank at $5.

Locavore

Vegetarian.

Uma Cuccina

Italian food! Part of the Como Shambala hotel. Everybody loves pasta! a little exy but good.

Alchemy

Vegan cafe and salad bar. Things like Flax seed pizza, durian smoothie, serious chocolate shake, bruschetta, Philadelphia maki.

Melting Wok Warung

 

Other things..

Massages

Book a Balinese massage at Shambala or Starchild massage places, both are in the same lane ‘Lotus Lane’  in Ubud centre. All in the same side street lane where about 4 massage places are in a row down end of the lane…. locals go here. Starchild and book in with Cartini- 085237791477.. she gets booked up in advance so call a day ahead..

Markets

Visit Ubud markets (in centre of town). Bargain things down..they will expect this. Keep in mind most of the jewellery isn’t real silver or just plated so maybe don’t bother.

Campuhung Trail

We didn’t manage to do this as we ran out of time but look it up. apparently the views are stunning. Avoid the middle of the day as its to hot!

Rice Paddys

There are a few you can see that are around 15 mins drive from Ubud Town.

Tegalalang rice paddies are the main ones, I visited with my family last trip and they are stunning.

Yoga

Yoga Barn is the biggest. Yoga House, which has the best rice paddy view, get here on a taxi scooter by hailing someone on the street to take you. Google Radiantly Alive , for the Thur or Sunday practice, Daniel Aaron Vinyasana flow class = Zoe says this is the best class she’s ever done.

Working holiday?

Want to work from a laptop? Go to the cafe at Hubud, in Ubud (near Monkey forest road). There are gorgeous rice paddy view as you write emails…. they give you a wifi pass if you buy food or drinks. It’s the cafe next to Hubud Coworking space.

Jewellery

Head to Celuk Village, this is the jewellery town outside of Ubud. I went on a full day tour last time I visited. You can buy really beautiful silver jewellery here and you can go into their back rooms to view the silversmiths at work.

Tenganan waterfall

Between 1-4 pm when there is a rainbow through the water.