Nusantara Ubud: A Guide to Traditional Indonesian Dining
Most international visitors to Bali eat Indonesian food without really understanding it.
They try nasi goreng and satay. They eat rendang at a warung. They have a Balinese rijsttafel at a hotel restaurant.
What they rarely encounter is the full scope of Indonesian cuisine — an archipelago of 17,000 islands with hundreds of regional cooking traditions, each shaped by distinct geography, agriculture, and cultural history.
Nusantara in Ubud exists to change that.
What Nusantara Is
Nusantara is an Indonesian restaurant in Ubud, Bali, that draws from the full breadth of the country's culinary tradition.
The word nusantara is the ancient Javanese and Sanskrit term for the Indonesian archipelago. The name is a statement of intent: this restaurant is not just about Balinese food. It is about the entire nation's culinary heritage.
The restaurant is part of the Locavore Group, the culinary enterprise founded by chefs Eelke Plasmeijer and Ray Adriansyah. Where Locavore NXT focuses on hyperlocal Balinese ingredients, Nusantara focuses on the diversity of Indonesian cooking at a national scale.
The menu is organised by small plates, mains, sides, rices, and sambals. Each dish notes where it comes from in Indonesia — so a meal here functions naturally as a journey across the archipelago.
The Berbagi Rasa Snack Wheel
Every meal at Nusantara begins with the Berbagi Rasa snack wheel — a rotating display of small bites that immediately signals what kind of restaurant you are in.
Each snack is labelled with its regional origin. It is a clever way to set expectations: before a single main course arrives, guests already understand that Indonesian food is not one cuisine but many.
If you think Indonesian food has nothing to offer beyond satay and mie goreng, the snack wheel alone will change your mind.
The Culinary Philosophy
Indonesia spans an enormous geographical and cultural range.
The food of West Sumatra — rich with coconut milk, slow-cooked meat, and intense spicing — is entirely distinct from the subtler, sweeter cooking of Central Java. The seafood of Sulawesi reflects different supply chains and different cultural relationships with the ocean than the food of the Maluku islands.
Most Indonesian restaurants, even serious ones, focus on a narrow regional slice of this tradition.
Nusantara takes a different approach. The kitchen researches historical recipes, regional techniques, and ingredients that rarely appear in modern restaurants. Dishes like tuna tartare from South Sulawesi sit alongside mud crab preparations and regional rice dishes — each grounded in a specific place and tradition.
For international visitors with limited exposure to Indonesian cuisine, this can be a genuinely revelatory experience. Many diners leave understanding Indonesian food in a way they simply could not have from any other single meal.
What the Menu Is Like
Nusantara serves lunch and dinner, with the menu divided into small plates, mains, sides, rices, and sambals.
For dinner, you can choose to go à la carte or opt for a set menu — useful if you want the kitchen to guide the experience. For lunch, the à la carte menu lets you eat at whatever pace suits you.
This format makes the meal flexible. You can share across the table and move through multiple regions in a single sitting, or focus on a few dishes that catch your attention. The kitchen is not trying to impose a fixed narrative — the structure invites exploration.
The cooking is not a simplified or tourist-friendly version of Indonesian food. Dishes are researched and prepared with genuine craft, but the setting is relaxed and the format is approachable. You do not need to know anything about Indonesian cuisine to enjoy a meal here. But you will leave knowing considerably more than when you arrived.
The Balinese Setting
The restaurant occupies a space in Ubud that reflects the cultural setting.
The design draws from Balinese architectural tradition — open spaces, natural materials, an awareness of the landscape outside. Dining here feels embedded in place rather than disconnected from it.
Service is attentive and informative. The team is prepared to explain the regional origins of what you are eating, which adds significant depth to the experience.
Booking Nusantara
Nusantara is a popular restaurant and operates at limited capacity.
Tables should be booked in advance, particularly during Bali's high season (July–August and December). During these periods, reservations two to four weeks ahead are advisable.
Nusantara can be booked at revasi.net/restaurants/nusantara. Real-time availability is shown and confirmation is instant. There is no need to call or wait for email responses.
When booking, communicate any dietary restrictions clearly. The kitchen prepares in advance and dietary accommodations — including vegetarian and vegan options — require advance notice to execute well.
Beyond the Restaurant
Nusantara offers more than just lunch and dinner.
Cooking classes are available for guests who want to go deeper into Indonesian cuisine. Each class includes lunch, so you eat what you make — a hands-on way to understand the techniques and ingredients behind the dishes on the menu.
Private dining can be arranged for groups who want an exclusive setting. This is worth enquiring about if you are planning a special occasion or a corporate event in Ubud.
Catering is also available for events outside the restaurant.
All of these can be explored and booked through revasi.net/restaurants/nusantara alongside regular reservations.
The Locavore Group operates multiple venues in Ubud. Guests spending several days in the area often book both Locavore NXT and Nusantara across different evenings — the two restaurants offer genuinely distinct experiences and are complementary rather than overlapping.
Practical Information
Location. Nusantara is located in central Ubud and is accessible by car, scooter, or Grab.
Price. The menu is priced accessibly for what it delivers — high-quality cooking rooted in serious research, at prices well below what equivalent cooking would cost in Europe or North America.
Duration. Allow around two hours for a relaxed meal, more if you are sharing widely across the menu. Cooking classes run longer and include lunch.
Dress code. Smart casual. The restaurant has a warm, modern atmosphere — relaxed but not casual.
Cancellation. Review the cancellation policy when booking. Nusantara operates at limited capacity and requires advance notice for cancellations.
Frequently Asked Questions About Nusantara Ubud
What type of cuisine does Nusantara serve?
Nusantara serves traditional Indonesian cuisine drawing from culinary traditions across the full Indonesian archipelago. The menu references dishes and techniques from multiple Indonesian regions, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, Bali, and Eastern Indonesia, presented as small plates, mains, sides, rices, and sambals.
How do I book Nusantara in Ubud?
Nusantara can be booked at revasi.net/restaurants/nusantara. Real-time availability is shown and bookings are confirmed instantly.
How far in advance should I book Nusantara?
During high season (July–August, December), two to four weeks in advance is advisable. During quieter periods, one to two weeks is typically sufficient.
Does Nusantara have vegetarian or vegan options?
Yes. Nusantara can accommodate vegetarian and vegan guests. Dietary requirements should be communicated clearly at the time of booking so the kitchen can plan accordingly.
Is Nusantara suitable for guests who are not familiar with Indonesian food?
Yes. Nusantara is particularly well-suited for international visitors who want to understand Indonesian cuisine more deeply. Every dish notes its regional origin, and the team is happy to explain the background of what you are eating.
What is the connection between Nusantara and Locavore NXT?
Both restaurants are part of the Locavore Group, founded by chefs Eelke Plasmeijer and Ray Adriansyah. Locavore NXT focuses on hyperlocal Balinese ingredients with a tasting menu format; Nusantara focuses on the wider Indonesian culinary tradition with a more flexible small plates and mains format. They offer distinct but complementary experiences.
Does Nusantara offer a set menu or à la carte?
For dinner, both options are available — you can go à la carte or choose a set menu if you want the kitchen to guide the meal. Lunch is à la carte.
Does Nusantara offer cooking classes?
Yes. Nusantara offers cooking classes that include lunch. It is a hands-on way to learn the techniques and ingredients behind the Indonesian dishes on the menu, and a good option for guests who want to go beyond eating and understand the cuisine more directly.
Can I book private dining at Nusantara?
Yes. Private dining can be arranged for special occasions and group events. Nusantara also offers catering for events outside the restaurant. Enquire through revasi.net/restaurants/nusantara for availability and details.
What is the Berbagi Rasa snack wheel?
The Berbagi Rasa snack wheel is how every meal at Nusantara begins — a rotating selection of small Indonesian bites, each labelled with its regional origin. It is one of the most distinctive opening courses of any restaurant in Ubud.
Why Nusantara Matters
Indonesian cuisine is one of the world's great under-represented culinary traditions.
The sheer diversity of the archipelago — its ingredients, techniques, and regional identities — has never received the global recognition that Japanese, Thai, or Indian food has.
Nusantara is changing part of that story, one meal at a time.
For international visitors to Bali, a meal here is not just excellent food. It is an encounter with a cuisine that most of the world has barely begun to understand.