Are There Michelin Star Restaurants In Bali?

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If you’re looking for the ultimate fine dining experience in Bali, you might be wondering if you can eat at a Michelin star or Michelin recommended restaurant on the Island of the Gods.

But, it’s not that simple, and before answering the question if Bali has any Michelin star restaurants, we need to clarify first what that actually entails. Let’s dive into the world of Michelin stars, recommendations, guides and more.

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michelin star restaurants in bali

Why you can trust this article about Michelin star restaurants in Bali

Hi, I’m Victoria, and I’m your go-to source for Bali and Indonesia travel information.

I’ve lived on this beautiful island for several years now and visited plenty of times before that, both as a tourist and backpacker. I know how to save money and when to splurge on things, so I’ll introduce you to the best luxury getaways for a special occasion but also the cheapest airport pickups and fun group tours you can join if you want to make friends.

As you can tell from our many restaurant guides, I’m always trying new places to eat, especially when it comes to upscale or date-night restaurants. While a few restaurants in Bali come close, I haven’t found the ultimate Michelin star experience just yet.

I’ve eaten at several Michelin star awarded restaurants in Spain, France and Germany over the years, so I’ll be the first to know if Michelin ever recommends or awards a restaurant in Bali.

Are there any Michelin star restaurants in Bali?

Unfortunately, there are currently no Michelin star restaurants in Bali or anywhere in Indonesia. This is a bit of a surprise, considering Michelin has awarded quite a few places around other South East Asian countries, including Thailand and Singapore.

Other articles you might come across claim that different fine dining restaurants around Bali are recognised by Michelin, but it’s easy to verify via their website that this is not the case. There is a lot of misinformation out there, so make sure to verify your sources.

Why Are There No Michelin Star Restaurants in Bali?

Many traditional restaurants but also street food places around Asia are being recognised by Michelin, but not in Indonesia.

Funding provided by tourism boards has had a large influence on the location of awards in the past. While Michelin is independent and its awards cannot be bought, countries are able to fund the expansion of the guide to bring attention and tourism.

Bali and all of Indonesia might see an influx of star soon if the necessary funds are allocated, which hasn’t been done so far.

Ths means that while Indonesia doesn’t have any Michelin recommended restaurants at the moment, it’s most likely not because of a lack of high-quality restaurants, just a lack of attention.

What is the difference between a Michelin star and a Michelin recommendation?

Another factor to consider is that a Michelin star and a Michelin recommendation are not the same thing. You might see a lot of Michelin recommended food stalls and restaurants in cities like Bangkok or Singapore, but the majority of them do not possess a star.

Michelin only awards stars to restaurants (not chefs) and their criteria are the following:

“A Michelin Star is awarded to restaurants offering outstanding cooking. We take into account five universal criteria: the quality of the ingredients, the harmony of flavours, the mastery of techniques, the personality of the chef as expressed through their cuisine and, just as importantly, consistency both across the entire menu and over time.” – Source: Michelin Guide Website

They only use anonymous testers who eat at every restaurant multiple times and then decide together if a restaurant deserves to be awarded a star. Only the food is considered, not the service or ambiance. Stars can also be taken away again and a restaurant can have up to three.

While stars are extremely difficult to obtain, a Michelin recommendation is easier to receive. This means that the restaurant is mentioned in the Michelin guide, but receives no award yet. The criteria are the same, but not as strict. Michael Ellis, the international director of the Michelin guide says:

“A restaurant in the recommended selection is the sign of a chef using quality ingredients that are well cooked; simply a good meal. It means that the inspectors have found the food to be above average, but not quite at star or Bib level.” – Source: Michelin Guide Website

Are there any Michelin recommended restaurants in Bali?

Bali does not have any restaurants recognised by the Michelin guide, which includes both recommended and star awards. In fact, there is no Michelin recommendation for a restaurant anywhere in Indonesia.

Are there any Michelin star chefs in Bali?

There is no such thing as a Michelin star chef since the award can only be received by a restaurant, not a person. But, many chefs, of course, pride themselves in their restaurant having been awarded a star or recommendation, especially if they developed the menu.

That means that there are plenty of chefs who have worked in a Michelin star restaurant in the past and many of them are in Bali.

While it’s difficult to track where in Bali you can currently find a chef who has worked in a Michelin restaurant in the past, you should keep an eye out for Aperitif in Ubud, which frequently has Michelin guest chefs, Syrco BASE or Locavore.

We’ll keep this post updated if we can confirm any other recognised chefs in Bali’s best restaurants.

How can you have a Michelin star experience in Bali?

If you’re looking for a fine dining experience in Bali that comes close to a Michelin star, have a look at the restaurants in Ubud below.

1. Aperitif

Aperitif is a beautiful fine dining restaurant in Ubud with not only incredible food, but also an atmosphere I haven’t found elsewhere.

2. Locavore

Locavore has several restaurants in the Ubud area, all incredible.

3. Mozaic

Mozaic is a contemporary fine dining restaurant also in Ubud – perfect for a date night.

Michelin star restaurants in Bali FAQ

Does Bali have Michelin star restaurants?

No, Bali does not have any Michelin star restaurants at the moment.

Are there any Michelin star restaurants in Indonesia?

Indonesia does not currently have any restaurants recognised by the Michelin guide.

Before you go…

Need more restaurant guides? Check out our articles about the best vegan restaurants in Canggu, best healthy restaurants, sushi restaurants, Italian food, breakfast spots, ice cream shops, beach clubs and more.

You might also like our hotel reviews of incredible properties like Uma Kalai and Sumberkima Hill.

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If you have any questions or feel like something is missing from this post, please leave a comment below or contact me.

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Victoria Heinz

Victoria is the founder of Guide Your Travel and has been a travel writer for ten years. She has a Master of Arts in International Relations and Politics and is a managing partner at a marketing agency in Indonesia, giving her unique insight into local culture and customs. Originally from Germany, Victoria has been living abroad for eight years in countries such as Australia, the UK, Spain, Malaysia and Indonesia. Today, she calls Bali her permanent home and helps over 200,000 people plan their trips around the world every month.

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Hi! I’m Victoria, a travel blogger from Germany and the author of Guide your Travel. I write about my favourite destinations in Europe, South East Asia and digital nomad life in Bali.

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Hi, I'm Victoria

Welcome to Guide your Travel – a blog about South East Asia and how to travel on a budget.

I’m a blogger, writer and photographer and love to introduce my favourite destinations to others and encourage them to see the world.

I’m originally from Germany but spent four years living in the UK, quite a bit of time in Spain and Malaysia, and am now travelling full time with a home base in Bali, Indonesia.

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