Best Gluten-Free Restaurants and Cafes in Ubud

There is a particular rhythm to finding the best gluten free restaurants in Ubud, a rhythm shaped by rice fields, wood fired kitchens, and the occasional well meaning waiter who brings you a basket of bread you did not ask for. I have spent more than a decade eating my way through this town, and I can tell you that the allergy aware dining scene here is not a recent fad, it grew out of a genuine cultural respect for plant based food, healing diets, and the Hindu Balinese philosophy of balance. That respect, combined with a large international community of long term residents, means that coeliac friendly Ubud options are spread across several neighborhoods rather than clustered in one lifeless tourist strip. Getting around is easiest by scooter, but the center is walkable if you do not mind heat and the occasional stray dog crossing the road in front of you.

Why Gluten Free Dining Feels Natural in Ubud

Balinese temple ceremonies revolve around food offerings, many of which are built around rice, coconut, and root vegetables that are naturally free of wheat. That is not to say every warung is safe for someone with coeliac disease, soy sauce sneaks into more Balinese sauces than foreigners realize, but the town's overall food culture leans so sharply toward rice based meals that wheat free dining Ubud visitors can find restaurants dedicated to full gluten free menus without searching very hard. The demand from international yoga practitioners, wellness tourists, and long term expats over the past fifteen years pushed Ubud's restaurants to label gluten free items clearly and to train staff on cross contamination. You will often see menus that divide dishes into categories like raw, vegan, paleo, and gluten free, a system that developed organically in Ubud and has since spread to other parts of Bali. What most tourists do not realize is that many farm to table restaurants here source vegetables from their own permaculture gardens on the outskirts of town, meaning the supply chain is short enough that staff actually know where every ingredient comes from.

Alchemy Raw Vegan Cafe, Monkey Forest Road

Tucked near the southern end of Monkey Forest Road, Alchemy has been a fixture of Ubud's raw food scene since long before raw food became a global trend. The entire menu is raw, with the majority of items being both vegan and naturally gluten free because they are built around fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. The wild blueberry cheesecake made with cashews and coconut oil is the dish most regulars rave about, and I would not argue with them. Order the pad thai wrap and you get kelp noodles and vegetables in a collard green wrap with a rich almond butter sauce that tastes far heavier than its raw ingredients suggest. The colorful salad bar lets you build your own bowl, which is useful if you have multiple dietary restrictions. The best time to visit is mid morning, around ten, when the crowd is thin and you can actually claim one of the wooden communal tables near the open window without a wait. The only real complaint I have is that the smoothie bowls, while beautiful, are enormous and difficult to finish, which means waste if your appetite is modest. A detail most tourists miss: Alchemy runs a loyalty card system where after a certain number of bowls or wraps you get a free item, a system they keep entirely offline with a paper card stamped at each visit.

Local Tip for Alchemy

Come on a weekday rather than weekends. Saturdays see a yoga retreat crowd that fills the space by eight in the morning and lingers all day.

Zest Ubud, Jalan Raya Sanggingan

Located on the quieter road heading toward Sanggingan, away from the dense center of Ubud, Zest occupies a multi level open air space with views over the Campuhan valley. The wheat free dining Ubud travelers find here is not an afterthought but a core part of the kitchen's entire philosophy. The walls are draped in plants, the seating is a mix of cushions and chairs, and the menu reads like a cross between a wellness cookbook and a serious restaurant. The jackfruit rendang is the standout, a dish that takes the classic Indonesian coconut curry and replaces meat with young jackfruit, all of it naturally gluten free and intensely flavorful. Their mushroom bruschetta on gluten free bread is another strong pick, topped with truffle oil and fresh herbs. Zest also has an extensive juice and smoothie program, and the "Awakening" juice mixer with carrot, ginger, lemon, and turmeric is sharp and genuinely warming. Visit in the late afternoon when the valley light turns golden and the temperature drops into the high twenties rather than the midthirties. The vibe is peaceful and a bit bohemian, though the steep steps between levels of the restaurant can be tricky when wet. The restaurant connects to the broader story of Ubud's Campuhan ridge, an area regarded by the Balinese as a meeting point for opposing spiritual energies, and Zest's quiet terrace feels like it leans into that idea.

Local Tip for Zest

Parking on the narrow road is limited. Walk from central Ubud if you are reasonably fit, or come early to snag one of the few scooter spots.

Moksa Plant Based Cuisine and Permaculture Garden, Jalan Tirta Tawar

Moksa sits slightly northeast of the Ubud market on Jalan Tirta Tawar, and the restaurant and its adjoining permaculture garden represent one of the most ambitious food projects in town. The restaurant started its own permaculture farming NGO in 2014, and much of what arrives on your plate was grown a few hundred meters away. Their entirely plant based menu offers numerous gluten free options. The lasagna made with sliced zucchini, cashew ricotta, and a rich tomato sauce is filling and layered in a way that makes it forgettable. The raw pizza crust is made from flax, sunflower seeds, and herbs, topped with a cashew cream and fresh vegetables. Their comprehensive fermentation program produces house made kombucha, water kefir, and kimchi, all of which are naturally gluten free. Go for dinner around seven, after the retreat crowd has thinned out, when the garden lanterns are lit and the air is cool enough to enjoy sitting outside. The one honest drawback is that dinner service can be slow, sometimes painfully so on nights when a large yoga group has descended. Details unseen by most visitors: the garden runs informal permaculture tours in the late morning if you ask politely at the restaurant a day in advance.

Local Tip for Moksa

Their open kitchen in the garden hosts a community dinner twice a week. It is not heavily advertised, but ask the staff and they will tell you which nights.

Tibubatu Restaurant, Jalan Raya Sanggingan

Tibubatu is technically within walking distance of central Ubud but feels like a separate world, sitting beside the rice fields of the Ubud Kangin area. The restaurant is part of a small boutique accommodation property, and the food program is run with the kind of care that comes from having a devoted rather than a tourist passing through clientele. The menu rotates based on what the garden produces, but you can reliably find gluten free dishes clearly labeled across the appetizer and main sections. The roasted turmeric vegetable salad with a coconut aminos dressing is a smart choice for a starter. For a main, the Nasi Campur plate, the classic Balinese mixed rice platter, is naturally wheat free as long as you confirm the kitchen holds the soy sauce, otherwise the kitchen will prepare it with only coconut aminos and tamarind. The Balinese Slow Chicken, smoked in banana leaves for hours, is tender enough to be pulled apart with a fork. The best time to come is a clear evening, after five thirty, when the rice field views turn silver and gold rather than just hot green. The restaurant is small, and bookings are essential, a fact most tourists learn too late.

Local Tip for Tibubatu

When you book, request the table closest to the rice field edge. It is not a formal option on the booking system, but staff usually accommodate if you mention it politely via WhatsApp.

Yoga Bar and Restaurant, Jalan Raya Pengosekan

Yoga Bar, down in Pengosekan between central Ubud and the southern villages, has built a loyal following among long term Ubud residents, not just the transient wellness crowd. The space is simple and unpretentious, with a few wooden tables, some cushions, and a chalkboard menu that changes frequently. Many of their dishes on the clean eating menu are naturally gluten free, the kitchen staff are genuinely informed about cross contamination, and they separate their flour from their flour free prep areas with real care. The rice paper rolls with a peanut dipping sauce and the grilled fish with sambal matah are both excellent choices, and their vegetable curry with coconut milk is hearty without being heavy. The tropical smoothie bowls are large, generously topped with fresh fruits and coconut flakes, and worth the price. Show up around noon on a weekday for lunch when the midday sun is harsh and you will find the place relatively calm. The one consistent criticism I hear from regulars is that the portion sizes on the main courses are not always consistent, some nights they seem slightly smaller than others for the same order. What tourists rarely learn is that Yoga Bar sits on a street where several Balinese silversmith families have workshops, and you can stop to watch artisans at work on your way to eat.

Local Tip for Yoga Bar

They occasionally run a half price happy hour on smoothies and juices in the late afternoon. It is not listed on any website but a sign appears on the desk when it is active.

Clear Cafe, Jalan Hanoman

Clear Cafe has been on Jalan Hanoman for years now, and its longevity in a town where restaurants close and reopen with alarming frequency says something. The space is a cat lover's paradise, rescued cats roam the property, and the menu is dense with raw and vegan options, many of them marked GF. Wild mushroom laksa served over rice noodles is the kind of dish that anchors a visit, creamy, spicy, and deeply savory without any flour involved. Their raw pad thai with spiralized vegetables is lighter than it sounds. The restaurant's salad bar lets you pick your own base and toppings, good for anyone who wants control over every ingredient. The best time to eat here is in the morning before eleven when the natural light streaming through the open ceiling makes the space feel airy rather than cramped. The complaint I hear most often is that the cats, while beloved by many, occasionally wander onto tables, which can be an issue if you are worried about hygiene rather than affection.

Local Tip for Clear Cafe

The back section of the restaurant, behind the main dining area, is the quietest spot and rarely fills up even during peak lunch. Ask to be seated there.

Sayuri Healing Food, Jalan Sri Wedari

Sayuri Healing Food, located on Sri Wedari in a quiet residential area just south of the Ubud Palace, is one of those small scale operations that operates almost entirely on word of mouth. The menu is small but focused, with an emphasis on raw and dehydrated dishes that are wheat free by default. Their raw lasagna is one of the better versions available in Ubud, made with layers of zucchini, sun dried tomatoes, and a basil cashew pesto, rich without being cloying. The live sushi rolls made with jicama sheets instead of nori are creative and surprisingly satisfying. Sayuri runs the kind of place where the staff remember your face and, by your second visit, your preferred order. The place gets busy, so if you want any hope of a proper table, come at an off peak hour, either early dinner around five thirty or a late lunch around two. The limited seating is the one genuine frustration with this place. Most tourists never find Sayuri because it is not on the main drags, it takes a deliberate walk down Sri Wedari, past a few small temples and homestays, and suddenly you are there.

Local Tip for Sayuri Healing Food

They sometimes run food workshops on raw preparation techniques on weekday mornings. These are mentioned on their small chalkboard near the entrance.

Deadside Tattoo Parlour and Cafe, Jalan Monkey Forest

This is an unusual entry, but Deadside, on Monkey Forest Road, operates as a functional restaurant as well as a tattoo studio. The menu leans heavily on rice bowls and salads, most of it gluten free. Their Nasi Campur with organic greens and a Balinese spice paste, coconut, and tempeh is simple and excellent. The pork belly rice bowl is another crowd favorite, rich and well spiced. They also serve some of the better coffee in central Ubud, sourced from a local Kintamani roaster. Deadside occupies a fascinating cultural space in Ubud. The Balinese tradition of tattoos is ancient, connected to spiritual protective practices, and the presence of tattoo studios in Ubud, where international and Balinese traditions of body art intersect, connects to the deeply held Balinese philosophy that the body and spirit are intertwined. The Kintamani highlands, where the coffee originates, are a cultural heartland for the island. Come in the morning, ideally before nine, for breakfast. This is one of the rare spots near Monkey Forest that stays calm before the tourist surge hits. The one complaint worth noting is that the seating is limited and shared with the tattoo waiting area, which means if the shop is busy, you might wait longer for a table.

Local Tip for Deadside

Working street artists near the studio sometimes set up easels in the late morning. On a good day, you can watch a painting take shape while you eat.

When to Go and What to Know

The dry season, April through October, is the most comfortable time to explore Ubud's restaurants on foot or by scooter. During the wet season, November through March, afternoon downpours are intense and predictably timed, usually starting around one or two in the afternoon. Many gluten free cafes Ubud visitors frequent close between lunch and dinner service, typically from around two thirty to five, so plan your eating accordingly if you are mapping out a full day. Most places accept cash and card, but a few of the smaller spots like Sayuri Healing Food are cash only, so always carry a few hundred thousand rupiah. Cross contamination awareness is generally good in the places listed here, but if you have full celiac disease, always state your needs clearly when ordering, and confirm that soy sauce, which regularly contains wheat in Indonesian preparations, has been substituted or omitted. The warungs along the main roads of Ubud serve delicious food, but cross contamination is common there, so dedicated gluten free restaurants remain the safest choice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there any specific dress codes or cultural etiquettes to keep in mind when visiting local spots in Ubud?

Most restaurants and cafes in Ubud have no dress code, shorts and sandals are universally acceptable. If you visit a Balinese temple before or after eating, you will need to wear a sarong and sash, which are usually available to borrow or rent at temple entrances for a small donation of around 20,000 to 30,000 rupiah. When eating at a traditional warung, it is polite to eat with your right hand if utensils are not provided, as the left hand is considered unclean in Balinese custom. Tipping is not traditionally expected in Indonesia but has become common in Ubud restaurants, ten percent is appreciated.

How easy is it is it to find pure vegetarian, vegan, or plant-based dining options in Ubud?

Finding fully vegan or vegetarian meals in Ubud is straightforward. An estimated forty to fifty percent of all restaurants and cafes in central Ubud carry clearly marked vegan or vegetarian options. Dedicated vegan and raw food restaurants number at least fifteen within the Ubud sub district. Ingredients like tempeh, tofu, and fresh tropical vegetables are affordable and widely available at the Ubud market on Jalan Raya Ubud, which opens daily before dawn. Most menus use clear icons, V for vegan and GF for gluten free, making identification easy without needing to ask the staff.

Is the tap water in Ubud safe to drink, or should travelers strictly rely on filtered water options?

Tap water throughout Bali, including Ubud, is not safe to drink. Every restaurant and cafe in Ubud uses filtered water for drinking, cooking, and even for ice. Many restaurants provide free filtered water refills in glass bottles as part of a sustainability effort to reduce single use plastic. Bottled water costs between 10,000 and 25,000 rupiah at most warungs and mini markets. Travelers who want certainty can carry a portable water filter or purification tablets for use outside of restaurants.

Is Ubud expensive to visit? Give a realistic daily budget breakdown for mid-tier travelers.

Mid-tier travelers should budget between 800,000 and 1,500,000 Indonesian rupiah per day, roughly 50 to 95 US dollars. A meal at a gluten free restaurant in Ubud costs between 60,000 and 150,000 rupiah per person. A mid-range guesthouse or boutique hotel room runs 400,000 to 800,000 rupiah per night. A scooter rental costs around 70,000 to 80,000 rupiah per day, and a short taxi ride within central Ubud is typically 20,000 to 40,000 rupiah. This budget assumes you are eating two restaurant meals per day, paying for scooter rental, and sightseeing without expensive guided tour packages.

What is the one must-try local specialty food or drink that Ubud is famous for?

Babi guling, roasted suckling pig with Balinese spice paste, is the signature dish of the Ubud area. It is naturally gluten free, assuming the kitchen uses only traditional Balinese spices without added wheat based soy sauce, so always confirm this when ordering. Outside of food, Balinese coffee, particularly beans grown in the Kintamani highlands at elevations of around 900 to 1,600 meters above sea level, is the must-try drink. It is typically served strong and black in a small glass for around 5,000 to 15,000 rupiah at local warungs. An alternative is jamu, a traditional herbal tonic made from turmeric, ginger, and tamarind, which is both gluten free and widely regarded as a digestive tonic.