Best Restaurants in Kuta, Lombok
Last updated November 2024
When I travel, knowing where to eat is usually my first priority. I don’t function well without a good breakfast and one (maybe two) coffees. I’ll fade in the afternoon if I don’t have lunch.
Plus, when I’m working from home, it’s a great excuse to get out and see some of the town we’re staying in.
Luckily for us, Kuta, Lombok is packed with fantastic restaurants. Whether you’re looking for local favourites, like nasi goreng or want a higher-end dining experience, Kuta has something for everyone. It’s the best spot in South Lombok for food.
One thing to note: I’m vegetarian, but Kieron is not. So, these places have a good mix of options for both.
Here is our ultimate travel guide to restaurants in Kuta, Lombok and our favourite dishes from their menu. I’ve kept them alphabetical as they’re all so good.
Best Restaurants in Kuta Lombok
Bara - Best Pastries
While I love a big breakfast, I’m equally happy with a croissant and coffee. When the craving hits, Bara is my go-to.
They have a range of buttery goodness available and offer a deal for a coffee + croissant at 50k plus tax and service.
I’ve tried the breakfast here once but wasn’t that impressed. Stick with the pastries.
Brotherhood - Best Lalapan Ayam
Lalapan Ayam is a classic dish in Indonesia. Consisting of grilled chicken covered with kecap manis (sweet soy sauce) and served with rice and fresh vegetables, it covers all bases. You’ll find it on most menus but this place is Kie’s go-to when the craving strikes.
Brotherhood is a new Kuta Lombok restaurant and it’s looking like it will be a popular one.
Bum Bum Beach Warung - Best Beachside Coffee
Want to drink coffee with your toes in the sand? Kuta Beach doesn’t have restaurants right on the beach, so this is where to head. Located at Tanjung Aan, you can’t miss their bright yellow umbrellas. It is one of the more popular spots, so sometimes, getting a beanbag is tough!
The team take their coffee seriously and puts love into each espresso. They also have oat milk available.
We’ve also had their small plates, which are great little snacks. Order the bruschetta or the pancakes if you’re looking for something sweet.
Granita - Best Sandwiches and Bagels
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WORK SPOT
Sandwiches are such a simple staple, but there are sandwiches, and then there are *sandwiches*. Granita knows this and nails the bread and the ingredients.
My go-to is the vegan breaded pumpkin with beetroot sauce, served on a crispy baguette. They also make a fantastic bagel with peanut butter, cinnamon, and blueberry.
The vibe is relaxed surfer and also makes for a great spot to get some work done.
Jiang Nan - Best Dumplings in Kuta
Although the strip of restaurants in Kuta is smaller than you’ll get in Bali, it’s got everything you could crave. Including dumplings!
They do a promo on Wednesday nights for 30k ($1.90 USD) a plate for their dumplings, which is an insane deal. They don’t have a range of vegetarian options when it comes to dumplings, but the Mushroom Kimchi Gua Bao is so damn good. I usually get the Shitake and Bok Choy Dumplings and a bao.
Plus, the building is gorgeous. It’s worth checking out for the vibe alone.
Loka - Best Healthy Food
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WORK SPOT
Loka is our go-to spot for healthy food. After a few too many plates of mie goreng, you’ll most likely be craving a salad, too.
For breakfast, the Protein Toast is my absolute favourite. They know good coffee too. Once lunch rolls around, their daily salad or wrap is the priority. For just 70k ($4.50 USD) you can get their day's salad with a kombucha.
Onsite, there’s also the gym, recovery centre and a newly opened Pilates studio. All your fitness needs, under one roof.
Mana Eco Retreat - Best Peaceful Vibes, Kombucha and Smoothie Bowls
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While less busy than Bali, there is hustle on the roads of Kuta. Step out of all that and find yourself in the relaxing ambience of Mana Eco Retreat.
This vegetarian restaurant highlights local produce, clearly marks the vegan and gluten-free options and has some of the best kombucha in town. Also, I’m a big fan of chocolate smoothie bowls. Healthy and chocolate? I’m in.
Plus, at night, they turn the yoga studio into a cinema. So you can purchase your meals and eat them while watching a film!
Milk Espresso - Best Breakfast
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Milk is an institution in Kuta. And they’re still serving up one of the best breakfasts in town. My go-to is the Hot Honey. Haloumi and avocado (actual, not frozen) on sourdough drizzled in chilli honey. I don’t even like spicy food. But the way the flavours combine is *chefs kiss*.
Also, great coffee, including oat milk options. They use Expat coffee beans and open early so you can get your coffee fix if jetlag is disrupting your sleep patterns.
Their lease recently expired, so you can find them closer to the fisherman’s village. Their new fit-out is gorgeous, and I want the owner to style my house. They’ve also upgraded their cabinet food game as part of the move. I can’t wait to try their new salads.
Munchies - Best Pizza
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Okay, this may be slightly controversial, and you will often see a queue outside Mama Pizza. But I personally find the experience at Munchies far better.
They’ve got a larger menu, so if your friends don’t want to eat pizza, they can have something else. The pizza options are delicious and served on Neopolotian, charred pizza bases. Plus you can curl up in the booths for a cosy vibe.
Nohi - Best Smoothies and Pancakes
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WORK SPOT
This is our go-to spot if we’re looking for somewhere quiet to get a few hours of work done. You can opt for the air-conditioned space downstairs or head up to the top level for a view over town.
Although their menu looks fantastic here, we haven’t tried that much of it. We often stop here when we’re craving smoothies and can highly recommend both the coffee and mango options.
What we have tried is the Nohi Pancake. At 145k ($9.25 USD) for two people, it’s not the cheapest breakfast, but it's worth it. Served as a large sharing platter with honey, salted caramel, chocolate ganache, and fresh fruit, this is my guilty pleasure for the weekend.
Warung Ombak - Best Gado-Gado
Before I came to Lombok, I didn’t realise that tempeh is actually from Indonesia. It’s one of the things that makes me happiest about being here – knowing I can get vegetarian local food. And gado-gado is my go-to dish (I find nasi goreng and mie goreng too greasy).
And Warung Ombak is my favourite place to get it. Served with a generous amount of green veggies, the tempeh is well cooked and the satay sauce is deliciously creamy.
Warung Ombak is a little out of town, meaning you don’t get hawkers coming in. But it’s still very walkable from the main strip of shops.
Piccolo - Best Strong Coffee and Team
Some people were thrive in hospitality. The team at Piccolo has managed to staff their cafe with people who relish working in this industry. They’ll make you feel part of the family on your second visit.
Owned by an Australian couple, the Piccolo team know good coffee. They’re even in the process of building their own roastery to ensure their beans are always of the highest quality.
Rezeki - Best Buffet
We don’t go here for lunch every day, but we go five times a week. It’s that good.
It’s a large buffet-style restaurant with everything clearly labelled in English. Want spicy tofu? Sweet tofu? Fried tofu? Curry tofu? They’ve got it.
They do charge per option you put on your plate. So, if you opt for a small spoonful of many things, you’ll be charged more than if you stick with a few dishes.
They also make iced tea for just 5k (30c USD), which is the perfect treat on hot days.
The Mexican In Town - Best Mexican
I don’t know if it’s the avocado, the fact that beans and rice are so delicious or something else. But Mexican is my go-to, non-Indonesian food.
The Mexican In Town has a separate plant-based menu so you can see all your options in one place. They have several different “meat” options, including mushrooms and jackfruit so you can get great variety here.
They also do great frozen margaritas (ask for imported alcohol) and specials so keep an eye on their Instagram.
The Warung - Best Variety Warung
This is our go-to warung in Kuta. It’s a little out of the main strip but I quite like the walk to get there and back.
One reason we love this place is the variety on the menu and the fact that they do everything well: the Indonesian food, the Western food, the pizza, the salads, the Thai food. It’s all good, which is fantastic if you’re eating with people who feel like something different than you do. No compromises with this menu!
As a vegetarian, I recommend pasta (I get pesto and mushrooms), tempeh burger (the mushrooms add something special), pad Thai, and green curry. For meat eaters, check out the Caesar salad too.
Warung Flora - Best Local Food
This place is busy for a reason. In high season you’ll see queues out the door (come early to get yourself one of the few tables). And it’s for good reason.
If you’re after good Indonesian food, at good prices, this is the place to come. As a vegetarian, I always opt for either the gado-gado or the curry here. Both are full of tempeh and delicious.
