Bali, the picturesque island in Indonesia, is known not only for its stunning beaches and unique culture but also for its culinary delights. Here, breakfast is not just a morning meal, but a true art form. In recent years, trendy breakfasts like chia pudding and smoothie bowls have gained popularity, attracting both tourists and locals with their vibrant presentation and healthy ingredients.
Every café offers unique dishes, ranging from fluffy French pastries to green detox drinks. The food is diverse, made from either locally sourced ingredients or imported ones. This guide presents the top 5 popular breakfast dishes chosen by true foodies, tourists, and expats. These are must-try options to kickstart your day with energy and inspiration — and of course, perfect for Instagram photos.
Avocado Toast
Avocado toast is a simple yet surprisingly delicious dish that has become a culinary hit in recent years. It’s hard to find a European-style café in Bali without this option on the breakfast or brunch menu. The base consists of fresh, ripe avocado, mashed and spread over crispy toast, usually made from whole grain or rye bread. This basic recipe can be enhanced with various toppings such as poached egg, cherry tomatoes, feta cheese, greens, seeds, olive oil, pesto sauce, lemon juice, and spices.
Many restaurants also offer a gluten-free bread option. Avocado toast combines everything that’s appreciated in modern cuisine: healthiness, simplicity, and beauty. It has become a symbol of a healthy lifestyle and remains a favorite dish for millions worldwide. The dish is easily adaptable to various tastes and preferences, making it suitable for vegetarian, vegan, and even keto diets.
The vibrant green color of the avocado and the variety of possible toppings make avocado toast incredibly photogenic.
Some of the best places for avocado toast in Bali:
A vegetarian and vegan café in Ubud offering several versions of avocado toast, including ones with tofu scramble, hummus, and mushrooms. I recommend trying all of them by ordering a combo of three avocado toasts.
A café in Canggu where every dish contains avocado. Their avocado toast is one of the most visually stunning on the island, featuring green sauce, an avocado rose, roasted chickpeas, and pickled radish.
A vegetarian café in Canggu offering delicious avocado toast on fresh bread with various toppings and sauces.
- Benih Cafe:
One of the few stylish spots in Kuta, serving smashed avocado toast — a must-try.
A popular café in Sanur with healthy breakfast, brunch, and dinner options. Their avocado toast is served with poached eggs and salmon and looks incredibly appetizing.
A surf shop café in Uluwatu with the largest and juiciest avocado toast.
Smoothie Bowl
A smoothie bowl is a true delight in a bowl, combining the freshness of fruits or berries, a creamy texture, and nutritious ingredients. It’s a harmonious balance of taste and health. This dish has become especially popular in Bali, where there is an abundance of tropical fruits. It’s hard to find a place on the island that doesn’t offer smoothie bowls.
In the context of a healthy lifestyle, smoothie bowls are the perfect choice for a morning or midday meal. However, there’s a downside to consider when choosing this dish: many cafés serve smoothie bowls as a mix of all available fruits without any protein or greens. But to make the dish truly nutritious, it should combine fruits/berries, seeds, and greens.
How is a smoothie bowl made?
- - Base: Typically consists of fresh tropical fruits such as mango, papaya, pineapple, dragon fruit, and bananas, blended with coconut milk, natural yogurt, or cashew/almond milk to create a creamy texture. You might also find healthy options with berries like acai, which are known for their health benefits.
- - Toppings: Once the base is ready and served in a bowl, it’s time for the toppings. In Bali, common toppings include sliced fruits (e.g., strawberries, dragon fruit, papaya), nuts, chia seeds, coconut flakes, and honey. Granola is the finishing touch, usually made from baked oats, sometimes with chocolate or spirulina added for color.
- - Aesthetics: Smoothie bowls are lovingly and carefully arranged, with vibrant colors and neatly placed toppings making each bowl a work of art.
Smoothie bowls are rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, fitting perfectly into a healthy diet, helping maintain energy and well-being. The use of local tropical fruits adds a unique exotic flavor that’s hard to replicate elsewhere. Each spoonful brings joy and reminds you of the sun-soaked paradise.
Some of the best smoothie bowls in Bali:
- Alchemy in Ubud and Uluwatu: A vegan and raw food café offering a smoothie bar for breakfast. You can choose your smoothie base and several toppings such as granola, chia, and fresh fruits.
- Clear Cafe: Specializing in healthy and organic food in Ubud, including smoothie bowls made with fresh fruits, berries, and greens.
- Mudra Cafe: Known for serving the most Instagram-worthy smoothie bowls in Ubud.
- Sayuri Healing Food: The most popular raw food café in Ubud offers a special selection of smoothie bowls with chocolate, spirulina, berries, and protein. In my opinion, these are the most balanced smoothie bowls since they include greens and other superfoods. Ask for a loyalty card at the counter — the 10th smoothie bowl is free.
- Cafe Organic: Located in Seminyak, this café is famous for its organic and healthy dishes, including delicious smoothie bowls.
- Smoothie Shop: A café in Bukit serving organic juices and smoothies, with healthy vegan options.
Eggs Benedict
Eggs Benedict is a classic breakfast dish that combines elegance with rich flavor. It consists of a few simple yet refined elements: half of an English muffin, a slice of ham or bacon, a poached egg, and a velvety hollandaise sauce. This combination makes Eggs Benedict a true culinary masterpiece, pleasing both the palate and the eye.
How is Eggs Benedict prepared?
- - Base: The base can be potato pancakes, avocado toast, or an English muffin, sliced in half and lightly toasted until golden. Its crispy texture perfectly contrasts with the soft egg and creamy sauce.
- - Poached Eggs: These are soft-cooked eggs without the shell, where the whites are fully set, and the yolk remains runny. They are carefully poached in simmering water with vinegar for a few minutes, then placed atop the ham.
- - Hollandaise Sauce: The final touch is the hollandaise sauce, an emulsion of egg yolks, melted butter, and lemon juice. The sauce has a rich, buttery flavor and creamy texture that pairs perfectly with the other ingredients.
Eggs Benedict is popular for its sophisticated taste, combining various textures and flavors — crispy bread, salty ham or salmon, tender egg, and creamy sauce. This harmony creates a rich and satisfying taste experience.
Despite the classic recipe, there are many variations of Eggs Benedict. For instance, ham can be replaced with smoked salmon, spinach, or local Balinese avocado. Each of these alternatives adds new flavor and aroma to the dish.
Where to try delicious Eggs Benedict in Bali?
1. Sisterfields: Located in the heart of Seminyak, this café is known for its diverse breakfast and brunch menu, including excellent Eggs Benedict. The presentation and quality are top-notch.
2. Feel Food Cafe: A European cuisine café in Canggu. Try their Eggs Benedict on thin pancakes with salmon.
3. DRANIKI: A Belarusian café chain in Canggu and Ubud offering delicious Eggs Benedict on juicy potato pancakes with avocado and salmon.
4. KAFE: This Ubud café is known for its extensive breakfast menu. Classic Eggs Benedict is served with English muffins, hollandaise sauce, and a variety of toppings such as spinach or salmon.
5. Suka Espresso: A trendy café in Uluwatu, Ubud, and Canggu with a diverse breakfast menu and great coffee. Their Eggs Benedict is served with crispy English muffins, fresh hollandaise sauce, and toppings like bacon or salmon.
6. Daily Baguette Sanur: The menu offers a classic version of Eggs Benedict on an English muffin. You can also customize your breakfast with a fresh croissant, salmon, and poached eggs.
Porncakes
Pancakes are a popular breakfast choice in Bali. They come in classic forms made from wheat flour, gluten-free versions with coconut or buckwheat flour, and in various shapes, from thick and fluffy to thin and delicate. They’re often flavored with bananas, blueberries, or chocolate. Pancakes are typically served with fresh fruits, nuts, coconut sugar syrup, whipped cream, or coconut yogurt for vegetarians. While pancakes can be found in almost every café, a special type of fluffy pancakes, known as Porncakes, holds a unique place among foodies.
Porncakes are an unofficial name for particularly appetizing and visually stunning pancakes that became popular due to their striking appearance and exquisite taste. The name stems from their incredible photogenic quality and their ability to incite "food lust," especially on social media.
How are Porncakes prepared?
- 1. Base: The foundation of Porncakes is classic pancakes made from flour, eggs, milk, and baking powder. The batter must be very light and airy to create fluffy, tender pancakes.
- 2. Add-ins and Filling: To enhance the flavor and texture, the batter often includes vanilla, cinnamon, or even chocolate chips. Variations with added berries or fruits are also common.
- 3. Topping: The key difference in Porncakes is their elaborate decoration. The pancakes are generously drizzled with syrup (coconut sugar, chocolate, or berry), topped with whipped cream, fruits, nuts, chocolate pieces, caramel sauce, or even ice cream.
Where to find Porncakes in Bali?
1. Kynd Community: This vegan restaurant in Canggu is famous for its colorful and delicious dishes, including Porncakes with plenty of fruits and natural toppings.
2. Crate Cafe: Known for its large portions and aesthetically pleasing presentations, this café in Canggu is a popular spot for those seeking a tasty and Instagrammable breakfast. Expect a queue.
3. Brunch Club Pererenan: Divine, calorie-packed, fluffy, and delicious. A portion can easily be shared by two. Trees, palms, and greenery grow inside the restaurant, making the spacious café beautifully unique. They also have locations in Kuta and Berawa.
Chia Pudding
Chia pudding is another nutritious and delicious dish that has gained popularity due to its health benefits and ease of preparation. Loved by health-conscious eaters and vegans, some enjoy it as a full breakfast, while others prefer it as a healthy dessert. The base of this breakfast or dessert is chia seeds, which absorb liquid and turn into a jelly-like consistency, creating a unique texture.
How is chia pudding made?
The main ingredients of chia pudding include chia seeds, liquid (such as almond, coconut, or cashew milk), sweeteners (honey, syrup, or stevia), and various toppings (fruits, nuts, berries, coconut flakes).
- 1. Mix chia seeds with milk in a jar in a ratio of about 1:4 (one part seeds to four parts liquid).
- 2. Stir the mixture and let it sit for 10-15 minutes, then stir again to avoid lumps. Refrigerate for several hours or overnight.
- 3. Once the pudding is ready, it can be topped with fresh fruits, berries, nuts, coconut flakes, or other favorite toppings.
Chia seeds are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, protein, fiber, and antioxidants, making chia pudding an excellent choice for those who want to maximize their nutrient intake. It can be customized with various flavors and combined with many ingredients, easily fitting into vegan and gluten-free diets.
Chia pudding is often served in clear glasses or jars, showcasing all the layers and toppings, making it very Instagrammable.
Where to find chia pudding in Bali?
1. Kynd Community: A vegan café in Seminyak and Canggu, known for its colorful and nutritious dishes, including chia pudding with various fruits and berries.
2. Crate Cafe: This café in Canggu offers a wide selection of healthy and delicious breakfasts, often featuring chia pudding.
3. Alchemy: A vegan and raw food restaurant offering many healthy and tasty dishes, including creatively topped chia pudding. Located in Ubud and Uluwatu.
4. Flourish - by Heart Space: A café in the heart of Ubud with healthy dishes made from high-quality local ingredients. The entire menu is 100% gluten-free.
5. NOURISH CAFE WHOLEFOODS PIZZERIA & BAKERY: A very popular spot for breakfasts and brunches in Uluwatu.
You can add one right now!