Cafés in Ubud

Getting to Ubud and through the center

As of 2026, a metered taxi from the airport or Kuta costs around Rp300,000 one way before surcharges, and a Perama shuttle from Kuta costs Rp60,000; its Ubud terminal is in Padang Tegal, about 2 km south of the center.² Trans Metro Dewata route 4 runs from Denpasar's Ubung terminal to Monkey Forest for Rp4,400, paid by card or app, not cash.²

Inside town, ride-hailing is contested. Local taxi cooperatives bar metered taxis and app pickups and set their own negotiated fares, though Grab and Gojek still work in much of the center despite the signs.¹² The crossroads of Jalan Raya Ubud and Jalan Monkey Forest is jammed for much of the day, and parked motorbikes block the sidewalks.²

The palace, Monkey Forest and Jalan Hanoman

Puri Saren Agung, the palace at that crossroads, was the home of Tjokorda Gede Agung Sukawati, the last ruling monarch, and opened as one of Ubud's first hotels in the 1930s.¹ Entry is free from 09:00 to 17:00, and dances are staged there nightly.²

At the south end of Jalan Monkey Forest, the Monkey Forest (Mandala Suci Wenara Wana) holds the Pura Dalem Agung Padangtegal temple and, at a 2017 count, about 750 crab-eating macaques.¹ As of April 2026 adults pay Rp130,000, and food should stay outside.²

Jalan Hanoman, just east of Monkey Forest Road, is the busier of the two, with higher-end restaurants and cafés.² Clear Café at number 8 stays open until 23:00. Angsa at 43, Anuman coffee at 60 and Sawobali at 73 are on the same street.

Sri Wedari, Gautama and the house roasters

Seniman Coffee Studio opened at Jalan Sri Wedari 5 in 2010, and the name is Indonesian for artist.³ Founded by the Australian sculptor Rodney Glick, it grew from one shop into a training studio downstairs and a roasting headquarters across the road, and brews mostly Indonesian filter coffee by hand.⁴ It is open daily 08:00–22:00, and Muse Cafe & Art at number 6 and Ginger Flowers at 14 share the street.

Ubud Coffee Roastery on Jalan Gautama Selatan roasts Indonesian specialty coffee on site and serves it in an air-conditioned room.³ Tucky Speciality Coffee and Brunch is at 15 Jalan Goutama, the same street under another spelling. Monkey Cave Espresso, at 88 Jalan Monkey Forest, is an open-air café with a permaculture garden.³ Old Friends Coffee, at 5 Jalan Nyuh Bojog, was started by I Made Sipil and his wife and takes cash or local cards only.³

Kopi luwak stops toward Tegallalang

Tegallalang, a district known for its rice terraces, is about 8 km north of Ubud, a 15 to 20 minute drive.⁷ Bali Pulina, on Jalan Raya Pujung Kaja in Sebatu, offers coffee and tea tastings and luwak coffee.²⁷ Kopi luwak was traditionally made from beans collected from wild civets' droppings; demand has since led to civets being caught and kept in cages for production.⁵

In 2016 researchers from Oxford's Wildlife Conservation Research Unit and World Animal Protection published a study of 48 caged common palm civets at 16 tourist plantations in Bali. Every plantation had very poor housing: small, barren cages, usually with wire floors, diets made up mostly of coffee cherries, and often no clean water.⁵ No certification scheme verifies beans sold as wild, and the Rainforest Alliance and UTZ refuse to certify kopi luwak.⁶

Pengosekan, Penestanan and the hours

Pengosekan, about 3 km south of the center, is home to the Agung Rai Museum of Art, where the ticket includes tea or coffee.² Ivy Cafe on Jalan Raya Pengosekan runs 07:00–23:00, and Birama Coffee and 7Cups are on the same road. To the west, BGS Ubud on Jalan Raya Penestanan opens at 06:30, one of Ubud's earliest starts. Bodega, at 18 Jalan Cempaka Putih, opens at 07:00 and closes at 17:00; Kecil keeps the shortest day, 07:00–13:00 Monday to Saturday.

January and February are the wettest months, and middays are hot and humid year-round, so walk between cafés early.²