Nusantara By Locavore

Should You Book Nusantara By Locavore?

If you have eaten here before, the question worth asking is not whether to return; it is whether the kitchen has kept pace with its own momentum. The short answer is yes. Nusantara By Locavore jumped from #407 on Opinionated About Dining's Asia ranking in 2024 to #130 in 2025, a trajectory that signals genuine forward movement, not a plateau. For a special occasion dinner in Ubud, this is one of the clearest yeses in the city.

The kitchen is led by Chef I Putu Dodik Sumarjana and works squarely within Indonesian culinary traditions, with a sourcing philosophy that ties the menu to local and regional producers. The Locavore group built its reputation in Ubud on exactly this approach, Nusantara is the expression of it that focuses most directly on the Indonesian archipelago as a culinary reference point. Where Locavore NXT pushes into more experimental territory, Nusantara stays grounded in the recognisable flavour registers of Indonesian cooking; but executed with a level of technical precision that puts it firmly in fine-dining territory.

That precision is what justifies booking here for a celebration or a serious meal. For diners who want to understand what Indonesian cuisine looks like when a kitchen applies genuine technique and discipline to it, Nusantara is a more focused choice than broader pan-Asian alternatives in Ubud. It also competes differently from Mozaic, which brings a French fine-dining framework to Balinese ingredients, Nusantara is rooted in an Indonesian culinary identity first, the experience reads that way throughout.

For context on how Indonesian fine dining is developing across the region, it is worth knowing that venues like August in Jakarta and Kahyangan in Gondangdia are building similar cases for the cuisine in different Indonesian cities. Internationally, Cumi Bali in Singapore and Dija Mara in Oceanside are making the argument abroad. Nusantara sits at the centre of that conversation, in the city where the Locavore group first established its credibility.

Within Bali more broadly, it is one of the more considered choices for a formal meal. If you are comparing it against beachfront dining options such as Kayuputi or The Legian in Seminyak, those venues trade on setting as much as kitchen quality. Nusantara trades on the food itself, which is the right reason to book it.

Ratings & Recognition

• Opinionated About Dining (OAD) Asia Leading Restaurants: #130 (2025)
• OAD Asia Leading Restaurants: #407 (2024)
• OAD Asia Recommended (2023)

Booking

Booking difficulty is rated easy, which makes sense given the hours structure: Nusantara runs both lunch and dinner services Tuesday through Sunday, dinner only on Mondays. That gives you more access points than a single-sitting tasting menu format would. That said, the OAD ranking jump to #130 in Asia will increase demand in 2025, so for a specific date, especially a weekend dinner for a celebration, booking ahead is advisable. Check the restaurant directly or use a third-party reservation platform for current availability.

Explore More in Ubud

Nusantara is one entry point into Ubud's food scene, but not the only one worth considering. See our full Ubud restaurants guide for the complete picture, or browse Ubud hotels, bars, wineries, and experiences to plan around your meal. For other strong Bali options, Sarong Bali in Canggu, Apéritif Restaurant & Bar, and Rumari in Jimbaran are all worth adding to the list depending on your travel itinerary.