It is undeniable at this point. Bali’s food scene is world-class.
Home to some of the best restaurants in the region and around the world, Bali’s fine dining scene, as well as traditional food culture, is quickly becoming one of the top reasons why tourists visit the island.
Indonesia is celebrating not one but two listings on the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2026 awards.
Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana has sung the praises of the two Indonesian restaurants that have been included on the legendary list, and has recognized Indonesia’s huge culinary talent with a special award.
Minister Wardhana told the media, “The inclusion of two Indonesian restaurants in Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2026, along with an award for an Indonesian pastry chef, is a remarkable achievement. It shows that Indonesian gastronomy can compete globally when supported by innovation, quality, and strong storytelling.”
The two restaurants in question are August in Jakarta, which has been ranked in 42nd place, and Locavore NXT from Ubud, Bali, ranked in an honourable 44th place. Both restaurants have climbed the rankings this year, with August only just making the list in 2025, coming in at 49, and Lovavore NXT, only just making it into the top 100. August’s pastry chef, Ardika Dwitama, has also been awarded the Asia’s Best Pastry Chef Award 2026.
Minister Wardhana said, “Culinary is an essential part of the travel experience, and Indonesia has strong potential to grow as a world-class gastronomic destination.”
Gastronomy is a huge focus for the Ministry of Tourism right now. In fact, gastronomy, maritime, and wellness tourism have been identified as the top three areas of tourism development focus nationally, alongside the longstanding mission to ensure that cultural tourism is the archipelago’s flagship offering.
Ubud’s Locavore NXT has been racking up award after award, and rightly so. The restaurant has garnered the acclaim of La Liste, which has highlighted the new The Source menu only this month. The radical 16-course menu takes diners on a journey through the wilds of Indonesia, and it is a forage-to-table culinary journey like no other.
La Liste explains, “Sustainability is integrated into every floor, from the solar-paneled roof supplying energy to the basement worm-powered sewage treatment plant. This holistic approach is mirrored in the beverage program, which uses hyper-local ingredients to create innovative pairings like mushroom arak. At Locavore NXT, every course is a story told through the land, reminding us that the future of food lies in its most authentic sources.”
Locavore NXT has been celebrating their win, sharing with supporters, “Last year we were #92, along with the Sustainable Restaurant Award. Big jump. Nice to see the work being recognised, but this isn’t really about the numbers.”
“It’s a nice moment to pause and acknowledge the people behind it; the ones cooking, researching, fermenting, planting and growing, cleaning, serving, fixing, thinking, and doing the creative work every single day. It takes all of it to make this place work. We’ll keep at it. Congratulations to all of our teams!”
Locavore NXT is a destination in its own right. Home to its own mushroom chamber, rooftop food forest, fermentation kitchen, beverage lab, and more. The ruling principles of the Locavore philosophy are as present now as ever before.
As explained by the team themselves, “No imports, no fairy or wheat, utilise everything, and with less animal protein, we feature ingredients you think you know, alongside others that we find wilder, delightfully unusual and unique.”
For those who want to stay a little longer or really immerse themselves in the Locavore world, stunning accommodation is available at The Wood Rooms, though availability is very limited.
Locavore NXT is part of the same family as Nusantara, Locavore To Go, Night Rooster, and Local Parts Butchers.
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