From refined French croissants filled with delicious blueberry cream, to Northern European-inspired brunches dominated by cold cuts and cheeses, all the way to Vietnamese noodles, fried rice with vegetables and eggs, colorful smoothies and fruit bowls, vegan treats, and Indian dosas. If the world can be told through food, then the breakfasts offered by the small yet diverse island of Bali, Indonesia, are its ultimate narrative. There is no culture exempt from this vibrant panorama, where every morning requires focus and sincerity to decide which country to explore.
To begin with the Balinese routine, just head to the local market where you’ll find fresh exotic fruit: papaya, snake fruit, pineapple, mango, lychee, watermelon, and dragon fruit with its vibrant fuchsia hue that lifts your spirits at first glance – considered in traditional Chinese medicine to help increase red blood cells. At the market, these treasures await you at very low prices, letting you fully experience the local atmosphere at first light, when the Balinese wake even before nature itself to offer the gifts of the land – often from the gardens in their own yards – to support their families and beloved island. Whether under pouring rain or blazing sun, while you shop it’s easy to stumble upon a vendor tucking into fried rice or noodles behind the stall: a breakfast rich in energy and local flavours to fuel the long day of trading.
Still traditional, yet with an international touch, on the quiet beach of Seseh just minutes from bustling Canggu, Warung Pantai Seseh offers holiday-makers, locals, and digital nomads alike a breakfast with an ocean view, where the menu caters to every taste. Whether it’s an Avocado toast, one of the island’s best and simplest, topped with a fried egg and vegetables for perfect colour harmony, or an early taste of the sea with freshly caught fish in the morning, here anything is possible. Unmissable is the Kelapa Muda, coconut water served straight from the fruit, along with smoothies brimming with precious vitamins. And then, of course, the waves and the scent of the sea breeze, completing the spell of tropical magic.
A little further from the beach, tucked away in the inner streets of the village of Umas, near Seminyak, lies a truly special spot: once you sit down for breakfast, you realise you could easily spend the whole day there – reading, working on your projects, writing poetry, meeting new people, and tasting every dish on the menu. With jazz music playing softly in the background, surrounded by books, lush plants, and paintings in vibrant colours, Remix Juice Co. creates a cosy yet inspiring haven. Its menu caters to both omnivores and vegetarians, with a keen focus on sourcing and sustainability, placing the health of every living being at the centre. Free-range eggs (a widely embraced cause on the island), organic bacon and sausages from respectfully raised animals, and cold-pressed juices crafted for physical and inner well-being. Among them, Enlightenment made with pineapple, apple, gotu kola (an indigenous plant known to aid concentration, ease headaches and stomach troubles, and much more), celery, and lime—stands out. Goodness, Restart, Remedy… the list goes on, and from the fridge you can simply choose the juice that feels right for you in that moment.
Moving on to Ubud, the island’s cultural capital, you’ll find an equally varied and wonderful breakfast scene. Staying with local-inspired offerings, Yellow Flower is one of those places worth visiting even just to sip a simple Kopi Bali – an unfiltered coffee similar to Turkish coffee –while watching the sunrise or drawing inspiration from the bohemian interior design. Alongside pancakes, avocado toast, bowls of yogurt, fruit and muesli, and other delicious local dishes, a real highlight here is the Shakshuka: a Maghrebi dish of potatoes, tomatoes, and chickpeas, reinterpreted with a Balinese twist. For those looking for a plant-based option, you can also experience a vegan version at Alchemy.
The food at Plant Bistrot is entirely vegan as well. Beyond the pistachio maritozzo (the Italian sweet bun mostly filled with whipped cream) or the chocolate one, perfect for sinking your teeth into and savouring that soft, home-style Italian flavour, the little cakes with vegan chantilly cream and fruit are simply delightful. Delicate and sweet to just the right degree.
Multidisciplinary in inspiration and decidedly European, Rusters is a bakery, restaurant, café, and even a ceramics studio, offering unforgettable breakfasts. From the Eggs Benedict served on savoury pancakes with spinach and smoked salmon, finished with a few sprigs of chives, to the pain au chocolat, to the All Berries smoothie – my favourite – where strawberry, blueberry, and raspberry combine to create a drink that gives a natural, comforting sweetness to start the day. Another must-try is the Danish breakfast: cooked ham, brie, citrusy butter, seeded bread, and a boiled egg at the centre of the plate. It’s a phenomenal protein boost, perfect for those doing intense morning workouts or for anyone wanting to travel in mind and taste to Northern Europe. Once breakfast is finished, to complete the experience, a visit to the ceramics studio is a must, where you can find beautiful handcrafted plates and mugs, or, why not, take part in one of their workshops to experience the tactile magic of clay as it spins on the wheel, taking on a new and unique form. A truly romantic moment, straight out of Ghost.
Equally international in style is the 7.AM chain, whose Ubud branch has been open for just over a month. The variety of baked goods and pastries on offer at the counter is so refined and of such high quality that it makes you realise just how vast the chefs’ creativity can be. The croissant with blueberry cream, or the pistachio one, is so flaky, soft, and buttery – with unmistakably traditional French recipes – that it immediately becomes one of your must-haves for the week.
If, on the other hand, you want to experiment with more spiced flavours of Eastern origin, a visit to Dapur Usada, an Indian restaurant inspired by Ayurvedic cuisine, is a must. Any time is ideal for trying the Masala Dosa, with its crisp edges and soft centre thanks to the potato and spice filling, or for following the menu and choosing the Breakfast Dosa with avocado, perfect for Vata, Kapha, and even Pitta types. Also rooted in Indian and Ayurvedic tradition is Mumbai Station, offering a breakfast that ranges from Paneer Bhurji to scrambled eggs with tofu, spinach, and broccoli. Then there’s the Overnight Oats—oats soaked overnight in cow’s or plant-based milk or yoghurt, to which you can add chia seeds, muesli, and fruit in the morning.
Here it’s delicious, but the best is always the homemade version, either ours or our friends’. After a yoga class or a long scooter ride, you can enjoy it in the shade of the palms or on the veranda of a wooden Joglo house with its cosy, enveloping atmosphere. Friends from all over the world, India, the Netherlands, Japan, Belgium, Hong Kong, Indonesia, England, Korea… with whom you wake up to the awareness of being part of the world, a world that, despite its very dark sides, can feel bright from the very first morning: all it takes is a flower, a nourishing breakfast, and the people you love to have that energy capable of transforming both your surroundings and your day.
