Bali’s Sweet Revolution: Where to get Michelin-star-worthy desserts on the island

Desserts are no longer just a mere afterthought to dinner. With more innovative, and devilishly good options than ever, many are choosing to indulge their sweet tooth sans meal. And Bali is no exception. As the island’s dining scene grows more sophisticated, so do its scrumptious desserts. Below are three of our favorite venues that serve decadent treats worthy of Michelin-star restaurants. 

Room4Dessert

Masterminded by Will Goldfarb, who opened the first Room4Dessert in Manhattan, New York, back in 2005, this Bali dessert bar has been tantalizing the taste buds of dessert lovers sine it opened its doors just outside Ubud in 2014. Joining the island’s chic cafe scene, the venue has a minimalist, industrial feel, and comes complete with refurbished materials and artworks created by local artists.

Room4Dessert offers a revolving menu of edible works of art, most created from locally sourced ingredients such as raw cacao, palm sugar and taro. Those who enjoy a tipple will be pleased to know that the desserts come paired with optional cocktails and fine wines.

The dessert bar’s legendary tasting menu ranges from half or full portions of nine desserts (the whole dessert menu). Of course, guests can also order from the a la carte menu that encompasses all-time favorites such as vanilla creme brulee to more unusual options that include infance, a dessert that consists of toasted gelato, marshmallows, rice crispy, frangipani and mango, and plat du jour, a combination of brioche French toast, house vermouth, yogurt and ginger palm. 

Room4Dessert
Jl. Sanggingan, Ubud
4 pm until late, 7 days a week
+62 812-3666-2806​
 

Alchemy

Billing itself as the island’s first 100 percent raw food and vegan cafe (for those not in the know, raw food is produce that has not been heated above 106 degrees Fahrenheit), Alchemy dishes out desserts that are not just delicious but also nourishing for the soul and the body. Forget artificial colors, refined sugar, preservatives, gluten and dairy because Alchemy’s healthy cakes, chocolate and ice cream are made of high quality natural ingredients that are actually good for you. Some of the locally sourced ingredients used in the Ubud restaurant’s mouth-watering treats include berries, cacao, palm nectar, nuts, seeds and fruit.

One of the stars on Alchemy’s dessert menu is raw chocolate. Made from Big Tree Farms’ pure cacao powder and ingredients such as cold pressed coconut oil, palm nectar, raw organic honey and vanilla beans, Alchemy’s dense and gooey chocolate is not to be missed. The chocolate flavors change on monthly basis. Other treats on the restaurant’s dessert menu include black forest cake, chocolate brownies, and chia pudding with berries and optional cashew or almond milk.  

Alchemy
Jl. Penestanan Klod, Ubud​
Monday-Sunday, 7am-9pm
+62 361 971981

Sundara

Be sure to keep your phone camera handy because Sundara’s desserts are seriously photogenic.

A part of the Four Seasons Resort in Jimbaran, Sundara is a chic beachfront restaurant, bar and beach club. Over the years, Sundara’s innovative desserts have been such a hit that the restaurant now features an open dessert kitchen, enabling the curious to get a glimpse of the pastry chefs in action. The curious can view the final masterpieces a at the dessert station in the main dining room. 

Some of the highlights on the sweet section of Sundara’s menu include boozy desserts such as tira tini, a tiramisu with vodka, Kahlua and cocoa liquor; and yuza passion explosion, a combination of yuza mousse, passion fruit sago, pineapple and rum. There is also a selection of homemade ice creams with flavors ranging from double chocolate, vanilla and strawberry to more unusual offerings such as grasshopper and salted caramel.