Pam Pridham 16 September 2024 Best Balinese Food
Hi Penelope,
Wanted to let you know we had a wonderful time at your cooking school today. The market was very interesting and the class so much fun! Best Balinese food we have had since we arrived. Chef Dewa was a delight and we learned a few tricks from him that we will take home with us.
Having a cooking school is a wonderful thing but having one in Bali, outstanding!
Thank you for a very memorable day.
Best,
Pam Pridham
Owner
Dish Cooking Studio
Margie and David 18 July 2024 Wonderful Day!
Hello Penelope, what a wonderful day! Getting a bit stiff as we get older but we had patient Mudi to look after us. I bought a solid engraved chefs knife and as it was the full moon celebration, we saw some beautiful ceremonial dress. Virgin beach was a highlight and I got two kites for our grandchildren made by the young man We bought them from.
Ayu was an absolute pleasure for the street food tour and Made our driver was helpful and kind.
Thank you for organising such an enjoyable experience Margie and
David
Penelope added
These guests enjoyed 2 days with us at Bali Asli, mountain biking from tech mountain to the beach and then an evening street food tour at Amlapura markets. on the 18th July 2024
Dave Koterwas 27 April 2024 Another very satisfied Customer
Hi Penelope,
Just wanted to drop a quick thank you. The day yesterday was amazing. Bali Asli is wonderful, Dewa and the staff were fantastic, Pak was great, and our classmates were lovely. This was a 50th birthday gift for my wife and was far beyond expectations. We also had her birthday dinner at Cuca on Monday which we loved. All around wonderful experience. Thank you so much
Dave
Anthony Mcinerheney 6 November 2023 Incredible Cooking class
Morning Penelope
Just a note to say how incredible the cooking class was.
Even the non cooks amongst us enjoyed it!
Dewa was a born teacher with a lovely narration.
We retained most of what he said and he clearly enjoyed what he was doing.
Dewa was assisted by Ayu who was also a delight and was so helpful in assisting my brother, in fact all your staff were wonderful.
The Amlapura market tour was a perfect start to the day and was super interesting going through the different sections.
My sister-in-law who has taught cooking to senior classes in Bali previously said this was by far the best she had ever done in her travels through Asia.
After completion of the class the dishes were some of the most delicious Balinese food we’d eaten.
It was great to see Bumbu Bali is a common thread in Balinese cooking.
Thanks again for such a wonderful cooking adventure.
Cheers Ano
EntenteCordiale 9 November 2023 One of the best
One of the best cookery courses we have ever done (and we do a lot!)
We had an absolutely wonderful cookery course at Bali Asli during our holiday this week.
It was also incredibly interesting hearing the background to the restaurant and getting to know
Chef Dewa and the team who are like a big family.
We do a lot of cookery courses and this was by far the best we have done.
A lovely family memory and highly recommended!
Brad Pragnell 13 October 2023 Amazing Lunch
Penelope, just letting you know we had an amazing lunch at Bali Asli.
Everything was perfect. It is a very special place and we will definitely come back when we are next in East Bali.
Kind regards.
Brad
Joycee oei 8 October 2023 Thank you Penelope
Hi Penelope,
I would just like to thank you and your staff for the beautiful lunch on Wednesday.
We had a wonderful time. The food was so delicious. The presentation- exceptional.
The cake was really nice. It was a successful surprise!
You have a beautiful place and a wonderful team. We hope to come back again some time.
Kindest regards,
Joyce
erikbenj 12 Jun 2023 Los Angeles A must visit, one-of-a-kind place in East Bali
Penelope, Desi and the entire Bali Asli team were gracious enough to host a cocktail reception for our guests the day before our wedding in East Bali. The days before, they also helped facilitate cooking classes and hikes as well, it was an absolutely pleasure to work with the entire staff who made sure our guests felt welcome during their entire visit. The food at Bali Asli is truly some of the best we’ve had during our many visits to Bali and we will undoubtedly be returning when we are in town next. I would highly recommend a visit, if even for a light lunch as the view and setting is absolutely spectacular. East Bali now holds a special place in our heart and our time at Bali Asli is very much a reason for this.
If time allows a cooking class with a morning visit to the Amlapura market is a fantastic and in-depth way to get an intimate understanding of the vital ingredients that makeup Balinese food and ritual. Our hike up to Lempuyang Temple up hundreds and hundreds of steps was a serious workout but absolutely amazing.
Thank you Bali Asli for making our celebration extra special!!
Erik Benjamins 2 June 2023 one of our best cooking classes ever
Hi Penelope,
Just wanted to send a proper response now that the dust has settled from our East Bali adventure.
Nicole and I wanted to reiterate how special it was to partner with Bali Asli for the experiences and our welcome dinner. Our families had a fantastic time across the cooking classes and hikes and the day-before dinner was a total success. Everyone was simply blown away by the food, the views of course, and the incredible staff.
We are filled with so much joy and will most certainly be sending you some photos once we have time to sift through them all and/or collect them from friends.
I hope the staff is feeling proud! Desi was incredible and I know she was so concerned about Nicole’s Auntie who fell on the 25th. Happily, she is on the mend and we just saw her the other day for a purification ceremony in Ubud, where we are now staying.
Once again, please give our very very best to your crew because they deserve it!
Until next time (because there will most certainly be a return visit!!).
Erik and Nicole
Wendk2018 20 April 2023 Lake Geneva, Wisconsin Fantastic Cooking Class!
What an extraordinary cooking class my husband and I experienced just outside of Sideman, Bali. The head Chef here led us and another couple in a morning that included shopping for our groceries at the local market. When we returned to the restaurant, we had a refreshing drink, followed by tea and some amazing sweets all made with sticky rice.
After tea, we learned how to make Hindu offerings and were then introduced to a full range of spices which we used to make the traditional Balinese spice mix, grounding them into a paste by hand. We went on to make traditional chicken satay, fish steamed in banana leaves, an amazing fresh salad-cooked-all veggies are always cooked, nasi goreng and a pumpkin dessert steamed in banana leaves as well.
Chef was an excellent teacher, the venue was absolutely beautiful with stunning views and the food beyond delicious. One of our best international cooking classes ever.
Peter and Chrissie Johnson January 2023 Experience real Balinese cuisine
We decided to visit here due to recommendations in the past and also previewing for some family who are visiting soon and want to experience real Balinese cuisine.
Well from Welcome to Goodbye and everything in Between thumbs up for a delightful dining experience today.
The atmosphere very authentic.
The drinks whether alcoholic or non, have been planned with using natural ingredients Bali has to offer besides the normal beers wines etc. as well.
The food both with taste and presentation exceptionally unique.
In closing the view from the WC is one to remember with our sleeping giant Gunung Agung sitting majestically in the background.
They have two variations of menu, one to suit lunch and the other for afternoon tea. Note they are not open for evening meals.
Cooking schools are available also.
We highly recommend Bali Asli and thank the team and management and owners for an extremely affordable authentic Bali lunch we will remember.
Susan Page 25 January 2023 Holy Hike of the East
Hi there
I wanted to thank you for organising the most memorable day.
The trek challenged me physically and spiritually which has left me feeling uplifted.
Thank you for organising smaller portions of the best food I have had, sadly for me they were still too big and I could tell the staff were disappointed that I didn’t eat more. I tried to explain that I would eat more if I could.
I will be back and will recommend you to everyone, I understand why my Aunty Jane raves about you.
Kind regards
Susan Page
Lara Holland 19 December 2022
Dear Penelope,
Thank you so much for having us this morning.
Your staff is really sweet and good.
The chef was incredibly nice en calm. He was explaining everything very clear.
It was nice to have a lesson from him.
And the girls who are working in the restaurant they were really sweet to my little girl.
Taking to her and guide her to the restaurant and having fun with her. It was nice to see when I was cooking.
And the restaurant looks incredible. It’s a beautiful style you’ve created.
You can be very proud of yourself and your amazing team you have.
I hope you received my deposit and I wish you all the best and hopefully your business flourished.
I bought a knife at your reception for a nice souvenir.
I also really want a ulekan but that’s too heavy for my luggage so I have to think of another solution in Holland ?.
Again thank you for this lovely morning.
Lara
Elizabeth Armour NYC 26 November 2022
We hope for many return trips
Dear Penelope,
Back in NYC as of Sunday evening and Bali already feels like ages ago!
I wanted to write to you – again – to not only send a thousand thanks, but also to tell you a few things:
1. Bali Asli is absolutely spectacular – the view is amazing, the kitchen is gorgeous, and the architecture and decor is perfect. And the food…!!! Thank you for creating such a place.
2. Both you and Chef Dewa are the nicest people and completely make the experience personal and incredibly memorable. Both experiences – the cooking class + our babi guling adventure – were exactly (actually, better than!) what we were hoping for.
3. You have an amazing team on site. Everyone is friendly and welcoming. Chef Dewa, in particular, is knowledgeable, personable, helpful, patient, and so lovely. Please send him our very best.
We hope for many return trips!!
Warmly,
Elizabeth & Edgar
Shaked Lipszyc 19 October 2022
This is an experience!
This is more than a restaurant, this is an experience!
Glad we had the chance to come and get mind-blown!
It is definitely worth the price if you want to experience
an authentic meal in a perfect setting, don’t think twice.
Valerie Bronchart 18 October 2022
Translated by Google
A moment of serenity, charm and taste. Attentive staff,
you can appreciate the cooks at work all in a magnificent setting
even in the most remote corners of the restaurant.
Anonymous guest 27 September 2022
Best meal in Bali
We had the best experience at Bali Asli. The quiet location
and beautiful view of Mt. Agung were amazing. We ordered the sampler plate
and loved every bit of it! Each small dish was a delight.
Highly recommend this if you are in the area.
T.Thierriche 6 September 2022
Stunning restaurant a highlight for us
Extraordinary restaurant with an incredible view,
the waitresses are incredibly kind, a welcome at the top.
We first took the aperitif and we decided to eat there.
We let ourselves be guided and we took the 6-course formula (1 for 2)
to discover Balinese cuisine. It was simply divine,
fresh products finally everything we love.
We chatted with the boss Penelope who is absolutely charming.
I’m shocked to see some comments on the meals,
I think others should go and eat pizza or burger and fries somewhere else.
I really recommend this restaurant.
July 2022 Adelaide
Cooking Class was outstanding
As a special occasion to celebrate both of our July birthday’s we booked a culinary experience with Bali Asli, and wow…we were impressed from start to finish. Our day in the village trek, followed by a cooking class was truly amazing! Our host and chef was the wonderful Dewa. He is very knowledgeable and explained the medicinal and culinary properties of all sorts of vegetation we encountered on our trek. Our morning tea was served with a selection of traditional sweets in Pangi village. We saw rice being harvested traditionally by hand in the picturesque rice paddies. The cooking class was 10/10! Dewa explained the properties, taste and depth of each ingredient giving palate a workout. The professionalism of Dewa and his team was outstanding and everything was so well prepared and planned. Our ingredients magically appeared and everything was on hand. We learnt to grind a paste or “Balinese Bumbu” in a mortar and pestle made from volcanic stone as we overlooked its source, Agung. The Bumbu was then a base for further dishes we prepared and cooked. The interactive experience of preparing and then enjoying our lunch was amazing. We even received a few bonus take home goodies which was a nice touch. Bali Asli is a special place with stunning views and a serene atmosphere. Thank you to Penelope and her wonderful team for a memorable day. A highly recommended day out in Bali.
Yushy Zhou July 2022
The most incredible food with the most incredible view.
We found this little restaurant by accident……
Albis Acosta July 2022
Beautiful restaurant with wonderful food and drinks
There is artistry here. It’s a gem!
Rey Garrido 19 July 2022
Our experience far exceeded our expectations. Our guide and your top chef Dewa was the perfect guide and cooking class teacher. Our time in the market was so educational, interesting and fun. Our cooking class was the best cooking class we have ever experienced. It’s was fun, interactive and we all learned so much about Balinese traditions and customs and food preparations techniques. The entire staff was so kind and helpful and always providing us with new bits of information or explaining the ingredients of some new item. Overall, it was a wonderful experience and we would highly recommend it. We will post a good, positive review on google review or any other site you suggest. Thank you.
Charles Paoletti June 2022
Absolutely stunning restaurant. The view of Mt Agung is spectacular. All of the staff are so friendly and helpful. Can’t recommend enough.
Vanessa June 2022
A must try! Fresh grown ingredients from their own garden cooked beautifully with gorgeous flavours served by lovely staff with the stunning views of rice fields and Mount Agung.
Bert Crews May 2021
I come from Texas where chips and salsa are considered a meal. The chips and sambals here rate the same but why stop there? Of the two set menus (changes daily), I opted for the lesser, the campur, which came with a minced fish sate, lawar vegetables in peanut sauce, a fish pepes (like a custard wrapped in banana leaf), and grilled chicken in a complicated sauce. The menu is presented as a lontar, the traditional books printed on palm leaf. The views of Agung knock your socks off. The building …..well I could live there. I was given a tour through the kitchen and now I know how my life is incomplete. Several drink/cocktail choices; I had the lemongrass non-alcoholic punch. One of the most delicious and interesting places to eat in Bali. If you are even remotely in the area, Candidasa, Tirta Gangga, Besakih, even Amed – you must go here for lunch.
Tanya BC, March 2021
Incredible authentic Balinese cuisine, Lovely location and great staff.
The food was quality & delicious. I highly recommend!
Anroo N, March 2021
Great place in Karangasem! I would come back here again. Great quality of food, great service and amazing location.
Polina Ponomareva, 29 December 2020
Five Stars
I’d give this place 10 of 5. Probably the best place in Bali to try localfood. Amazing experience! I’ll recommend to visit this place to all my friends. Everything is amazing including the volcano view, the staff and of course the food. The quality of everything is just perfect!
Highly recommended
Catherine M, 23 October 2020
Beautiful Indonesian restaurant & amazing views
On your way to or from Amed, I highly recommend you take the road through Amlapura and stop for lunch at Bali Asli Restaurant. Beautiful house and terraces, amazing views and delicious food, don’t miss it!
Amazing lunch with the best view in Bali
This truly is a hidden gem in Bali, authentic Balinese food using locally grown ingredients and prepared in the traditional manner. Chef Penny has an obvious passion for the cuisine of her island home and you can taste it in every delicious mouthful.
The restaurant is nestled on the side of a hill with the most perfect view of Mt.Agung and the verdant rice fields between.
A visit to Bali Asli is a day trip and it is really worth adding a visit to the Lontar Museum before lunch, a fantastic experience and linked into your lunch as all menus are hand written onto Lontar palm. The whole area is a snapshot of traditional Balinese life and a world away from the tourist areas of the south.
If you are visiting Bali don’t leave without enjoying Bali Asli, the amazing food and the whole authentic Balinese experience.
jjBali, 28 May 2020
Amazing Experience
With friends had lunch there recently. Jane, Chef and Owner prepared a wonderful lunch.
Her specialilities is to cook locally sourced fresh produces. The 3 course lunch menu is perfect. I am not so fond of spicy food myself but whatever was served was deliciously flavoured.
The view is stunning! a place to visit whilst in Bali.
Ryan W, 20 May 2020
Bali Asli Restaurant
Definitely a worthwhile visit whenever you’re off the beaten path in Eastern Bali.
Fresh flavorful food, artful facility, beautiful view & excellent service.
Thank you Bali Asli for doing what you do.
Narina Exelby, 26 February 2020
Incredible!
Our meal at Bali Asli was superb. My partner and I have lived in Bali for seven years and it was beyond doubt one of the best we’ve had on the island. We shared two meals between four adults and there was more than enough (we felt guilty leaving some food on the plate). My mother-in-law doesn’t eat spicy food and she found the meal a perfect balance of flavours. My husband loves spicy food and enjoyed the spicy sambal that he added to his plate.
Be sure to try the “beer” on offer – between us we had the apple and chilli (which wasn’t hot but had a chilli flavour), the ginger beer and the jackfruit beer.
The service was excellent; the setting beautiful; the food exceptional – overall a really special experience and a wonderful treat for our family.
Herve G, January 2020
A Cooking Class at Bali Asli
A restaurant with a breathtaking view above the valley and the rice fields with the Mt Agung in the background. The journey starts at the Market to discover all the local veggies and spices. Back to the restaurant we prepared traditional Balinese dishes for our lunch. It was truly a learning experience. Thank you to all the Bali Asli team.
Keramas, Indonesia January 2020
Bali Asli is not to be missed!!
Bali Asli is an incredible place- from the beauty of the grounds, to delicious food, to the talent and graciousness of the staff. It was a truly unique and unforgettable experience!
James Stonebraker, New York December 2019
A Highlight
Of our 2+ week trip to Bali, our class at Bali Asli Restaurant was one of the highlights. I would highly recommend the class to everyone. It is super informative and a great introduction into the history and culture of Bali. When I come back to Bali, I will absolutely go back.
Nick-n-Heth, 11 Aug 2019
Great food overlooking a volcano
This place overlooks the volcano that many people wait to see at the Gates of Heaven temple. If you like food, this place is it’s own heavenly spot. The restaurant was recommended to us by our villa owner as she knows the restaurant owner. What a recommendation it was. Greeted warmly at the door and shown into a large room open to one side to show the views out to the volcanic Mt Agung. The decking beyond has in-built seating if you want to dine in the sun but we chose to sit at the huge tables in the main hall. About 1/4 of the space is given over to the cooking area where the skills of the chefs can be seen. The welcome drink was extremely good, with raw sugar cane used as a drinks stirrer. The bathroom is also open to one side which offers more interesting views than the traditional newspaper…
The restaurant offers cooking classes with a twist where participants are taken out on activities to collect ingredients that can’t be harvested from the restaurant’s own garden.
The food was a set menu for us and the main course came on a large bamboo serving deck lined with banana leaves. Each course was described by the waiter so we had an idea what we were about to munch. Allow about 90 minutes for lunch.
Practicalities: they take credit cards, the food can be made spicy or not, they serve alcohol (including nice home made beers), parking is on the road outside, they have a dog called Zorro who loves lazing in the sun, and there’s felt tip pens and temperamental WiFi to entertain the kids.
JW, 26 July 2019
A Cooking Class from the Gods!
Bali Asli is an amazing location to find out some of the basics of Balinese cooking. Located in sight of the slopes of Mt Agung, the setting could not be better.
Penny is both proprietor and head chef, and runs daily cooking classes. She is witty and informative, has no “patter” as such, and describes the dishes and the techniques used to achieve them with good attention to
detail.
We began with a visit to the market where we purchased a lot of the ingredients used in the cooking and also found out a lot about Balinese culture at the same time. And it was a lot of fun to boot.
And of course we ate the fruits of our labour. Which was delicious.
Warmly recommended! We will be back.
Fabienne and Lynne, 22 July 2019, Perth, Australia
What a fantastic day! Just outstanding.
First arriving at this stunning place – the Bali Asli Restaurant – with breathtaking views over rice paddies. And then the adventure through the village, fields and forests started. The multi skilled Penny is a walking encyclopaedia. Her local knowledge just about everything made the tour even more enjoyable and her ability to connect with the locals is truely remarkable. She clearly walks the talk and engages local people and buys their produces wherever possible. Sustainability seems not only a word but a lived value.
The visit at a cultural museum was genuinely informative with kind and exuberant staff.
Back at the restaurant we had to roll up our sleeves and after a crash course on the key characteristics of Balinese cuisine got to work! This isn’t a holiday camp where one gets to occasionally stir the pot only.
Great fun tasting the different roots and core ingredients. Then learning the techniques on how to mix, pound, stir and grill.
How to make chicken stick on lemongrass for sate; prepare the most delicious peanut sauce; create the flavours for vegetable salads; fold parcels for fish grilling and finally prepare a traditional Nasi Goreng. All phenomenally tasty. And the drinks were to die for.
My appreciation of the complexity and work involved in Balinese cooking grew exponentially.
Thank you Penny and staff for an unforgettable experience. I look forward to putting the purchased knife to practice.
venividivice, 18 July 2019, Ko Samui, Thailand
Very pleasantly surprised with both the service and the excellent quality of the food
We didn’t plan to eat here but happened to stop off at the Bukit Cinta viewpoint nearby at lunchtime. I was a bit concerned, given its tourist group orientation (how else could it survive in this location), that the food would be poor and overpriced.
So we were very pleasantly surprised with the friendly and efficient service and the excellent quality of the food. We weren’t particularly hungry, having had a large breakfast, so hummed and hawed about what to order until the waiter suggested that if we shared a nasi camphur type of dish they had on the menu it would probably be enough for us. I thought that was great service — the exact opposite of being ripped off!
And the food itself was super…fresh, appealing and accompanied by a mouthwatering selection of sambals.
The view is lovely too, by the way.
Trevor Crichton, 15 July 2019, UK
Wonderful Loos with Views!
Our group of sailing expedition tourists were taken here by our travel guide and what find! The restaurant is out of town and reasonably signposted up a narrow but well made road/lane. We were made very welcome by the owner- a British/ Australian lady called Penelope who came here many years ago for two years and stayed. She is an English trained chef who has converted to Balinese food.
She designed her restaurant in a traditional style and the open airiness works really well.
We had a set meal and not being an expert on Balinese food, it would be wrong to make any recommendations, but our impressions were exceptionally favourable and the food was plentiful and delicious. Service was impeccable and very efficient, but relaxed, so we didn’t feel at all pressurised.
One “must do” is to enjoy the toilets – they must rate as some of the world’s best “loos with views” as they look over the valley below and it paddy fields.
This is a real “fine dining” establishment but in a casual and very friendly atmosphere – certainly worth going to!
AKFam2011, 13 April 2019
Cooking Class and Lunch
Bali Asli’s cooking class is so much more! We learned about the symbolism of the offerings while we constructed our filled palm basket. We learned all about the spices and techniques of Balinese cooking. Penny shared her enthusiasm regarding traditional Balinese cuisine and we loved hearing her perspectives on becoming a chef, living in Bali and being an entrepreneur. And then the food, location and Bali Asli staff were all amazing! Highly recommend the cooking class (time was from about 10 to 2 including enjoying the meal you have created with Penny) and if you haven’t been able to do the entire cooking class, at least go out of your way to enjoy a leisurely and first class lunch at Bali Asli, you will not be disappointed.
UK Guests, 24 March 2019
In terms of the Bali Asli Experience Carrier arranged, Sarah said that she thought Brett was amazing, that he really knows Bali and was a fountain of knowledge. She said he could not have been more capable. She also thought Penny was fantastic and that overall it was one of the best food experiences she has ever had! Penny was an encyclopaedia of Balinese food and a joy to be around. Sarah also said that the location of Bali Asli was incredible and it takes you to the east of Bali which is a much less developed area which she really enjoyed. She said that if she knows of anyone going to Bali she will certainly recommend this experience to them and of course it will feature in her resulting coverage.
Natascha Valk, 4 March 2019
Penelope, we came (by pedal bike to the restaurant today from Villa Flow) to have lunch and I just wanted to let you know that it was the best food we have had so far this holiday. And what a views. Terima kasih!
Natascha
H HinMexico, 11 January 2019, Canada
“A Day in the Village experience”
Bali Asli arranged transport from our villa in Tulamben (roughly 45 minutes). The driver was on time, courteous and safe, and the price was reasonable. We were greeted at the restaurant with a glass of water and a cool towel – an excellent way to start the session.
The first half of the day included a walking tour of the local area where our tour guide/head chef/owner Penny provided information on the local community, the fruit, veggies and plants that grow in the area, and the different farming/irrigation techniques. Penny was very knowledgable, while also very easy going. She was very patient with all of our questions. It was refreshing to see and hear about how Bali Asli supports the local community.
The second half of the day was the cooking class. We were a group of 5 including two kids. My daughter (8) was appointed sous-chef and had just as good a time as all of us assisting with the cooking. My son (11) also enjoyed the class and declared the peanut sauce “legendary” – a very high rating indeed. It was very interesting to hear about the traditional Balinese cooking techniques and how they differ from those we’re used to in the west.
After all our hard work, we enjoyed a wonderful meal which included fried rice, chicken satay, salad, fish, and a pumpkin desert. Despite my lack-lustre descriptions, the food was very tasty, and with only 4 of us cooking and 5 of us eating, we still had left overs. The left overs were wrapped up in banana leaves, and provided in a recycled paper bag for take-away (no plastic! yay!).
Overall, we really enjoyed our day and felt that we received good value for the price. We will certainly recommend this experience to others!
Dodolocco, 25 November 2018
“Perfect”
We had a cooking class at Bali Asli during our Bali tour. The local chef patiently and professionally introduced us to the Balinese cuisine. We were shown how to use fresh ingredients and how to prepare a spice mixture, chicken satai, peanut sauce, nasi goreng, banana leaf fish, farnes salad and a pumpkin dessert. The self-cooked food we were allowed to take in a spectacular setting. For all those interested in cooking, I can absolutely recommend this experience! We were in private round two and it was just sensational! Thanks for this great experience!
Dani, 4 November 2018
A wonderful culinary and cultural experience
I did the walking tour of the village led by Penny, followed by a cooking class and lunch at Bali Asli. It was a wonderful experience that gave me greater insight into the local area, the people and the food of this beautiful part of Bali. I highly recommend it and would do it again.
Sightseer, 3 November 2018
Bali Asli Cooking School
A memorable experience from the time of pick up with a visit via the Amlapura Markets to arriving at Bali Asli Restaurant. What made the day extra special was Penny our Chef and the friendly staff. It’s a “hands on experience”, reaping the rewards of eating what we had prepared. The pace is relaxed, the location idyllic – Go try!
Tim, 27 September 2018, Huizen, The Netherlands
Recommended for lunch on the advice of Trip Advisor. What a top location with stunning views of Mount Agung (in good weather). The food is of very high quality. Operation is very professional. All this translates into high prices especially in relation to the rest of the restaurants in Bali. But definitely worth a go to eat. Do not forget to make a visit to the toilet………
Kathleen McFarlane Peacock, September 2018
Bali Asli amazing authentic Balinese style food and service, a must do if you want to experience real Bali style cuisine. Been twice now and recommend to all. Thanks to Penny and staff. The family had a great day.
Melissa, September 2018
Fantastic Cooking Class Experience
A big heartfelt thank you to Penny and all the beautiful staff at Bali Asli who welcomed us with open arms and shared their knowledge, authentic culinary skills and humour with us at “A Day in the Life of a Balinese Lady” cooking class.
The morning wandering the Amlapura markets with Penny was an incredible cultural experience. Then back at Bali Asli Restaurant to prepare our meal (set in breathtaking surrounds) we were immersed in the flavours, tastes and colours of this wonderful part of the world.
If you haven’t already – change your plans! Just include a Bali Asli experience (or two) in your travels, it’s an absolute must-do experience. You will love it!
Pamela Dolton, 4 June 2018
Exceptional food, with a view
About 10 minutes from Tirta Gangga, this place offers incredible food with a fantastic view. We had the Nasi Campur set, which is pricey at Rp155,000 ++, however it was delicious. We also got a free welcome drink and crackers with sambal which was very tasty. Fine dining with classic Indonesian dishes. It was a cloudy day which was a shame as we couldn’t see Mount Agung but the view over the rice fields was beautiful. Service was good – welcoming and very professional.
Torsten Gesche, 17 April 2018, Germany
Dear Penelope,
I just want to come back on our experience at Bali Asli on the 7th.
One word: awesome.
Chef Dewa took great care of us and explained a lot during our short trek. Really nice chatting.
A nice touch was start the cooking class with an introduction to several ingedients. Cooking itself was just gerat. Good choice of dishes (new ones and familiar ones) and we could cook by ourselves!
In a lot of cooking classes your are only watching. Here you are doing the actual work. Loved it!
Dewa apadted to our needs and wishes and we spend some hours of fun with him.
You can be proud to have such a ambitious employe. Congrats on that.
Best regrards from Germany,
Torsten and Nicole
P.S. By the way: our food was yummy 🙂
Ann Wakelin, 18 March 2018, Melbourne Incredible View
Our hotel in Karangasem recommended this place for lunch so we included it in a day tour. Great views of the valley and Mt Agung (the volcano). Interesting Balinese food with a variety of spices. You must pay a visit to the toilets as they have the best views. Our driver was totally honest and when we offered him money for his lunch and drink, he told us that the restaurant supplies this to him for taking us there. This is common in Bali so just be aware.
17 March 2018, Bremen Germany
We booked a private cooking class as a couple. We were picked up at 6.30 am at our hotel in Ubud and had a wonderful 2hour drive through fields of flowers and long the coast. Once we arrived the restaurant, we were greeted a one of the signature drinks (snakefruit and spices, you must give it a try!) which set the tone for a wonderful, unique experience. The view from the restaurant is breathtaking, by the way! We went to the market with Penny who was very patient to explain lots of useful knowledge about the ingredients. She is also very passionate about reducing plastic waste which I appreciate a lot!. Once back at the restaurant, we learned how to make the little flower baskets you see as offerings at temples and were introduced to Balinese ways of praying. This was a wonderful way to mindfully start our cooking journey. We ate the treats we collected earlier at the market and then were taught a variety of dishes using traditional tools such as volcano stone and complex combinations of local ingredients. We really appreciated that the basic ingredients of the dishes were already prepared so that we could focus fully on the instructions and carrying them out. Penny is incredibly passionate and committed with her lesson so that it was one-of-a-kind-experience. Once all the work was done, we got to enjoy our lunch with the best view ever. Do not miss out on Penny’s first class cooking and if you have the time, book the cooking class. We will come back!!!
Brad Fawcett, 8 February 2018, Dubai
Hi Penny.
Back home in Dubai and still pinching myself given the wonderful 5 days with 30 great friends at 3 gorgeous adjoining villas in Cemaggi for my 50th
Not a single complaint about a 3 hour bus drive both to and from Bali Asli. We did do Tirta Watergardens on the way home.
Everybody loved the views from your deck, the staff and more importantly the wonderful food and home made drinks they all enjoyed.
A first time of that sort of experience for quite a few.
Thank you for your hospitality, for engaging with us all to share the Bali Asli history as well as the history behind the menu we all enjoyed.
Again congrats that the investors have all been paid off and that wonderful place is all yours.
Hope your little baby across the rice fields goes back to sleep and business comes back in leaps and bounds.
Attached are some pics from our day. Feel free to use on your web page along with anything written in this email.
Hope to be back soon 🙂
Brad
PS. 27 adults and one child from Oz x 15, NZ x 5, Finland x 3, Poland x 1, Malaysia x 1, Czech Republic x 1, Mexico x 1 and the little fella born in the USA.
Benedicte Hansen, 25 January 2018, Denmark
Just letting you know that we had a fantastic day yesterday and our lunch at Bali Asli, topped all lunches we have had together so far!
Your staff were wonderfull!
I will write a review on Trip Advisor on the weekend.
I am sure my journalist friend will mention your “real bali” offer and will forward you the article (although in Danish ;o)
Hope to meet you soon,
Cheers and thanks again, Bene
Andrew Schmidt, 21 January 2018
★★★★★Excellent food, people and views.
Helen Gibson, 8 January 2018
Wow what a view. .simply takes your breath away. Food was fresh and simply delicious. Authentic baliense cooking done with flair. If you are in Amed , I highly recommend this restaurant. It is a little off the beaten track, well worth a visit.
Greg, 22 December 2017
Penny it was perfect. Beautiful lunch ? ? as always and the clouds attempted to clear themselves almost revealing the whole volcano for a little while. That is such a fantastic view over the valley!
We will definitely be coming over again so We will catch up with you then. I think Lorrie wants to do some shooting in East Bali so we might come over for a day or two or 3. We have an eye on staying in Sidemen. Beautiful looking place. Or perhaps even a night at Villa Campuhan. I think they are pretty quiet there at the moment.
It seems such a shame that everything is so quiet because of the ?!!!
Catch up soon.
Greg
Lucy Liu, – 26 November 2017
***** Great ambiance and fantastic view. Love the bamboo menu as well. Go for the big set menu!
HoFuchs, Berlin, Germany, – 20 November 2017
We did a 6 hour cooking class with Penni of Bali Asli in Nov 2017. After a very interesting shopping trip to a local market where Penni showed us heaps on all kinds of different fruits, vegetables, and Balinese foodie culture, we prepared our own Hindu offerings and learned how to pray in Bali Asli’s wonderful garden. On the marvellous terrace, Penni gave an intro into different tastes by using interesting examples like Balinese lime, tamarind, galangal, and kencur. Then, we prepared several pastes as bases for developing different tastes in the dishes we were about to cook. Working in parallel – thus intensifying the learning – we prepared chicken sate with self-made peanut sauce, seasoned marlin in banana leaves, nasi goreng, sweet pumpkin sachets, and fern-tip salad. After cooking, we had this wonderful menu on the terrace giving to beautiful rice fields, with the gorgeous mount Agung in the distance. Penni’s self-brewed ciders and the stunning cocktails are highly recommended!
P.S.: Mount Agung is not dangerous; the Indonesian authorities are very cautious and would restrict the area if necessary. Also, Bali Asli is ~10 km from mount Agung and situated on a hill.
Nicole Biscardi, September 2017
Hi Penelope,
I’ve been meaning to write you and drop a few lines of feedback. The cooking class with your Chef was fantastic. Such an exciting and memorable part of our trip to Eastern Bali. Your restaurant is beautiful, and we had the best time trekking throughout the hills with Dewa– he has a true passion for it, and is very much both guide and guru! I just wanted to say thank you, and let you know that we really enjoyed the day!
Best,
Nicole
Malicuddle, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, – March 2017
“Cooking class and amazing meal”
We had a short stay in Bali at the beginning of January, but our cooking class at Bali Asli was by far one of the biggest highlights of the trip. My husband and I were traveling with our 4 year old, and the sous chef, Mr. Dewar, was very understanding and patient about our experience being adjusted to her pace. We enjoyed a shortened walk in the surrounding rice paddies before digging in and beginning to cook. We learned so much and absolutely loved the experience. Moreover the food was outstanding, and the view was gorgeous. Don’t skip Bali Asli!
Petti, Tweed heads, Australia, – January 2017
About a 2 hour drive from Seminyak, we began our day at 8 am . We were accompanied by Penny, the owner and Executive Chef to local markets. Penny gave much detail about various foods in Bali and we purchased many of the ingredients for our cooking lesson. Penny is passionate about food and embraces true Balinese cuisine and culture. We learnt how to make Balinese offerings , we cooked a delicious lunch , which we later enjoyed . The day is very hands on and is highly recommended for those looking for the true Bali. The views from the restaurant, particularly of Mt Agung , are spectacular. Penny is vibrant and friendly and is obviously highly respected in the local community
Jim M, Melbourne, – January 2017
Well this food experience is hard to beat, Mt Agung in the near back ground reaching out to you will take your breath away. While you take some of the best scenic photos from your table or the huge balcony, the chefs will be preparing the tastiest authentic Balinese food you. The health drinks and home brewed fruit beers are a must.
The scenic drive is also wonderful, allow 2.5 hours from Ubud and book in advance.
Dear staff, thank you for you hospitality and care in welcoming us.
Definitely recommended
Elizabeth Travers, Bali, – 14 October 2016
Just back from the amazing weekend at Bali Asli boot camp in East Bali.
We ran, we swam, we jumped, we trekked, we cycled, we sweated, we hurt, we ate, we drank, we laughed and we survived!
Big shout out to the wonderful Penny Williams from Bali Asli for her expertise and enthusiasm in planning our whole weekend. It was an experience that extended my belief in myself and I did things I have never done before with a group of outstanding people.
Marta, Netherland, – 22 July 2016
Dear Penny,
We loved the cooking class. Everyone was very friendly and Dewa was amazing. My mum doesn’t speak english so I had to translate everything and he was so kind to speak slowly so I had enough time to pass all the knowledge to her. We loved the food, the ambiance and your Bali Asli family. We have learnt heaps. Thank you so much again!
Warm Regards
Marta and Family
Anna, Warsaw, Poland – 02 July 2016
Penny let me thank you for an outstanding service and make my Julia taste Bali although her strict diet restrictions.
We visited you with Gosia I will take all the tastes of Bali Asli back to Poland.
Heather, New Zealand – 13 June 2016
Good morning Penny,
I sit here back in NZ, contemplating the perfectly splendid day we had on Monday 6th June.
I cannot find enough superlatives. From the start, being picked up by Made, to meeting you at the market, to arriving at your wonderful home and school, to experiencing your special talent at interacting with us all and your staff, to learning the respect to have for the food, the super loos and the sharing of the food was just the best.
Serenity comes to mind.
Ava has shared her experience with her Dad with enthusiasm. She excitedly showed the photos, described the market and beautiful gardens and the friendly staff and how Penny, “the cooking lady is really really nice”.
Loved every minute. Thank you.
Love
Heather
Cindy, Bali – 10 May 2016
Hi Penny,
So happy. All went well. In the end Volker said I should be awarded an Oscar.
Volker speaks and understands bahasa very well so we had several close calls.
Gudih was really on the ball with diverting certain questions. Hahahah.
He thought we were going to visit a cave. Not until we stopped in front of the Jukung did he realize we were going on the water.
We caught together 7 fish. I caught 3. Only one was big enough to be eaten. It was so much fun, the sea was flat and peaceful.
Dewa was wonderful. His explanations were clear and interesting. He was relaxed and he speaks English well.
He took his time and answered all our silly questions. We were hopeless in folding the banana leaves and with a big smile and some teasing words he showed us again several times.
I have added some pictures you might like.
Susie, Sydney – April 2016
“Cooking with Love”
I had the best experience with the staff at Bali Asli. I started with fishing in the morning and then travelling to the restaurant where the view was to die for. The two guys who takes you are out are so helpful and make the experience worth while. I was travelling on my own and at first was unsure but Penelope the owner and staff make you feel very welcome. Then my passion, the cooking. I have never cooking food like this and I loved every minute and their welcome drink was the best I ever had lol. If you are going to be on the east coast make time to go there for lunch or just do the cooking class.
Sydney – 12 April 2016
“A richly rewarding day”
We chose to do the market tour plus cooking class and lunch. A great day. Picked up promptly at 8am from our hotel in Candidasa, we were taken to Amlapura markets where, over turmeric tea, we met our fellow travellers. We were guided through the markets in a leisurely but organised way, and then back into our transport and on to Bali Asli restaurant. A beautiful building, beautifully sited. The tour and class weren’t run by Penny on this occasion, but by the Balinese chef, who took us fluently and informatively through some key groups of ingredients – spices, rhizomes, vegetables. Then into our aprons and onto our knives. We prepared a number of dishes from scratch and either cooked them ourselves at the table, or watched the staff of the restaurant cook them for us, in the case of the sate lilit in a firepit on the restaurant’s terrace with its sensational view, a couple of exotic cocktails and we relaxed over lunch to enjoy the food we’d prepared and the company of the other “scholars”. A thoroughly enjoyable experience, highly recommended.
Derek, Adelaide – March 2016
“Hands down the best traditional food in Bali!”
I have been to Bali over 10 times and never experienced anything like this. You can go to many places and have a nice view, and the view from Bali Asli is certainly spectacular but the food is “next level amazing.” The location is a bit of a drive if your not staying in East Bali but totally worth it. I will be making the trip back to this amazing dining experience every time I travel to Bali from now on.
Francine Bleau – 19 March 2016
Hello Penelope,
Our day started very well with Made. He was on time and very polite. Then, we met your mentor, Dowa who showed us the market and then he explained all the vegetables and fruits we did not know about. He chose two knives that we bought as a souvenir for our sons.
We had a lot of fun cooking together and although you weren’t there, I can assure you that it was a superb experience we will never forget.
Many thanks to all the staff members that made us feel like family.
Truly,
Francine and Claude Bleau
Shanthini Naidoo – 10 January 2016
Shanthini visited Bali Asli in January 2016 and completed the ‘day in
the life of a Balinese fisherman’ and cooking class.
Shanthini says, “the cooking experiences at Bali Asli are just that
– a total experience, combining a great insight into Balinese tradition
and culture…….”.
“Thanks for a great time we really enjoyed it”.
Read Shanthini’s complete story on her blog
Chenxing Han, Taiwan, – 25 November 2015
Thank you for a wonderful day at Bali Asli
Dear Penny,
I came to Bali Asli last week with Sue Mace and a couple of her friends, and I just wanted to write to thank you for guiding us through such a beautiful, memorable day. It’s very inspiring to meet someone who is so passionate about her work, who has built an organization with integrity and love.
It was so interesting to learn about the local flora on our hike. I really enjoyed the cooking class and of course the delicious food. I’m much more aware of the flavors in my food now, and am looking forward to the new year when I’ll be able to resume cooking again and playing with balancing different flavors. (I’m at a Buddhist university in Taiwan for this semester, and our simple vegetarian meals are all provided by the dining hall, so I’m not able to cook.
I hope the flash drives work out well (the wood is so elegant!), and that Bali Asli continues to grow and thrive. I will be sure to recommend it to anyone I know who is headed to Bali!
Best wishes,
~Chenxing
Renee Tao, Los Angeles, USA – 20 November 2015
Hello Penelope.
The hike was challenging but was a great way to explore the beautiful mountain. I am glad we did it as the temperature definitely was cooler than Uluwatu. I am glad that we hiked up and took the stairs down as the stairs going up may have killed my knees. Pura Ayu was amazing and definitely a highlight to cap the end of a long hike. We did “cheat” a bit and got on the motorbikes at the bottom of the stairs. LOL. It was just too tempting.
Thank you for your advice and directing us towards this amazing experience.
Cheers,
Renee Tao
Madeleine, Australia – 23 October 2015
“Totally Delightful”
Hello Penelope
Back in the real world unfortunately. I just wanted to let you know that my friend Sue and I had a marvellous, instructive and totally delightful cooking day at Bali Asli. Pak Dewa was a great guide and cooking instructor…so calm, so helpful. Sue actually teaches Indonesian language and culture to primary school children and we have both visited Bali several times but we were able to stop, ask questions and take heaps of pics for Sue’s classes at the market so it was really useful.
Just beautiful surroundings and far away from the madding crowd! And great food as well.
I will try and return next year.
Madeleine Davis
Janey, Brisbane Australia – 05 October 2015
“Cooking with an AMAZING VIEW!!!!”
We left Sanur early to get over to Bali Asli but the easy (hour and a bit) drive was great to see a bit more of Bali. Just make sure your driver knows how to get there. Bali Asli called our driver the night before to make sure and give him directions. THE VIEW is amazing!!!!!! We did the day in the life of a balinese lady. We then took our own car down into the village and walked around the local markets. They were friendly and fun to watch and take some pictures. Our guide/chef took time to tell us about local fruits and foods. We got to taste different fruit and palm sugar rice treats. Great experience 30 to 40min walk around the market Then we came back and had coffee and tea with Bali treats on a plate (too much to eat) The toilet view is a loo with a view!!!! We then had a lesson on how to make blessing/offering flowers and learnt the meanings/symbolism. We given loads of water and refreshing drinks. Then we got started on learning how to make 7 different meals. we ordered beers and coctails during the meals aswell. (mocktails and juices were on offer) The chef was great – spoke fantastic english and told us different things we could substitute the ingredients if we didn’t have at home. We then sat down to eat all our food we made!!!!!! Such a great experience. Oh we got to keep the apron too.. The cost was a bit exie.$$$ but for what we got I would have paid the same. around $100 aussie we did have a couple of coctails and beers. Market walk, morning tea, cooking class, 4/5 course meal and apron! I would come back here and do one of the other experiences on offer – check out the website. Fishing would be fun.
Bill S, Sydney Australia – 23 July 2015
“The best cooking class and tour in Bali”
We did the market tour and class with Penny Williams. We were here at Bali Asli last year and couldn’t wait to return and of course we were not disappointed by this wonderful experience.
The market tour was fantastic fun and Pennys knowledge of all that is Bali, from the Hindu religion to all the types of food was just mind blowing. It was also great to see how she communicates with all the stall holders, she is quite a character! The class back at Bali Asli was immense so I recommend you have a small breakfast and don’t plan a big dinner that night.
The view across the paddy fields and up to Mt Agung is spectacular, book a tour and a class here, it is just the best, thank you everyone at Bali Asli, we love you, Bill, Duncan and Judy
Lucia, Perth – 5th April 2015
“A special place …you will never forget your time here….”
Bali Asli a beautiful restaurant nestled in the foothills of Mount Agung ….a hidden gem in small village of Amlapura…
The drive up to the restaurant is lovely… steps up to restaurant give nothing away …once inside the space opens out to a vast dining room built with wood and natural stone …one whole side of the restaurant is open and gives sweeping views …of rice fields and the mountain …very beautiful.
It is owned by Australian executive chef …Penny Williams…a wonderful person …very passionate about her food …here they cook real Balinese food using a traditional Balinese style kitchen…wood fired ovens ..and no electrical appliances for food preparation….
We had the best ever Nasi campur , served so beautifully like you have never had it before….it was truly delicious…..
Penny took time to come and welcome us on arrival and then chatted with us after we had eaten ….it was a very special afternoon….
Do yourself a favor ….put Bali Asli on your list of places to go ….it is a hard day to beat!
Megan Hooper – 14 January 2015
Hello Penny,
We had a fabulous time.
We were a little late – our driver got lost.
The walk was exhausting and fantastic at the same time.
My husband was hesitate at first but we have not stopped talking about it being a highlight of our trip – and we have been coming to Bali once or twice a year for 20 years!!
We will come again and will tell others the same.
Thank you for your correspondence.
Yours
Megan Hooper
PS: the food was fantastic.