Murni’s Warung

Murni's Warung is one of the oldest restaurants in Ubud catering to visitors. It was opened in 1974 by Murni as a simple roadside warung, and it has grown over the decades into a restaurant spread across four levels that step down to the river's edge. The restaurant published a book, Forty Delicious Years, to mark its first four decades, and in December 2024 it was recognised with a Bali's Dining Legends award.

The menu concentrates on Balinese and Indonesian cooking, with some Western dishes added over the years. Balinese specialities include bebek tutu, a duck dish served with yellow rice, sambals, lawar and broth, and its chicken counterpart, tutu ayam. Other dishes include crispy pork belly, chicken tongseng, rendang, pork spare ribs, mi kuah noodle soup and opor ayam bakar, while ayam betutu and black rice pudding have also long been associated with the warung. The main menu is titled Fabulous Food at Local Prices, a fair summary of the approach. The drinks list includes a lemongrass drink and mint lemon tea, along with spirits.

The setting is a large part of the appeal. The dining rooms are arranged on different levels down the slope, and the tables on the lowest level, closest to the river, are the ones to ask for. Lunch is a good time to come, when the river and greenery are at their best; if you come for dinner, mosquito repellent is a sensible precaution so close to the water. Bookings can be made through the warung's online booking form.

Murni's is more than a restaurant. The same family business runs Murni's Houses, a small spa hotel, the Tamarind Spa, a shop selling crafts and gifts, and long-stay villas, and the warung also takes orders for birthday and wedding cakes. Prices sit in the mid-range for Ubud, and the menu works for families and for anyone wanting to try Balinese dishes in a calm, traditional setting.

Allow an hour to an hour and a half. The warung is on Jalan Raya Ubud, the main street through town, so it is easy to combine with sights in the centre such as Ubud Palace or Museum Puri Lukisan.