Five to seven days lets you split time between the south coast beaches around Legian and Kuta, the Uluwatu clifftops, and Ubud's rice terraces without rushing. Traffic between areas can be slow, so fewer stops per day works better than a packed checklist.
Discover Authentic Bali: A Local Travel Guide by Mercure
At Mercure, we believe you shouldn't need a guidebook to feel like you belong somewhere. That's the idea behind Discover Local: since 1973, every Mercure hotel has been built around its neighbourhood, not just dropped into it — from the décor on the walls to the flavours on the menu. Step into any Mercure and our teams are on hand with the kind of tips you won't find in a guidebook: the market stall locals queue for, the bar where nobody speaks English, the walk that skips the crowds. They live here. They know. Discover Local isn't a generic city guide — it's a short, honest list of the restaurants, markets and neighbourhoods our own hotel teams actually recommend to guests, updated as the city changes around us. Below, you'll find our picks for Bali, an interactive map to help you find your way, and answers to the questions travellers ask us most. So — where will Discover Local take you?
Our map pins local favourites such as Made's Warung, Gong Jatiluwih and Montana Del Cafe, alongside our Mercure hotels.
Top 5 Things to Do in Bali
Uluwatu Temple
Perched on a limestone cliff above the Indian Ocean, this temple turns into open-air theatre at dusk. Get there before sunset for the kecak fire dance, and keep sunglasses and hats zipped away — the resident long-tailed macaques have quick hands.
Tanah Lot
A sea temple stranded on its own rock, cut off from the mainland when the tide comes in. Time it for low tide to walk right up to the base, then stay for sunset — the silhouette against the water is one of Bali's most photographed scenes.
Tegallalang Rice Terraces
Ubud's stepped green paddies still run on a centuries-old subak irrigation system. Go early to beat the tour buses and the heat, and walk down into the terraces instead of just shooting from the top road.
Jimbaran Bay seafood grills
Tables get set up in the sand as the sun drops. Order whole grilled fish or prawns rubbed in sambal matah — raw shallot, lemongrass and chili — and eat with your fingers, waves a few metres from your chair.
Legian sunset beach walk
Late afternoon, the beach in front of Legian and Kuta fills with surfers paddling out for last light. Grab a spot on the sand or a beanbag at one of the beach bars and watch the sky turn orange over the Indian Ocean.
Explore Bali's Best Local Spots with Our Interactive Map
What's on the map in Bali
We've mapped local spots across Bali, from legendary warungs to tables facing rice terraces and volcanoes.
Local institutions
Warung Mak Beng
Family-run since 1941, serving one signature meal: crispy fried fish with a fiery family-recipe sambal, steamed rice and a light fish-head broth. The setting is simple; the flavours are why you come.
Sanur · Warung · Perfect for authentic Balinese food
Made's Warung
What began in 1969 as a roadside stall is now a Bali legend, serving nasi goreng, gado-gado and nasi campur. The original Kuta branch is a 10-minute walk from our Mercure Kuta Bali; Seminyak adds live Balinese dance and music.
Kuta (10 min walk from Mercure Kuta Bali) and Seminyak · Restaurant · Made for Indonesian classics
Ayam Betutu Men Tempeh
Chicken marinated in spices and slow-cooked until tender, with rice, crispy peanuts and water spinach. Ni Wayan Tempeh's recipe hasn't changed since 1978 – fried or braised?
Bali · Restaurant · Great for spicy Balinese chicken
Gusto Gelato
A much-loved artisanal gelato shop in Seminyak, where the Indonesian team plays with local ingredients such as turmeric, coconut and passionfruit.
Seminyak · Gelato · Perfect for a sweet break
Dining with a view
Gong Jatiluwih
In the UNESCO-listed Jatiluwih rice terraces, Balinese, Indonesian and Western dishes with local ingredients, at open-air tables above the paddies. Book online or ask our Mercure team.
Jatiluwih · Restaurant · Made for rice terrace views
Montana Del Cafe
On a Kintamani hillside facing Mount Batur volcano: breakfast, specialty coffee and fusion dishes. It opens at 6am – ask for a lower-level table for the view.
Kintamani · Café-restaurant · Perfect for sunrise and volcano views
Bali International Golf restaurant
After a session on one of Bali's premium driving ranges, local and international dishes and cocktails, indoors or out. Non-golfers welcome.
Bali · Golf club restaurant · Great for groups of friends
The Kelusa
An open-air restaurant wrapped in jungle and rice paddies, where chef Iwan Sutrisno reinterprets Balinese classics such as duck.
Ubud area · Restaurant · Ideal for a special meal
Temples & nature
Taman Beji Griya Waterfall
A 25-metre waterfall among rice fields, whose waters are believed to heal and fill pools used for spiritual cleansing rituals.
Waterfall · Perfect for nature and spirituality
Tanah Lot
A 16th-century Hindu sea temple perched on a rock offshore, about 20 km northwest of Kuta. Be there for sunset.
Southwest coast · Sea temple · Made for sunset
Tirta Empul
A temple to Vishnu whose holy springs feed a large purification pool – a living pilgrimage site. Respect the rituals and look around.
Tampaksiring · Water temple · Great for culture
FAQ
They sit side by side and share the same beach, so it's less about which and more about pace — Legian is generally quieter than Kuta while still close enough to walk into Kuta's shops and nightlife in minutes.
Performances are timed around sunset, so arrive at least 30-45 minutes early to get a seated view of the cliffs before the show and the light both peak together.
Try the fried fish at Warung Mak Beng, a family institution since 1941, or the spiced slow-cooked chicken at Ayam Betutu Men Tempeh, whose recipe dates from 1978.
Gong Jatiluwih sits in the UNESCO-listed Jatiluwih rice terraces, with open-air tables overlooking the paddies.
Montana Del Cafe in Kintamani faces Mount Batur and opens at 6am for coffee and sunrise views.
Where to Sleep in Bali
These Mercure hotels appear on our map:
- Mercure Bali Legian
- Mercure Kuta Bali
- Mercure Resort Sanur