Cafe Lotus Ubud: Dinner Beside the Saraswati Temple Lotus Pond

Since 1983, Cafe Lotus has occupied the most iconic corner of Jl. Raya Ubud: a long terrace facing the lotus pond of Pura Taman Saraswati. At dusk the pink lotuses open in front of the carved temple gate, and a few hours later the courtyard behind them turns into a dance stage.

What to Order

The kitchen sticks to honest Indonesian and Balinese cooking rather than fusion. The most-ordered plates: nasi goreng, mie goreng, gado-gado, chicken satay, tuna-and-prawn spring rolls, and seafood in Balinese spices. For dessert, pisang goreng or crepes. Expect roughly Rp100,000–250,000 per person including a drink — fair for a setting like this.

The Best Time to Arrive

• 17:30–18:00 — the best light for pond photos, and pond-side tables are still free.
• 18:30–19:15 — an unhurried dinner before the dance performance begins.
• Morning (08:00–10:00) — a quiet alternative for breakfast; the lotuses are open and Jl. Raya Ubud is not yet packed.

About the Dance Performance

Balinese dance — Legong, Barong or a Ramayana episode, rotating daily — is staged in the courtyard of Pura Taman Saraswati, usually starting around 19:30 and running about an hour, on most days except Friday. Tickets are sold separately from your dinner bill, around Rp100,000 per person, and are bought at the temple gate (sometimes also available at Cafe Lotus). Arrive some 40 minutes early if you want a front row; first- and second-row seats usually carry a surcharge.

How to Get a Pond-Side Table

• Ask explicitly for a pond-side table when you book — there are only a few and they go first.
• For weekend evenings and high season, book a few days ahead.
• Turn up on time: reserved tables are normally released if guests are late without notice.

Practical Info & Reservations

• Location: Jl. Raya Ubud No. 14 (Puri Saraswati Dijiwa complex), Ubud — View on Google Maps
• Opening hours: daily 08:00–21:30 (last orders around 21:00).
• Price range: about Rp100,000–250,000 per person.
• Reservations: walk-ins are fine at quiet hours; for dinner, book through a restaurant reservation platform (e.g. Chope) or ask your hotel reception to call. Some premium tables require a deposit.
• Dance tickets: bought separately at the Pura Taman Saraswati gate, around Rp100,000 per person.
• Social: search on Instagram

So you don’t have to rush off after the final gong, book an Ubud stay voucher with AccessiaPass and sleep just minutes from this lotus pond.