Zest Ubud: 5 Plant-Based Dishes You Have to Try in Penestanan

The legendary Warung Sopa on Jl. Sugriwa has closed permanently, but Ubud still has a serious home base for plant-based food. Zest Ubud at Jl. Penestanan No. 7, Sayan, is a multi-level bamboo structure the team calls The Zest Forest, facing the dense treetops along the Penestanan ridge. The menu is one hundred percent plant-based and most dishes can be made gluten-free on request.

5 dishes most worth ordering

• Smoked Carrot Salmon Bruschetta — carrot smoked until the texture mimics smoked salmon, served on toasted bread.
• Tex-Mex Breakfast Stack — a stacked Mexican-style breakfast that keeps you full until midday.
• Sunrise Smoothie Bowl — the mango passion and strawberry peanut butter versions are ordered most.
• Caesar 2.0 and Curried Cauliflower Salad — salads that taste nothing like diet food.
• Ceremonial Cacao with a Snickers Love Bar — the crowd favourite way to finish.

The best time to visit

Zest opens daily from around 08.00 to 22.00, and the breakfast rush is usually the busiest stretch, especially on weekends.

• Arrive before 09.00 if you want an upstairs table with a view over the trees.
• Around 16.00 the room is calmer and the light is lovely for photos.
• Dinner fills up again from 19.00, so lock in a table beforehand.

Prices and how to get there

• Expect roughly Rp40–100k per person; mains usually run Rp70–120k.
• About 10 minutes by road from central Ubud, heading toward Campuhan and up into Penestanan.
• Jalan Penestanan is narrow with limited parking, so a scooter is far easier than a car.
• You can also walk in from the far end of the Campuhan Ridge Walk; wear comfortable shoes.

Practical Info & Reservations

• Location: Jl. Penestanan No. 7, Sayan, Ubud District, Gianyar. View on Google Maps
• Opening hours: daily around 08.00–22.00; check Instagram for changes.
• Price range: roughly Rp40–100k per person including a drink.
• Reservations: use the official Zest Ubud reservation page or the WhatsApp number listed on their site. Walk-ins are possible but it often fills up at meal times.
• Instagram: @zestubud

Staying in Ubud works out cheaper when you book the room through an AccessiaPass hotel voucher.