Pulau Ambon
The setting is great, with stunning views of Natsepa bay and a scattering of wooden cabanas shaded by coconut palms to eat in. The menu of grilled fish…
Must-see restaurants in Indonesia
Bukit Peninsula
Inside the shady bamboo bar built on stilts above the sand, the wraparound view through the drooping thatched roof is of a vibrant azure ribbon of…
Sumba
Set back from the main road in a walled compound, this open-air restaurant, complete with water feature and karaoke, has excellent versions of Indo…
South Sulawesi
This open-sided restaurant in front of Salassa Guest House offers delicious homestyle cooking (try the fish 'à la Salassa' with peppers and spices),…
South Sulawesi
A large, brightly lit and bustling place that's very popular with locals, Lesehan Jetpur offers authentic, inexpensive local food, including spicy chicken…
South Jakarta
This outdoor food court consists of a collection of food trucks and stalls; it's a nice hang-out area in the middle of Jl Kemang Raya, but the outlets…
Banda Aceh
Think bright lights, a shiny canteen and uniformed waiters piling endless plates of sublime masakan minang (Padang food) onto your table and you'll get…
Bandung
Nestled below the Bersih Spa is this worthy Japanese restaurant, which is part of an island-wide chain. The sushi isn't special, so stick to the bento…
Central Java
The tiny ocean-facing Indrayanti restaurant serves the catch of the day. With tables sunk in the sand, it's a pleasant spot to watch the sun go down. A…
Flores
Westerners are drawn to this rattan-walled, plastic-flower bedizened dining room with tire chairs out the front. It can be hit and miss, but you'll find…
Tana Toraja
Now with two to choose from, the original serves a mix of tasty local and international dishes, while Cafe Aras 2 (100m south) has a similar, but halal…
Pontianak
Not to be confused with Apollo to the left, the sign on which proudly states, 'Since 1968. Never moved.' Polo's sign retorts simply, 'Moved from next door…
North Sumatra
Berastagi’s local bohemians hang out at tiny Café Raymond, which serves fruit juices, beer and a mix of Indonesian and Western food (including steaks),…
Manado
Of the ikan bakar huts stacked along this stretch of the waterfront – famous for their cheap dishes – Tuna House is our favourite. That's not to say the…
Sumatra
Serving Italian-Indonesian fusion dishes and tempting cakes, this popular coffee-shop chain will also satisfy those with caffeine cravings with its wide…
Kupang
This is first-rate Chinese Indonesian food. It's spotless with an enormous range of veg, chicken, seafood, noodle and rice dishes. Get the ikan bakar rica…
Medan
This boutique little cafe with mosaic flooring and colourful booth seating has Melbourne-style breakfast items of avocado on toast and poached eggs to go…
Kuta & Legian
This popular patio fronts a busy strip at Double Six Beach. Sunset is prime time; the best views are from the tables on the 2nd-floor terrace. Dishes…
Labuan Bajo
This beach house-chic restaurant rambles beneath whitewashed rafters above a boat posing as a bar. Mains have an outdated fine-dining feel, but bubbly…
Sumba
This small restaurant with a wooden bar, tables and some rattan lounge chairs is plastered in framed quotes that will make you laugh and cringe. A pizza…
Sulawesi
It's all smiles and good-natured jokes (usually at your expense) at the night market which typically hosts a few dozen ladies selling all kinds of grilled…
Sumbawa
Dine cheaply at the night market, located in and around the soccer field. There’s fish and chicken sate, mie goreng (fried noodles) and nasi goreng (fried…
Flores
Long-running, popular place with a nice porch overlooking the rice fields. The special here is the Moni cake. The gado gado comes recommended and there…
Pontianak
D'Grill is a cosy little Korean-barbecue-style place with inviting alfresco cabanas at the side. Choose from beef, chicken, fish or shrimp and barbecue…
Kupang
Reserved for pork lovers, this local haunt is split into a concrete courtyard beside the open kitchen and a couple of tables inside on a shiny, tiled…
Maluku
Fronted by an ornamental longboat, this open-sided rumah makan doesn't stray from the repertoire of Indonesian staples, but it does those well. The nasi…
Kalimantan
Some of the best Chinese food in the city, served in air-conditioned comfort. It's known for its ikan jelawat (from 75,000Rp for two people), a river fish…
Ubud
This breezy upper-floor place offers a full range of vegetarian jamu (health tonics), all-day breakfasts, salads, sandwiches, thin-crust pizzas and gelato…
Sumbawa
The cleanest and most central Padang food depot in town. Pick and mix from an array of curried, baked and fried fish and chicken dishes. Note: it gets…
Central Sulawesi
For local specialities sugili (eel) and ikan mas (large goldfish), as well as spicy bat dishes, pull up a chair at one of the riverside rumah makan at the…
Kalimantan
This open-fronted roadside warung is a great place to try the local speciality, ketupat Kandangan (sticky rice cakes served with coconut milk and broiled…
Kupang
A tiny green pick-and-mix Padang-style warung opposite the army base. Choose from beef, chicken, fish, potatoes and greens either deep- or stir-fried,…
Central Java
In the middle of Krakal Bay there's a stretch of sand fringed with simple, sea-facing restaurants such as this, all of which serve more or less the same…
Ubud
The setting here is quite magical, with an ornamental koi pond and a rear dining area overlooking a little rice field. The food isn't as impressive, alas …
South Sulawesi
Potted plants outnumber giggling schoolgirls by only a slight margin at this open-sided upstairs coffee shop with a fine view of the gas station. It's…
Jakarta
A much-loved, open-fronted, no-frills outlet for simple Indonesian dishes, Bon Bin has been stir-frying up classics for over 50 years. The namesake gado…
Flores
A little soulless during the day, in the evening this spot makes for a reasonable dinner choice. The high-ceilinged, wooden dining room is decorated with…
West Kalimantan
This alfresco cafe occupies the riverside park near the bridge, making it a uniquely popular place to hang out with crowds of locals in the evenings. The…
West Java
This traditional-style restaurant specialises in ayam kalasan goreng (fried chicken with special herbs). Wash it down with a cold Bintang or a fresh fruit…
Sulawesi
Average food served in an outstanding setting: perched on a lonely rock standing out in the ocean. The associated Japanese-influenced guesthouse is…
