No Bali trip is complete without a sojourn to Motel Mexicola. The lively bar and eatery with outposts in Seminyak and Canggu is set to open its third and biggest venue on the limestone cliffs of Uluwatu, trading a Mexico City energy for the wild, sun-baked spirit of Baja California. Expect a 21-metre bell tower, an open-fire asador turning out whole char-grilled snapper in salsa verde and a taco line-up of birria beef cheek and lamb barbacoa. Margaritas come frozen, mezcal-laced or spiked with guava and chilli liqueur. Jl. Kayu Jati No. 9X, Kerobokan Kelod, Seminyak; Jl. Pantai Batu Bolong No. 117X, Canggu; Jl. Pantai Bingin No. 08, Uluwatu; motelmexicola.info

Follow the crowds to The Lawn, arguably Canggu’s most popular bar, to attend Skool. Overlooking the sand of Batu Bolong beach, Skool shares similarly impressive views with its downstairs neighbour, partnering on a menu which celebrates cooking over fire. Think hay-smoked kingfish, woodfired gnocchi in brown butter, flame-licked whole organic chicken and charred greens. The cocktail menu is heavy on sours, but it’s the Skool Martini (gin, two types of vermouth and the tropical sweetness of pineapple) which is the stand out. projectblack.co

Shelter may be in one of Bali’s busiest hubs, but it feels a world away. Tucked under a canopy of foliage in a candlelit, traditional Javanese open-sided hut, this gorgeous restaurant plates up a Middle Eastern and Mediterranean menu by Stephen Moore, who clocked up time in Australian icons like Rockpool and Icebergs before landing in Bali. There, he prepares laden flatbreads, flame-grilled skewers, wood-roasted seafood and salads laced with labneh and tabbouleh. If you’re on-island for one of the cult Shelter Sessions, don’t hesitate. Jl. Pantai Pererenan, Pererenan; shelterbali.com

Covid saw chef Will Meyrick’s vibrant eatery Billy Ho close indefinitely but by late 2024 it was back, with a new identity as a late-night Asian interpretation of Brazilian botecos (neighbourhood bars). Dishes still embrace a distinctly Asian edge, but the focus has moved to dinner, DJs and late night nibbles. Lunchtime offers bottomless sushi and dim sum, with nighttime introducing the Robata grill, ramen and larger share plates such as flame-grilled fish with your choice of sauce and accompaniments, from homemade hoisin sauce to curry leaf butter. Pantai Batu Bolong Street, Canggu; billyho.co

Born in a Javanese-style joglo villa on a busy Berawa thoroughfare, Ulekan is named for the traditional Indonesian pestle used for grinding spices. Run by the uber-popular Milk & Madu Group, Ulekan’s success inspired a second outpost in North Bali’s Munduk. In both locations, expect similar delicious fare; sate cooked over rambutan and coffee wood, rich rendang sapi curry, and fish grilled in banana leaves, with ample sambal options on the side. Ulekan Berawa has also just introduced the area’s only Indonesian breakfast service. Jl. Tegal Sari Jl. Pantai Berawa and Jl. Pura Puseh, Dusun Beji, Munduk; ulekanbali.com

‘A nod to the senses’ is how Bar Souvenir’s bio reads. It’s an apt description for the small but mighty watering hole, a stylised den which sits hidden within co-working space Kinship down a quiet gang. The cosy establishment serves natural wine, sake and snacks, alongside a seriously creative contingent of cocktails, with walk-ins welcomed and reservations via Whatsapp. Gg. Jalak VIB No.4, Berawa; sensesbepraised.com

A temple to Indonesian cuisine, Hujan Locale is another from Will Meyrick – one of Bali’s most prolific and influential restaurateurs. Farm-to-table practices prevail on the menu, which hews towards the traditional in dish and the local in ingredient, inspired by the chefs’ two-decade immersion in the food cultures of the island nation. Picture the likes of Javanese slow-cooked beef cheek with crispy sweet potato, smoked and roasted Balinese Peking duck, and the Maluku Islands’ answer to tuna ceviche. Island-inspired cocktails hum with flavours like calamansi citrus, lychee and lemongrass. Jalan Sri Wedari No.5, Ubud; hujanlocale.com

Another Ubud member of the Will Meyrick family, Honey & Smoke is a unique venue which merges speakeasy with smokehouse. Housed in a vintage railway carriage, the 1920s theme weaves its way through both the interiors themselves and the menu (especially when it comes to cocktails). But front and centre is the chargrill, with fire the key focus for food, from mains right through to dessert. Jl. Monkey Forest No.67B, Ubud; honeyandsmoke.co

In the heart of Canggu sits the sleekly styled Masonry, first opened as Mason in 2018 in the early days of the Brett Hospitality Group’s forays in Bali. The latest incarnation of this adored restaurant is to be found in Uluwatu, with a menu again crafted by chef Ben Cross, a longtime member of the Ku De Ta team, who focuses on contemporary Australian fare and wood-fired wonders. Come for the pomegranate margaritas (the house specialty) but stay for the seriously indulgent wood-fired bread pudding. Jalan Labuansait 10, Pecatu and Jalan Labuansait 10, Jalan Labuansait; masonrybali.com

Natural wine has well and truly made its mark on the island, with Bali’s first natural wine-devoted bar Mosto leading the charge in 2022. It’s an intimate eatery that wouldn’t be out of place in any Aussie capital with its winning combination of Italian bites, specialty cocktails, and rotating selection of natural wines sourced from around the globe, many of which can’t be found anywhere else on the island. Jl. Pantai Berawa No.99, Berawa; mostobali.com

Bar Vera comes courtesy of the same crew who are behind the island’s much adored Masonry restaurants. This industrial-style eatery sits within the equally stylish Further ID hotel in bustling Pererenan, and takes inspiration from French bistros and wine bars with its lengthy array of tipple and small plates, which include steak tartare (partnered with sambal of course). Jl. Pantai Pererenan No.84, Pererenan; barverabali.com

One of Bali’s most instantly recognisable names, Desa Potato Head is no stranger to decent food. Among its bounty of venues is Kaum, overlooking Petitenget Beach. With a name that translates to ‘clan’, recipes are plucked from hundreds of islands across the Indonesian archipelago, embracing ingredients and techniques found far off the tourist trail. You’ll discover traditional favourites like gado gago, ikan bakar and rendang among plenty of lesser-known dishes such as spicy Aceh duck curry and Javan grilled king prawns. Enjoy your feast from the sleekly styled rooftop terrace. seminyak.potatohead.co

Uluwatu’s dining scene has become one of the best on the island – if you needed proof, just consider the arrival of the second outpost of Canggu fixture Yuki on the craggy Bukit Peninsula, south of Kuta. Yuki is a haven of modern Japanese cuisine, from sashimi and sushi to specialty woodfired yakimono offerings and steak. Under the thatched rooftops of these laid-back, open-air eateries, you can tuck into traditional claypot rice, maki rolls or a bento box of menu highlights, while sipping on a curated collection of saké and saké-based cocktails. Jl. Pantai Padang-Padang, Uluwatu and Jl. Pura Dalem, Canggu; yuki-bali.com/uluwatu

Owned and run by the local young guns of Bali’s hospitality scene, Fed by Made is a Seminyak-based venue to watch. A seasonally changing set menu is the specialty here, with contemporary-style dishes served alongside a run of killer merch. Jl. Kunti I No.117, Seminyak; linktr.ee/fedbymade

Vegetarians will want to hot foot it to the veggie-forward fine diner Tanaman, which sits within the hub that is Desa Potato Head. Describing itself as an ‘experimental, multi sensory, plant-based, farm to table space’ this venue is otherworldly in every sense, with dishes involving the likes of wingbeans and cactus, plated up within completely blue angular interiors. Ground Level, Desa Potato Head, Jalan Petitenget No.51B, Seminyak; seminyak.potatohead.co/feast/tanaman