As a frequent traveller to Bali, I feel very privileged to be welcomed so often to The Island of the Gods. Bali is a tourist mecca whose stunning natural beauty, spectacular beaches and rich history draw visitors in droves. With a plethora of luxury 5 star resorts, upmarket bars and swanky restaurants, it’s easy to forget that Indonesia is a developing country. While tourists enjoy the spoils, many locals live below the poverty line and don’t have access to basic medical care. But one restaurant is looking to change that. Fair Warung Bale Ubud is tiny eatery using the tourist dollar to help those that need it most. On your next visit to Ubud, be sure to treat your taste buds to the extensive Fair Warung Bale menu and give back to the local community at the same time. Read on for all the details of Fair Warung Bale Bali …
So What’s Fair Warung Bale Ubud All About?
I’ve been to Ubud a few times on day trips but have only stayed in this incredibly popular inland town once. As first time visitors we turned to TripAdvisor for recommendations on where to eat. Fair Warung Bale Ubud piqued our interest immediately and was rated #25 of the 756 Ubud restaurants, but it was the comments that intrigued me most. Almost every single one of them mentioned what a fantastic cause this popular warung was supporting. I made it my mission to find out more. Fair Warung Bale is run by the Fair Future Foundation, a not for profit organisation dedicated to providing free medical care to those in need. Through their amazing work, the foundation treats more than 30,000 patients per year and they have just finalised construction of a brand new dedicated pediatric hospital. Much of this essential work is funded by the profits from Fair Warung Bale Ubud. Each meal sold provides medical care for two patients. Diners are able to leave extra donations after their meal to assist even further if they wish. We did! Over our two visits, the cost of our meals plus our donations provided essential care for 30 patients. That’s where the feel good comes in! While our contribution might seem like a drop in the ocean, imagine if every single one of Bali’s 5 million annual visitors helped just 1 person each. That would be enough to ensure Bali’s entire population of 4.3 million would have access to safe, reliable and free health care. It’s a lofty goal. Fair Warung Bale Ubud would need to add a truck load more tables to cope with the crowds, but it’s a challenge worth tackling. On top of the critical work being done to bring reliable free health care to the people of Bali, Fair Warung Bale Ubud also gives many disadvantaged youth a unique leg up in life. Fair Warung Bale is staffed by young people aged 14 – 22 who suffer from social, economic or medical difficulties. These young people are provided with a much needed job and an opportunity to learn skills that will be invaluable later in life. And despite their challenges these kids go about their duties with a huge smile of gratitude because someone saw their potential and took a chance on them.
Fair Warung Bale Ubud Overview
As soon as we heard about the amazing work being done by Fair Warung Bale Ubud we knew we had to visit. It seems that everyone else in Ubud had the same idea. It was so busy the first night we tried that we were turned away, but we did manage to score the very last booking at for the following night which was our last night in town. 6.30pm is not my ideal dinner time, but we took what we could get. We learned our lesson. When we returned to Fair Warung Bale recently as a group of 11, I made sure to book online well in advance. Fair Warung Bale is located in the heart of Ubud on Jl Sri Wedari just of Jl Raya Ubud. We arrived right on time for our first visit and climbed the steep stairs from the street to the entrance where a queue had already formed. Despite the early hour the dining room was bursting at the seams and we were guided to the last two stools at the narrow bench overlooking the street below. The middle of the compact space has two large tables which was perfect for our large group on our later visit. When there are no big groups dining in, smaller groups are seated together to make the most of the available space. Towards the back of the restaurant are traditional Balinese Bales (which I’m guessing is where the warung draws it’s name) which seat up to ten. The low tables and comfy cushions are the perfect place to relax over a lazy meal. The decor at Fair Warung Bale is reminiscent of a rustic cantina and the walls are dotted with an eclectic mix of knick knacks that provide lots of visual interest. The one downside of Fair Warung Bale Ubud is the bathrooms. Heading outside and through the gardens to track down the very basic bathroom was not ideal but I’m prepared to forgive this one miss on account of all the hits.
READ MORE ABOUT UBUD BALI:
Fair Warung Bale Menu
The Fair Warung Bale menu is huge! Eight pages in fact. The Fair Warung Bale menu is as eclectic as the decor. As you scan the pages you will notice lots of Indonesian favourites like Nasi Goreng and Cap Cay, most of which come in a tempe or tofu version for the vegetarians. Thai influences are notable throughout with curries and stir fry’s claiming a staring role. The sandwiches and salads and are ideal for the little ones, lunch or those looking for a lighter meal. The drinks menu is equally extensive and includes juices, hot beverages, beer, wine and soft drinks. Save room for a sweet treat from the vast dessert menu which includes crepes, pastries and pies. With such a noble cause on the line you would be forgiven for thinking that the prices at Fair Warung Bale Ubud might be inflated. They’re not! Mains start at just IDR50k and top out at IDR110k.
What We Ate At Warung Bale Bali
On our first visit it was just The Hubs and I for dinner. I’m a big stir fry fan and opted for the chicken with orange, mint, cashew nuts and rice (#15) for main. I hate seafood but The Hubs loves it. We never have it at home so he has to take the chance where he can. He ordered the red tuna filet with garlic butter, vegetables and rice (#8). We both ordered Bintangs which arrived rapidly but they could have been a little colder. Both dishes were sensational. Despite the substantial serving sizes we both decided to order dessert. Chocolate mousse (#58) for The Hubs and a crepe with palm sugar and fresh lime juice (#67) for me. We justified this by being able to help two more people in need. It’s my excuse and I am sticking to it!
Our second visit was nearly a year later when we returned for lunch with a bunch of friends on a day trip. We all piled into the 15 seater bus we hired from Bali Bus Hire. They picked us up right on time from our accommodation at The Club Villas in Seminyak and our first stop was at the Tegallalong Rice Terraces. All that trekking works up an appetite and we headed to Fair Warung Bale straight afterwards. The pace was much less frantic than our last visit during the dinner rush and we had the place almost to ourselves. I don’t know if it was a coincidence or planned but The Hubs ordered the #8 tuna again. The meal tasted just as good but the presentation was definitely superior the first time around. While I did go for another stir fry this time I opted for the chicken spicy cashew nuts with vegetables and rice (#14). I was expecting it to be like the Thai dish I have ordered hundreds of times before but it had a distinctly Indonesian twist. Not bad, just different. A friend ordered the prawns and the rest of the group opted for sandwiches. Of course we ordered garlic bread for Ms C. It was a little difficult to wrestle all their meals away (even briefly) to snap a pic but I did the best I could. Their wasn’t a clean plate in the house when we left to head to the nearby Ubud Monkey Forest.
The Final Word On Fair Warung Bali
If you are looking for a place with good food and good feels Fair Warung Bali Ubud is the place for you. It’s centrally located, the menu is vast, the food is delicious and you are giving back to the community with every bite. What’s not to love? Make your booking now!
What is your favourite restaurant in Ubud? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below …
Until Next Time …
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Disclosure Statement: This post is not sponsored. I paid for both my meals at Fair Warung Bale Ubud in full. The information in this article is based on my own personal experiences and has not been influenced in any way by the brand(s) featured. This post may contain affiliate links which if clicked may earn me a small commission on purchases at no extra cost to you.
Soraya says
The Fair Warung Bale in Ubud sounds delicious and I totally love that this place uses their profits to support a good cause. It definitely gives you even better feels when you know that the money spent dining here is going to a good cause, especially when it’s helping the people of Bali through providing free medical care. An 8-page menu filled with Indonesian favorites and some Thai influences does sound delicious, and I find the price point still quite good and comparative to many restaurants and cafes in Ubud. Definitely one for me to add to the list when I am in Bali again!
Amar singh says
Like you said quite rightly Bali is a tourist mecca with those spectacular beaches and rich history but to top it you throw in restaurants like this and you get the perfect destination. I woukd love to visit it and the extra mile they go with giving back to the community just makes it more worthwhile. The food seems to be outstanding and the ranking justifies it. Costs look sustainable for the quality and finesse of the warung bale Ubud and one I would surely visit if I was around.
Iulia says
What a wonderful review! I am so glad that there are still restaurants that try to give back to the community they are part of. And this does not make an exception. The food looks yummy! I have bookmarked this post for future reference as I have been wanting to go to Ubud for a while now! Thanks for sharing!
Yukti says
First of all, I must say that before booking for Bali, I have read all blog posts of yours from dining to staying. I would go for this restaurant in Ubud as Fair Warung Bale ranks 25th in 756 restaurants and also involved in noble deed like helping medical care. Chocolate Mousse looks very tempting and Crepe with palm sugar looks like Indian Paratha.
Annick says
Fair Warung Bale sounds like a great combination of both good eats and good deeds. I love restaurants that give back to the community and especially when the food is good too. And with a variety of foods, everyone in the group can enjoy something. I’m not a fan of fish either, although I love a good shrimp meal!
Medha Verma says
What a fantastic initiative – to provide medical care of those in need. I absolutely love Indonesian food and would be in favour of trying food in a restaurant that not only serves really great food but also is an NGO that helps the poor. Thanks for bringing this one into the spot light, I wish I had known about it before my trip to Ubud.
Blair Villanueva says
Its so unfair, your post is making me hungry! They all look delicious and this is the moment that you should throw the diet season, hahaha. I would love to devour them all.
umiko says
The order with prawn looks delicious. We were in Ubud about a month before you went there last year. If only I heard about this place. But the traffic was really bad at that time, so we just stopped at the first restaurant where we could park the car. I don’t remember the name of the restaurant, but the food wasn’t special at all.
Lisa says
What a great concept for a restaurant, and it’s so good to know it’s for a good cause. I loved the food in Bali, so I’d definitely make a booking at Fair Warung Bale Ubud. The 8-page menu is also impressive!