When Travel + Leisure announced Bali as the Best Island in Asia for 2025, it came as no surprise to those who’ve wandered its quiet rice fields, watched its ceremonies at dusk, or shared stories over a plate of food that tastes like home.
From Ubud’s jungle hills to its coastal rhythms, Bali has always been more than a destination — it’s an experience shaped by culture, community, and craft. And nowhere is that essence more deliciously expressed than through its food.
Among the island’s emerging culinary voices, Spice by Blake stands out as one of the true reflections of Bali’s evolution — modern, rooted, and unmistakably Indonesian.
Bali Best Island That Continues to Inspire the World
Bali’s recognition as Asia’s Best Island 2025 reaffirms what travellers have always known: this is a place that nourishes all the senses. The award celebrates not just Bali’s scenery, but its people, artistry, and traditions that continue to thrive while embracing innovation.
From sunrise on the east coast to Ubud’s candlelit dinners, Bali represents a balance that few places on earth achieve — a mix of serenity and spirit, creativity and calm.
And that balance runs deep into the island’s kitchens.
The Rise of Modern Indonesian Cuisine
In recent years, Bali has become the epicentre of Indonesia’s culinary renaissance proving how deserving Bali is as the best island in Asia. While the island has long been home to international chefs and five-star resorts, there’s been a shift — one led by a generation of chefs who look inward rather than outward.
Instead of importing trends, they’re re-discovering roots.
Spice by Blake, led by Chef Blake Thornley, embodies this movement. Nestled in the heart of Ubud, it’s more than just a restaurant; it’s a story of Indonesia retold through spice, texture, and technique.
Here, the past isn’t replicated — it’s reimagined. Rendang becomes tender beef cheek slow-braised to perfection. Rujak transforms into a delicate cured kingfish with pomelo. And the familiar scent of turmeric and lemongrass arrives in unexpected forms — a golden sauce, a subtle infusion, a whisper rather than a shout.
This is modern Indonesian cuisine: respectful of its heritage, fearless in its creativity.
Why Ubud Is the Beating Heart of Bali Best Island
While Seminyak and Canggu may shine for their beachside appeal, Ubud has quietly become Bali’s most soulful culinary destination.
It’s where fine dining meets philosophy, where restaurants are as connected to the land as they are to the plate. Here, ingredients aren’t just sourced locally — they’re celebrated for their stories. Farmers, artisans, and fishermen are part of the creative dialogue.
At Spice by Blake, the connection between nature and nourishment is tangible. The open kitchen buzzes with life; spices are toasted, sauces simmer slowly, and plates emerge like small artworks — each one crafted with precision, yet never losing its warmth.
It’s a place that captures what makes Bali the best island in Asia: authenticity wrapped in elegance.
Flavours That Speak Indonesia’s Language
Every dish at Spice tells a story that goes beyond ingredients.
Take the Beef Cheek Braised in Rendang Spices — it’s not just a reinvention of a classic; it’s an exploration of depth. The rich coconut base is reduced over hours until velvety, balanced by a hint of acidity that keeps it modern.
Or the Duck Nuggets with Turmeric and Lemon Dip, which playfully reimagine comfort food through an Indonesian lens. Each bite is crispy, aromatic, and familiar — yet unlike anything you’ve had before.
The Cured Kingfish with Pomelo and Rujak Sauce offers freshness in contrast: a reminder of tropical markets, the sweetness of fruit meeting the heat of chili, re-shaped into something precise and poetic.
This balance — between nostalgia and novelty — is what defines modern Indonesian cuisine, and Spice by Blake does it with confidence.
The Bar: A New Language of Spice
What sets Spice apart from many Ubud restaurants is that it’s not only about food — it’s about rhythm.
The bar carries its own philosophy: every cocktail mirrors the kitchen’s dedication to local ingredients and creative technique.
Here, spice isn’t a garnish — it’s a heartbeat.
Take the Snake in a Jar — a bold mix of chili, snakefruit, and coconut kombucha with Karu Sotju (25%), fiery and tropical all at once. Or the Island Tribe, a lighter, aromatic blend of kalamansi, kaffir leaf, and gin that captures Bali’s bright, effortless side.
These aren’t drinks to rush. They’re crafted experiences, designed to linger — much like the island itself.
The Spirit of Togetherness
One of the reasons Bali continues to win hearts is its spirit of hospitality — the way it turns strangers into guests and guests into friends.
At Spice, that same warmth flows through every interaction. The team remembers names, preferences, and small moments. The open kitchen encourages conversation, laughter, and curiosity.
It’s a restaurant where you can come dressed up or casual, with friends or solo, and still feel like you belong. That relaxed sophistication is what makes Spice by Blake a microcosm of modern Bali — unpretentious, generous, and full of life.
How Bali’s Recognition Reflects Its Culinary Future
Being named Asia’s Best Island 2025 is more than an accolade; it’s a reflection of what Bali stands for — a living culture that adapts, evolves, and continues to inspire.
Food plays a central role in that identity. As sustainability becomes a global priority, Bali’s chefs are leading by example: supporting local supply chains, minimising waste, and re-defining luxury as something meaningful, not just material.
Restaurants like Spice by Blake are part of that movement. They prove that a memorable dining experience doesn’t need to rely on imported ingredients or distant concepts — it can be built from the spice gardens, markets, and traditions that already thrive here.
Where to Eat in Ubud: A Taste of Bali’s Best Island Spirit
If you’re visiting Bali to experience why it’s been named Asia’s best, Ubud is where that title comes to life.
Start your morning with a walk through Subak Juwuk Manis rice fields, let the calm of the jungle guide your day, and as evening falls, make your way to Spice by Blake.
Set on Jl. Monkey Forest, the restaurant captures the pulse of Ubud — vibrant yet intimate, playful yet precise.
It’s the kind of place that embodies what Bali’s award celebrates: an island where tradition and creativity coexist, and where every flavour tells a story of the land and its people.
In the End, It’s All About Connection
Bali’s beauty lies not only in what you see but in what you taste, hear, and feel. The rhythm of the island runs through its ceremonies, its landscapes, and yes — its kitchens.
And as long as there are places like Spice by Blake, that rhythm will continue to evolve, inspiring travellers and locals alike to rediscover what makes Indonesian cuisine so extraordinary.
So while awards like Best Island in Asia remind the world why Bali shines, it’s restaurants like Spice that keep its light alive — one dish, one story, one evening at a time.
Plan Your visit
Spice by Blake
Jl. Monkey Forest, Ubud, Bali
spicebali.com
+62 812-3458-6169
Open daily from 4 PM until late.
Reservations recommended for dinner service.
