Bali Honeymoon Guide: How We Spent a Week in Ubud

What’s Up, Hungry People

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to join my husband on a trip to Indonesia! This wasn’t just any trip, though—it was the perfect chance to finally take the honeymoon we had been dreaming of for two years. The pandemic had put our plans on hold, but when we found out his company was sending him to Southeast Asia, we knew it was time to turn this work trip into something special.

The first part of our journey took us to Jakarta, where we explored the city’s bustling malls and sampled all the local eats we could find. But even as we indulged in everything the Big Durian had to offer, our minds were on the next leg of the trip: Bali. We had been looking forward to this weeklong escape, where we’d trade the city’s skyscrapers for serene rice fields and tropical beaches.

When the time finally came, we hopped on a plane, flew past a few volcanoes, and landed in the paradise that is Ubud. The moment we arrived at the Adiwana Unagi resort, tucked away in the lush hills, we knew this was going to be an unforgettable experience. From the breathtaking views to the peaceful ambiance, Ubud was everything we had hoped for—and more.

Welcome to Ubud: A Slice of Paradise

Tucked up into the rice field hills and away from the bustling city center of Ubud is a little slice of paradise. I mean, the entire place is paradise, but this place almost seems unreal. The walk to our room felt like it was straight out of a fairytale.

Plus, it was fun to say “salamat pagi” to the koi every morning.

The view from our room was even more unreal—overlooking a picturesque jungle hillside and an infinity pool inspired by the neighboring rice fields.

Mornings at Adiwana Unagi: A Delicious Start

Every morning, we ordered room service from the attached restaurant for breakfast.

For our first morning, my hubby had the ultimate chicken brunch with a pan-fried chicken roulade, a fresh salad with poached egg, honey mustard vinaigrette, and bumbu Bali powder on the side.

I am obsessed with eggs benny of any kind, so when I saw the “my mom Benedict”—yes, that is the real name—I knew I had to try it.

Two thick and crispy English muffins are topped with ham, a perfectly poached egg, and baked tomatoes with hollandaise.

All of the breakfasts came with fresh fruit that was so vibrant and so sweet it was like tasting what fruit is supposed to taste like for the first time. You also get a side of fresh croissant and butter and jelly.

All in all, it was a fulfilling way to start out each day of adventuring.

Exploring Ubud: The Monkey Forest and Tegenungan Waterfall

After breakfast, we took our hotel’s shuttle to the center of Ubud. One thing to know about Bali—and most of Indonesia, for that matter—is that traffic is going to be a thing.

So make sure you prepare extra time for any slowdowns along the way to your destination.

Our first priority was the Ubud Monkey Forest—a beautiful rainforest temple that is home to hundreds of long-tailed macaques.

Tucked beneath the kapok trees is a sanctuary for the local monkey population and tourist destination—but it is also home to three functioning Hindu temples: the Padangtegal Great Temple of Death, the Beji Temple for Bathing, and the Prajapati Temple for Burial.

There are monkeys everywhere you look—and plenty of photo opportunities as well. For $3, it was absolutely worth it for these shots!

The macaques have little to no fear of the humans gawking from nearby, but you definitely should not try to reach out and touch them without a temple guide’s assistance.

While the macaques are pretty distracting, we made sure to take in the beauty of the Adiwana rainforest that the monkeys call home. Between the waterfall gorge below and the towering canopy above you, this is truly a place where you can feel at one with nature.

My absolute favorite part about the Monkey Forest was the central pool. Here the monkeys splash around and even swim underwater. They also loved playing on a long branch overhanging the water—clearly a game of chicken or king of the hill—where the loser winds up in the water below.

After the Monkey Forest, we caught a cab to the Tegenungan Waterfall in the village of Kemenuh. Here the Petanu River flows through a large gorge and creates a spectacular waterfall.

Lunch at Omma Restaurant: A Perfect Refuel

Bali is known for its beautiful waterfalls, another one of which falls behind us in the Omma Restaurant and Day Club.

Getting down to the waterfalls is a little bit of a hike, so at this point, we were beyond starving. For my lunch, I got the Japs prawn sandwich, which was crispy tempura prawns served on an open-face baguette and topped with sambal and katsuobushi.

I was also quickly becoming obsessed with Aperol Spritz—something which I recently had for the first time in Little Italy in Cleveland—and was pleasantly surprised to find it was common on many menus here in Bali.

My hubby had the chicken melt sandwich, which came on a toasted brioche and was stuffed with egg omelette, spicy cheese, and marinated chicken, and of course, a cold Bintang on the side.

Then for my dessert, I got a dragon bowl, which is similar to what we would think of as a smoothie bowl in the United States. My bowl was packed with frozen mashed dragon fruit with yogurt and topped with berries, banana, granola, and shredded coconut. It was the perfect way to cool off on a hot afternoon.

Returning to the Resort and Dinner at Tablespoon Bistro

Afterward, we grabbed a cab back to the resort. Driving through the city never disappoints. And once you start getting away from the city, the streets fade away into rice fields and residential homes.

We arrived at our resort – which actually has a sister resort across the street called the Adiwana Sueweta. Here there is restaurant called the Tablespoon Bistro.

Here I had barramundi for the first time. Served in a lemon butter cream sauce and served with slices of fresh radishes, tomatoes, and spinach with potato and leek. The fish was perfectly tender in a creamy but tangy lemon sauce—it was hands down one of the best things I have ever eaten.

My husband opted for the Indonesian satay platter, which had Balinese fish satay, beef satay, and chicken satay served with sambal and Thai sweet chili sauce, pickles, and rice.

Another Day, Another Delicious Breakfast

I was back at it again the next morning for breakfast, where my hubby went simple with the duo croissant and scramble, and I went extravagant with the cantik manis french toast that came with berry jam, dulce de leche, crunchy granola, exotic pandan custard, and vanilla bean ice cream to top it all off. We wanted to fill up before another full day of exploring.

Ubud Palace and a Day of Sightseeing

We started the morning off at the Ubud Palace in central Ubud. The palace is small, but everywhere you look, there are beautiful and intricate demon faces and monkey gods carved into the stone. The palace is free to visit, but I recommend you get there early like we did to avoid the crowds.

After the palace, we walked through the Puri Lukisan Art Museum before stopping for a quick bite to eat at the museum restaurant since the meal was included in the ticket price. We split a couple of spring rolls, which were dangerously hot in temperature but still incredibly tasty that it was worth the risk of mouth burns.

Afterward, something cool caught our eye as we walked up the street. Ice cream stands are abundant in Bali, so needless to say, we had to make a stop. I got a mango sorbet, which was the perfect balance to the extreme Indonesian heat.

We continued on through the city to explore the Ubud Art Market, walked to the top of the Campuhan Ridge, and even got to go inside the Saraswati Temple to see the lotus pads.

Relaxing at the Resort and Dinner at Ely’s Kitchen

That afternoon, we took a quick drink stop at the Nomad Restaurant and got a quick bite of some of the freshest hummus I have ever tasted. It was thick and creamy but not overly oily like some homemade hummus can tend to be in America.

From there, we grabbed our shuttle back to the resort, where we said hello to our koi friends before making our way to the pool for a little R&R.

For dinner that night, we ate at the resort restaurant, Ely’s Kitchen. Nick had the iga babi—caramelized pork ribs with a Balinese barbecue sauce and steamed rice. Bali is known for its pork quality, so you know it had to be delicious.

For my dinner, I had the Balinese chicken curry—a creamy coconut-based curry packed with tender chicken seasoned with local herbs and spices, tomatoes, beans, and kaffir lime along with steamed rice and crispy emping melinjo chips on the side.

After dinner, we relaxed on our balcony overlooking the pool and turned in for the evening after a few drinks.

Final Morning in Ubud and the Famous Bali Swings

The next morning, we ate one more breakfast in our room—this time I went with the salmon Ely’s brekky with smoked salmon, cheesy tomatoes, sautéed spinach, and mesclun herb salad with Figaro black olives, toasted bread, tartar sauce, and scrambled eggs.

I knew I couldn’t leave Bali without getting on one of the many Bali swings located throughout the area, so that morning, we made our way north to the Aloha Swings. I even did the appropriately named adrenaline swing that flies you out over the rice fields.

More to Come: Next Stop, Uluwatu

There’s so much more to our Bali trip that I can’t fit it all in one video—so be sure to check back soon for even more travel content. We’re headed to Uluwatu next—you won’t want to miss out on this adventure.

As our time in Ubud came to a close, it was clear that every moment spent in this paradise was unforgettable. From the peaceful mornings overlooking the rice fields to the thrilling swings over the valleys, Ubud offered everything we had hoped for and more. Each day brought new experiences, incredible meals, and a deeper appreciation for the beauty around us. If you’ve enjoyed following along on this journey, stay tuned—there’s so much more to share as we continue our adventures in Bali. Thanks for coming along for the ride, and I can’t wait to take you on the next one.