Indonesian food with a twist

The island’s modern Indonesian dining destination, The Kelusa at Samsara Ubud, is hidden within the soulful village of Payangan. True to the old adage about the merit of a journey and not merely the destination, a trip to reach the restaurant is a lush invitation to explore the heartland of Bali. Picture stunning views of green rice fields, bamboo forest, quaint villages, and swaying palm trees until you reach the restaurant.

Named after the village where the restaurant is located, The Kelusa at Samsara Ubud recently went through a transformation. Graceful draperies framed the verdant view of the hill from the restaurant’s dining areas which consist of cosy semi-outdoor and al fresco seating.

Designed to appeal for the senses, tactility pervades the interior through its thoughtful use of wood, rattan and artisan upholstery. The soothing breeze is a constant company, as do the tweets of tropical birds and distant rumble of river stream. Here, you are welcome to sit, dine and linger at your own pace – whether you are an in-house guest or a gastronomy aficionado who wish to taste modern take of Indonesian regional cuisine.

Led by executive chef Iwan Sutrisno who brought his mastery of modern Indonesian flavours and innovative ideas, The Kelusa’s new menu focuses on local produce and arresting takes on the classic archipelago’s dishes. “In designing the menu, it was important for me to find the harmonious balance of flavours and creativity. The whole process, from conceptualisation to food testing, took more than a year,” shares Sutrisno. “I want to take our guests to embark on a flavoursome adventure with the new menu”.

The Manadonese Cakalang Woku retains its herbaceous aroma and piquant vibrancy through an artful presentation of grilled tuna, charred leek and confit tomatoes in turmeric broth. Gado-Gado, the nation’s popular plant-based dish, is tantalisingly plated in a bouquet of Bedugul vegetables with quail egg, citrus peanut sauce and tempe crumble. The nation’s favourite street food meals, Sate Ayam and Lumpiang, are transformed into two refined dishes which showcase Sutrisno’s flair of combining haute cuisine techniques with deeply-rooted devotion for traditional flavours.

You will do well by pairing the dishes with The Kelusa’s dedicated handcrafted cocktail menus such as the Samsara Snifter, a concoction of tequila, house-made lemongrass and ginger infusion, ginger beer, and vanilla passion foam. Be the first to taste the new flavour of The Kelusa at Samsara Ubud. Reservation is recommended.

Samsara Ubud
Banjar Ayah, Desa Kelusa, Payangan, Ubud, Bali 80572
T: + 62 361 2091769