Breakfast, Monkeys, & 7 Best Shops in Ubud You’ll Actually Love
- Raya Team
- Aug 25
- 4 min read
Updated: Aug 28
Monkey Forest Road has its own theatre. Frangipani rides the scooter hum. A driver across the street calls Transport with cheerful persistence. Spa therapists sing Massage ma’am, massage sir like a familiar chorus. The road takes its name from the Sacred Monkey Forest with real macaques and real temples, so bring curiosity and a zipped bag.
Begin at Raya
Start with the best Western breakfast in Ubud that puts the day on rails. Eggs arrive exactly as requested. Coffee tastes like a plan that will work. Sit street side and watch the morning cast assemble. When the last sip is gone, stand and walk south toward the trees.
Raya Kitchen & Bar
Opens 7:30Am - 10PM
Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary
Buy your ticket and slip under the canopy where the air turns cool. Keep food tucked away, sunglasses secure, and phones gripped with intent. Do not feed, do not touch, and do not debate a macaque with eye contact. The paths loop past banyan roots, stone bridges, and shrines softened by moss. Temples live inside the grounds, so dress with respect and move gently. If menstruating, enjoy the forest paths and skip the temple platforms this time. Circle slowly back to the northern exit and step onto the shopping stretch.
Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary
Opens 9AM-5PM
Ikat Batik
Open with textiles that carry memory. Shelves hold indigo that still looks like twilight and batik tulis with hand drawn lines that wander in human ways. Ask where a pattern comes from. Some pieces are cotton and breathe beautifully, others have silk in the mix and catch the light. A scarf travels easily and changes every outfit, a sarong sized cloth becomes a table throw back home. Check colorfastness by rubbing a corner on a tissue. Ask for folding tips so the garment unpacks without those stubborn creases. Photograph the maker card so the story travels with the fabric.
Ikat Batik
Opens 9AM-9PM
Utama Spice
A few minutes north sits a straight talking apothecary where the labels earn their keep. Temple balm settles tight foreheads. Citronella and lemongrass keep evening insects at a polite distance. Peppermint oil clears a travel fog in two breaths. Staff will guide you by scent and routine rather than lecture. Look for small bottles that meet airline rules so the kit moves easily from day bag to suitcase. If skin is sun kissed past its comfort, choose a cooling aloe blend and store it near the top of the bag for quick mercy.
Utama Spice
Opens 9AM-5PM
Balizen
Turn the dial to home. Linen napkins feel like they were washed in river light. Carved teak spoons sit comfortably in the palm. Woven baskets calm a cluttered shelf. When capiz shell strands catch late afternoon sun the whole room softens. Ask about the makers and the finishing oils used on wood. If there is an outlet corner upstairs, give it time. For packing, nest smaller pieces in cloth and keep anything fragile near shoes for protection. Shipping can be arranged if a larger piece tests the limits of your luggage.
Balizen
Opens 10AM-8PM
Uluwatu Handmade Balinese Lace
White linen takes a bow here. The work is meticulous and the fit more forgiving than lace tends to be. Blouses, dresses, runners for the table that turn a Tuesday into a reason to light a candle. Ask about hand wash temperature and how to dry flat without stretching. The team can advise on small alterations and sleeve length. Step outside and notice how the street suddenly sounds brighter, which is the effect of good craftsmanship on the ears.
Uluwatu Handmade Lace
Opens 10AM-10PM
Kapal Laut
Silver that behaves as part of a life rather than a display. Chains sit where they should. Everyday rings find the right finger without arguing. Earrings work for rice field walks and dinner later. Ask for your size in plain numbers so the information lasts longer than the holiday. Check clasp action and stone settings under natural light at the doorway. Pick up a polishing cloth and ask how often to use it so the piece ages with grace rather than glare.
Kapal Laut
Opens 9:30AM - 10PM
Sensatia Botanicals, Monkey Forest II
This is where small victories for skin add up. Reef safe sunscreen that actually absorbs. Soaps that smell like clean rain without clinging perfume. After sun gel that quiets a day’s enthusiasm. Testers appear with calm timing and honest advice. Collect travel sizes for later beach days and store them away from direct heat in the car or the scooter seat.
Sensatia Botanicals
Opens 9AM - 10Am
KOU Cuisine
Close the loop with edible souvenirs. Jams that taste like someone cared in the kitchen. Vanilla sugar that turns simple pancakes into an event. Herb salts that save a hurried dinner and flatter eggs more than they knew possible. Choose compact jars with tight lids and ask for paper wrapping. Liquids and spreads travel best in checked luggage, wrapped inside a spare T-shirt and placed between sandals for padding. If gifts are on the list, request a simple ribbon so they hand over well at home.
KOU Cuisine
Opens 9:45AM-6:45PM
Back to Raya
Walk past the Monkey Forest parking, answer two more friendly calls of Transport and one last Massage ma’am with a smile and a gentle “Tidak, terima kasih,” then keep moving. Happy hour at Raya begins at four. Cold drinks arrive as the street light softens. Plates land with color and purpose. Bags settle at your feet, and the day starts telling its stories without any effort at all.
Street smart extras
Carry a little cash for parking and small buys. Most boutiques take cards. Try rings in the afternoon when fingers run a touch larger. For garments, step outside and check color in honest daylight. Ask how to care for textiles and wood, then photograph the maker card so names do not vanish with the receipt. Keep bags zipped near the southern end where the macaques like to test prop comedy. Keep smiling even when words blur.
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