By Michèle · Updated on
Food and drink in Bali
Don't drink the tap water, and eat where the Balinese eat. What to try in Bali, how to avoid Bali belly and why you should be careful with arak.
In short
- Don't drink tap water. Bottled water and refill points are everywhere.
- Eat where it is busy with Balinese people; that is where the food is fresh.
- Vegetarian food is easy: tempeh, tofu and vegetables are on every menu.
- Balinese cooking uses hardly any dairy.
The basis is rice with small portions: nasi campur, a plate of rice with vegetables, tempeh, egg, meat or fish and sambal. Also try sate lilit (minced fish or chicken wrapped around a lemongrass stalk), lawar (vegetables with coconut and spices) and babi guling, suckling pig, if you eat meat. In the east you eat fish that was caught that morning.
Many travellers get Bali belly, an upset stomach in the first few days. Wash your hands, be careful with ice cubes outside big restaurants and bring ORS (oral rehydration salts). With a high fever, or symptoms that haven't gone after two days, go to a clinic.
Alcohol is on sale. A Bintang costs IDR 30,000 to 40,000 in a warung. Be careful with arak, the local rice spirit: illegally distilled arak has led to methanol poisoning. Only drink it in good restaurants, or not at all.
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