Travels with Ingrid

Best Restaurants to Eat on Gili Air - My Favourite Brunch & Dinner Spots

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I spent one month exploring the Gili Islands, eating may way around trying to find the best spots, and I really think I did. So if you're looking for the best restaurants and cafés on Gili Air I’ve got you covered.

For such a tiny island, the food scene genuinely surprised me. You can have incredible wood-fired pizza one night, fresh smoothie bowls for breakfast, authentic Indonesian food for lunch, and finish the day with cocktails while watching the sunsets.

Whether you’re looking for healthy cafés, Italian restaurants, beachfront dining or cheap local warungs, Gili Air has something for everyone.

The Best Restaurants on Gili Air

There are countless places to eat on Gili Air, so I obviously wasn't able to try them all, but in this guide I will share the restaurants and cafés we kept going back to after doing lots of research before we left and actually trying them while on Gili Air.

I’ll answer:

Here’s my favourite spots that we kept coming back to and I honestly don't think you can go wrong with. You'll find something for every kind of meal, taste and budget.

Eating my way around Gili Air

What are the best Warungs on Gili Air?

Warung Alam Damai

If you're looking for an authentic and affordable Indonesian meal on Gili Air, this is one of the best spots. They have huge portions for a very budget friendly price and it gives you a completely different dining experience compared to many of the more polished and fancy beachfront spots.

It’s a family run Warung that serves traditional Indonesian dishes with everything from nasi goreng to grilled fish and curries. If you're looking to enjoy delicious Indonesian food without spending much, Warung Alam Damai is definitely worth adding to your list.

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Warung Sunny

This is another great spot if you're looking for some local Indonesian food. I recommend the grilled seafood, but they also have all the favourites like nasi goreng, chicken satay, beef rending and yam taliwang.

So much fresh food on Gili Air

What are the best Italian Restaurants on Gili Air?

Una Pizza

This was a small, but super charming spot we stumbled upon one evening. From the outside it just looked so cozy so we had to give it a try, and it did not dissapoint.

They have a very small menu and only serve a handful of pizzas, but the pizzas are really, really good. So if you're craving pizza this is definitely a spot worth checking out.

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Mia Puglia

I've actually never seen a restaurant dedicated to dishes from southern Italy and the Puglia region anywhere else in Asia, so it was really fun to come here and eat. We tried both the pizza and some of the local Puglia pasta and they were both delicious. I have to say that I think you can get better pizza elsewhere on the island, but I loved the homemade pasta so much.

So if you want to try a different kind of pasta dish than you normally eat, or if you're craving some burrata, this is a great spot to test out. It’s located in the middle of the island so it’s fairly easy to reach no matter where you stay.

Mia Puglia

Mama Pizza

We tried so many Italian restaurants on Gili Air, but this is by far the best. The pizza and lasagne here felt like they were straight out of Italy. It’s no doubt the best food we had on the island.

The only downside is that it’s far from a hidden gem. It’s probably one of the most popular restaurants on the island. Every time we walked past it during dinner time it was packed, and when we wanted to eat here there was a 30 minute wait and we eventually got a shared table inside. That is of course fine, but it’s very different from all the other spots we tried on the island.

Due to the amount of people it was really noisy and chaotic, especially inside, so in my opinion it kind of ruined the atmosphere a bit. I therefore think it’s much better to either book a table outside in advance or be patient and wait for one. The food is really good so it’s definitely worth the wait.

Mama Pizza
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What are the Best Breakfast spots on Gili Air?

Aura Bowls

Tucked into a small alleyway not far from the port you’ll find Aura bowls. A small, but great little breakfast spot. You can probably have lunch here as well, but I came for breakfast. The vibe here feels a bit more local and secluded than some of the more polished spots along the main road.

They have plenty of healthy breakfast options, everything from smoothie bowls to eggs and sandwiches. I got a smoothie bowl which was huge and filled with tropical fruit, homemade granola and seeds, and it tasted delicious. I would definitely come back here for more.

Aura Bowls
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Barefoot Blondie

I don't think you can leave Gili Air without trying the cinnamon buns here. It’s so good that we came back 3 times just to get more buns. In addition they have really good bagels which I didn't see anywhere else on the island.

I tried a bagel with eggs and one with chicken. The one with chicken was surprisingly spicy, but still really good.

The whole place had a super charming vibe and you have to take of your shoes. It did feel a bit instagrammy, but super charming.

If you're looking for a spot to work while on Gili Air, I saw lots of people doing that here.

Barefoot Blondie

Kopi Susu

This is another must visit in my opinion. I saw this spot on TikTok and was afraid it might be a bit overhyped, but after having lunch here twice I can honestly say that it was worth the hype.

They have a make “your own brunch” kind of concept so you choose either 3 or 5 smaller dishes from a huge menu. We had some eggs, cheese, bread, avocado and pancakes and it was more than enough for the two of us.

I honestly think that if you only have one day on the island, you should come here for either breakfast or lunch.

Kopi Susu

Gili Coffee Roasters

Even though this place is famous for its coffee it wasn't why I came. I came for the delicious brunch options. They have everything from local Indonesian breakfast options to your healthy smoothie bowl and salads. I have to say that the food was super good and I would definitely come back here.

The atmosphere here is also really nice. It’s located in a remote area of the island, surrounded by fields and palm trees so it feels much more secluded and calm than most of the other places on the island. If you want to just relax, this is a great spot.

Gili Coffee Roasters

What are the best International Restaurants on Gili Air?

Dawn Thyme

This is a place I honestly don't understand why isn't more popular. We walked past it multiple times and rarely found it full, but the food here was really good.

They serve a variety of Mexican dishes, everything from what they call “Gringo tacos” to fajitas. Will it take you back to Mexico, no of course not, but I’ve rarely experienced that anywhere in Asia. However, it comes close.

Even if it doesn't look like a lot of people come here, I recommend taking a chance on it, especially if you want some tacos. We tried the burrito and fajitas and they were absolutely worthy of us coming back for a second visit.

Dawn Thyme

Santorini Greek Restaurant

I always love finding a good Greek spot when we’re travelling. The food and vibes here made it feel like we were sitting on a small island in Greece and not Indonesia, which was fun for a night.

We tried the moussaka, greek salad and gyros and it all tasted really good. They also have a super charming little terrace overlooking the water so even though we didn't come here around sunset, I think the light would be amazing to witness then.

Papaya Restaurant & Beach Club

If you're looking for a really stylish spot to enjoy a long lunch, cocktails or dinner on Gili Air, this is a fantastic choice.

It’s a quite popular spot, but for good reason. In the evening they have a beachfront BBQ where you can get freshly grilled fish, lobster and meat skewers. And it’s all super delicious. You can also come here just to grab a drink at one of the beanbags in front and watch the sunset.

sunset views on Gili Air

Mowie’s

This is another great spot for dinner and sunset. Since it’s located along the west coast you can watch the sunset while you eat.

They have everything from Indonesian dishes, to international dishes like burgers and tacos so I think it's a good spot if you're a bigger group who don't necessarily like or want the same kind of cuisine.

Gili Air

What Is the best Place to Eat With Kids on Gili Air?

The Play Café Gili Air

This is a spot we kind of just stumbled upon while walking home hungry one day, and I’m adding it here because they have a concept I didn't see anywhere else. It’s made as a huge playground for kids, so you can come here and eat and relax while your kids are playing.

Would I come here to eat if I didn’t have kids? Probably not. I think there are tons of places on the island with better food. But if you’re on a family trip and want to have the chance of eating in peace while your kids are playing this lookes like a great spot.

More Food Options on Gili Air

As mentioned earlier I didn't have time to try absolutely everything I wanted so below are a couple of spots I wanted to try, but never got around to. If you have more time on the island or want to try something different than me, I think these are great options.

Final Thoughts on the Best Restaurants in Gili Air

For such a small island, Gili Air has an incredibly diverse food scene. Whether you’re craving authentic Indonesian cuisine, wood-fired pizza, fresh seafood, smoothie bowls or specialty coffee, you’ll find plenty of excellent options within walking or cycling distance.

If I had to choose my personal favourites after eating my way around the island, they would be Mama Pizza for dinner, Coffee Roasters for breakfast, Kopi Susu for brunch and Warunf Alai Damai for local Indonesian food.

One thing is certain, you definitely won’t go hungry on Gili Air.

Plan Your Trip to Gili Air

Hopefully this guide has given you everything you need to plan an unforgettable trip to Gili Air. To make planning even easier, I've included all the resources I personally use when I travel.

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I would love to connect and help out!

-Ingrid

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