Bali Brunch: A Slow Saturday Done Right at Waatu's Otsumami
30 Jun 2026 by Bella
Bali Brunch: A Slow Saturday Done Right at Waatu’s Otsumami
Bali is small, but also big. It always feels like if you live in one neighbourhood here, everywhere else suddenly becomes far – especially if you’re based in “Republic of Canggu”.
On a very unplanned weekend, a friend of mine who had just left her job and is currently thriving in her free-time era had this idea of spending a Saturday in Ungasan for an all-you-can-eat Japanese brunch at Waatu. Yes, Ungasan. Because when you can do anything and go anywhere, why not choose somewhere that takes a couple of hours (or more) to get to, right? Hehe.
I’d heard of Waatu before, but all I really knew was that it’s an open-flame grill restaurant with a cliffside view. After a little Instagram research, I found out they also have a nice pool, and there’s no gas stove involved in the kitchen – everything runs on fire and charcoal. What a traditional, elemental way to cook! Very interesting. Also, I love Japanese food. So I thought, okay – let’s go!
After the long journey from Canggu up to Bukit (the hilly area of Bali), we were rewarded with a calm and peaceful atmosphere -like finding a little cliffside nook with a view that made me realise I might have been taking Bali for granted just because I live here. We took a moment to soak it all in before heading to our table. At this point, I was getting very excited to eat.
The warm and welcoming vibe that greeted us as soon as we arrived
A table full of Japanese favourites
Move over avocado on toast! Because this is more my kind of brunch. Upon arrival, you will be given a list of menu to choose from. We started simple with a bowl of edamame, then little by little we moved into the otsumami (traditional Japanese savoury snacks). You can expect Japanese comfort food like kaarage chicken, yakitori, pork & chive gyoza, pork ribs (this was one of the highlights!). There was also a lighter option like seaweed salad and chawanmushi. If you’re feeling a bit extra, you can also upgrade your set with dishes like lobster tail and flank steak. The brunch runs for two hours, which I think is enough to enjoy the food without rushing.
Everything was delicious, but make sure you save some room for dessert!
If you’re not in the mood for dessert, you can round off your brunch with one of their cocktails instead. Luna di Limo, a lime aperitivo with lychee liqueur, is a great choice if you like tropical fruit flavours. Or be adventurous with a touch of Indonesian flavour, like pandan mixed with vanilla in Verdant Silhouette. Fun fact: their drinks are made in-house using their own fermentation techniques, making them anything but ordinary. The whole Saturday then carried on with a live DJ playing coastal house and upbeat tracks into the afternoon. It had been a while since I had a Saturday like that – slow and unrushed.
A curated selection of their in-house fermented drinks
The Verdict
So…the big question, was the trip to Ungasan worth it? Haha, yes! Definitely. I’d do it again in a heartbeat, and next time I’m bringing more of my girl friends along for the ride. By the way, if you come for the brunch, you also get complimentary access to the pool overlooking a cliffside view of the sea, so don’t forget to bring your swimmers, sunnies, books, and other pool-day essentials. Thanks for reading – hope this inspires your next weekend getaway to Ungasan.
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