If you’ve ever shown up at a top Bali restaurant on a Friday night, only to be told the waitlist is an hour long, you’re not alone.
If you’ve visited Bali in the past year, you’ll have noticed the island feels busier than ever. South Bali is buzzing with beach clubs, bars, and travellers from around the world, and the restaurant scene has exploded with it.
There was once a time when you could wander into almost any Bali restaurant and score a seat straight away. These days, in neighbourhoods like Canggu, Seminyak, Ubud and Uluwatu, Bali’s most in-demand restaurants are far harder to get into. Walking in without a reservation can land you with an hour-long wait – or worse, being turned away.
I’ve learned this the hard way: left standing on the street, frantically looking for another restaurant nearby that can accommodate me and my friends. Not an easy feat if you’re planning a proper night out, or dining out on a weekend.
What finally clicked for me was this: the people who always seemed to get the good tables weren’t just lucky, they had come prepared. They were checking availability in advance, planning ahead (especially on weekends), and reserving their seats efficiently. Once I started paying attention to how regulars were actually securing reservations in Bali, my success rate changed completely.
Here are a few tricks I’ve picked up along the way.
How to dine smarter in Bali in 2026:
- Book ahead on weekends, especially in high-traffic areas like Canggu, Seminyak and Uluwatu.
- Choose weeknights if you want easier bookings and more flexibility with times.
- Look beyond the obvious neighbourhoods. Sanur, Kerobokan and Nusa Dua are home to incredible, underrated restaurants.
- And my biggest tip: download the Grab Dine Out app so you can book your table before you even leave home.
What is Grab Dine Out?
Grab Dine Out is a feature inside the Grab app that helps you book restaurants with ease. You can browse restaurants across Bali, see which ones fit your mood, check if they have special discounts, and reserve a table without calling or waiting for a WhatsApp reply. Some places even offer instant savings on your total bill, or vouchers you can redeem when you dine in. It’s a must-have app to help navigate Bali’s booming restaurant scene.
My go to restaurants on Grab Dine Out:
Alma Tapas Bar – Canggu & Uluwatu
This cosy Spanish-inspired tapas bar brings Mediterranean vibes to the island. Expect vibrant small plates, flavour-packed sharing dishes, and refreshing sangrias that make it perfect for groups and date nights.
Good to know: Both venues get very busy (especially on weekends), so book a table via Grab Dine Out to skip the queues, and score extra deals at their Uluwatu branch.
Boy’N’Cow – Seminyak
This industrial-style meat boutique and cocktail lounge serves some of the finest cuts in Bali. To complete the experience, they also offer handcrafted artisanal cocktails, single malt whiskies, and sangrias with a kick. It’s an easy pick for date nights or dinners with friends who want something elevated (anniversary dinners: secured!).
Good to know: Check out the vouchers on Grab Dine Out – you can save up to IDR 700,000 here!
Tsune Japanese Restaurant – Sanur
Tsune brings Japanese elegance to the rooftop of Seascape Resort Sanur, complete with ocean views and Indonesia’s first floating sushi boat. Fresh sushi, sashimi and grilled dishes glide past, making the whole experience feel fun yet refined.
Good to know: To score a seat with a view, pre-book with Grab Dine Out – you’ll even get 20% off your total bill!
How to book a table with Grab Dine Out
Here’s how I used Grab Dine Out to secure a reservation at Shichirin Japanese Restaurant in Canggu – simply follow these exact steps to book any restaurant listed in the app!
1. Open the Grab app and tap ‘Dine Out’ on the homepage.
Straight from your Grab homepage, you’ll see the ‘Dine Out’ option. This is where all the dine-in offers, discounts and booking features live.
2. Click on ‘Book Table’ to browse restaurants.
You can filter by location, cuisine or ratings. Since I wanted to have dinner in Canggu, I searched around the area to see what was available. The app shows photos, menus, prices, and opening hours (which helps a lot).
3. Pick the restaurant that fits your vibe.
For my occasion, I wanted something fun and lively. Shichirin Japanese Restaurant stood out right away because teppanyaki always feels like dinner with a show!
4. Check for dine-in discounts or special offers.
This is one of my favourite parts of Grab Dine Out… the deals! Shichirin Japanese Restaurant happened to have a 20% discount on the total bill, which made the decision even easier.
5. Tap ‘Book a Table’ to secure your reservation.
Once we decided on Shichirin Japanese Restaurant, I simply selected the number of pax, date, and time. The whole thing took just a few taps. And your table is booked! It’s that easy.
BONUS: Save more with Dine-Out vouchers! Some restaurants on Grab Dine Out don’t just offer table bookings, they also offer vouchers you can buy in advance. Think discounted dishes or money-off deals. All you have to do is tap ‘Buy Now’ on the vouchers that you want, complete the purchase, and redeem it when you pay at the restaurant. It’s an easy way to save a little extra on meals you were already planning to enjoy.
If, like me, you want to skip the walk-in roulette (and enjoy the perks of booking ahead), Grab Dine Out will be your new favourite app.