Vincentius Alvin Yoga
Jun 18, 2026
Our driver asked me, twice. “Are you sure this is the right way?” I nodded, though I wasn’t entirely sure myself. The thing is, this was my first visit too to Terra Verte, and the night had already fallen. The restaurant was located within Equipoise Resort in Ubud, and the lane to the resort was narrow, just barely enough for one single car at a time. Trusting my uncertain nod, the driver continued forward at a cautious pace.
Less than three minutes later, we began to notice some lights in the distance. A small but reassuring sign that we had not taken a wrong lane. Within seconds, a striking bamboo structure with glowing lights emerged from the darkness. Ahh, this must be it: Equipoise Resort.
I have to admit, this place isn't particularly easy to find. But this resort is undeniably secluded, far removed from the hustle and bustle of the island. It's ideal if you're looking for a place to enjoy a moment of calm away from all the commotion.
Our car slowly rolled into the lobby area. Beautifully illuminated by warm lantern-like lights, the entrance glowed against the surrounding darkness. As I stepped out of the car, a staff greeted me with a warm smile and asked whether I was checking in for a stay. I explained that I was there for dinner at Terra Verte instead.
With a gentle nod, she welcomed me inside. We walked pass the main lobby, then she informed me politely that the restaurant was located upstairs. After thanking her, I made my way towards the upper floor, where the reservation team was already expecting my arrival. I was then escorted to the table that I had reserved earlier, then the staff excused herself to took the menu.
As I sat waiting for the staff to hand us the menu, I fizzed with ideas of how to describe the place. This dining place is located within Equipoise, a luxury resort nestled in Ubud. Downstairs sits a charming cocktail bar known as Aura Bar. Above it stands Terra Verte, the open-air Italian Mediterranean restaurant where I sat. For now, let's focus on Terra Verte.
Terra Verte, which translates to "green earth", takes its name seriously. Everything, from the architecture to the menu, was designed to celebrate the landscape around it. Soaring bamboo arches rise and overlap above the dining room, making it feel as though we are dining inside a giant snail shell. After dark, concealed lighting traces the curves of the structure while woven pendant lamps cast a soft amber glow across the room, making the place feels warm and and comfy.
The design avoids many of the clichés that often accompany Bali's eco-luxury aesthetic. There are no excessive ornaments, the tables are clean, and no forced ethnic flourishes. They understand that bamboo, when handled well, is decoration enough. Paired with pale green upholstery, natural timber, and crisp white table linens, they simply lowered the saturation and letting us to enjoy both the food and the surroundings.
The staff returned a few moments later, this time to hand me the menu, and I took a moment to browse through it. As an Italian Mediterranean restaurant, Terra Verte keeps things concise, with around forty dishes on the menu. Wherever possible, local ingredients are used to support nearby producers and reduce unnecessary food miles, a commitment to sustainability that is always a good move. I ordered a few dishes, and the staff quietly slipped away.
Just a few minutes later, a waiter arrived with the first dish. I began my dinner with the Tuna Crackers, featuring pasta fritta as the base and topped with tuna tartare, anchovy, and harissa yoghurt. The crisp cracker was a nice contrast to the soft tuna tartare, while the yoghurt helps balance the palate.
The Melon & Prosciutto arrived next. Sugar melon, roughly cut to finger-length, formed the base, topped with burrata, prosciutto, pistachio, and a drizzle of honey. The combination of sweet and savoury was surprisingly compelling, and I found myself nodding along with every bite. Who would have thought that melon and prosciutto could come together to create something so utterly moreish?
We then moved on to Gnocchi Verde. Well, it's almost mandatory to order a pasta at an Italian restaurant, isn't it? The gnocchi comes with cavolo nero (pesto) sauce, burrata, parmesan, and courgette. The pasta is handmade daily and the sauces are prepared in-house, which is another good point. But the gnocchi leaned a bit mushy and slightly too soft for my liking, and the sauce seemed intentionally adjusted to a gentler flavour to appeal the international guests. Much as I wanted to like it, the dish didn't quite won me over that night.
The Mushroom Pizza came next. It was an artisan-style pizza, served in a portion large enough for two people and topped with wild mushrooms, garlic sauce, pecorino, pancetta, and rosemary. The crust was airy and chewy, the result of properly fermented dough. Had it come in a slightly larger, more conventional pizza size, it would have been perfect.
The next dish was the Market Fish. Served with a white wine and clam sauce, alongside a touch of jalapeño oil for gentle kick, the dish was rich and lovely. The fish itself was remarkably tender and fresh, flaking apart at the slightest touch of a fork. Better still, the portion was generous and came at a surprisingly reasonable price point. If I had to pick a standout dish of the evening, this would probably be it.
The Wagyu Steak, incidentally, was well worth a punt. Cooked medium rare and served with a deeply savoury porcini jus, it was juicy, well-seasoned, and nicely executed. It may not be the most inventive dish on the menu, but sometimes a good steak simply needs to be a good steak. To finish, I had the Tiramisu. The addition of Kahlúa brought a pleasant bitterness that enhanced the coffee flavours, and the malt crumb added a nice texture to the creamy dessert.
Overall, Terra Verte is a charming spot for an intimate dinner in Ubud. On cooler evenings, particularly when the rain pours down and the mist drifts through the surrounding hills, the atmosphere is enchanting. The service is warm and welcoming, and while some dishes feel slightly adjusted towards international palates, the restaurant's commitment to local ingredients and sustainability remains admirable.
How good was the food? Roughly as good as I expected. Still, even though Terra Verte may not be the most sophisticated restaurant on the island, it's adorable in its own way.
Terra Verte
Equipoise Resort Ubud
Jl. Raya Desa Kenderan, Kenderan, Kec. Tegallalang, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80561
Phone: +62 8123 7339 353
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