Nuanu Creative City Opens Nusantara, Showcasing Nine Indonesian Regional Cuisines in Bali

The new cultural and dining destination in Tabanan brings together regional cuisine, single-origin coffee, contemporary fine dining and 1,000 Indonesian tribal artefacts.

Nuanu Creative City has opened Nusantara, a new culinary and cultural destination that introduces visitors to the food, coffee, art and traditions of Indonesia’s diverse regions.

Opening to the public on August 15, 2026, Nusantara brings together an all-day restaurant, a contemporary fine-dining space, a single-origin coffee house and a gallery featuring 1,000 Indonesian tribal artefacts.

Rather than presenting separate dining concepts, the 120-metre-long destination is designed as one journey across the Indonesian archipelago.

Nine regions, one culinary journey

The experience begins at Warung Nine Islands, which serves dishes inspired by Java, Sumatra, Bali, Lombok, Sulawesi, Kalimantan, Sumba, Flores and Madura.

Its kitchen prepares spice pastes from scratch each morning and follows traditional regional techniques. Ingredients are sourced directly from producers, fishermen and foragers across Indonesia.

The restaurant has 70 seats and is led by Nusantara founder and chef James Ephraim, alongside Chef Wayan Mustika, who previously worked at Merah Putih in Bali and Tri Restaurant in Hong Kong.

“We drove to the producers. All of them,” Ephraim said. “Many months across nine islands, sitting with fishermen, foragers and cooks who have made the same spice paste for forty years, because you cannot shortcut that.”

Warung Nine Islands is open daily from noon to 10 p.m., with main courses starting at IDR 120,000 and a live performance scheduled every day at 6 p.m.

Indonesian flavours through a contemporary lens

Meja 36 offers a more refined interpretation of Indonesian cuisine. The 50-seat fine-dining restaurant uses contemporary techniques while preserving the distinct flavours and ingredients associated with different regions.

Its tasting menu is priced at IDR 499,000 per person. The restaurant is also open from noon to 10 p.m.

At The Mangrove Café, visitors can explore single-origin coffee from Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi and Flores. The menu pairs these coffees with pastries and desserts inspired by pandan, palm sugar, klepon and dadar gulung.

A gallery of Indonesian heritage

The dining spaces are complemented by The Gallery, which opens with the exhibition “INDONESIAN VISION.”

Curated by Pascal Morabito, the exhibition presents 1,000 tribal artefacts from across Indonesia. Each piece includes a digital guide explaining its history, craftsmanship and cultural context.

Selected works are available for acquisition, with prices ranging from IDR 500,000 to IDR 625 million.

Creating a gateway to the archipelago

Nusantara responds to Bali’s continued growth as an international destination while offering an experience rooted in Indonesia’s own cultural identity.

“Bali is Indonesia’s gateway, and we want Nuanu to open the door wider,” said Lev Kroll, CEO of Nuanu Creative City.

“Our guests already fall in love with Balinese culture. Nusantara is our invitation to fall for the rest of the archipelago too: its cuisine, its craft and its regions.”

Kroll said the long-term vision is for Nusantara to become a home for cultural “embassies” representing other Indonesian regions.

Nusantara also participates in the Nuanu Social Fund, with a percentage of its revenue supporting initiatives focused on Bali’s culture, environment and communities.

The destination joins Nuanu Creative City’s wider program of education, art, wellness, entertainment and nature-led development across its 44-hectare property in Tabanan.

For more information, visit Nuanu Creative City.