Plenty of restaurants have style and many have the substance. But putting the two together isn’t easy.

In 1974 Murni opened Ubud’s first real restaurant Murni’s Warung and married delicious food and a keen aesthetic sense.

Since then, spanning over half a century,  thousands of people have flocked to Murni’s Warung and enjoyed her food and hospitality.

Today, Murni’s Warung has four open-air levels that step down the steep hillside overlooking the river and it is still one of Ubud’s most popular and most beautiful restaurants.

Murni’s Warung was Instagramable before there was Instagram!

Long before filters and hashtags, Murni’s Warung was already doing what social media now glorifies—creating spaces so beautiful, so authentic, that people couldn’t help but talk about them.

Nestled on the edge of a lush ravine with sweeping views of the jungle and a traditional Balinese design that blends seamlessly with nature, Murni’s Warung was the kind of place travelers would photograph with film cameras and proudly show off in their photo albums back home.

It wasn’t curated for the gram—it was curated for the soul. Every wooden carving, every textile, every artifact told a story.

The light streamed in just right. The food arrived looking like art before food styling was a trend. And the vibe? Pure magic.

Word spread, not through influencers, but through whispered recommendations and well-worn travel guides.

Murni’s Warung didn’t need Instagram.

It was—and still is—Instagramable in the truest sense: a place that inspires awe, invites connection, and lingers in the memory.

murniswarung_ubud_bali

 Soar Above Legendary Murni’s Warung

Lifetime Achievement Award, 2024

I am deeply honoured by the Lifetime Achievement Award presented by Janet de Neefe at the Ubud Food Festival, 2024.

And I am also very pleased and flattered by the news coverage.

The Nusantara Bulletin reported,

‘Bali’s living legend, Ni Wayan Murni, was honored with the 2024 Festival Lifetime Achievement Award. Her iconic warung, established in 1974, had become a renowned refuge for travelers and a testament to her unwavering commitment to Balinese heritage.

Murni’s vision not only left a lasting impact on Bali’s culinary and hospitality landscape but also deeply touched countless visitors with her warmth and passion for sharing the beauty of her homeland,” Janet DeNeefe remarked with heartfelt admiration.’

Antara (Indonesian News Agency) were kind to say,

‘A living legend from Bali, Ni Wayan Murni, was named the recipient of the 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award. Murni’s Warung, which was founded in 1974, has become a top destination for travelers, both from within and outside the country.’

Radio Republik Indonesia said,

‘Legenda hidup dari Bali, Ni Wayan Murni, dinobatkan sebagai penerima Lifetime Achievement Award 2024. Warung miliknya, yang didirikan pada tahun 1974, dengan cepat menjadi destinasi bagi para pelancong—baik dari dalam maupun luar negeri. Seiring berjalannya waktu, warisannya juga berkembang dengan pendirian perusahaan-perusahaan yang masing-masing mencerminkan komitmennya terhadap warisan budaya Bali.

Visi Murni tidak hanya memberikan dampak jangka panjang pada lanskap kuliner Bali, tetapi juga menyentuh banyak orang dengan kehangatan dan semangatnya untuk berbagi keindahan tanah airnya,” kata Pendiri & Direktur Ubud Food Festival Janet DeNeefe.’

Tribun Bali said,

‘Janet mengaku tertarik dengan kisah legenda hidup asal Bali, Ni Wayan Murni, peraih Lifetime Achievement Award 2024 yang mana warung yang berdiri sejak tahun 1974, menjadi destinasi para turis domestik dan mancanegara yang warisan cita rasa turun – temurun higga bisa dinikmati masa kini.

Visinya (Murni,-Red) tidak hanya memberikan dampak jangka panjang pada lanskap kuliner Bali, tetapi juga menyentuh banyak orang dengan kehangatan dan semangatnya untuk berbagi keindahan tanah airnya,” beber dia.’

Forty Delicious Years

This review of our book will give you an idea of the importance and appeal of Murni’s Warung:

FORTY DELICIOUS YEARS IS THE BEST BOOK ON BALI – TAKE A VOYAGE TO THE CULINARY AND SOCIAL HEART OF THE ISLAND OF THE GODS

Forty Delicious Years is one of the finest books ever produced about the mystical, legendary, god-blessed island of Bali – the sacred, unsullied morning of the world. Bali is a brilliant, bright emerald jewel set in the elongated necklace of 17,000 islands that comprise the brooding, primeval Indonesian archipelago. Anyone who has ever visited my beloved Bali – or is planning a sojourn of personal discovery or food discovery – should bring this book along with them. Forty Delicious Years is an incredibly revealing and intimate masterpiece about Ni Wayan Murni, her gorgeous gorge-side Warung restaurant in Ubud, and the constellation of notable expatriates and international personalities that have made Murni’s Warung their social and culinary home away from home.

The tell-almost-all book is filled with the charm and beauty of Murni’s universe, reflected in the anecdotes, accolades, reflections, and stories penned by forty of her often famous, well-known (Mick Jagger) customers and fans. These intensely personal, soul-revealing chapters empower all of us to be expats on Bali for awhile, and experience life as very lucky strangers in an unknown paradise. I lived in Bali for two years, and know first-hand the seductive, permanent pull on the soul by the spiritual, always-god-conscious Balinese and this very fertile, bountiful island sanctuary.

The writing is incredibly alive and spectacular, and is delightfully easy to read and digest. The book takes us into the sanctified world of Balinese cooking, traditional village social life, tinkling gamelan orchestras, and culture–seasoned with Murni’s kindness and career, and deep, longstanding friendships in the community.

Situated near the old Dutch suspension bridge in Campuan-Ubud, Murni’s Warung was built from the ground up, and is a legend in its own time. For almost four scrumptious decades, it has been the ultimate place for Ubud expatriates (and tourists alike) to fulfill their most deep-seated Balinese and western dessert fantasies.

The stunning, four-level restaurant is carefully decorated with Murni’s exquisite antiques, Balinese stone statuary, Buddha images, and artworks – and enjoys a spellbinding, natural riverside location and view. A visually and spiritually enlightening, five-foot-tall bronze statue of Ganesha the Elephant God symbolically creates prosperity and removes all obstacles in the Lounge Bar of Murni’s Warung. Ordered by Murni as a specially designed commissioned piece in 1997, it took highly esteemed, respected, experienced Balinese artisans-craftsmen five years to complete!

Murni remains an integral part of her village of birth and her island of Bali – and the forty testimonial chapters written by forty different long-time expatriates, visiting Bali scholars, and international adventurers/wayfarers are personal, unique, revealing and priceless. This book is a deep and memorable journey through residence in Bali, religious devotion, ceremonial splendor, and life as an expat (or repeat, Bali-obsessed visitor) eight sacred degrees south of the equator. As a first-hand travel journal collection in its own right, these personal tales of adventure – and longing for the spirituality and benediction of Bali – are amazing. And they all swirl around the wonderful people of Bali, Balinese life, and Murni’s longstanding contributions to and dedication to her community, family, local temples, and the gods.

One of the best stories is about a very loyal, Kintamani Bali dog named Dausa – who spent his life lounging on the front steps of Murni’s Warung as Murni’s personal guard dog. He lead a charmed life, and enjoyed such delicious foods as chicken sate sticks and Murni’s highly coveted chocolate chip cookies! A very pampered Balinese dog indeed!

I am an expert on Bali, as well as on traditional Balinese food and food culture, and have complete admiration for this very special new book about one of Bali’s most important and iconic purveyors of Balinese food, art, antiques, and hotel accommodation on the unforgettable island of the gods.

Dr. Vivienne Kruger

Author of Balinese Food: The Traditional Cuisine and Food Culture of Bali. Tuttle Publishing, 2014

Murni’s Warung on Instagram

We have hundreds of photos already on Instagram and add more every day.

Follow along with us @murniswarung_ubud_bali for a daily look inside Ubud’s legendary restaurant— featuring authentic Balinese food, stunning jungle views, and happy guests enjoying themselves.

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