Review: Kubu Restaurant at Mandapa

During a recent extended stay in Bali, my wife and I enjoyed some great stays and some great meals. During our stay at Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, we had the opportunity to dine at Kubu.

Ricky plans on visiting this property in the near future, so he’ll give you the full review in the months to come. In the meantime, I thought I’d share my thoughts on the property’s fine-dining establishment, Kubu, and walk you through my experience of their tasting menu.

Truly an intimate space for you to enjoy your dinner, Kubu is located deep in the valleys of Ubud, where you’re surrounded by trees and the ambience of the flowing Ayung river. 

Kubu – Location

With the upcoming changes to the Marriott Bonvoy program, many of us have booked some aspirational properties that may see a steep increase in their redemption costs in 2023. So, when I heard that the Ritz-Carlton Reserve properties were now available on points, I jumped at the opportunity.

I managed to snag five nights at Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve for 422,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, taking advantage of the Fifth Night Free benefit for points bookings. With cash rates averaging $1,400 (CAD) per night, I was able to redeem my points at 1.7 cents per point.

Compared to our valuation of 0.9 cents per point, it’s safe to say I was fairly happy with this booking. 

The entire property draws heavy inspiration from Bali’s national roots. In keeping with this theme, the restaurant has nine private cocoons that resemble shelters where Balinese farmers would store rice after harvesting, as well as more seating in the general dining room. 

Unfortunately, I didn’t take my butler’s advice to reserve a table for dinner. So, I ended up being seated at a regular table, and didn’t get to enjoy the experience in the private cocoon. 

Kubu – Dining Experience

After enjoying the feast for your eyes that the intricate surroundings of Kubu provide you, the meal that follows is a treasure of the finest Mediterranean- and European-inspired creations. 

My wife Nicole and I had much to discover on our palates, starting with the amuse bouche and carrying through all the way to the final dessert course. While each plate may look small, after 10 courses of degustation curated by award-winning Chef Bayu, we were pleasantly full after this mostly delightful dining experience. 

1….