Indonesia

Indonesia has three very different Italian food scenes. Jakarta is a big-city story of hotel rooftops, grand dining rooms in South Jakarta and lively osterias in the business districts. Bali is all about setting, with clifftop fine dining in Uluwatu, beachfront institutions in Seminyak and relaxed pizzerias in Canggu and Ubud. Lombok is smaller and simpler, with a handful of excellent Italian-run kitchens in Kuta and along the Senggigi coast.

A large Italian expat community, many of whom arrived to work in hospitality and stayed, means you can find genuinely authentic cooking across all three. Many restaurants import key ingredients such as flour, cheese and cured meats from Italy and pair them with Indonesia's excellent seafood and produce.

Halal status varies widely, and a number of Jakarta restaurants are pork-free, so check each listing if it matters to you. WhatsApp is the most common way to book, and most restaurants list a number. There is no Michelin Guide for Indonesia yet, so we rely on our own checks and the restaurants' standing locally.