Gajah Putih — Restaurant in Bali

I had the privilege of experiencing the magic of Gajah Putih @gajahputih.bali with Tracy @coachtracy_ifbbpro and I’m still over the moon. 🌙 💜🌺 This creative adventure masterfully blends the rich mystery of Balinese culture with an extraordinary culinary journey. From the moment I stepped into the venue, I was transported into a realm where tradition and modernity coalesce, creating an ambiance that is both enchanting and deeply immersive. The evening began with a warm welcome that set the tone for what was to be an unforgettable night. The setting, a beautifully adorned space, echoed the island’s natural beauty and artistic heritage. The meticulously decorated space offered a feast for the senses, and the soul. As the 10 course dinner commenced, each dish was a revelation. Pure pleasure embodiment! 🌹🌹🌹 The menu, curated to showcase the best of Balinese cuisine, was a symphony of flavors. Every bite was a celebration of authentic Balinese spices and cooking techniques. The ingredients, locally sourced and fresh, spoke of the island’s bountiful produce. What truly set the #GajahPutih experience apart was the integration of a mesmerizing performance. As we dined, a troupe of talented artists took to the stage. The traditional Balinese dance, characterized by intricate movements and expressive gestures, was a visual feast. The gamelan music, with its rhythmic melodies, perfectly complemented the dancers’ storytelling. The highlight of the evening was undoubtedly each dish, as it was accompanied by its own theatrical performance that seamlessly created many moods. It was not just a performance; it was a journey through Bali’s rich history and folklore, told with passion and love. The costumes, vibrant and elaborate, the choreography, precise and fluid, and the overall execution, simply spellbinding. #puremagic In essence, Gajah Putih is more than just a restaurant; it’s a celebration of Balinese culture at its finest. The impeccable service, the exquisite food, and the captivating play all come together to create an experience that is both luxurious and authentic. It’s an evening that stays with you. So worthy. So fun! So much pleasure. 🌹Rating: 5 🌟’s - Farrah Sharpe...

I loved my dining experience at Gajah Putih. It is next-level fine dining, matched with art, theatre, dance and song. Every waiter, can also sing and act! It's an experience that guarantees to transport you into the beauty and charm of the Balinese culture in a unique way. Gazing up at the floating fish suspended from the roof the room slowly changes to blue, and you hear soft melodies of the sea drifting down, directing your attention to your plate. Your marine cuisine has mysteriously arrived at your table, and your waiter is ready to serve in a diving mask!

It's an ever-changing experience, with themes of the land, the sea, the cosmos, the culture, and the traditions of Bali playing out before you with music and mood lighting. It delights the senses in every way. Every dish is a masterpiece, and every act is mystical! One by one, the nuances of Balinese life—from sea to sawah (rice field)—slowly unfold before your eyes.

It's an 11-course experience and a grand affair—all tucked away in a secret location 5 km from Ubud. The Gajah Putih logo is the only landmark, and here begins your mystical journey. The next surprise awaits you as you enter through the intriguing, heavy door.

Gajah Putih is not only one show; it changes regularly, because when it comes to art and performance at this creative level, we are dealing with a choreographer with eclectic genius, so the element of surprise is ever present. I was impressed by the fact that there are 40 staff for only 30 patrons, making the level of attention to detail, remarkable.

Behind the curtains is Chef Alexei Dokuchaev, who has concocted a series of magic dishes from the freshest local ingredients. Each is a symphony of sensation, like the seared tuna with yuong cheese and sea grape. Each sip from the tantalizing cocktail elixirs is inspired by ancient Balinese secrets and infused with a hint of aromatic spice.

And the show? Well, it's a mesmerizing journey from the world of Balinese folklore to modern enchantment.

Prepare yourself for an...

This was tantamount to a scam. I can only conclude most of these positive reviews are bots. 11 courses they say, but if you were to put all of the food onto a single plate, it'd be about half a regular meals worth of food. Yet the cost is about 10x what you would pay at every other decent restaurant in Bali.

As for the entertainment, it was incredibly boring and had no substance to it. Literally just some music and lights and people waving props around. The atmosphere was cool, visually everything looked nice, but that's the only thing it had going for it.

Honestly, this whole thing felt like a scheme someone would concoct to rip people off: "Let's give people the smallest portions possible, and charge the most amount of money possible, so it looks like one of those really fancy experiences you see in movies". For that to work though, the food actually has to be good. It was not. Then the "head chef" and his crew have the gall to walk out at the end and expect a round of applause from the diners while they bow and high five each-other. If it weren't all so hilariously cliche I'd be even more upset. Didn't realize this was supposed to be a comedy.

The tastes ranged from average to bad, not one of the dishes (if you could really call them that, more like "bites" or "mouthfuls") was a "wow" moment. And then the dessert was custard, jelly and icecream. Talk about boring. When we left I ended up getting food elsewhere because I was still hungry. You can't even call this a dinner, it was more like a tasting platter.

I genuinely left feeling like I had been taken advantage of. I say all of this as someone who is pretty easy to please in general and leave plenty of good reviews for restaurants all the time. In fact the vast majority of restaurants we went to in Bali were AMAZING, and they were just your regular run-of-the-mill...