Dolce Vita Bali — Restaurant in Kuta

The Absolute BEST Italian food on the Island and possibly the world. YOU NEED TO BOOK A TABLE or risk waiting. I came to this restaurant in January 2019 the week it opened. (I had preciously gone to Bella Italia prior til I found out Massimo the chef from there has opened this place) The food is incredible - I am of sicillian heritage and I am a pretty good cook myself and my nonna was the most amazing cook. I rate Dolce Vita at the highest level! This trip was a short one so I was only able to dine here once. Jl Kartika Plaza st has been so quiet. All the restaurants very quiet compared to 2019. So I thought getting a table anywhere will be easy. I messaged at around 6.30pm to book a table for 2 at 8pm that night. Booking was accepted fast. We walked from Febris to Dolce Vita and along the way I was feeling sad at how quiet everything was. Well that was til i reached Dolce Vita - this is where everyone was in Kuta tonight. All tables were full and never in Bali in my 15 years of going haveI seen a lots of people waiting at the front for a table. How proud the owner must feel! Lucky i booked so they had a table waiting for me. We had bruschetta misto (mixed bruschetta styles) amazing. The one with anchovy was the favourite followed by the pesto one. The pesto is the best i ever had. I absolutely loved the mushroom amd spinach ravioli. It is the best!!! Sadly because of the generous complimentary dip and crisps, entree and ravioli I had no room to fit in the tiramisu ( which was popular and was seen at nearly every table in sight) or the complimentary limmoncello.

The wait staff are gorgeous and have been trained well and probably speak better italian than me 🤣 they have the biggest welcoming smiles, italian welcoming mannerisms and for the time you are there you feel like you are in italy. The smells, the music, the decor. Lots of italian and european customers too.

I recognised some faces from 2019. So this shows us the owner has been so good to them and looked after them

I love this place and look forward to...

We loved this place! Everytime we've been looking for an italian venue here in Bali we always noticed this one and fortunately we decided to go.

We just casually walked in and even though it was really busy one of the waiters came to talk with us and prepared a table in less than 3 minutes.

The location and the style are amazing. Everything reminded us of Italy, even the tableclothes, typically squared white and red!

All the workers are probably trained because they did an excellent job with the service. And I liked their accent when they spoke italian hahahah When we took the order it went smoothly, and everything was ready after 10mins.

We took a Margherita which was really good for being italian style in another country. Flavour was perfect but I felt the dough just a little bit undercooked, anyway it was fine.

Spaghetti e Vongole was the best choice! It was literally perfect. We'll come back just to try other pastas' dishes.

Also, I had the carpaccio as an appetizer with the aperol spritz, both delicious. Parmigiano and Rucola added to the meat slices, a good combination.

I tasted a red wine, the Nero di Puglia, and I liked it. It would be probably better to have it with some red meat next time.

The only food I didn't enjoy as much as the others, but that was still enjoyable, was the panna cotta al cioccolato. When we will come back I'll get the red fruits one.

When we finished, they gave us some Limoncello as digestivo. (Good)

In the end, for the price of Bali I would say it's way expensive but for the Italian price it's cheap! If you, reader, are italian and came from Italy or Australia, this place is a must!

Thank you again for everything!...

If you’re ever in Kuta and craving real, heartfelt Italian food — Dolce Vita is an absolute gem. From the moment you walk in, the warmth of the staff sweeps you up: there’s a genuine friendliness there that’s often hard to find, but here it feels effortless.

First off, the ambience is lovely. Whether you’re seated in the cool, air‑conditioned interior or out on the alfresco terrace, the environment strikes the perfect balance of relaxed but polished. It feels like a place you can unwind over a long meal without compromising on elegance.

Now, about the food — it’s as close to Nonna’s kitchen as you’ll get outside Italy. The pasta is fresh and cooked to perfection, with authentic sauces; the pizzas are thin‑crusted, generously topped, and baked just right. Every dish we tried showed off quality ingredients and care. And the portions are generous — expect to leave feeling satisfied, not just full.

What also stands out is how attentive the service is. The staff are polite, helpful, and seem proud of what they do. The owner, Massimo, often comes by, connecting with guests, which gives the place an extra touch of warmth and authenticity. Endpoint touches like a complimentary limoncello shot make for a delightful finale.

And for those with dietary restrictions, especially gluten‑free, Dolce Vita really delivers. They have a thoughtful gluten‑free menu, and it’s clear the kitchen knows how to accommodate without compromising on flavour. That’s rare and very appreciated.

Prices are reasonable given the quality, location, and experience. It is a popular spot, especially in evenings, so booking ahead is wise if you want to...