Where to eat in Gili Trawangan: best restaurants and what to order

Gili Trawangan is one of the three Gili islands located in Northwest Lombok, Indonesia. As the most popular of the islands, Gili Trawangan is the one that offers a wider variety of restaurants. Unfortunately, it is also the one that caters more to tourists, so finding authentic local food is a bit harder. Discover where to eat in Gili Trawangan in this post. I will guide you through my favourite restaurants and warungs in the island and share with you what to order. Let’s dig in!

If you’re visiting Gili Trawangan, you’ll probably find this post useful:

Quick Gili Trawangan guide: the party Gili

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Top recommendations on where to eat in Gili Trawangan

Indonesian food

The first recommendation on almost every food list in Gili Trawangan is the Night Market. Each night, stalls gather at the Night Market and sell their foods. While it is not at all as impressive as other Night Markets in SEA (understandable due to the island’s size), it offers a great opportunity to taste many different small dishes in one place, such as sate skewers, nasi campur or chicken curry. It is also a great place to meet with other travelers! If you are craving rotisserie chicken, there is no better place in the island than The Roast House. If, like me, you find roasted chicken an ultimate comfort food, you’ll like it here!

If you’re unsure what to order but would like to try several Indonesian dishes, I recommend Karma Kayak, an establishment selling tapas-style local food. If you’re into curries and especially if you’re ona  budget, you should try Warung Dewi. They have several curry options and you can also take it to go if you want to eat on the beach! This one is quite popular with locals and tourists alike so be ready to queue.

Lastly, if you’re looking for a more local experience, I can recommend Warung Suci and Warung Jaman Now, two family-owned local restaurants serving traditional Indonesian food. Warung Suci also has a few Western options if not all the group is up for local food. Also, they take a while to serve, so sit back and relax!

International food and drinks by the beach

If you haven’t gotten your palate used to Indonesian food but would like to start somewhere, check out Jali Kitchen, a restaurant serving a mix of Asian and Western dishes at a great value. If you’re a vegetarian (or not) and would like to taste some delicious plant-based food with a view, check out The Banyan Tree on the Eastern beach. An alternative for people with food restrictions are Samadhi Living, a café and co-working space with vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options.

For the more traditionalists, and if you’re craving Italian food, you should go to My House (that’s the name of the restaurant, I am not inviting you to my home!). This restaurant counts with an Italian chef and serves hearty pasta and pizza dishes. Another option for pizza is Regina Pizzeria.

Drinks and socializing

If you want beachfront experiences, I suggest Casa Vintage, which offers Jamaican food as well as tropical-inspired cocktails. Also, the ambiance is cool and the view is to die for. Another option is Pearl Beach Lounge, which offers a more upscale tropical experience. If you still want the beachfront but want to escape the crowds, you should head towards the Eastern coast, in restaurants and bars such as Sama-sama Reggea Bar.

If you’re looking for a cool spot in a nice atmosphere and delicious drinks, you should pick Tiki Grove. This bar is led by a Canadian couple that offer excellent cocktails and love to talk to their guests.

You’ll find the best cocktails in Gili T at Tiki Grove

Closing statement

While Gili Trawangan is not a culinary epicenter in Indonesia, this island offers a surprisingly wide array of dining options for its size. Use this list when visiting the island and want to know where to eat in Gili Trawangan. And let us know your favourite spots in the comments!

If you’ll be visiting Gili Trawangan, I suggest that you have a look at these posts:

Quick Gili Trawangan guide: the party Gili

Quick Gili islands guide: a starters kit for paradise seekers in Indonesia

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