Today, as we stepped out of the beautiful, sun-warmed space that is Alchemy in Ubud for the final time, we were handed a goodbye gift. Completely unexpected. Entirely unnecessary.
They had already given us so much.
For weeks, the team at Alchemy had been feeding us, caring for us, and welcoming us like family. But what set them apart wasn’t just the meals; it was the way they made me feel safe. I live with a severe peanut allergy, and navigating food in unfamiliar places can be exhausting. However, at Alchemy, safety was not offered as a service, but as second nature. Every time I asked and re-asked, they responded calmly, kindly, and thoughtfully. They remembered. They reassured. They made it feel easy.
The Space
Alchemy is earth-toned, humble, and spacious. There’s an invitation in the atmosphere: settle into a cushioned sofa, gather around a community table, or be still amidst the gentle hum of people working quietly behind laptops.
Details matter here. Tiny bundles of flowers are tied with love and hung around the cafe, delicate bursts of colour that feel like a blessing more than decoration. The space is both grounded and alive.
They serve everything from vibrant cold-pressed juices to vegan soft-serve ice cream. There’s a breakfast and lunch bar, raw cakes, an extensive menu, and coffee that could hold its own in Melbourne. (And as a Melbournian, I don’t say that lightly.)
The Alchemy Food
We first stumbled upon Alchemy in 2017. We were staying in a villa tucked into the rice paddies nearby, and it happened to be the closest coffee shop. We fell in love instantly. The food was fresh, nourishing, and joyful. We even bought the recipe book eight years ago now.
The food is raw and vegan, but it doesn’t preach. It welcomes. Whether you're plant-based or not, this is the kind of place you’ll want to return to. Again and again. There's heart in every dish, carefully plated, but not fussy. Just honest food, made with intention.
It feels like an institution, one I always want to stay close to, especially since the yoga studio opened. The soul of Alchemy is still rooted in something homemade, but its branches have spread into a full lifestyle experience.
The Alchemy Team
The team that works at Alchemy are the true essence of the space. Warm, present, patient, and always quick with a laugh. I worried that my requests were obscure or repetitive, but they handled everything with grace. I overheard far more intricate dietary preferences, and still, the staff moved through it all with knowledge and joy.
There’s a lightness in the way the team move around the space, like it belongs to them, and they care for it with love. And that joy is contagious. The energy ripples outward. Most days, the air is filled with laughter, gentle, joyful, often shared between them. It became one of the sounds that grounded us, a quiet comfort that reminded us we were in good hands.
The Feeling
When you’re travelling, whether on holiday, sabbatical, or slow living for a while, there’s something profoundly comforting about seeing familiar faces, about finding a place that’s not just a café, but a kind of refuge. Somewhere you can just be.
Bali is known for its warmth, but Alchemy takes that a step deeper. It felt like we were part of something. Held. Nourished. Remembered. This place added something intangible to our time in Ubud, a soft landing spot that made it easier to open up to everything else.
I write this not as an affiliate, but as a genuinely grateful guest. One who feels a quiet ache in her chest at the thought of leaving. This place, these people, became an unexpected anchor. A little pocket of Bali that reminded us what community can feel like when it’s done with care.
Forever in our hearts, Alchemy Team. Thank you. xoxo
