The Art Deco Story Behind Apéritif in Bali

A spacious, elegant restaurant interior featuring a black and white checkered floor, arched windows, an ornate black chandelier, and beautifully set tables prepared for fine dining bali.

Art Deco can make a restaurant feel special from the moment guests arrive. Its clean lines, balanced shapes, and polished materials create an elegant setting before the first course is served. At Apéritif Restaurant in Ubud, this style is part of the dining experience. The design reflects the elegance of the 1920s while fitting naturally into Bali’s tropical surroundings.

Apéritif is housed in a spacious standalone manor overlooking the lush surroundings of Ubud. Its interiors combine black-and-white styling, marble, dark wood, bronze details, antique chandeliers, and grand windows, creating a setting that feels both formal and inviting. The result is an Art Deco-inspired restaurant in Bali where the architecture and interior design contribute to the pace and character of the evening.

For guests seeking fine dining in Ubud, the setting provides more than a backdrop. It establishes the atmosphere from the moment guests arrive and continues to shape the experience throughout dinner.

The History Behind the Style

Art Deco emerged internationally during the 1920s and became associated with modernity, craftsmanship, and glamour. Its visual language often combines geometric forms, symmetry, rich materials, and decorative detail. At Apéritif, the influence is expressed through a contemporary interpretation, using these classic design elements in a modern dining environment.

The restaurant’s design draws on the atmosphere of the 1920s, with period-inspired details throughout the space. The interiors are designed to capture the grand atmosphere of the era, using marble, dark wood, and bronze elements. Period photographs also form part of the interior, adding historical context to the decorative concept.

This gives the restaurant a distinctive visual identity. The chandeliers, monochrome floor pattern, grand windows, and antique details create the feeling of stepping into another era, while the surrounding greenery keeps the experience unmistakably connected to Ubud.

How the Room Shapes the Meal

An elegant dining room featuring a crystal chandelier, a framed beach painting, and perfectly set tables ready for fine dining bali.

The atmosphere becomes especially apparent during dinner. Apéritif’s degustation experience is designed as a progression, beginning with pre-dinner drinks and canapés before moving through a series of courses.

The current Guided by the Lunar Cycle menu takes inspiration from the lunar cycle, giving the meal a conceptual structure that develops from one course to the next. The pacing leaves room for conversation, wine, and the presentation of each dish, making the dining room an active part of the overall experience.

The Art Deco influence works well within this format. The geometry and symmetry of the interior create visual order, while the lighting and table setting soften the atmosphere as the evening progresses. The design complements the food and gives the table a distinct sense of place.

For a romantic dinner in Ubud, this balance can be particularly effective. Candlelight, polished table settings, and the vintage character of the interior create an intimate atmosphere without taking away from the surrounding landscape. Apéritif also offers a dedicated romantic dining experience with candlelight and floral details for couples celebrating an occasion.

The Rhythm of the Evening

The atmosphere becomes especially apparent during dinner. Apéritif’s degustation experience is designed as a progression, beginning with pre-dinner drinks and canapés before moving through a series of courses.

The current Guided by the Lunar Cycle menu takes inspiration from the lunar cycle, giving the meal a conceptual structure that develops from one course to the next. The pacing leaves room for conversation, wine, and the presentation of each dish, making the dining room an active part of the overall experience.

The Art Deco influence works well within this format. The geometry and symmetry of the interior create visual order, while the lighting and table setting soften the atmosphere as the evening progresses. The design complements the food and gives the table a distinct sense of place.

For a romantic dinner in Ubud, this balance can be particularly effective. Candlelight, polished table settings, and the vintage character of the interior create an intimate atmosphere without taking away from the surrounding landscape. Apéritif also offers a dedicated romantic dining experience with candlelight and floral details for couples celebrating an occasion.

A Setting Rooted in Ubud 

The Art Deco-inspired design could easily feel disconnected from its tropical setting, but Apéritif avoids that by allowing the landscape to remain visible throughout the experience.

The restaurant sits within the grounds of Viceroy Bali, surrounded by the greenery and valley landscape associated with Ubud. Large windows and open views bring the outside environment into the dining experience, creating a contrast between the structured interior and the softer landscape beyond.

That contrast is central to the atmosphere. The room has the formality of a 1920s-inspired European manor, while the surrounding rice fields and valley remind guests that they are dining in Bali. Apéritif combines this European-inspired style with Bali’s natural surroundings, creating a setting that feels both elegant and connected to Ubud.

The wine cellar adds another visual element. Guests can see the wine collection as part of the dining experience, highlighting the important role wine plays in the meal.

From 1920s Inspiration to Modern Fine Dining 

The Art Deco influence at Apéritif is ultimately about more than decoration. It provides a visual language for an experience that combines ceremony, craftsmanship, and attention to detail.

The idea connects naturally with the restaurant’s broader philosophy. European Technique. Indonesian Soul. describes the relationship between European culinary precision and Indonesia’s diverse culinary heritage. The interior follows a similar principle, taking inspiration from the elegance of the 1920s while remaining firmly situated in Ubud.

This is also why the historical references throughout the space matter. Period photographs and antique-inspired details give the restaurant a sense of continuity, while the contemporary menu and service keep the experience firmly in the present.

The result is a dining room that feels distinctive without becoming a museum. Guests can appreciate the architecture, materials, and details while still experiencing a contemporary fine-dining restaurant.

The Lasting Appeal of the Room

A successful dining room should do more than look beautiful. It should create an environment that complements the food, service, and occasion.

At Apéritif, the Art Deco-inspired interior provides that framework. The chandeliers and architectural details create a sense of occasion, the monochrome palette gives the room structure, and the surrounding Ubud landscape brings warmth and natural contrast.

For guests visiting Apéritif for a special dinner, the setting becomes part of the memory of the evening. The food, wine, service, and architecture work together rather than existing as separate elements.

That is the lasting appeal of Apéritif’s Art Deco story. It is not simply a reference to the past. It is a way of creating a contemporary dining experience with a strong visual identity and a sense of occasion.

Reserve an Evening at Apéritif

A smiling couple enjoys a romantic fine dining bali experience at a beautifully decorated candlelit table with a framed painting in the background.

For those seeking fine dining in Ubud, Apéritif brings together an Art Deco-inspired setting, a contemporary degustation experience, and the culinary philosophy of European Technique. Indonesian Soul.

Reserve a table at Apéritif Restaurant and experience the dining room, menu, and atmosphere for yourself.

Photo of Nic Vanderbeeken

Nic Vanderbeeken

Chef Nic Vanderbeeken brings over 20 years of experience in fine dining and Michelin-starred restaurants, recognised for his progressive approach and multifaceted culinary philosophy.

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