Choosing a tasting menu in Ubud often comes down to one question: should you choose the seven-course menu or the five-course menu?
At Apéritif, guests can enjoy the same Guided by the Moon degustation menu in two different lengths. When making a reservation, many diners ask which option offers the better experience. The answer is simple: neither menu is designed to be better than the other. Instead, each suits a different occasion, schedule and appetite.
Both menus follow the same narrative inspired by the phases of the lunar cycle and feature the dishes that define the dining experience. The seven-course menu extends that journey with two additional courses, creating a longer and more immersive progression.
The Courses Shared by Both Tasting Menus
Five of the seven courses are shared between the two tasting menus, making the five-course menu a complete experience rather than a shortened version of the longer menu.
The evening begins with the New Moon, where cocktails and canapés introduce the experience. Developed collectively by the kitchen team, this opening sequence changes regularly with the seasons and the team’s creative direction.
From there, both menus move to the Half Moon, where tuna is paired with romesco, mango salad and pindang sauce. The Nearly Full Moon follows with heirloom tomato, goat cheese and kombucha, a returning signature dish that showcases multiple preparations of a single ingredient.
The Full Moon presents Madura blue crab served in a pumpkin and kemangi risotto. Afterwards comes the Fading Moon, where guests choose between beef cheek inspired by Coto Makassar, served with acar, cem-cem leaves, and beef consommé, or the day’s line-caught fish.
Both tasting menus conclude with the Closing Moon, featuring rice, pineapple, vanilla and cinnamon, before finishing with mignardises during the Final Moon.
The Two Courses the Seven-Course Adds
The seven-course menu includes two additional courses: one savoury and one sweet.
The first is the After Full Moon, where organic chicken filled with lobster mousse is served with Jerusalem artichoke purée, kremes and Albufera sauce. It is the richest savoury course of the evening and the only dish that combines land and sea on the same plate. Guests choosing the five-course menu move directly from the crab course to their selected main course, creating a slightly lighter progression through the centre of the meal.
The second addition is the Dark Moon, a dessert featuring tamarind, 70% dark chocolate and almond. While the rice dessert shared by both menus provides a gentle finish to the savoury courses, the chocolate dessert offers a richer, more defined conclusion before the mignardises are served.
Choosing the Right Menu for the Occasion
If dinner is the main event, the seven-course menu offers a more immersive dining experience. Birthdays, anniversaries and milestone celebrations often benefit from the additional savoury course and dessert, allowing the full story of the degustation menu to unfold at a leisurely pace.
The five-course menu is equally suited to guests who want to experience fine dining in Ubud while keeping the evening more flexible. It is an excellent choice for a first evening in Ubud, a dinner before an early departure the following day, or an evening when dining is part of a broader itinerary.
For private celebrations, the seven-course menu is often the preferred option. Since the Private Dining Room is reserved exclusively for one party throughout the service, the longer menu naturally complements a relaxed evening shared with family, friends or colleagues.
Choosing by the Time Available
Dinner is served from 6 pm to 8.30 pm, while lunch is available from 12 pm to 2 pm with at least 24 hours’ notice.
Because every tasting menu is prepared and served according to the kitchen’s pacing rather than on demand, the time available can help determine the most suitable menu.
Guests considering the seven-course lunch menu are encouraged to mention this when making their reservation so the kitchen and service team can pace the experience accordingly. During dinner, timing is generally less restrictive, although guests with plans afterwards may find the five-course menu a more comfortable option.
Choosing Based on Appetite
Neither tasting menu is designed around large portions. Instead, each course is carefully balanced so that the overall experience remains satisfying without feeling excessive.
That said, the seven-course menu has a richer middle section. The addition of the organic chicken and lobster course creates three substantial savoury plates in succession before dessert begins.
Guests who generally prefer a lighter dining experience through the middle of the menu, or who find themselves slowing down before dessert, often appreciate the pacing of the five-course menu.
Supplements and Wine Pairing
Both tasting menus allow guests to personalise their experience through optional supplements.
Additional dishes include the Venison Wellington with foie gras, rendang, and sweet potato, as well as Kagoshima A5 Wagyu. At the Growing Moon, guests may also add a cauliflower course accompanied by caviar, oyster gel, crab and sambal matah. A cheese platter is also available.
A five-course menu with one supplement can provide a dining experience similar in length to the standard seven-course menu, making it an appealing option for guests who prefer to choose where they would like an additional course.
Wine pairing is also available for both five- and seven-course configurations across all tasting menus in Bali served at Apéritif, including the vegetarian and vegan menus. Selected wines are also available by the glass, poured in 125 ml measures using the Coravin system.
A Simple Way to Decide
Both tasting menus present the dishes that define the Guided by the Moon experience. The seven-course menu extends the journey with an additional savoury course and dessert, while the five-course menu offers the same culinary philosophy in a slightly shorter format.
For celebrations where the meal itself is the occasion, the seven-course menu offers a longer, more immersive progression. For evenings with a tighter schedule or a preference for a lighter pace, the five-course menu is an equally rewarding choice.
Whichever menu you choose, reservations are recommended. Apéritif accepts bookings for both lunch and dinner, with reservations required to ensure availability.
