Mauri Restaurant

In Bali, when it comes to Italian haute cuisine, the name Maurizio Bombini inevitably comes up. Long before the island became one of Asia’s most dynamic culinary destinations, the chef from Puglia had already recognized the potential of this corner of Indonesia, playing a key role in shaping its culinary history. Today, with Mauri—a restaurant bearing his nickname and embodying his most authentic vision—comes the well-deserved recognition of three forks from Gambero Rosso’s Top Italian Restaurants guide. Mauri is much more than a restaurant: it is the gastronomic manifesto of a chef who has chosen to tell the story of his native Puglia and Italy through the language of contemporary haute cuisine. Born on the shores of the Adriatic and raised in his family’s restaurant, Bombini built an international career before arriving in Bali, where he led prestigious luxury kitchens (including the Bulgari Resort and the Ritz Carlton in Bali) and, in 2018, decided to launch a project entirely his own. His cuisine is elegant yet never cold, technical yet always accessible. At its core are absolute respect for the ingredient, seasonality, and a constant pursuit of balance.

The restaurant’s Apulian roots are evident everywhere: in the fresh pasta, the extra-virgin olive oil, the Mediterranean influences, and that philosophy of simplicity which, in Bombini’s hands, is transformed into refinement. Alongside the finest Italian ingredients, the menu features carefully selected local produce, often sourced from producers in Balisano with whom the restaurant maintains a long-standing partnership. The dining experience is crafted with almost obsessive attention to detail. The open kitchen, the limited number of seats, the precise yet warm service, and a top-tier wine cellar all contribute to creating a gastronomic journey that manages to be both exclusive and welcoming. Nothing feels ostentatious: everything is designed to place the diner at the center of the story. Le Tre Forchette thus honors not only one of the best Italian restaurants in Asia, but also the journey of a chef who can rightfully be considered one of the pioneers of fine Italian cuisine in Bali. A credible and passionate ambassador of our gastronomic heritage, capable of building a bridge between the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean without ever losing sight of identity, territory, and culture. Not far from Mauri is Zia Tina, a trattoria and pizzeria also founded and conceived by Bombini, where diners are immersed in the cozy atmosphere of a traditional Apulian farmhouse.