Pachamama Gili Air

The menu is 90% plant-based — vegan by default, with eggs available for ovo-vegetarians and a few sustainably-caught fish dishes for flexitarians. Maria's husband occasionally lobbies to add chicken; he hasn't won that argument.

Buddha bowls (95-130k IDR):

• Indonesian buddha bowl — brown rice, tempe satay, gado-gado vegetables, peanut dressing, krupuk
• Mediterranean bowl — quinoa, falafel, cashew tzatziki, cucumber, olives, hummus
• Mexican bowl — black beans, corn, salsa, avocado, jackfruit "carnitas"
• Asian bowl — soba noodles, edamame, tofu, mango, cashews, sesame-ginger dressing
• Detox bowl — kale, sprouts, beetroot, carrot, avocado, hemp seeds, tahini-lemon

Smoothie bowls (75-95k IDR):

• Acai bowl with granola, banana, berries, coconut, peanut butter — 95k IDR
• Dragonfruit bowl — 85k IDR
• Mango bowl — 75k IDR
• Coconut bowl with toasted coconut, banana, granola — 80k IDR

Mains and curries (85-130k IDR):

• Vegan rendang with jackfruit "beef" and nasi kuning — 110k IDR
• Thai green curry with tofu — 105k IDR
• Indonesian vegetable curry — 95k IDR
• Mushroom risotto — 115k IDR
• Eggplant parmigiana (vegan) — 115k IDR
• Vegetable pad thai — 100k IDR
• Vegan lasagna — 120k IDR
• Grilled fish of the day with vegetables — 130k IDR (one of the few non-vegan dishes)

Lighter and breakfast (50-95k IDR):

• Avocado toast on sourdough (vegan butter or hummus base) — 75k IDR
• Vegan banana pancakes — 65k IDR
• Tofu scramble with sourdough — 80k IDR
• Chia seed pudding with mango — 50k IDR
• Soup of the day — 50k IDR

Raw desserts (45-65k IDR):

• Raw cheesecake (cashew base) — 55k IDR
• Raw brownie (date and walnut) — 45k IDR
• Coconut chia parfait — 50k IDR
• Mango sorbet — 45k IDR

Decent espresso program — proper machine, beans from a Lombok roaster. Plant milks (oat, almond, coconut, soy) are standard.

• Flat white 38k IDR
• Latte 35k IDR
• Cold brew 42k IDR
• Matcha latte 45k IDR
• Turmeric latte 42k IDR
• Chai latte 42k IDR

Smoothies (40-60k IDR) — fresh fruit, plant milk, optional protein add (10k IDR upcharge).

Kombucha — 50k IDR per glass.

Cold-pressed juices (50-70k IDR) — green, beetroot-orange-ginger, watermelon-mint.

No alcohol on premises — Maria's vegan-aligned choice. If you want a beer or wine with dinner, eat elsewhere.

A typical breakfast for one (smoothie bowl + flat white): 133k IDR. Buddha bowl + smoothie: 155k IDR. Two people having full meals and drinks: 270-330k IDR.

Mid-range Gili Air pricing — comparable to Slow Down for similar portion sizes, more expensive than warungs (where you'd get nasi goreng for 30k IDR), cheaper than Mowie's beachfront restaurant. The pricing reflects ingredient costs (acai is imported, organic vegetables, plant milks).

Small garden compound, perhaps 14 tables — a mix of low tables with floor cushions (most of the seating) and a few proper tables and chairs near the entrance. Hanging plants, dream catchers, paper lanterns, soft world-music playlist.

The crowd is mostly Western and skews 25-45 — yoga retreat goers from H2O Yoga and Flowers & Fire, long-stay vegan travelers, dive instructors on their off days, the occasional Indonesian Instagram traveler (smoothie bowls photograph well). Few surfers (no surfing on Gili Air anyway), few families with young kids.

It's a calm place. Conversation volume stays low. People often eat with their phones away.

Most tables are low (about 30cm tall) with floor cushions. Comfortable for 60-90 minutes if you can sit cross-legged. If you have knee or back issues, request a regular table near the entrance ("kursi biasa, tolong"). They keep 2-3 conventional tables available.

The tropical garden attracts mosquitoes after sunset. Citronella candles on tables, but bring repellent if sensitive. The few covered indoor tables have fewer mosquitoes if you're worried.

Strengths: best vegetarian-friendly spot on Gili Air; vegan options are well-conceived rather than apologetic substitutes; coffee program is decent; bohemian garden setting is genuinely relaxing; raw desserts are properly executed; cross-contamination risk minimal (90% plant-based kitchen).

Weaknesses: floor cushion seating isn't for everyone; mosquitoes in the garden; service is slow (bohemian pace); smaller portions than surfer-cafe Western breakfasts; no alcohol; can feel insular for non-vegans.

Best for: vegetarians and vegans wanting a substantial meal; yoga retreat goers; long-stay travelers managing their diets; couples wanting a calm restaurant; anyone wanting raw desserts and good plant milk lattes; flexitarians who appreciate plant-based variety.

Skip if: you can't sit on floor cushions; you're meat-and-potatoes oriented and don't appreciate plant-based cooking; you want huge portions; you want alcohol with dinner; you're sensitive to mosquitoes; you find bohemian aesthetics performative.