A Family Christmas Lunch in Ubud
When spending Christmas away from home, dinner is often where things get tricky. By seven in the evening, the kids have been up since early, the heat has faded, and no one in the family is at their best for a long meal where they have to stay at the table.
Lunch helps avoid these problems. A Christmas lunch in Ubud that families can truly enjoy takes place during the day, lasts as long as you like, and leaves you with the afternoon free. A restaurant in Ubud with an open-air terrace and a view of the valley is perfect, since kids who finish eating early have something interesting to look at.
Why Daytime Works Better With Children
It really comes down to energy levels, for both kids and adults.
Young children are at their best earlier in the day. By midafternoon, their patience for sitting still is usually gone, so a festive lunch that starts at midday catches them when they’re happiest. Adults benefit as well. After a long lunch with wine, you can relax with a swim or a nap, instead of driving home in the dark and dealing with bedtime routines.
Ubud’s climate also helps. The terrace is above the valley floor, and at midday, the shade keeps things comfortable. Sunlight filters through the greenery instead of shining straight onto the table. By late afternoon, the light moves across the valley, making it easy to shift from lunch to a relaxed afternoon.
Three Services and Only One of Them Is Lunch
Christmas in the Valley takes place on December 24 and 25, 2026. It’s helpful to know the schedule before booking, since only one of the three events happens during the day.
On Christmas Eve, there’s a three-course dinner starting at 6 PM with live acoustic music. This is the most formal event and is less suitable for very young children.
The Christmas Day brunch is a festive buffet from 11 AM to 4 PM. This is the family-friendly event, and the five-hour window is what makes it special. You don’t have to stick to a set time. Arrive at eleven, after a swim at one-thirty, or later in the afternoon after a nap. The buffet is open the whole time.
The Christmas Day programme then continues into the evening with a garden BBQ from 7 PM, built around live cooking stations beside the pool, with live music alongside. It is a separate evening celebration from the daytime brunch, so it is worth noting the change of setting if you are considering both.
For a family with young children, the brunch is the one to choose. Current menus and timings are listed on the Christmas in the Valley event page, which is the place to check rather than assuming last year’s format.
There Is a Teddy Bear in It for Them
Every child at the Christmas Day brunch takes home a teddy bear.
It’s a small detail, but it makes a big difference. Having a gift to take home at the end of the meal helps a child of five feel like it’s really Christmas, and it means the last half hour is calm instead of a countdown to leaving.
The Kids Menu on the Other Days
Outside of the festive events, the regular children’s menu is thoughtfully put together, not just an afterthought.
The children’s menu is a bento box with one main, one side and one dessert. Mains include Spaghetti, Linguine or Penne with Beef Bolognese, Carbonara or Napolitana, Cheese & Ham Macaroni, a Cheese & Ham Toasty, Chicken Satay, Nasi Goreng, Mie Goreng, Grilled or Battered Fish, Chicken Breast Strips and an Angus Beef Mini Burger.
Sides range from French fries and creamy mash to steamed rice, green peas and garden salad, and dessert can be chocolate cake, carrot cake, a homemade muffin, sliced fresh fruit or homemade ice cream. There’s something for kids who want to try local dishes and for those who only eat a few familiar foods.
The Chicken Satay and Nasi Goreng are especially helpful choices. If a child orders the Chicken Satay, they’ve tried Indonesian food without feeling pushed, which works better than telling them to try new things. If you’re staying before or after December 25, this is what a regular day looks like, and our guide to family dining above the valley explains how the terrace works for families when there’s no festive menu.
Practical Things to Sort Before the Day
Book early and let the CasCades’ team know who will be coming. Include the number of people, ages, and any allergies in your message.
For buffet days, allergies need a bit more attention. The regular menu marks dairy, peanut, shellfish and pork, along with gluten-free and vegetarian options, making it easy to plan for different needs. Buffet dishes may not carry the same markers, so if someone in your group has a serious allergy, let the kitchen know when you book and ask a staff member to guide you through the buffet on the day. This quick conversation can make the difference between a relaxed lunch and a stressful one.
If you have a toddler, try to arrive when the brunch opens at 11 AM, while their energy is at its best. If your child likes to climb, ask for a table away from the terrace edge. And remember, the meal will probably end when the youngest child decides it’s over, which is much easier to handle at two in the afternoon than late at night.
Reserving the Table
Christmas in Bali is different from the one many people remember, and families who let go of old expectations often have a better time. A long lunch above the Valley of the Kings, festive food, and a relaxed pace is a good trade for a cold morning and a traditional roast.
You can book a table at CasCades Restaurant & Bar online, by WhatsApp on +62 361 972111, or by emailing res@cascadesbali.com. Be sure to ask for the Christmas Day brunch, not the evening events, and book early if you’re coming with young children.
After that, just let the afternoon unfold however it does with a five-hour Christmas lunch and kids.