-Where to Stay, What to Eat, and What to Do –
Highlights and travel tips from my stay in the Balinese cities of Ubud, Uluwatu, and Canggu!
UBUD
Stay: Puji Bungalows Hostel
Eat: Sari Organik, Semu Jean, Omah Pizza, Oops Restaurant & Bar, or a local’s kitchen
Do: Yoga at The Yoga Barn, Shops on Jl. Raya Ubud & Jl. Hanoman, Spa Day, Hire a Moped Driver to tour the area
Attractions: Sunrise hike to Mt. Batur, Visit the Monkey Forest, Tegenungan Waterfall, Kopi Luwak coffee tour, Tegalalang Rice Terraces, and many temples such as the Tirta Empul.
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Day 55-58 of my travels through Southeast Asia were spent in Ubud and even though my heart belongs to the sea this was my favorite Balinese city and quite possibly my favorite city of the entire trip. A city full of culture and modern shops alike. The streets are tiny (and congested – the only negative of Bali) and lined with hand-carved statues and intricate entrances to Balinese homes. There is no better way to experience this architecture and breathe in Bali than from the back of a hired moped. (If you’ve read any of my past blogs you know I love to rent mopeds for myself, but I’d have to say having a driver was quite relaxing for once.)
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The Puji Bungalows hostel was an ideal location only 15-30 minutes walk from the busy shopping streets. It had a beautiful pool overlooking a rice field and very friendly atmosphere. The property had hostel dorms or private rooms available. The owner used to work on a Disney cruise ship and you’ll find hints of this throughout the hostel grounds. Lily Spa is right across the street and gives the best and cheapest Balinese massages and Creambaths (1 hour head massage/hair mask). And right around the corner you’ll find, Omah Pizza, a hostel favorite… delicious and cheap!
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I spent most of my days walking around town enjoying the stunning scenery from modern boutiques to eye-catching homes and fields of rice galore. Shopping a little, eating a lot, and attempting some yoga. Being in Bali, I knew that I wanted to yoga-out a little bit. I found the Yoga Barn and loved it. They have a ton of classes to offer, a lovely clean eating cafe that I probably could have spent an entire day taste testing at, and a free class each evening. It is also located near a large area of shops and cafes. If I were to return to Ubud I would look for a hostel in this area to mix things up!
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Now back to the eating… Oops Restaurant & Bar had my favorite happy hour deals and Sari Organik was the perfect sunset dinner spot. The walk there leads you through beautiful rice fields that are enchanted with lightning bugs on your walk back in the dark. If you’re looking to dive into the culture a bit more make sure you try a cooking class or a local kitchen (these can be hard to spot with no sign typically, but found on side streets they will be part of a home that is opened to the public).
The Streets of Ubud:
ULUWATU
Even the name sounds good coming out, am I right? This is a town most known for its beaches and cliffside attractions. I decided to do Uluwatu a bit differently – AKA Resort Style! After months in hostels I couldn’t resist the sweet temptation of Bali’s beachfront resort deals.
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Stay: Keraton Jimbaran Beach Resort or Blue Point Bay Villas & Spa
Eat: Single Fin, Sunset Beach Bar & Grill
Do: Alternate body between beach and pool, sun and shade 🙂 Life should be simple when at the beach.
Attractions: The Rock Bar’s cliffside dining and views, Single Fin’s cliffside dining, views, and incredible Sunday Sessions (live bands, djs, and a killer atmosphere)
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Now I’m sure I’d have a laundry list of items above if I were there for more than a couple days and if I wasn’t such a beach bum, but I will say that those recommendations are legit. There were a plethora of places to stay in this area that were beachfront and affordable. I stayed at Keraton Jimbaran and thought it was amazing. The rooms are built more like private villas with your own front porch and the layout of the resort resembles the heart of Ubud walking a narrow street surrounded by houses (rooms) dawning Balinese architecture and landscaping. Gorgeous!
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However, a visit to Single Fin for dinner revealed an incredible infinity pool and view next door that belonged to Blue Point Bay Villas & Spa. My friends snagged their own personal villas here for under $100 a night (only downside is no beach access… hence cliffside). Another stunning resort I found on a walk down Jimbaran beach: The InterContinental Bali Resort. This place looked like a show-stopper to me, but I’m not sure of the price range. My friends and I enjoyed dinner at their Sunset Beach Bar & Grill one night and were more than pleased with the sunset views as well as the post-sunset “mood lighting” and ambience on the beach.
The Resort:
CANGGU
Stay: Serenity Eco Guesthouse, Koa D Surfer Hotel, or 808 Residences
Eat: Panama Kitchen & Pool, Balifornia, Durga People, Bark, Deus Ex Machina, Avocado Cafe
Do: Shop/Eat along Jl. Pantai Batu Bolong street, Yoga, Spa, Surf Lessons
Attractions: Tanah Lot Temple, Surf Town, Old Man’s Beach Bar
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Oh Canggu (chang-goo), known for its surf vibes and cafes, this little town was a fun place to end my time in Southeast Asia! Travel friends I’d met along my journey had raved about Canggu as the chilliest town in Bali where backpackers flock to watch surfers and to learn to surf for themselves.
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Personally I wanted to indulge in some more yoga before leaving Bali and I was in luck! I had also met someone in Ubud that shared with me a great yoga experience they had at Serenity Eco Guesthouse in Canggu. This hostel/guesthouse was like a sweet little hippie commune, a fun experience for a couple days and I imagine a great place for a full week or month retreat if you were really looking to get away. I recommend a room with AC because Bali is hottt (the Sun or Moon room are excellent options). The guesthouse has a pool and is a short walk to the beach. However, there are not many restaurant options nearby so plan to eat at their cafe, Alkaline, or rent a moped. The best part about this guesthouse was the yoga and the intriguing raw creations found at the lobby cafe, Alkaline (think green lasagna, spinach pie, tempe, fresh smoothies, vegan peanut butter cookies, black sticky rice porridge). And I couldn’t have had a more fun experience at their aerial and fly high yoga classes!
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I met a new friend at Alkaline one day that said she was staying directly across the street at a hotel called 808 Residences. She took me on a tour of it and I was blown away. It was affordable (under $100), modern, had a nice pool, felt very private with only a few lofts inside the gated entrance, and the top suite (her room) had a wrap around balcony with amazing sunset and beach views. I would highly recommend booking this place!
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The last couple nights of the trip I stayed at Koa D Surfer Hotel to try out a different location and end on a more luxurious note than the “hippie commune.” This was a funky and affordable hotel only a 15 minute walk from the beach access point by the well-known Finn’s Beach Club. The hotel had a nice rooftop pool and hangout space with ocean views. My favorite find in this area of Canggu was Panama Kitchen & Pool. I felt like I was on vacation from my vacation at this stunning location. It had old-school charm and to-die-for food. A definite must-do!
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A perfect day in Canggu consisted of walking the shops along Jl. Pantai Batu Bolong street, eating fresh foods from the health-conscious cafes, cheersing wheatgrass shots, joining a $15 surf lesson or $10 aerial yoga class, sipping a People’s Colada at Durga People’s happy hour and walking the beach at sunset on your way to Old Man’s for a night of fun.
And that concludes my time in Bali (and Southeast Asia). I hope you find yourself on Bali-day one day too! It’ll have you starstruck as well!
Serenity Eco Guesthouse:
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A few Final Tips:
1. Thank you is pronounced Sook-saw-maw
2. Mopeds are heavier here than in Thailand so hire a driver for big tour days
3. Taxis are incredibly expensive, so try to Uber (even though it is frowned upon)
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Popular Nearby Destinations:
-Kuta and Seminyak are popular destination cities nearby the ones I visited. These are great cities if you are looking for a young backpacker party scene, but other than that I cannot say much else.
-Popular islands to visit near Bali include the Gili Islands, Java, and Lombok (most known for its Mt Rinjani volcano hike). I highly suggest building one of these into your itinerary if you have extra time in the area!
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Wander On,
SK
We are so happy you had a great experience. But even happier to have you back home.