A First-Timer’s Guide to the Best Spots in Bali, Indonesia

Bali was once a magnet for backpackers and surfers drawn to the Indonesian island’s tropical climate, friendly locals, and laid-back vibe. But in recent years, a wave of stylish hotels and hip eateries have sprung up to cater to an increasingly sophisticated crowd.

From flashy Seminyak to bohemian Canggu, peaceful yoga hub Ubud and surfer’s paradise Uluwatu, there’s much to uncover.

Seminyak

Seminyak’s unofficial motto is ‘swim, eat, drink, repeat.’ It’s home to Bali’s most sophisticated restaurant scene, not to mention some of the most stylish hotels on the island.

Mama San is a modern South East Asian spot with mouth-watering food and cocktails—order the crispy lemongrass chicken with green mango papaya som tum and sweet chilli sauce. For a day club vibe, try out Mrs Sippy, a bar/restaurant/pool combo where the menu diverges from your typical deckchair fare with dishes like pumpkin, kale and ricotta salad.

Meanwhile, new addition Da Maria aims to ‘bring the Amalfi Coast to Bali.’ The Instagram-able space serves up Napoli-approved pizza and a mostly Italian drinks list, including pinot grigio, chianti, and apertivo.

If a quintessential Seminyak experience is what you’re after, head to the glamorous Potato Head Beach Club. Go early go nab a spot for sunset and while you wait, you can hang by the pool as the waves crash on the rocks below, snacking on authentic Indonesian cuisine.

Canggu

For a slower pace than Seminyak, head about half an hour up the coast to Canggu, a five-mile stretch of killer surf break and fishing villages that offers a more authentic experience of the ‘real’ Bali.

Cycling through rice fields and wandering around markets are the two main activities here aside from surfing, swimming, and eating—of course. Canggu is a hipster café dream; smoothies, acai bowls, and avocado toast, as well as nutritious modern takes on Indonesian fare reign supreme at cool kid spots like Crate Café, Betelnut Café, Milk & Madu, Poke Poke, and Deus Café.

At sunset head to The Lawn, a sprawling stretch of grass overlooking the ocean where you can enjoy food and drinks on an array of mats and cushions on the ground, or on the large deck strung with fairy lights.

For fine-dining, don’t miss Sangsaka‘s modern take on traditional Indonesian cuisine; order the charred wagyu beef with coconut curry, or charcoal chicken with turmeric and baby beans.

Ubud

An hour north of Seminyak and away from the coast is Ubud, famous for its green hills, Hindu temples, and terraced rice paddies, as well as a yoga scene that’s been booming since Elizabeth Gilbert wrote about the area in Eat, Pray, Love.

Locavore spots rule the fine-dining scene in Ubud, where local ingredients are prepared and presented in an uber-modern style by world-class chefs, and buzzy ingredients like duck eggs, wildflowers, and fermented produce make the menu.

For a more casual atmosphere, go for crispy skin chicken and spare ribs at Urbana. Either way, you can burn off your meal with a next-day sunrise hike to Mount Batur (the 2 a.m. start time is worth it), a stroll along the Campuhan Ridge Walk (refuel at Karsa Cafe at the end of the trail), a visit to Tirta Empul Temple where locals worship in the water, or shopping for locally-made goods such as silk scarves and woven bags at the Ubud Art Market opposite the Royal Palace.

Uluwatu

Beloved by board riders thanks to reliably good surf breaks, Uluwatu—on Bali’s southwest peninsula—has a look and feel entirely different from that of Seminyak or Canggu.

Single Fin Bar is an Uluwatu institution, especially in the afternoon when flip-flop clad surfers and land-dwellers alike gather to sink cold Bintangs as the sun sets. The menu consists of standard pub fare like fried noodles, pizza and burgers.

If you’re looking for something a little more upscale, go for drinks and dinner at Rock Bar. Accessible only by an inclinator due to its location—it’s nestled on a rock formation that juts out from the coastline—the 360-degree ocean views, soundtrack of crashing waves, and the innovative cocktail menu (trust us and go for the lychee martini) make it an unparalleled experience in Bali, if not the world.

Dine on a seafood-driven menu of fish, grilled octopus, shrimp and lobster with a Greek influence—don’t skip the Greek dips and salads, as well as the sargali rolls stuffed with pistachios and walnuts for dessert.

While you’re in town, don’t forget to visit Dreamland Beach, arguably the most stunning stretch of white sand in the area, and visit the ancient Uluwatu Temple. Just make sure you hold tight to your things—the monkeys that inhabit the temple are known to snatch up unaware tourists’ belongings.