Travel Bali Part Four- Canggu
Travel to Bali’s hub for foodie scenes, wellness, and social outings with friends.
Written by Gracie Rounds
Introduction
Full of surfing, beach clubs, party scenes, and co-working spaces, Canggu is a not-to-miss destination on your next Bali trip. As soon as you get even the smallest taste of what Canggu has to offer, you’ll understand why this is one of the fastest growing expat communities in Bali.
Although this is likely to be a more crowded destination than other spots we have mentioned in our Travel Bali series, it is busy for a reason. You will never run out of amazing restaurants and coffee spots to explore, as this is a hub for the “foodie” scene and coffee culture. You are also nearby world class surfing and amazing explorations in nature.
Based on the multi-year long stay of my sister, world traveler Callie Rounds, follow this guide to get the most adventure out of Canggu possible.
Where to Stay
There are more places to stay in Canggu than you can possibly imagine. Each spot comes with it’s own unique portfolio of why it should be your choice, and it would probably be a challenge to be disappointed, but these are Callie’s three favorite options.
For the romantic couples retreat, Astera Canggu is an amazing choice. These rooms can be covered with rose pedals, you can dine from floating trays in the pools, or enjoy soaks in private hot tubs.
For a really high end couple-night stay, Own Villas is a special spot. Also including floating breakfast options, this location includes beautiful thatched roof bungalows that are as Bali-style as you can get.
If you are traveling solo or with friends, there are tons of fantastic co-working options in Canggu. These are also good options if you are planning to stay longer-term and are looking for a more cost-effective option. Callie’s favorite is Tanaga Coliving, which is a bit more of an upscale hostel option but is well worth it.
Coffee and Co-working
It’s probably no surprise that Canggu is full of co-working spaces. With the amount of digital nomads living in Bali, there are going to be spots on every corner for people to come and meet up in a productive environment.
Tropical Nomad is one such place, which offers spaces to work both inside and outside- Balinese garden included. You can access this space 24-hours a day, with consistent fantastic high-speed wi-fi.
Along with spaces dedicated to co-working, there are also a plethora of amazing coffee spots in Canggu. Post surfing, you will want to hit up BGS Bali Canggu. This coffee bar/surf shop is super chic and offers really high quality coffee options. The almond milk cappuccino here is to die for.
Hungry Bird Coffee Roaster is another special spot with really friendly staff. Down the road this coffee spot is on you will find a TON of other really fantastic cafes concentrated here as well.
Wellness
We have written about this in our other Bali blogs, but through traveling we have found that one of the easiest solutions to meeting people and making friends is to get involved in the wellness community of wherever you are staying. This means spas, gyms, healthy eateries, or any active spaces. Typically these bring a lot of like-minded enjoyable people together and creates space for conversation easily.
In-fact, Callie can attest to the fact that to this day, her absolute closest friends she’s ever made traveling were all created through a daily visit to the Amo Spa in Canggu. This spa is more of a social club than a spa. There are ice baths and saunas where people can chat, places to go and relax in the sun, and yummy food options like tofu and tempeh skewers. They also have barbeques monthly for members.
Similarily in regards to providing an invigorating community, the Soma Fight Club in Canggu is a great spot to enjoy a workout. Although there are lots of other gyms in Canggu and this one is a bit farther, Callie says that this was one of the most fun training gyms she was ever a part of while traveling. There are classes all day long and a fantastic coffee bar to hit up post-workout.
After workout classes and spa time, you will probably have worked up quite an appetite. There is no better healthy spot to grab food in Canggu than Bali Buddha. This place was honestly one of Callie’s most memorable experiences in all of Bali. From grocery bags made of recycled newspaper, to reasonably priced food items, to nourishing smoothie bowls, cakes, and drinks, Callie says you will walk away from Bali Buddha filled with joy after every visit.
Out On the Town
As previously mentioned, Canggu is a hub for social scenes and nights out. You will have endless opportunities to spend time with friends and listen to good DJs and music.
For a bigger group, Shelter is a really good restaurant for upscale group dinners. This would be a great spot to hit with your crew before hopping from bar to bar.
For good DJs, check out Finn’s Beach Club or Mrs. Sippy Bali. The former is a bit more touristy but is worth it for the music, and the latter has a diving board that is accessible mid-party. Or so Callie says.
The Lawn is a fun spot to go and listen to music while watching amazing sunset views. The Barn Gastropub also has fun sing-along music, and if you ever happen to be there for St. Patrick’s day, Callie said one of her favorite nights ever traveling was here singing on St. Paddy’s day with her friends.
And finally, for one of the only spots for really upscale parties, hit up Morbito Art Villa. This will definitely be the spot to get dressed up and expect to spend a little more.
Conclusion
As you can tell, Canggu is an obvious hub for amazing food, wellness, and enjoyable social scenes. You will not want to miss it on your trip to Bali.