Known as the previously very well-hidden gem of Bali, Canggu is a trendy yet chill surfing neighbourhood sitting between the borders of Tanah Lot and Seminyak. To be honest, if you’ve travelled to Bali before and have been around exploring the city, there’s a chance you may have encountered Canggu or at least passed by.
It’s one of those areas that doesn’t show its face on Google unless you’re looking for if specifically, or isn’t one of the first thing’s a Bali-enthused foreigner who’s visited once would recommend, although that has nothing to do with the quality of the neighbourhood itself. In fact, it may be a blessing in disguise, because when you head there now, despite owning a prime real estate spot in the entirety of Bali, Canggu stil maintains a very relaxed, bohemian vibe.
Due to its many beaches within close proximity to each other who exhibit smashing waves, it’s extraordinarily popular with surfers far and wide. It’s one of those places the locals don’t want you to know about, but are secretly pleased when, bit by bit, more visitors come and experience the wonderfully hip area for what it truly is.
Expect to see people swinging on their hammocks, lazing around as thought it were Sunday every day. Palm trees will sway against the almost non-existent wind, painting a pretty picture with the shore of Berawa Beach and Echo Beach in the background, which is almost visible from anywhere in the seaside village of Canggu.
It’s neighbour Seminyak, whilst relatively chilled itself on comparison with other populated areas in Bali, almost seems too hectic next to Canggu. Below are some of the best of the best suggestions for your first stay in Canggu, to be in the midst of the glitz and make sure you don’t miss any of the action.
The Best Hotels in Canggu
THE HAVEN SUITES Bali Berawa
One of the few true luxury five-star hotels located in Canggu, The Haven Suites provides all the amenities you’ll need for the most comfortable stay, and leaves nothing for the imagination.
Located just 1.4km from Echo Beach and 900m from Batu Balong Beach, it boasts stunning suites with wooden furnishing with sprinkles of Balinese décor throughout, and some even have balconies which open out to generous views of the outdoor pool or ocean.
Breakfast is available every morning, and if you’re feeling a touch languid, stay indoors and request in-room dining without moving an inch. If you’re keen to explore, bikes are available for hire.
Why Guests Love It: “Very beautiful design, clean and spacious room! Super friendly staff, delicious breakfast! The hotel offers free yoga class, 1-day bike free of charge as well as bicycles”, “All the staff were friendly, attentive, and so kind, especially to our children!”, “The room was over the top, and the location couldn’t have been more perfect”,
Unique Features: Outdoor pool, airport shuttle, spa and wellness centre, beachfront views.
Book It Here: THE HAVANA SUITES Bali Berawa
The Rinaya Canggu
The modern building architecture and green opal coloured pool on the ground floor makes this hotel out to be like a flashy property from the neighbouring Seminyak, but the Rinaya Canggu proves that you can have the best of both worlds: superb gold-star property facilities and service in a low-key town with hidden eatery gems around every corner and no rumbustious crowd to wake you up in the middle of the night.
Featuring a 24-hour front desk to assist you with anything, spacious rooms with adjoining private bathrooms, flat-screen TVs installed in every room, and a continental and America breakfast spread available every morning. It’s only 12-minutes walk away from the beach, so ideal for those who want to hit the waves.
Why Guests Love It: “Super clean and comfortable rooms, close to restaurants and supermarkets”, “The rooms were spacious, clean and had wonderful AC units. The location is also really convenient and in walking distance to the grocery store”, “This hotel has the best staff I have ever met, we are very thankful for all of their care, advice and services”.
Unique Features: Airport shuttle, outdoor pool, spa and wellness centre.
Book It Here: The Rinaya Canggu
The Kirana Hotel Resort & Spa
Book this place and you might find yourself accessing the gorgeous pool directly from your room at any hour of day. Located only 9-minutes walk from both Batubolong and Echo Beach, a 20-minute drive from Tanah Lot, and 45-minutes away from the International Aiport, the Kirana Hotel Resort & Spa is the accommodation of choice for those who value convenience, comfort, and luxury at an affordable price. A 24-hour front desk, laundry service, outdoor swimming pool, and free Wi-Fi access throughout is available.
Why Guests Love It: “Amazing massages!”, “The staff were incredibly nice and welcoming, and the rooms were nice and had beautiful views”, “Comfortable bed and pillows, breakfast was delicious”.
Unique Features: Outdoor swimming pool, airport shuttle, spa and wellness centre, free parking.
Book It Here: The Kirana Hotel Resort & Spa
The Best Villas in Canggu
Theanna Eco Villa & Spa
This one’s for the creative. Combining clean contemporary design with traditional influences from Balinese, Japanese and Scandinavian culture, the villas at Theanna Eco Villa and spa boast world-class amenities, with spa sessions available in the spa centre, open air seating areas, an outdoor dining area and kitchenette, private pools in all the villas, free use of bicycles, free shuttle service to the surrounding areas, and free Wi-Fi accessible throughout the property. Items on the room service menu include refreshing acai and fruit bowls to tease and appease the palate.
Why Guests Love It: “The best Nasi Goreng I had in Bali”, “Amazing private villas and the staff really go out of their way to make you feel welcome. Free shuttle service to town is great”, “Amazing stay, staff could not to more. Villas were beautifully appointed. Would highly recommend!”.
Unique Features: Private pools, airport shuttle, spa and wellness centre, bar next to the common pool.
Book It Here: Theanna Evo Villa and Spa
Canggu Rooftop Villas
Luxury accommodations featuring stunning rooftop lounge areas that open up to expansive views of the ocean and the city, high ceilings lending their space to floor-length windows, and private pools inside the spacious rooftop studios is what the Canggu Rooftop Villas are all about.
The pure white theme consistent throughout the decor in the rooms, accompanied by splashes of orange and green, and the occasional tropical plant will make you feel like you’re in paradise despite being in a distinctly urban setting. 500m away sits the popular Berawa Beach, which you can choose to visit, or else you can lounge in the sun terrace beside the pool, or even order room service from the comfort of your own villa and private pool.
Why Guests Love It: “The villa is great, super spacious and beautiful. It’s directly above Starbucks are next to a big supermarket and restaurants”, “The hotel is very spacious and gives off a grandeur feeling”, “Huge villas, plenty of space, pool was a big size for the villa”.
Unique Features: Swimming pool, airport shuttle, free parking, free-Wi-Fi throughout, private bathroom will free amenities are available for every unit.
Book It Here: Canggu Rooftop Villas
Regali Villa Canggu
You can feel the bohemian Bali vibes just seeping through the walls of this villa. Beautifully furnished luxury villas with strong Balinese styling paves the way for the perfect accommodation for couples, groups of friends, or even families, with their three-bedroom pool villa being extremely popular.
Located just 700m from Echo Beach, it offers the freedom of being able to walk for a few minutes to hit the waves, head outside of your villa to enjoy the massive common pool on the supplied lounge chairs or simply stay in and call room service to dine by your own private pool. All villas have air-conditioning and semi-open private bathrooms with towels, linen and free amenities.
Why Guests Love It: “The room was out of this world! Every corner was beautiful. The private pool definitely deserves a mention”, “Friendly staff, good breakfast, great aircon, massive comfy beds with mosquito nets and plugs”, “The staff make an effort to learn your name and make you feel really welcome. We would 100% recommend this hotel”.
Unique Features: Swimming pools, airport shuttle, spa and wellness centre, free parking
Book It Here: Regali Villa Canggu
The Best Restaurants In Canggu
The Slow
The Slow is a multi-faceted restaurant that caters for the artsy creative, the self-confessed foodie, and the one who enjoys a little too many cocktails every time. The casual chic vibes intertwine perfectly with Canggu’s chill bohemian crowd, and it’s literally a 5-minute walk away from the closest beach, making it the perfect destination for some world-class food before heading to the beach for some down (and digesting) time.
The flavour palate here is intrinsically Indonesian with a slight western influence, with dinner menus serving up dishes such as market fish ceviche, octopus Bolognese (seasonal), sate chicken sticks, tiger prawns, work-fried barley, and banana sticky rice with smoked coconut. Some of the mocktails here are a standout, with mixes like soursop, sugar cane and lime, or star-fruit, tangerine, carrot, passion and ginger.
Breakfast is a winner here, with their menu offering fresh fruit, homemade granola and eggs with corn fritters being renowned in the neighbourhood. A permanent art collection is displayed throughout the venue, including the works of Xuzhen, Rostarr, and Kate Belm.
- Address: The Slow, 97 Batu Bolong, Canggu, Bali, Indonesia
- Hours: 7:00am – 11:00pm
- Website: The Slow
Ji Restaurant
In the heart of Canggu sits Ji Restaurant, the modern Japanese seaside restaurant that’s as unlikely as it is spectacular. Offering exotic dining at its best, this multi-leveled restaurant offers 180 degree views over the sparkling Indian Ocean and Canggu Beach.
Head there for dinner and drinks, and be taken back by the sheer size of the menu. Think light dishes, bowls, noodle options, sides, salads, carpaccio, tempura, nigiri, main courses, sushi platter, charcoal, sashimi, maki rolls, special maki rolls, and desserts. After gorging on the next three day’s fill of food, chill next to the ocean sipping on Asian-inspired cocktails and beers on the lounges or bar stools and take in the sunset as it glows over the ocean.
Some of the recommended dishes include the duck breast, Japanese mushroom salad, crispy pork belly, Tic Tac Toe sushi platter, the special maki rolls platter, banaca cake miso ice cream, and the melted chocolate ball.
- Address: Jalan Pantai Batu Bolong, Canggu Beach Denpasar, Bali 80361
- Hours: 5:00pm – 12:00am
- Website: Ji Restaurant
The Lawn
The Lawn has long been considered one of the best beachfront destinations for dinner with a view. Showcasing uninterrupted views of the ocean and thus incomparable views of the sunset, there aren’t many other dinner venues that match to this level of dining experience.
To add to the glamour of this venue, they’ve included a feature pool with some sunbeds and beach umbrellas framing it, allow you to sip on some cocktails and go for a leisurely swim so very easily should you choose to.
For dinner, their modern Australian menu is packed with punches, included the faced Split King Prawns and the crowd favourite Mac & Cheese Balls. Their all-day menu deserves a shout-out, with international stars that you can have at any time of the day including karaage chicken, thai fish cakes, baby guling (pork crackling), pumpkin and feta salad, and a superb selection of pizzas.
On Fridays from 7pm, a selection of their food and drinks menu are discounted to 50% off, so head there for good, cheap food, and dance the night away on their fun freestyle dance floor.
- Address: Jl. Pura Dalem, Canggu, Kuta Utara, Canggu, Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Bali
- Hours: 11:00am – 11:00pm
- Website: The Lawn Canggu
The Best Bars and Clubs in Canggu
Finn’s Beach Club
As the relative new guy on the scene, Finn’s Beach Club has really set a new standard for the best hip and chill place for expats and tourist to lounge by the beach deep into the night. This venue exudes sophisticated and trendy vibes that exude from the heart and soul of Canggu. A magnificent all-bamboo structure that is spacious and airy opens up directly to the beach, and an on-site refreshing freeform infinity pool will offer you respite from the hot summer sun.
If you’re not keen for a swim though, lounge under beach umbrellas on the comfy sunbeds and bask in the glorious heat whilst ordering Finn’s signature cocktails straight to you. Expect to see surfers regularly paddling in with their wetsuits for a nice cold beer after a swim in the waters.
All day dining is available, however, the grazing menu is the most popular, and it includes a tasty assortment of chicken wings, grilled squid, a fish basket and arancini or risotto croquettes. Spend the entire day there, because right into the night, the resident DJ will turn up the music from 4:00pm and play chill out tunes that will make watching the sunset sublime.
- Address: Jl. Pantai Berawa, Tibubeneng, Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia
- Hours: 9:00am – 10:00pm
- Website: Finn’s Beach Club
Old Man’s Bar
Old Man’s Bar is a hip beer garden located right on the sands of Batu Balong Beach, making it an ideal destination to hit for all the surfers after a wave session. It’s a place where you drop in with a group of friends and know that cheap beers, a pavilion hang out area, lounges under massive beach umbrellas and colourful beanbags are just waiting to be enjoyed.
After sunset, the crowd gets a little wilder, with the DJ spinning funky tracks and the drinks become more free-flowing. On Wednesdays there are drink game competitions, and their table tennis table becomes the grounds for some fun beer pong games.
- Address: Jl. Pantai Batu Bolong No.117X, Canggu, Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80351, Indonesia
- Hours: 7:00am – 12:00am
- Website: Old Man’s Bar
La Brisa Bali
Down for a fun, relaxed night without the crazy antics usually associated with boozy nights in Bali? Then the Sand Bar is your ultimate vintage-inspired beach club destination. Located right on the sands of Echo Beach, the comfy beanbags provided offer you a place to sink into and chill out whilst watching the surfing action unfold right before your eyes, and the twinkling fairy lights that emerge at dusk make for an image straight out of a romance film.
A gorgeous pool with a bar on the side, crocheted nets hanging overhead, wooden platforms to sink down into for the night, and palm trees all around liken this beach club to an absolute tropical paradise.
DJ events often take place here, but more to an enthused yet chill audience who are likely to bop heads and tap their feet rather than crazy partygoers who would likely start a rambunctious dance floor with their over the tops moves. However, every once in a while a dance party at La Brisa headlines the events across Echo Beach and people come far and wide to shimmy until the AMs.
- Address: Jl. Batu Mejan, Canggu, Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361
- Hours: 12:00pm – 12:00am
- Website: La Brisa Bali
Canggu won’t be that overlooked suburb for long, as people have already begun flocking to the area nearby to Seminyak to nest down for the duration of their holiday in Bali. Make sure you experience one of the few beachfront areas in Bali that can still maintain their authentic roots before it becomes too mainstream to enjoy.