Move over Seminyak: Why Canggu is the younger, cooler cousin of Seminyak and the new place-to-be.
It’s time to venture up north to the funky-freshest hotspot on the Bali scene, with its Instagram-friendly wall art, laidback lifestyle and fabulous foodie scene. The once rural farmland full of green rice paddy fields is now packed with luxury villas, retail shops, cafés, restaurants and beach clubs, on every little street “gang” you can squeeze your motorbike down.
The main shopping strip of Batu Bolong has been dubbed “Gu-beroi Street”, with Oberoi-famous boutiques Somewhere, Wanderlust and Shakuhachi opening their doors. Canggu has definitely become the hipster hangout for cool locals and tourists alike. But what sets “The Gu” (as locals affectionately call it) apart from “The Yak” (Seminyak) you might ask?
Our Canggu-based friends from The Gu Guide give us a tempting list of reasons why you should leave Seminyak behind and venture up north.
Finns Beach Club
KuDeWho? You might have come across this majestic building when it was still under construction on Berawa beach. The mystery was finally solved a few weeks ago with the breaking news Finn’s Beach Club was relocated from Uluwatu. Watch Bali babes parade in the latest swimwear and the surfers showing off on the waves in front, while sipping on your sunset Bintang in the pool. Entry is free. A minimum spend of 250K IDR (ca. 25 US$) applies from 9am – 5pm.
Old Man’s
The Canggu love-child conceived from one of the Island’s industry greats, the OG behind Petitenget restaurant in Seminyak. Old Man’s is the sandbox in which all the salty souls come to play. Pull up a bar stool and settle in for the Gu’s hottest Happy Hour – daily between 5pm – 6pm.
Milk & Madu
Bookings: Click here to make a reservation.
Opening Hours: Daily, 7am – 10pm
Instagram: @milkandmadu
A breezy iconic eatery along Berawa’s most driven strip, you can’t miss Milk & Madu – literally. All day-breakfasts, superfood smoothies, sexy salads and OMG burgers. If Watercress Café (Yak-side) is one of your Bali faves, you’ll love their second venture in the Gu. Like the Chateau Marmont of Canggu, Milk & Madu is where you’ll find all of Bali’s most beautiful people.
The Lawn
Address: Kuta Utara, Canggu, Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung
Bookings: [email protected]
Opening Hours: daily, 11am – till late
Instagram: @thelawncanggu
When venturing around the Gu, sunsets on The Lawn cannot be missed. Recently re-opened, it still has its signature beanbags and outdoor carpets on – well, the lawn – making it the perfect go-to place for a boho picnic, or simply lounging gracefully with a coconut in your hand.
Enjoy their delicious selection of lunch and dinner options in their seated dining area or score a front row seat on their rooftop – prime views of the surf guaranteed!
Lacalita
Address: Jl. Batu Bolong No. 68, Beach Road, Canggu
Bookings: [email protected]
Opening Hours: daily, 10am – midnight
Website: https://lacalitabali.com
Lacalaca Seminyak’s little sister resto, Lacalita is Canggu’s answer to a Sunday hangover. Stop in for tasty tacos and two-for-one Bloody Marys. You’re welcome.
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Nalu Bowls
Address: Jl. Batu Mejan No. 88 (Before Echo Beach on the right)
Bookings: [email protected]
Opening Hours: daily, 7:30am – 6pm
Instagram: @nalubowls
You can’t walk 100 metres in Canggu without tripping over a smoothie bowl, but don’t waste your time on sloppy replications – Nalu Bowls is the original and the best. Launched in Seminyak in ‘14, it created the breakfast-bowl-hype beyond Bali borders thanks to their Instagram-worthy yummy-ness.
La Laguna
Address: Ji Pura Kayu Purith, Canggu
Bookings: +62 812-3638-2272
Opening Hours: daily, 11am – midnight
Instagram: @lalagunabali
The latest La-instalment in the La Plancha/La Favela/ La Sicilia family, La Laguna is a gypsy wonderland occupying prime real estate fronting Berawa Beach. If Tapas and sunset cocktails are your kinda thing, add La Laguna to your La-list.
Bottega Italiana
Address: JL Pantai Batu Bolong, Canggu
Bookings: +62 822 3611 1011
Opening Hours: daily, 8am – 10pm
Instagram: @bottegaitalianabali
A straight-up Seminyak COPY & PASTE, the first Bottega Italiana sprouted off Zibiru Seminyak as their faster-pasta, grab-n-go style bar. A tiny hole-in-the-wall that recently opened along Batu Bolong, Canggu – Bottega Italiana #2 is where die-hard Italians go for house-made everything, from house-smoked salmon to home baked ciabatta, artisan gelato, even the Vino is their own. A boutique gourmet marketplace in Canggu?
That’s amore!
Salumeria
Address: 47 Jalan Tanah Barak, Canggu
Bookings: (0361) 3003 463
Opening Hours: daily, 4pm – 11pm
Instagram: @salumeria.asia
The hottest new table in town, Salumeria has just opened it’s doors along Canggu’s newest “eat street” Tanah Barak. A sophisticated Italian “spuntini” concept which describes social eating, picking from smaller share-plates, like the Italian equivalent to Tapas. Think Sumatran oysters, cold cured meats, locally crafted cheeses, all washed down with Campari spritzers or a glass of chilled Vino. Curated by the gastronomic genius behind the Saigon Street Seminyak kitchen, these cool cats know a thing or two about food finery.
Rumour has it…
If you’ve got you ear pricked against the Gu grapevine, it would have you believing that there are not one but three La Plancha/La Favela/La Laguna venues very close to opening in Canggu, the Motel Mexicola crew working on multiple Canggu sites and even Potato Head with plans for Pererenan.
Semin-where? “The Gu” is where it’s at.
HUNGRY IN BALI – THE ULTIMATE BALI DINING GUIDE WITH UNIQUE PRIVILEGES
Our guide directs you and your travel partners in crime to Bali’s 43 hottest must-visit venues as well as 3 heavenly spas that cannot be missed across Seminyak, Canggu, Ubud and the Bukit Peninsula.
But the best is yet to come – each venue offers a unique privilege when presenting your HUNGRY IN BALI premium print hard copy or e-book before ordering. Receive 2-for-1 main dishes and spa treatments, complimentary cocktails, free cake and ice cream (you heard right!) and many more unique privileges across Bali’s best restaurants, hippest cafes, trendiest beach clubs and most relaxing spas.
So we not only guide you to the hottest places in Bali – we also help you to save up to 600USD on your Bali trip! Keep on reading for a sneak peek into HUNGRY IN BALI‘s unique privileges that will await you at the island’s most famed venues.
This review was co-written by Lani from the @guguide.
