Travel

Food

Bali

<h1>The Foodie’s Guide To Bali</h1>
One of my favorite things about Bali is its incredibly delicious food and trendy bars. And because there’s way too many incredible places to name, I’ve split this list into two parts - keep an eye out for my part 2 mag coming soon. Several of these places came as recommendations from my Aussie friends who’ve been traveling to Bali on holiday for YEARS, so you know they’re good. Apart from their recommendations, all of our other finds have come from simply racing through Bali on a motorbike and stumbling into some really neat spots. So without further ado, let’s get into our absolute favorite spots to eat and drink - I promise these won’t disappoint.

<h1>Peloton Supershop</h1>
<h2>Berawa</h2>
First on our list is our MOST favorite breakfast and lunch spot: Peloton Supershop. If we could eat here every day, we probably would! Located in the Berawa neighborhood between Seminyak and Canggu, Peloton is a breezy, casual cafe that serves up the most delicious vegan, plant-based plates that I’ve ever tasted. This is a must-stop if you’re in Bali – trust me.

What to order:
A few of our favorites include the Blue Island Bowl, Avo Good Day, Breakaway Burrito and Pantani Porridge. They also have some delicious Ayurvedic drinks and teas! But honestly, everything here is awesome and definitely won’t disappoint.

<h1>Give Cafe</h1>
<h2>Canggu</h2>
Okay, so I don’t have just one favorite restaurant in Bali, I have two at the very top of my list. If you’re looking to get a taste of traditional Balinese food with a plant-based twist, this tiny little cafe is IT. I’m not joking when I say that Ryan and I can’t get enough of Give. This vegan-friendly spot is the sister cafe to the IG-famous Kynd Community (which we’ll share about shortly) with just as many photo-worthy spots and a truly laid-back, local vibe. As if this special place couldn’t get any better, they actually donate 100% of their proceeds to local charities - after purchasing your meal, you’ll receive a wooden coin that you can drop in the bucket of your choice to support charities focused on the environment, human welfare, or wildlife protection.

What to order:
Their vegan Mie Goreng (Southeast Asian noodle stir fry) is hands down incredible, and is basically the dish that kept us coming back (brb, currently drooling just thinking about it…). Apart from that, we love their Cheekan Satay, Pink Latte, Peach and Star Fruit Iced Tea, and their tasty baked goods and cookies (…okay, the sweets were really only for me).

I highly recommend making a reservation at The Lawn for a sunset dinner – it gets packed – but it’s definitely worthwhile. Strong, flavorful drinks, ocean views, live music, an on-site pool and an upper deck with a swing – what more can you ask for?! Located right on Old Man’s beach, The Lawn is another must-go when you’re in Canggu.

What to order:
You can’t visit The Lawn without grabbing one of their craft cocktails! We love the Chilli Sour and Coconut Mojito, and you can’t go wrong with their food either; try the Lemongrass Chicken &amp; Turmeric Skewers or the Gado Gado Zucchini Noodles – and thank us later.

<h1>Kynd Community</h1>
<h2>Seminyak</h2>
As mentioned previously, Kynd Community is the IG-famous, pink-and-white sister cafe of Give. Tucked amidst the hustle and bustle of Seminyak, this place is arguably the most trendy food spot you can hit up. Another plant-based favorite, Kynd showcases flavors certain to please every palette, and no aesthetic detail goes unnoticed at this eye-pleasing spot. The food is just as good as it is at Give, with a bit more extensive of a menu - including drinks, “peace-zza”, ramen and even their own adorable vegan ice creamery next door.

What to order:
We came here during brunch, however the cafe is open until the later evening hours if you’re looking for a more savory meal. I absolutely loved the Paradise Pancakes and couldn’t pass up getting the Berry Tropical smoothie bowl.

<h1>La Laguna</h1>
<h2>Berawa</h2>
Literally a gypsy wonderland. The owners of La Laguna thought into every magical detail possible when putting this laid-back haven together. Think hanging lanterns, fortune teller carriages, colorful cushions… the whole nines. We really loved coming here for a sunset dinner and enjoying the relaxing vibes and ocean views. They have a few different areas to sit, so if you’re looking for something specific, be sure to call ahead for a reservation, as it can sometimes get a bit busy around sunset.
What to order:
You truly can’t go wrong with anything here. I love their Mediterranean Dips appetizer, as well as their Calamari. And don’t forget to grab a drink before sunset so sip in those gorgeous rays of color, right from your table.

<h1>La Favela</h1>
<h2>Seminyak</h2>
Another insanely decorated place from the same owners as the aforementioned La Laguna, La Favela quite literally feels like you’re walking into an old-school Brazilian favela, with no detail left unnoticed. We love coming here for dinner just as much as we love exploring the restaurant and upper deck with a drink in hand. For some reason, this place always makes me feel like I’m on the set of Narcos, but in the best way possible.
What to order:
Ryan and I love the Mexico Meets Asia tacos and the Granny’s Oven grilled chicken, and for drinks I enjoyed a Favela Breeze while Ryan got the Boom Boom. What is this, you ask? It was a sort of shot that they banged on the table and it exploded – it was a whole thing, but definitely entertaining!

**Since writing this post, Aya Street has permanently closed. However, I am keeping this special place on my list to memorialize it and hope that one day it re-opens so you can enjoy its amazingness***
I LOVE Aya Street. The ambiance, the drinks, the food, all of the IG-ready photo ops – were nothing short of creative. The overall ambiance of the space is almost like playful, street-art-vibes meets trendy Peruvian cuisine, and it just works. I think my favorite part of Aya was definitely their fun and creative drinks!

What to order:
To eat, I got the Classic Ceviche and Ryan got the Chicken Skewers – both were SO delicious – and we ordered the Chocolate Sphere for dessert, which melted down with a pour-over of hot chocolate syrup. Yum. For drinks, we ordered the Duck Lips (complete with a rubber ducky floating on top), Booty Call, Thyme ‘O Clock and bubbling Espresso Ayatini. Each cocktail had its own “theatrics” which added a special something to each drink experience.

<h1>Kismet</h1>
<h2>Ubud</h2>
This is definitely my favorite restaurant in Ubud! Situated down a quiet little street, the restaurant is dark but comfortable, and serves both drinks and food with amazing spices. We came here for a quiet, intimate dinner, but I believe they also serve breakfast and lunch food if you’re in the area! The cuisine ranges from Asian-inspired options to classic Italian, French and even American options – all with a classy, thoughtful touch.

What to order:
To drink, I ordered the Mango Rujah, which was SO spicy. Omg. I was definitely sweating – but it was tasty! Ryan got a Margarita (per usual) – and they offer tons of awesome flavors, including Hibiscus, Passionfruit, and Coconut. For dinner, we split the Garlic Chili Edamame and Bali Pad Thai – both of which were absolutely delicious!

I highly recommend coming to Rock Bar for sunset dinner! I realize I’ve recommended a lot of sunset dinners at this point… but honestly, this place is quite literally built into the rocks, right over the ocean. Located at the Ayana Resort, you’ll take a small elevator down to the restaurant only to be greeted with stunning views and amazing service. The food was also delicious (and boujie), as were the drinks.

What to order:
Their Goong Sarong is so yummy! It’s basically prawns wrapped in crispy noodles – sounds weird but they are so so good, especially dipped in chili sauce. I’m pretty sure we ordered two rounds of these…possibly more. We also love the Summer Rolls, which are nice and refreshing after a long day in the sun. To drink, we love the Rock My World and Taragon Margarita. Mmmm.

Let me know if you visit Bali and try any of these spots! I promise you they are SO worth your while. For more foodie recommendations, keep an eye out for part 2 of this list ;)
Until next time,
xx K.

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Ah, Bali. The lush tropical paradise on every traveler’s list, with the freshest vegan food, the kindest local people, and some of the world’s most desired waves. If I had to name my favorite place in the world, it would certainly be this very special island. Read on as I walk you through the most popular towns in Bali, offer a few tips for getting around, and provide you with links to all of the gorgeous places we stayed.

In our opinion, the best way to experience Bali in terms of accommodations is through AirBnB, especially if you’re on a budget. It allows you to stay in some insanely beautiful villas that you’ll have all to yourself for a cheaper price point than the crazy resorts you see on Instagram (but still just as IG-worthy), and you’ll be able to interact with the most gracious, local villa hosts that you’ll ever meet. I mean, we’re talking at-your-service, will-arrange-anything-for-you. Seriously, the kindest people in the entire world.
Tip #1: Make sure to have your AirBnB host arrange a pickup for you from the airport to the villa. Many of the homes are tucked away and not well marked with house numbers, so they’re usually pretty hard to locate upon first arrival depending on where you book (especially if you’re checking in after the sun goes down). You’ll also feel more comfortable with the villa’s driver who will be familiar with the place, rather than trying to find your way with a taxi.
Tip #2: If you’re feeling confident enough to drive a motorbike, ask your host to rent a bike and helmets for you in advance. That way, you’ll get the best pricing for your bikes and you’ll be ready to explore as soon as you arrive.

Don’t stay in Kuta! But really, don’t. It’s not completely bad depending on what you’re used to, but you’ll have a WAY better outlook on Bali if you just don’t. That being said, I wanted to put this on the list because I have a funny story to share - and we actually ended up staying in a decently “cool” spot.
Story time. On our first trip to Bali, I was in charge of booking our AirBnBs, and I completely messed up…
To give some context to the story, we were booked on a red-eye flight from Los Angeles that left at 10pm with an 11-hour layover in Shanghai, and arrived in Bali technically two days after we left LA. Which is already confusing with all the timezone differences (or maybe that’s just me), but to make matters worse, I was trying to book the AirBnB properly, given their 3pm check-in time, so that we’d be able to head right to our place when we landed in Bali at 2am. I was thinking too hard into the time and day differences and ended up booking our AirBnB check-in time for 12 hours after we had landed… So imagine Ryan and I: tired AF, sweaty AF, greasy as a skillet after bacon (okay, I was the only greasy one) after traveling for over 20 hours to get there. And I had ONE job… sorry, Ryan! Did I mention it was 2am? And our first time ever in Bali? So, there were barely any taxis on the road and everything was closed… but honestly we were just laughing about the whole thing (because Ryan is the best) and we hopped right into a somewhat sketchy Uber and made our way to the 100% sketchy town of Kuta, which is the closest city to the airport. After being dropped off at a few different hotels in an attempt to find a room for the night, we made our way to the trusty ‘ol Best Western like the good Americans that we are. I’m just kidding – B-dub was literally the only place open that actually had a room to give us. And surprisingly enough, the next morning (while we waited for our 3pm check-in time for our AirBnB) we hopped up to club B-dub’s rooftop bar with a young DJ who was spitting the sickest tracks to an empty pool deck that overlooked the ocean. I meeannn, not bad for a late-night decision in a seedy area of the island, amirite?
Where we stayed:
<a href="http://www.bwkutabeach.com">Best Western Kuta Beach</a>

<h1>Canggu</h1>
Our FAVORITE spot in Bali! We love Canggu; so much so that we stayed here twice during our first trip to Bali and exclusively during our second and third trips to the island. Being from Orange County, we gravitate towards the beach towns, and Canggu certainly did not disappoint. Not as loud and rambunctious as Seminyak but with just as much spunk, Canggu is a laid-back surf town alongside Bali’s beautiful beaches and trendy spots when you don’t want to stay in the middle of the “scene”. Ryan’s favorite surf spots in Canggu were Echo Beach, Old Man’s, and Berawa Beach, which are all conveniently located next to some really great spots to eat and drink after a day in the water!
Where we stayed:
<a href="https://abnb.me/0fgsgT37fnb">Serene Villa Near Local Rice Paddies</a>
<a href="https://abnb.me/zmSh5Fo8fnb">Local Luxury Villa With Indoor/Outdoor Layout</a>
<a href="https://abnb.me/ueC3j5u8fnb">IG-Worthy Bungalow Close To The Beach</a> 
<a href="https://abnb.me/NWi0Hpycgnb">Open-Air Bungalow Near Delicious Cafés </a>

We’ve never stayed in Seminyak but I figured I’d put it on the list, especially if it’s going to be your first time in Bali. Arguably one of the most popular places to stay, Seminyak is located where all of the action is – the most popular bars, foodie hot spots and streets lined with Australian fashion boutiques. Seminyak has more of that “downtown” vibe, but in an island sort-of-way. There isn’t actually a reason why we didn’t stay here – we simply just wanted to be closer to the surf in Canggu, but we did spend a lot of time eating, drinking, and shopping in and around Seminyak.
Where we would stay:
<a href="https://abnb.me/6AdiXUaagnb">Trendy Villa Close To Popular Day Clubs</a>
<a href="https://abnb.me/Bv0Qfqnagnb">Manicured Villa In The Center Of The Action</a>

<h1>Ubud</h1>
The dense, jungle-y town of Ubud is perfect for those who want a quiet retreat with a true yogi vibe. You’ll find lots of culture in Ubud, which is such a beautiful thing to experience. Ryan and I got the chance to watch the traditional kecak dance and learn more about the spiritual side of the locals, and we loved how relaxing the entire town felt.

The one place we intentionally did not venture into was the infamously wild Monkey Forest, mostly because of my deep-down fear of primates. Instead, we got a personal tour of the beautiful Tegallalang Rice Terrace from a local that we befriended while we were staying in Canggu, and as part of a surprise trip that I had arranged for Ryan, we <a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g297701-d8779858-Reviews-Bali_Elephant_Ride-Ubud_Gianyar_Regency_Bali.html">rode elephants</a> on a sanctuary that was located just a short drive outside of town. After we rode the elephants, we headed over to the IG-famous <a href="https://g.co/kgs/9VUXXg">Bali Swing</a> to take some basic b*tch pics of us swinging over the trees of the lush forest. (Note: there are three swings here and a few life-sized bird’s nests that you can take pictures in. Warning: you must pay a moderate price to get in and it was definitely FULL of tourists, including us).
Where we stayed:
<a href="https://abnb.me/JTlmhgX9fnb">Private and Romantic Lush Tropical Oasis</a>

<h1>Uluwatu</h1>
We booked our stay at an awesome place right on the sand in Uluwatu for a few days during the Balinese Hindu celebration of Nyepi, which is otherwise known as their “silent day”.

During Nyepi, you aren’t allowed to be outside of the house, even as a tourist, and they actually have policemen patrolling all areas of the island to make sure of this (they will fine you if you’re caught outside). However, because it was Nyepi, we were lucky enough to see the traditional parades and performances in the local communities, where they told stories about their gods vanquishing the evil ogoh-ogoh, in the form of skits and handcrafted floats made out of bamboo, flowers, wood and styrofoam, much like the floats that you see in New York at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
While we were in Uluwatu, we also went snorkeling on the beach right outside of our AirBnB and saw some really cute fish! Overall, Uluwatu is a quiet and mellow town with not a lot going on, but if you’re into surfing, you’ll need to check out Padang Padang and Dreamland while you’re there.
Where we stayed:
<a href="https://abnb.me/l92mR0Hcgnb">Cozy Beach Shack Tucked Into The Coastline</a>

<h1>Gili Islands</h1>
The Gili Islands are technically not a part of Bali itself, but I wanted to put these tiny little islands on here because they’re a popular spot about an hour off of the coast that you can travel to. We decided to venture over to the Gili Islands by <a href="https://ekajayafastboat.com">boat</a> during our first trip to Bali and ended up staying on Gili Trawangan (the largest of the three Gili Islands). I’ll be honest, Gili T was not our favorite place to spend time, but it would definitely be fun if you’re young, single and ready to mingle – and I’ll just leave it at that. The hotel where we stayed was pretty cool with some very gracious workers, and the island did have some beautiful over-the-water swings that made for great pictures. Next time, I’d definitely be interested in checking out Gili Meno and Gili Air if we ever venture that direction again – I’ve heard some great things about them!
Where we stayed:
<a href="https://www.jaliresortgilitrawangan.com">Jali Resort Gili Trawangan</a>

And that pretty much wraps it! If you need any additional information or recommendations on places to stay, leave a message in the comments so we can connect :)
Until next time,
xx K.

Kyrsti Ashmall