When I decided to pursue a life as a digital nomad, Bali was my ideal destination. I daydreamed about the gorgeous villas and lush jungle. After a little detour in plans, I finally made it here! It has definitely lived up to my expectations.
I started off in Canggu, which is a digital nomad hub, filled with lovely cafes and restaurants with strong Wi-Fi to get work done. You can indulge your inner hipster with yoga, surfing, healthy food, and laid-back vibes. It has been influenced by Western cultures, so it isn’t the most authentic Balinese experience, but I still like it here.
I started my trip staying at Elements Bnb, a quaint little hostel located in the center of town. I initially only booked a few nights but ended up extending for a full week. The rooms are clean and stylish and the Wi-Fi was pretty good. Not a party hostel, which I avoid since I need a good night sleep to work the next day.
The hostel is just 5 minutes walk to the main road lined with shops, restaurants, and bars. In Canggu, eating is basically a sport. There are SO many cute places to check out. I recommend eating at The Loft, Motion Cafe, The Shady Shack, Poke Poke, Luigis Hot Pizza, The Avocado Factory, Crate, and Tetsuo.
The Loft has excellent breakfast. I loved their Vegan Brekkie Plate which comes with scrambled quinoa tofu, amazing spinach, hummus, avocado, mushrooms, and delicious coconut sweet potatoes. The Vida bowl is also super yummy. I loved the grilled halloumi cheese, a salty perfection similar to feta cheese.
Motion Cafe is health oriented and you can get most menu options vegan or gluten-free. I love their paleo inspired beef salad and lentil burger.
The Shady Shack is a cute cafe nestled away from the hustle and bustle of Jalan Batu Bolong, the main road. We got the best table in the house with this “throne.”
I can honestly say I have never consumed more avocado than in Bali. You can find it on basically EVERY menu, especially for breakfast. I mean who wants eggs without?! The avocado factory is an avo fanatics dream come true. Each dish is a piece of art, almost too pretty to eat!
When I arrived in Bali, I was new to the whole poke bowl trend. I had my first one at Poke Poke here in Canggu, and I was sorry I never had one earlier! This restaurant is definitely one of the best places for poke. I am obsessed.
For New York level sushi without the hefty price tag, Tetsuo by Nook is your spot. The restaurant is new but on track to become the next hot spot in the area. Definitely some of the best sushi I have ever had. I recommend the Ebiri Cheese Roll and the TNT Spicy Tuna roll.
Luigis Hot Pizza is the best place in town for your carb fix and for a lively scene. Monday nights they have a DJ party! Oh, and happy hour every day from 7-8pm on pizza and drinks.
Another fun party is Pretty Poison, especially on Thursday nights. Essentially, everyone gathers around a California style pool where skaters take turns showing off their tricks. I kept praying no one got hurt :p
The beaches in Canggu aren’t too beautiful, but they are perfect for surfing. I prefer Echo beach over Canggu beach. Whichever one you go to, make sure you hydrate with a coconut :p
For the second half of my trip in Canggu, after exploring a few other parts of the country, I stayed at the lovely Gypsey Moon hostel, a brand new property. I had the whole place to myself for four nights! It is super chic and felt like it was a villa. This place is going to be popular.
I finally checked out Finns Beach Club when my mom came to visit. It is free to enter and eat at the restaurant or use the pool, but the lounge chairs cost about 28 dollars which you use towards food and beverages, a pretty good deal. It is a fun vibe and the views are great. We loved it!
Once my mom arrived in Bali, I upgraded from hostel life to chic bed and breakfasts. In Canggu, we stayed at The Bed by The Sea. It is a gorgeous little place, with a nice swimming pool and open air concept architecture with gardens in all the bathrooms. At first, I was concerned because it is not located in the main part of town, but on scooters it was fast and they offer a free shuttle into town multiple times a day. It was nice to get away from all the noise at the end of the day. It was so cozy, we easily imagined it being our home.
After a few days here, we headed to Uluwatu, one of my favorite places in Bali. Stay tuned for my next blog post on it!
XO,
Sarah
Wandering Publicist 