In need of white sand beaches, I headed to Uluwatu, a sea lovers paradise located in the south-western tip of Bali. Tim was the first to tell me about this magical place, and other travelers I met in Bali sung its praises as well. When I first laid eyes on the view of Thomas beach, I knew it would be a struggle to leave.
I stayed at Puri Kelapa Guesthouse, which I booked through Airbnb. It is located about a 5-minute scooter ride from Single Fin, the “it” place to go for parties and sunset drinks, but other than that it is in a quiet part of town. After busy Canggu, I liked not being in the thick of things and enjoyed the peacefully gazing up at the bright stars at night. The room was simple but clean. The pool is really big, something surprisingly hard to find in Bali. I liked it enough to bring my mom back when she was in town!
My first day in Uluwatu was spent lounging on Thomas Beach after a scrumptious brekkie at Suka Espresso (get the avo toast). There are about 150 steps to get to this beach, so be prepared for the walk back up! Kamille (the friend I met in Canggu) had a massage on the beach and said it was one of the best ones she ever experienced! They are super cheap here so it is not an indulgence!
For dinner and sunset, we made a reservation at Single Fin. They don’t accept reservations after 5pm, but I recommend one to ensure a prime spot to watch the sun go down. Hands down the most gorgeous sunsets I have seen in my life were at Single Fin. Don’t miss this!
I enjoyed the falafel salad and beef burger. Their frozen strawberry mojitos are delicious!
There is a cute organic cafe right around the corner from the guest house called Lands End Cafe. We went there for breakfast EVERY morning. The veggie omelette and pitaya bowl is so good! They make amazing vegan chocolate treats, I recommend the peanut butter berry hearts, so good! You can also refill your water bottle here for free!
Uluwatu has no shortage of luxurious beach clubs, and I was lucky enough to check out a few of them. Oneeighty at the Edge Hotel was on my radar for a while and its breathtaking Insta famous views did not disappoint in real life (although it is smaller than it appears on social media). Oneeighty is a posh restaurant and lounge with an incredible infinity pool that juts out over the Indian ocean.
It is part of the hotel, but visitor passes are available with reservations. General entry costs about $28 and most of that is credited towards food and beverage. I liked that it wasn’t packed as I had feared; just enough people to feel exclusive and not have to fight for a good photo :p
We stayed for dinner and witnessed a golden hour. Oneeighty is definitely worth the entrance fee.
When I was in Uluwatu with my mom, we spent a day at Ulu Cliffhouse, a stunning and classy establishment equipped with a large infinity pool, day beds, and a fabulous restaurant and bar overlooking the ocean. As expected, there is a minimum spend to reserve a daybed, but if you stay for the day, you easily go over the minimum.
The food is amazing. We had the lamb kebab, blue cheese salad, and this incredible homemade pita and hummus. SO GOOD
Before I left, I made sure to check out Bingin Beach, a rocky beach with dramatic cliff views and one of the guesthouse staff’s favorite spot. I really wanted to relax on a lounge chair and drink sangria, which Bingin lacks, so I walked about 10 minutes to the next beach, Dreamland. Dreamland is definitely a tourist beach, filled with people, but I still enjoyed.
I wish I could have had more time to explore all the beaches in Uluwatu. This place is a true paradise.
Stay tuned for my next Bali blog which will focus on all things Ubud!
XO,
Sarah
Wandering Publicist 