Bali’s Beach Clubs
One thing that Bali is renowned for is its incredible beach clubs, of which there are countless dotted all around the island, and we squeezed in an afternoon at 6 of them during our time. Before visiting the beach clubs, make sure you're aware that you will pay a premium for the irreplaceable atmosphere and vibe that they provide. They are most definitely a lot more expensive than normal eating/drinking out in Bali, however if you are in search of a beachside chilling afternoon, here’s the low down on all the ones we went to.
The one beach club you may have already heard of is Potato Head. Potato Head is known for its delicious food, creative cocktails and insane line ups. Being one of the hotspots for celebrities, many people spend the day here to see what all the fuss is about. It definitely has a more young, party vibe than some of the others, and it's also slightly more expensive... But if you're looking for a flashy, trendy, bright coloured beach club with an amazing infinity pool slap bang in the middle, then Potato Head is your best bet.
As you head north of Potato Head, another one we must mention is Finns Beach Club. Finns was one of our favourites, it is in the middle of Seminyak and Canggu and another great place to spend the day. For 2.000.000 IDR (£100) you can split a beautiful big day bed between 4 people, which is worth doing as you then get to spend this money on food and drinks for the day. You don’t have to pay to use the pool so you could just sit on the beach in front and pop in and out.
During our time in Canggu, we spent many of our days at the fab new beach club The Lawn. It's in the ideal location, situated directly on Batubolong beach just a couple of minutes walk from Old Man's. You can chill out and suntan on the lawn from 11am onwards for free, or treat yourself to one of the minimum spend sun beds. The sunset is awesome and on a Friday from 7-9pm there's a happy hour (2 for 1 cocktails) and great live music - make sure to make some time for this!
After too many days spent lounging at The Lawn, we decided to branch out and try one of the other beach clubs that Canggu has to offer. La Brisa is a totally different vibe to the other beach clubs, it's super rustic and laid back, and the interior is to die for. There are chairs made of rope hanging from the ceiling, wicker baskets and chairs all over the place, and even huge old fishing ropes draped around the place. Although it is slightly further from the heart of Canggu, La Brisa's location on Echo Beach is ideal as it provides front row seats to watch the surfers catch the waves throughout the day.
Heading south of the island, another incredible beach club you shouldn't miss is Single Fin Uluwatu. Every Sunday this beach club is famous for having a huge sunset party into the small hours, something we heard travellers recommending in pretty much every hostel we stayed at in Bali! If you want to check it out just for the day then it's also got a full restaurant and bar, with a DJ playing chill music as the sun sets each evening.
Last but CERTAINLY not least, is Jungle Fish in Ubud. Described as 'The no beach... beach club', it's extra special as it is located right in the heart of the jungle. The infinity pool looks onto bright green exotic plants, and it is the ideal retreat from the hustle and bustle of the main town. Although it's quite a way by bike, it's definitely worth a visit. Entry is only 100.000 IDR (£5), which gets you your own sun lounger and towel, from which you can order food and drinks from the friendly staff at anytime. Although we are 'budget travelling' - a visit to Jungle Fish will ensure a day of feeling like you're luxury holiday-ing.
