Canggu

At the end of our 3 weeks in Bali, we settled in Canggu for ten full days. This wasn't the original plan however we loved it so much that we abandoned our other plans and spent the full ten days hopping around various places in Canggu. You could easily spend this long but if you have limited time, we would 100% recommend spending at least 3 nights so you make the most of all it has to offer. The town is located just North of Seminyak and seems to be a more quirky, Shorditch-like version of Seminyak. A few of the many things Canggu is known for is its healthy restaurants, chilled out beach clubs, beautiful Airbnb’s and great surf. This is definitely the spot to rent a board or take some lessons at Canggu Beach and hit the waves! We did a lesson at Old Man's for the afternoon which we both agreed was one of the best afternoon's we had.

Getting Around

The easiest way to get around is by bike. There are many different restaurants all over the town, and the beach clubs are all dotted about down the coast and so to save time and money, biking is the best method of transport. For 70,000 IR you can rent a bike for the day and it really is worth it! There are many beginner drivers in Canggu so you are not alone if you haven’t done it before.

Accommodation

When staying in Canggu we decided to try a number of different places seeing as we had a decent amount of time in the area. One of the great places we stayed in was The Farm Hostel - the hostel is beautifully designed and has a great pool that you can spend the day around. The furniture in the hostel is all locally sourced and the hostel is located in the middle of rice fields and banana trees. We couldn’t quite believe how nice the rooms were, we even had open bathrooms at the back which had outdoor waterfall showers surrounded with beautiful plants. The Farm really didn’t feel like a hostel, on Sunday’s they offer a free ‘family meal’ which was a delicious buffet for all the guests. All the people who work in the hostel are lovely and make your experience a special one and so anyone visiting Canggu we would definitely suggest a visit. Be sure to book in advance though as it gets booked up super quick! Another hostel we would recommend is Lay Day Surf Hostel - this is a lot more upbeat and party atmosphere with tunes constantly playing, so depending on what you are going for in Canggu this hostel could be a better option. Or you could do what we did and stay at The Farm, then head to Lay Day for a couple of beers on the evenings before you are heading out to party.

Canggu is also known for its Airbnb's, when looking for a place to stay on the app you really are in for a treat. Unlike other places we've travelled in the world, in Bali it's very easy to come across a cheap Airbnb. During our time in Canggu we decided to book two seperate Airbnb's and they were both lovely. The first one which was called Bamboo Bungalow was a bike ride away from the centre, but the perfect place to spend a few nights. Each room was open and had drapes across the front of them which was stunning, the bungalows are also in the middle of beautiful rice fields and has a long pool down the middle of all the different huts. Waking up to the sound of chirpsing birds and the rustling of the fields was something different and we'd definitely recommend having a look at it. Another Airbnb we stayed in was on the other side of Canggu, yet again a great find. Owned by a lovely couple from France, we were very much welcomed into their home and the room we were in had a super kingsize bed which was an added benefit! Below are the links to each Airbnb for anyone who may like to book them:

https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/23547304 / https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/27000659

Nightlife

As well as its laid-back, chill daytime vibe, Canggu is also known for its great nightlife. With Old man’s being the perfect spot for a nice cold Bintang watching the Sunset you really are set up for the evening. Although you have the freedom to go anywhere, whats great about Canggu is that each night there is always a main place to go - this results in practically everyone you know or have met heading to the same place. So a few of the popular places.. Oldman’s on a Wednesday - this beachfront bar offers plenty of seating, a dance floor and happy-hour from 4’ till 6 on weekdays. It is the perfect place to start your evening and even has a delicious menu. Another great place for heading out in Bali is Deus - on Sunday’s theres a band and lots of dancing and on Tuesdays they run a night called Taco Tequila and Tattoo Tuesdays, where a local tattoo artist offers free tattoo designs to anyone wanting inked. Deus has a very trendy, arty vibe and is located right in the centre of Canggu.

On a Thursday the must go place is Pretty Poison. Pretty Poison is where all the skaters hang-out, the venue has a huge empty swimming pool right in the middle of the party which is used by a regular crew of locals and international skaters. As you enter the venue, everyone takes a seat around the skate bowl and spends the evening watching the skaters drop in and out - it’s a different kind of night out but really one you won’t forget! One place that I can’t not mention is Sandbar, a venue where everyone ends up at the end of their night in Canggu. It is literally a sandy bar on the beach and has a concrete slab for dancing and a bar for drinks - a great place to end the night. Our time in Canggu also coincided with a festival called Gypsy Lands, it was it's first time running but it was an amazing event. Pretty Poison even made a cameo with a big skate ramp between the two stages.

Along with the unforgettable nightlife, Canggu is home to many of the most delicious restaurants. If you are veggie or even vegan, don't fret... the options are limitless.

Breakfast

Crate - best breakfast, big portions, cheapest prices

Shady Shack - salad bowls, smoothies, vegan dishes

Cafe Orgánica - good prices, great smoothie bowls

The Avocado Factory - a great breakfast spot

Monsieur Spoon - French café with proper French croissants and nice coffee

Lunch and Dinner

Fish Bone Local - cheap fresh fish, by beach, beautiful interior, classy

Moana Fish Eatery - so cheap and very fresh, more relaxed than Fish Bone Local

In The Raw - so nice for dinner, slightly more expensive but worth it

The Slow - more classy slightly more expensive amazing food

Amo - very cheap salads for lunch