Bali certainly does have many Instagram worthy hotspots whether it’s for brunching, beaching or simply sipping on cocktails by the pool bar. My boyfriend Stewart and I usually stay in quiet Sanur, the other side of the island, so we usually only travel over to Seminyak and Kuta for 1 or 2 days, where most of the hotspots and nightlife are. Sanur however, has so many hidden gems and tropical beach clubs that were so close to our hotel, Segara Village, that we visited them most days, in particular the Artotel Beach Club and Soul on the Beach.
SOUL ON THE BEACH:
Soul was the place we spent most of our most time whether it was for breakfast, lunch, dinner or just cocktails. Located on Sindhu Beach, Soul has a colourful, vibrant and rustic feel to it, with the most incredible views of the ocean. You can either sit inside, outside or even on the beanbags right on the beach sand. The staff are also extremely friendly and helpful with any queries you have. Although buffet breakfast was included at our hotel, sometimes we went to Soul for breakfast because it was just that good! One of my favourite things about Soul is their rainbow latte art (which is great for the gram) and their fresh juices which really make you feel like you’re on an Island retreat.
Their lunch/dinner menu is just as refreshing with many salads and fresh meals on the menu (also with an extensive pizza menu which is always has my tick of approval). The Mac and Cheese burger was probably our favourite because it is never inappropriate to have macaroni and bacon on a beef patty right?
However, the one thing that kept us going back to Soul was their incredible cocktails. With their tropical vibe aesthetic’s, each cocktail is unique and carefully curated. A few of my favourites where ‘My Kiss on the Lips’, ‘Fonzicolada’, ‘My Sexiest Ex’ and ‘Am I Cute’.
ARTOTEL BEACH CLUB (ABC):
Artotel is the ultimate beach club experience: a lagoon pool with a swim up bar, beach beds on the sand, a restaurant and even a gelato bar. With a DJ during the afternoon, Artotel has an incredible vibe that will make you want to stay all day.
ABC also has a generous happy hour from 5-8pm daily which includes ‘Buy one get one complimentary cocktail, spirit or wine’, as well as their tapas ‘Buy two bites for IDR 110k or three for IDR 160k. We made the most of this happy hour and had pre dinner snacks here most nights. However it was ABC’s wood fire Margherita pizza that I was most looking forward to eating again (as it was my highlight last holiday). A must try at this spectacular beach club!
CABINA:
Now Cabina is the epitome of Instagram worthy pics! This tropical paradise is surrounded by palm trees, an ambiance of colour, vibrance and beach beds. Cabina’s floating brunch experience is probably what defines their space. With a rectangular pool in the middle of Cabina, you can swim around the pool in the sunshine whilst you eat your beautiful brunch.
Cabina offer two kinds of packages for the brunches, the Regular and Tropical. We had the tropical which combines pool towels, fruit platters and tropical toasts. The brunch includes: tea/coffee, a tropical mocktail, toast, a main brunch and a dessert. I chose the Melon Cooler, Chicken and Waffles (and I was so happy with my choice) and the espresso pannacotta. The food was just incredible and the vibes made the experience so much better.
MOTEL MEXICOLA:
This extreme and funky space in Seminyak is one of Bali’s hottest tourist spots. This tropical oasis is oozing with Mexicana colours and symbols, ranging from Spanish bulls, Frida Kahlo, the Virgin Mary, rustic tiles and novena candles.
Although Motel Mexicola is mostly known for its nightclub life, we love to come during the day for their fantastic lunch. Which ranges from tacos, los frescos, antojitos and tostadas, as well as platters to share. Some of my favourites are the: Taco de Puerco with crispy pork belly, Taco Carne Asada with Australian sirloin, the Tostada de Pollo with chicken tinga, Ceviche de pescado with lime cured sea perch and the Quesadilla de Cochinita with slow roasted pork. If you need a break from the Nasi Goreng and are chasing some authentic Mexican flavours… this is your place.
NEON PALMS:
Cocktails, tacos and tapas food, what more could you ask for really? Neon Palms is a quirky colourful oasis, located above a boutique shop in Seminyak. Jungle animals seem to be the common theme here, with pink peacocks on the terrace, a wildlife safari splattered on bathroom walls and the most instagrammable loved wall of all: the crouching leopard. Although we only stopped by here for a drink, and unfortunately did not try the food, I can tell why this place is a known hot spot in Seminyak.
COFFEE CARTEL:
This cute boutique coffee shop in Kuta is the embodiment of ‘Think Pink’. Surrounded with blush decor, everything from Coffee Cartels wall art to their food is a rosé aesthetic.
However, the main attraction to Coffee Cartel is their coffee Ripple machine. Using patented printing technology, the machine creates images and text on top of the foam. By downloading an app ‘coffee ripples’ you can use any pattern preset on the app, or use your own photo. Coffee Cartel also have a range of breakfast choices, sweet treats and generously cater for vegan or dairy free needs.
MRS SIPPY:
Mrs Sippy is a day spent for good times, sunbathing and lots of cocktails. Their Mediterranean inspired oasis hosts the largest pool in Bali, with a 5m diving platform to jump off from. You can hire day beds, or chairs to spend the day at Mrs Sippy whilst listening to the live DJ’s and engrossing yourself in signature cocktails and food.
My favourite cocktails and dishes are the Litchi Tiki, Black Forest Maitai and 4 cheese pizza (mozzarella, emmental, gorgonzola and parmesan). For my fellow fromage fanatics…trust me on this one 😉
