Canggu, Bali: Our First Stop in East Asia
After a good few months of research and planning, our journey across East Asia had finally begun, and what better place to start than Canggu, Bali? We decided to spend five days here to settle in, find our feet and hopefully adjust to the time difference because jet lag is an absolute killer!
Where we stayed
We stayed at Amankara, which was a nice base for our first few days. The hotel and rooms were fairly basic, but it was reasonably priced and in a good location, making it a convenient place to stay while exploring the area.
First impressions of Canggu
We weren’t entirely sure what to expect from Canggu, having heard such mixed reviews before arriving. However, we were pleasantly surprised by how much there was to see, do and, most importantly, eat!
Canggu is definitely one of Bali’s more westernised areas, with a load of trendy restaurants, beach clubs, wellness spots and even a few familiar fast-food chains. It’s a great place to ease yourself into travelling, especially if you’re feeling a little overwhelmed after a long haul flight. One thing to be prepared for, though, is the traffic! Getting from A to B can take much longer than you’d expect, so factor that into your plans.
Beach clubs and sunset spots
Two beach clubs we visited during our stay were La Brisa and FINNS, and I’d absolutely recommend adding both to your itinerary. We had such good days at each, and they were a real highlight of our time in Canggu. The atmosphere was great, the prices felt reasonable for the experience, and the sunsets were some of the best we’d seen all week.
Whether you’re looking to spend the afternoon by the pool, enjoy a few drinks or watch the sun go down over the ocean, both are well worth a visit.
Keeping up with your wellness routine
One thing we loved about Canggu was the sheer number of gyms and wellness spaces. If you’re travelling for a longer period and want to maintain some kind of routine, it’s the perfect place to do so.
We’d recommend Reload, where you can purchase a day pass and make use of the gym, sauna, steam room, classes and pool area. It’s a great option if you fancy dedicating a day to looking after yourself, getting a workout in and having a little reset between adventures.
The food scene (where do we even begin?)
Honestly, don’t even get me started on the food! Traditional Indonesian dishes weren’t really what we found ourselves reaching for during our time in Canggu, but the choice of restaurants was endless, and we ate so well.
There really is something for everyone, from Italian favourites to juicy burgers and brunch spots. A few places we’d definitely recommend are:
Cantina Classic – for Italian food and a comforting plate of pasta or pizza
Smoke – a great option if you’re craving a steak or a good burger.
Copenhagen – a build your own breakfast and brunch spot that we loved so much we went twice!
With so many places to choose from, Canggu is definitely a destination where you won’t be short of food options.
A little escape to Kedungu
During our stay, we also ventured out to Kedungu, spending some time at Premaloka Suites, around 20 minutes outside Canggu.
The atmosphere here was more relaxed, making it a lovely change of pace from the busier streets and crowds of Canggu, however there isn’t quite as much to do in the immediate area. We did visit love beach where we enjoyed some food & watched the sunset.
Our final thoughts on Canggu
Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed our time in Canggu. It was the perfect place to ease ourselves into our travels, recover from the journey, discover some amazing restaurants and enjoy a few beautiful sunsets along the way.
That said, Canggu is definitely a busier, more westernised part of Bali, and while we loved the variety of things to do, we’re excited to explore more of the island and discover places with a different atmosphere and even more to see.
Would we recommend Canggu? Absolutely! Especially as a first stop on a longer trip, when you’re looking for good food, beach clubs, wellness spots and somewhere easy to settle into. We had a great few days here, but we’re ready to see what the rest of Bali has in store for us! 🌺
