Search results for

Mrs Sippy is one of the most gorgeous pool clubs around. The aqua-blue saltwater pools, surrounded by white loungers and a backdrop of palm trees, make the club very Instagram-friendly. Poolside, diving boards at one, three, and five meters (3.2, 9.8, and 16.4 feet) are for the brave or silly and provide a floor show for the sunbathers. A visit to this beautiful tropical oasis comes with a Seminyak-style price tag on cocktails, so take advantage of happy hours and drink specials (in particular, Sippy Sundays, with two-for-one frozen cocktails all day long). Loungers can be reserved ahead by phone.

One of the first upscale beach restaurants on the well-developed stretch of Seminyak beach (and now one of several fine Italian options in the area), La Lucciola draws crowds to its beautiful frangipani-tree-scented beachfront to enjoy Italian-inspired fare and refreshing granitas (blended fruit and ice drinks, with or without alcohol). The thatched, two-story building offers many vantage points from which guests can watch the sun set over the water. Jalan Petitenget Seminyak, Bali, Indonesia 62/(0) 361 730838.

I’m not sure what the name has to do with the shop, but The Prisoners of St Petersburg is a small but packed full of goodies boutique on Jl. Laksmana/Oberoi in the heart of fashionable Seminyak. It’s one of those shops where your eyes can’t take in everything fast enough and you leave wondering which items you actually bought (and which you’ll need to go back for later). The selection of vintage designer sunglasses is pretty amazing and there are so many other great accessories to choose from you can spend hours looking and trying things on. An absolute must on the Seminyak boutique trail!

Though it has a silly name, the Potato Head Beach Club on Seminyak beach is a cool spot to spend the day. A collage of antique 18th-century veranda shades surrounds an amphitheater-like space that contains a beach bar, a grassy lawn, and an infinity pool. Three additional restaurants (one homey, one Southeast Asian, one high-end) and a stellar concert lineup make Potato Head a destination, morning ‘til night. A soon-to-open boutique hotel will extend the party even further. Jln. Petitenget, Seminyak, Bali 80361, Indonesia, 62/(0) 361 473 7979.

Joy Jewellery is fun, funky and all hand made in Bali. The shop on Jalan Oberoi in Seminyak is small but packed full of great bracelets, necklaces and rings that you can’t buy just one of. They make excellent gifts, but I promise you’ll buy more for yourself than your friends.

Just outside Gelgel and Klungkung, which were the seats of the Majapahit Kingdom from the 15th until the second half of the 17th century, is the village of Kamasan. This village was and is still of great cultural importance to the Balinese as it has been the core of Balinese traditional arts for the past 600 years. It is most famous for its painters, who have been painting in the ‘Kamasan style’ for many generations. This style is derived from the Javanese style that came to Bali with the Majapahit Kingdom and is now the basis for all traditional Balinese styles. You can tour the village and chat to the painters in their workshops and also buy directly from them. There are also textile workshops and silversmiths in the village you can visit. Kamasan is about 40 minutes from Ubud or 1 1/2 hours from Kuta or Seminyak.

Sanur is a beautiful and quaint part of Bali with hotels along the boardwalk that lines the beach. The boardwalk really makes Sanur special, as walking in Bali can be treacherous in most of the towns with narrow streets and tiny sidewalks, but this paved path in Sanur is great for biking and long walks along the beach. Walk to the south end of the boardwalk for a great view of the sunset and find a nice little cafe to have a Bintang (beer) or a Bali kopi (coffee).

One of the best places to watch the sun set is from the cliffs of Pura Luhur Uluwatu, or the site of the old Uluwatu Temple on the island of Bali. The dramatic cliffs overlook the ocean, and arriving before sunset allows you to explore before dark. The temple grounds are inhabited by a large number of monkeys, which are fun to watch but can be aggressive, so avoid wearing sunglasses or jewelry and bringing food, and be careful with your camera. Expect to wear a provided sarong over your pants/skirt/shorts, which is a sign of respect at religious sites in Indonesia (true here for men and women). At one end of Uluwatu, the rhythmic Kecak dance is performed nightly at sunset, and if you plan to stay, expect a crowd. Uluwatu is easily reached by car from most places on the southern part of the island. Drivers can be hired from hotels or villas.

Tanah Lot Temple is one of the most important and most iconic temples on Bali, which also makes it one of the most visited. It is one of the six cardinal temples, and on a very clear day you can see all the way to Uluwatu Temple on the very southernmost tip of the Bukit Penninsula. The temple’s position, perched on jagged rocks that jut out into the sea, means it can only be reached when the tide is out, but there are plenty of places to sit and have a drink or a snack while you wait for the tide to go out. Have a look for the little black and white sea snakes that are said to protect the temple and live in caves in the rock formations. They are poisonous, though, so don’t try to catch one. Although the temple grounds are very large, it can get extremely crowded around sunset, so arrive early to get a prime spot to snap pictures of the temple with the sun sinking into the sea in the background. Tanah Lot is located about 45 minutes west of Kuta and Seminyak in Tabanan Regency so is an easy half-day trip.

From its beachfront locale to the sweeping terraces and sliding-glass doors, everything about this hotel is aimed at maximizing views of Bali’s most sought-after shoreline. Local stone and wood put an Indonesian twist on the resort’s Thai design, which incorporates a dark-wood color scheme, a mini waterfall, and lattice screens. The hotel offers one-of-a-kind experiences, including special-occasion dinners on the beach and spice-infused cooking tours that introduce guests to regional flavors (don’t miss Spice Spoons, in which you’ll sample exotic fruit and other local ingredients, or the seaside Indonesian cooking class with a master chef). Bustling Seminyak lures travelers to its restaurants, bars, and nightclubs—often early into the morning—but Anantara’s spacious sundecks, refreshing pools, traditional spa suites, and umbrella-shaded beach chairs are waiting to revive you the next day.

Kim Soo Home, a French-inspired boutique shop in Seminyak, carries everything from Indonesian ethnic pieces to handmade textiles and wooden furniture. If you’re looking to pick up something to remind you of your trip to Bali, you’ll find it here—the shop stocks items from makers throughout the archipelago, along with its own unique, locally made designs. It’s difficult to leave the airy and carefully manicured store, but you can decompress for a bit in the stylish adjoining café before you reenter the harsh world outside.

I know when you go on holiday to Bali Mexico is probably the last place you’re thinking you’ll want to be, but Motel Mexicola is an awesomely kitsch Mexican cantina and bar not to be missed. Go early for dinner because even though this place is enormous, it gets packed on the weekends. The feel good factor is fueled by the bright decor, awesome margaritas, beers served super cold and food that is as close to real Mexican as you’ll get in Bali.

Cocoon is a relatively new medical spa in Bali that promises to make you look shiny and new. Both the Ubud and Seminyak locations offer high-tech and indulgent treatments that leave you looking and feeling amazing. The spas themselves are modern and welcoming and staffed with trained nurses and technicians that explain the treatments and make sure you understand any possible side effects or risks. They are also ultra-hygienic and more knowledgeable about different skin issues and types than at any other spa I’ve ever been to. I’ve had a couple of treatments at Cocoon, but the Cleopatra Packages are definitely the most indulgent. Microdermabrasion is followed with led light therapy, mesotherapy and the amazing (and slightly terrifying cyborg looking) gold collagen mask, which makes your skin smooth and radiant. I would have added a picture but I didn’t want to give anyone nightmares. Cocoon also offers a wide range of anti-aging treatments, acne and scar treatments, and popular detox and wellness packages for when you’ve overindulged on your Bali holiday. If you’re feeling brave you can go for the ‘Vampire life’ which injects your own enriched plasma back into your face. Prices range from Rp300.000 ($30) all the way up to Rp18.000.000 ($1,800) for detox packages and there are often great deals on their website. Also check out Cocoon’s Sunset Rd. location if you are staying in South Bali.

Leave the hustle of Seminyak behind and visit the more tranquil area of Ubud on your next Bali visit. There are some gorgeous waterfalls, great food and endless views. Alila Ubud is a beautiful resort with an infinity pool that stretches out over a mountainous drop that is stunning.