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Bali

Best Canggu Cafes from Kerobokan to Echo Beach (plus a few we tried so you don’t have to)

We tried all these Canggu cafes and decided to write about them so you can see which are the best cafes and which are ones you probably don’t need to waste your time on.

Just a note on Instagram. Don’t use Instagram to judge the quality of a cafe as we found absolutely zero correlation between a cafe’s awesome Instagram feed and the quality of the food. Some with poor Instagram had good food and coffee and some with fantastic Instagram feeds which served up rubbish.

Satu-Satu Coffee Company

Satu Satu Canggu InteriorLocated about halfway down Jalan Pantai Berawa, Satu-Satu is a popular modern cafe serving typical Canggu cafe food and coffee in a concrete & brick building with a large open air area out the front.Satu Satu Canggu CoffeeThe coffee here is as to be expected — excellent. The food is an eclectic mix of bowls, healthy plates and even some pasta. We didn’t try the food, but it looked quite good so it’s probably worth a try.

Satu-Satu Coffee Company
Jalan Pantai Berawa, Canggu
Opening hours: 08:00 – 16:30
Instagram: @satusatucoffeecompany
Coffee: Rp25.000 (tax already included!)
WiFi: 10down/25up (full cafe, faster when empty)

Hungry Bird

Hungry Bird Canggu InteriorWhen we entered this cafe, it felt more like an Internet cafe than a place which served food and coffee because every single table was taken up by at least one person, and sometimes two people, using laptops. And as customers queued out the door and stood around looking for a seat, those on laptops tapped away.Hungry Bird Canggu CoffeeOne of the reasons this place is popular with the digital nomad crowd is because the internet is incredibly fast. But the coffee here is also excellent and one of the best I’ve had in Bali so far.

The food here is pretty standard with burgers and sandwiches, rice and noodles and an assortment of pancakes. This is a no bowl zone!

Service here was dull and we didn’t see a smile from any of the staff. Maybe they were frustrated with the number tables being occupied by laptops.Hungry Bird Canggu Coffee MachineWhatever the case, the coffee is great and internet really fast. Come here if you’re a digital nomad or want a quick coffee. And get here early if you want a good seat.

Hungry Bird
Jalan Raya Semat 86, Canggu
Instagram: @hungrybirdcoffee
Opening Hours: 08:00 – 17:00, closed Sundays
Coffee: Rp25.000 (tax already included!)
WiFi: 30down/50up (full cafe, faster when empty)

The Moose Espresso Bar

The Moose Espresso Bar Kerobokan Interior 2Co-located with MyWarung® on Jalan Batu Belig, The Moose Espresso Bar is touted as the place to come to enjoy great coffee in a warung environment. Truth be told, it feels like a normal cafe to us and the prices are high even by most Bali cafe standards. That said, they do offer a breakfast packet which is what we had.The Moose Espresso Bar Kerobokan FoodFor a place wanting to be known for coffee, they were off to a bad start. Almost the whole outside of my cup was coated in spilt milk. Somehow someone had made the coffee really badly and didn’t bother to clean it up before serving. The flavour of the coffee was good and I quickly forgot the spilt coffee issues, despite having sticky hands every time I picked it up.The Moose Espresso Bar Kerobokan InteriorThe breakfast packet they offer is reasonable value. A coffee, breakfast (eggs, pancakes, smashed avo), fruit juice and fruit platter all for Rp80.000++. The fruit plate is tiny, but enough. My pancakes were dry, quite simple, but tasty all the same. I didn’t really enjoy them.

WiFi wasn’t working when we visited, so we can’t recommend it as a place to open a laptop. This is a good cafe, but with so much competition these days, it’s going to have to lift its game in a few areas to stay relevant on the Canggu cafe scene.

The Moose Espresso Bar
Jalan Batu Belig 8A, Kerobokan
Instagram: @themooseespressobar
Opening Hours: 08:00 – 01:00
Coffee: Rp32.000 (plus 15.5% tax)
WiFi: Not working

Livingstone Cafe Bakery

Livingstone Kerobokan InteriorWhen you enter Livingstone, you’re immediately interrogated about numbers of people, inside/outside and then ushered towards a table. If you want to sit where you want, just ignore the person at the door — it’s an attempt at good service which is horribly grating.

The space is large and there are plenty of spots to set up a laptop. Unfortunately the WiFi is quite slow although quick enough for emails and web browsing.Livingstone Kerobokan DrinksThe flat white I had here was a good one and definitely worth a stop if you’re on your way past. The energiser was awesome with lots of mint and ginger to freshen up your day. A decent cafe, but feels a little fake Western for us.

Livingstone Cafe and Bakery
Jalan Petitenget 88x, Kerobokan
Instagram: @livingstonebakery
Opening Hours: 07:00 – 22:00
Coffee: Rp35.000 (add 16.5% tax)
WiFi: 2down/2up (seems to be capped speed)

The Avocado Factory

Avocado Factory Canggu CoconutWhat a fantastic concept for the Instagram generation! For the crowd who loves avocado, this place is everything you could hope for. All menu items feature avocado, but they’re more than just avocado dishes.Avocado Factory Canggu Nasi CampurAvo chocolate mousse, incredible avo burgers and nasi campur with avocado. The burger was brilliant, soft bun, tasty bacon and just enough avocado.Avocado Factory Canggu Chocolate MousseCoffee here is also very good and worth coming for on its own. We couldn’t get on the WiFi because of the ridiculous sign-in procedure, so we don’t know how fast it is. Despite WiFi issues, this is a fantastic cafe!Avocado Factory Canggu Coffee Avocado Factory Canggu Interior Avocado Factory Canggu Shake Avocado Factory Canggu Burger Avocado Factory Canggu Bowl

The Avocado Factory
Jalan Tanah Barak 52, Canggu
Instagram: @theavocadofactory
Opening Hours: 07:00 – 23:30
Coffee: Rp30.000 (add 15.5% tax)
WiFi: couldn’t get it working

Vida Cafe

Cafe Vida Canggu ExteriorIf organics and superfoods are your thing, then Vida is your place. A wonderful menu of bowls, salads, pancakes and burgers greets you when you arrive and it all sounds fantastic.Cafe Vida Canggu WrapWe tried the French toast and burrito and both were quite good, but not without some problems. The burrito was super bland, but also super healthy. The French toast was loaded with way too much fig paste, but was otherwise pretty good.Cafe Vida Canggu French ToastThe coffee here is also top notch and worth stopping in for. Cafe Vida Canggu CoffeeIt’s a crowded cafe with mediocre WiFi and not really a great place to work but that doesn’t stop some people setting up here anyway. This is a fantastic place for breakfast, lunch and dinner, but do note that it is one of the more expensive cafes in Canggu.Cafe Vida Canggu Interior

Vida Cafe
Jalan Pantai Batu Bolong 38A, Canggu
Instagram: @cafe_vida_bali
Opening Hours: 07:00 – 22:30
Coffee: Rp32.000 (add 15.5% tax)
WiFi: 6down/6up

Copenhagen

Copenhagen Canggu ExteriorCopenhagen is quite different to many other cafes in Canggu in that it has a tiny menu, a small seating area and isn’t too close to where most tourists are staying when in town.Copenhagen Canggu DrinksThe coffee here is excellent and it’s extremely strong. But not bitter. Just strong. They often have a deal which combines a yummy cinnamon scroll and coffee for Rp35.000 which is a great way to have afternoon tea.Copenhagen Canggu InteriorA funky little place away from the madness closer to the beach. We love it!

Copenhagen
Jalan Padang Linjong 71a, Canggu
Instagram: @copenhagencanggu
Opening Hours: 07:00 – 16:00
Coffee: Rp25.000 (add 15.5% tax)
WiFi: 13down/18up

Milu

Milu Canggu InteriorWith the success of Nook in Umalas, the same group has opened up a bigger establishment in Canggu and it’s a beauty.Milu Canggu ExteriorA lovely airy building with massive deck overlooking a rice field greets visitors and it’s easy to spend a few hours here with friends drinking coffee and eating smoothie bowls.Milu Canggu FoodAnd it’s one of those typical Canggu menus with breakfasts, bowls and burgers. The smoothie bowl was excellent, but we were a little disappointed with the coffee. It was OK, but steamed to within an inch of its life and miles below Bali standard these days. At dinner, we had ribs and some tapas and most of it was excellent.Milu Canggu DrinkIt’s a fantastic cafe to open a laptop in and WiFi is reasonably fast, even though the cafe was near full when we were there. Definitely a favourite in the area.Milu Canggu Interior 2

Milu
Jalan Pantai Berawa, Canggu
Instagram: @milubynook
Opening Hours: 08:00 – 23:00
Coffee: Rp28.000 (add 16% tax)
WiFi: 10down/20up (half full cafe)

Ruko Cafe

Ruko Cafe Canggu ExteriorLocated on the road to Pantai Berawa, this tiny cafe is something of a hit with those living and staying nearby. Every time we’ve been, it’s been packed to the brim with people sipping on coffee and downing bowls and burgers.Ruko Cafe Canggu DrinksThe coffee here is strong and excellent. Certainly worth coming for. We haven’t eaten here before, but the meals we’ve seen other people have look good.Ruko Cafe Canggu Interior 2The crowd here seems a little older than the Echo Beach crew and we even spotted some non-white people which was refreshing.Ruko Cafe Canggu InteriorTables here are limited the WiFi was broken last time we visited. No matter what the staff did, the WiFi wouldn’t come back on again. Probably not a great place to open the laptop.

Ruko Cafe
Jalan Pantai Berawa 99, Canggu
Instagram: @rukocafe
Opening Hours: 07:00 – 16:30
Coffee: Rp30.000 (no added tax!)
WiFi: not operational (on a 2nd attempt we got a choppy 20down/40up — maybe they still have intermittent problems)

Cinta Cafe

Cinta Cafe Canggu ViewWith mediocre ricefield views and a menu of breakfast, bowls and burgers, Cinta (pronounced chinta) Cafe is funky little cafe reminiscent of many other cafes in the area.

Good coffee, good western food, neat little view and fast internet. It’s actually all you need if you want a lazy breakfast, quick coffee or even an afternoon on the laptop. It’s a really relaxing place.Cinta Cafe Canggu CoffeeWe enjoyed our coffee here and loved the speed of the WiFi. Better still, it never really felt crowded and we would be happy to come here with a laptop for a few hours of work and definitely for another coffee (don’t order the Charcoal Chai! Great for Instagram, awful taste). Definitely worth a visit when in this part of Canggu.Cinta Cafe Canggu Ricefield

Cinta Cafe
Jalan Pantai Berawa 69, Canggu
Instagram: @cafecinta
Opening Hours: 08:00 – 22:00
Coffee: Rp30.000 (add 15.5% tax)
WiFi: 21down/40up (few customers)

Secret Spot

Secret Spot Canggu InteriorOnce a secret spot, this place is a secret no more. It’s got a good reputation for serving up healthy raw food, vegan fare and a whole bunch of bowls. If you’re into healthy food, you are going to love this place.Secret Spot Canggu CoffeeWe love the fit out of this tiny little vegetarian cafe, especially the upstairs area where you have a choice of indoor or outdoor seating. Kick back on a lounge or tiny table and enjoy yourself. It’s a fantastic space. But don’t expect to pull out your laptop and get any work done. It’s not that kind of place.Secret Spot Canggu Interior 2Our drinks here were excellent and we recommend coming for a coffee if you need a caffeine hit, but also for some clean food if you’re feeling bloated from too much nasi goreng, burgers and pancakes from other eateries. Prices here are slightly lower than average for this kind of place.

Secret Spot
Jalan Pantai Berawa 44, Canggu
Instagram: @secretspotbali
Opening Hours: 08:00 – 22:00
Coffee: Rp27.000 (no tax!)
WiFi: 28down/37up (not full of laptops, so probably always fast)

The Shady Shack

Shady Shack Canggu Exterior 2Located on a small road on the way down towards Echo Beach, The Shady Shack is possibly the hippest cafe in Bali right now. Persistently full, the service is often slow and inattentive.Shady Shack Canggu Cacao BowlIf raw, vegan, vegetarian, gluten free, dairy free is your thing, The Shady Shack is your place. We don’t have dietary restrictions and usually head for the tastiest item on the menu, but at Shady Shack we struggled for something to get our teeth stuck into. It’s a massive menu of bowls, breakfast, kale and fruit which has its place, but is extremely niche in its appeal.Shady Shack Canggu Nori BowlWe ordered a lot of stuff and most of us were a little disappointed with what we got with flavours that underwhelmed. But it’s all healthy! And if you’re in need of healthy food, this might just be the place for you.Shady Shack Canggu CoffeeFor Instagram, this place is heaven. Beautifully presented dishes, clean ingredients and lots of colour. It’s every Instagrammers dream. But for us, it’s mostly smoke and mirrors with the dishes looking far better than they taste.

Prices here are sky high, but you pay for the freshness and quality of the produce on offer. It’s not a place to come and work, so leave your laptop at home and just enjoy the food. Coffee is excellent.Shady Shack Canggu ExteriorWe’re not fans of this place due to lack of flavour in the food, but this opinion is not a common one. The Shady Shack is extremely popular, especially with the health-conscious.

The Shady Shack
Jalan Tanah Barak 53, Canggu
Instagram: @theshadyshack
Opening Hours: 07:30 – 22:30
Coffee: Rp32.000
WiFi: 13down/14up

Motion Cafe

Motion Cafe Canggu ExteriorMotion Cafe is a Canggu special with an ultra modern menu of healthy food, vegetarian meals and the odd burger with real meat. There’s no doubt who the target market is here with all-day homemade granolas, protein waffles, paleo plates and lots of salads.

Prices here are about average for Canggu and you’ll find that it’s often packed due to the great combo of sensible healthy food, good flavour and reasonable prices. But as with many health food cafes, you have to be careful what you order lest you end up with something bland — like the awful banana coconut bread we had. Motion Cafe Canggu Coffee And CakeThe coffee here is excellent as it has to be in Indonesia these days. There is no room for bad coffee.

Although this is a smallish cafe, people still do come here with laptops and use the fast WiFi. A good healthy choice in Canggu.Motion Cafe Canggu Interior

Motion Cafe
Jalan Batu Bolong 69b, Canggu
Instagram: @motioncafe
Opening Hours: 07:00 – 22:00
Coffee: Rp30.000 (tax already included!)
WiFi: 12down/42up 

Parachute

Parachute Canggu ExteriorAnother cafe for the Instagram crowd (of which we are reluctantly members of), Parachute has gained a reputation due its incredibly photogenic canopy made out of an old Australian Army parachute. So is this place another triumph of style over substance? In many ways, yes.

Let’s start with the coffee. It’s excellent & one of the best we’ve had in Bali. They’re serving up coffee from 1/15, the Jakarta-based roaster and that place is still one of the best in Jakarta.Parachute Canggu CoffeeBut the food. This place is apparently run by a former 3 Michelin star chef. If that is true, I cannot for the life of me understand what is going on here with the food. It doesn’t make sense.

We ordered the pork belly on English muffin, but it was simply a bacon and egg McMuffin… you cannot describe it as pork belly. Just 2 strips of thin bacon. And the muffin was a little under done for our liking — it was quite dense and doughy. The taste was good, but it was extremely disappointing. (* on Instagram this dish seems to have large fluffy muffins, thick pieces of pork belly and a beautifully cooked egg. Compare the difference)Parachute Canggu Food Parachute Canggu InstagramThe coconut & granola parfait was equally disappointing with soggy granola on top from it sitting in the fridge for too long — the crunchy bits had soaked up all the moisture in the fridge. The flavours were ok.

The cream filled donut was very good and on a different level to the other 2 meals we had. So strange.Parachute Canggu InteriorMaybe we were unlucky and maybe lunch and dinner meals are better. But at this point in time, we just don’t buy the Instagram hype. Come for a coffee and perhaps a donut, but leave it at that.

Parachute
Jalan Subak Sari 13 No. 4-8, Canggu
Instagram: @parachutebali
Opening Hours: 08:00 – midnight
Coffee: Rp35.000 (add 15.5% tax)
WiFi: 11down/12up

Machinery

Machinery Canggu ExteriorLocated so far from the beach that few people think to visit, Machinery is a quiet cafe which attracts a few people with laptops and not much else.Machinery Canggu CoffeeTables here are perfect for setting up a laptop on and the WiFi is reasonably fast. Coffee prices here are around average and the quality is good.Machinery Canggu FoodWe also checked out a pork wrap which hit the spot nicely. What we really liked about this place is that it wasn’t trying to be the next Instagram sensation and not trying to be a one hit wonder like many cafes in Canggu. This place has substance and does good coffee, tasty food, is unpretentious and isn’t likely to win any Instagram awards. Hoo-fucking-ray!Machinery Canggu Interior

Machinery
Jalan Pantai Batu Bolong 35, Canggu
Instagram: @machinerycafebali
Opening Hours: 07:30 – 20:00
Coffee: Rp32.000 (no added tax!)
WiFi: 14down/11up (bunch of people with laptops in cafe)

Nüde

Nude Canggu ExteriorThis large cafe is extremely popular with a large outdoor seating perfect for the masses as they chow down on fantastic gluten free options, big breakfasts, burgers and bowls. It’s a pretty standard menu which tries for substance over style. In other words, don’t come here looking for the latest instagrammable dish — come here for flavour.Nude Canggu DrinksThe coffee I had here was mediocre and nothing compared to the best in Canggu. But if you’re looking to set up a laptop, there’s plenty of space and the internet is stable, but quite slow due to how many people are using it. So a coffee while surfing away on your laptop is not a bad thing despite the deficiencies in the coffee department.Nude Canggu FoodThe rosti stack was excellent and the rest of the menu looked equally appealing. It’s not instagrammable in the ultra-modern sense, but you can still get good photos without sacrificing flavour like you often have to do with good-looking food.

We’re fans of Nüde!

Nüde
Jalan Raya Pantai Berawa 33, Canggu
Instagram: @nudeincanggu
Opening Hours: 07:00 – 22:00
Coffee: Rp28.000 (add 15.5% tax)
WiFi: 2.3down/1.4up (full cafe)

Gypsy

Gypsy Canggu ExteriorGypsy is a little bit of an anomaly as far as cafes in this part of Canggu go. They shun style over substance and go all in on good food. And even though their focus is on taste, you can still get a few instagrams here.Gypsy Canggu FoodThe breakfast menu here is a bit light on options, but things really open up at 12 when a bunch of fantastic burgers and sandwiches are served. We tried the French toast, mille crepes and hash browns and were pleasantly surprised with how good they were.Gypsy Canggu BowlCoffee here is fantastic, the WiFi fast and there are a few places to work from. Because it’s a small cafe, it’s probably best to limit your time here on laptops anyway. One of our favourites in the Echo Beach area.Gypsy Canggu Coffee Gypsy Canggu Interior

Gypsy
Jalan Batu Mejan, Gang Catu 1, Canggu
Instagram: @wearegypsy
Opening Hours: 08:00 – 22:00
Coffee: Rp28.000 (add 15.5% tax)
WiFi: 25down/31up

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Bali

Babi Guling Pak Malen, Seminyak, Bali: A Great Place for Babi Guling in Seminyak

When in Bali, you absolutely have to try babi guling, the famous Balinese BBQ pork dish. But sometimes it’s difficult to find one close to where you’re staying. Babi Guling Pak Malen is not only close to Seminyak, it’s also super tasty.

I got a standard portion of Babi Guling and a fresh orange juice and the total of the bill came to Rp55.000.

The portion of pork is small. Really small. Especially when you compare it to many other places in Bali. So while the value for money is quite low here, the taste is great.

The crackling was super crispy with just a thin layer of fat, the scratchings were sinful and tasty, the sate spicy and tender and the flesh itself oh so moist.Babi Guling Pak Malen BaliI got my lawar medium spicy, but it nearly blew my head off. Soo spicy, but oh so delicious.

I think the orange juice I got with the babi guling was a perfect accompaniment. Fresh and icy cold, it went down a treat in the hot warung atmosphere.

And that brings us to the next point. The warung itself has no character. It’s hot. It’s often busy. And it’s really just functional. You come here, eat your pork, and leave. That’s it!

I really like this place because it’s well located on Sunset Road, the pork is really tasty and service is quick. The perfect place for babi guling when in Seminyak.

Warung Babi Guling Pak Malen
Jalan Sunset No.5, Seminyak
Babi Guling: Rp40.000
Orange Juice: Rp15.000

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Bali

Ippolito Specialty Coffee, Seminyak, Bali: Great Coffee and a Free Pool!

We arrived at Ippolito Specialty Coffee expecting the place to be packed like so many other good coffee shops in Seminyak. But what we saw was a place so empty that we thought it was closed when we arrived.

It’s one of the enduring paradoxes of Indonesian cafes. You can be good, but you’re not necessarily going to be popular and I see that a lot in Bandung.Cappuccino at Ippolito Specialty CoffeeA range of food and drinks is served here as well as fantastic coffee. I tried a cappuccino which in my opinion is as good as just about anywhere in Seminyak.

Although we haven’t tried the food, it does come recommended and the menu does look quite tempting.Interior Ippolito CoffeeThe building itself is very instagrammable. Lots of brick, wood, great furniture and walls filled with bottles of wine.

Outside you’ll find the pool area. THE POOL AREA! This area is free for customers of the cafe. So if you want somewhere to swim and eat, but don’t want to pay for a beach club, we think this is the next best thing.Free Swimming Pool at IppolitoThe pool is a thing of beauty and if you don’t get a good instagram shot here, you’re not trying!

We really like this cafe. It does have a bit of a restaurant feel and that’s probably what puts most people off. But don’t be put off. It’s perfectly fine to come here, grab a coffee and set up your laptop. And besides, the wifi is fast!

Ippolito Specialty Coffee
Jalan Lebak Sari, Petitenget, Seminyak
Opening Hours: 07:00 – 23:00
Cappuccino: Rp39.000++
Swimming Pool: FREE

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Bali

Corner House, Seminyak, Bali: Like a Phoenix Rising from the Ashes

In this very spot used to be a cafe called Corner Store — it burnt down a few years back. But like a phoenix rising from the ashes, Corner House makes an appearance and it’s very good.

Polished concrete floors, chipped white tiles on the walls reminiscent of an old butcher’s shop and a shaded outdoor area all combine to make this one of the better looking places in Seminyak.Coffee at Corner HouseCoffee here is by Revolver, so you know it’s going to be good. And I can confirm that the coffee does indeed live up to expectations.

The menu is quite extensive and I felt that I would be happy ordering any one of the items on it. In the end I got a ham and cheese toastie. And it was no more and no less than I expected. Lots of cheese, sufficient amounts of leg ham and a few bits of red onion. Definitely tasty and just what I needed for a snack.Ham and cheese Toastie at Corner HouseWifi here is fast and I was consistently getting 20mbit up and down, so it’s a good place to come if you need to do some data intensive stuff.

Interestingly, it wasn’t particularly busy when I was there. I put that down to there being so much competition these days.

Down this end of Seminyak, there seems to be fewer and fewer good cafes and this one certainly stands head and shoulder above the rest. The next really awesome place is probably down at Sisterfields or Revolver.

All in all a really good cafe on the Seminyak scene.

Corner House
Jalan Kayu Ayu (Laksamana) 10A, Seminyak
www.cornerhousebali.com
Opening Hours: setiap hari 07:00 – 23:00
Cappuccino: Rp34.500
Toastie: Rp57.500

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Bali

Crate Cafe, Batu Bolong, Bali: Too Cool for School or Am I Just Old?

Located in the up and coming area near Pantai Batu Bolong, Crate Cafe is a “too cool for school” cafe serving up a wide range of breakfast and brunch options such as bowls and toasts. Maybe I’m just old because I just don’t get it.

The cafe is bare in appearance with lots of concrete, white tiles and exposed steel beams. It’s a half-built building made into something modern and trendy.Crate Cafe CangguI have to mention the seats. They are crap. Really crap. The concrete benches are too tall and your legs just dangle without any support.

Customers here are your typical tattooed westerners riding big motorbikes, wearing oversized headphones and carrying 5 pounds of attitude. They’re not my people, but this crowd will suit some.Coffee at Crate CafeFood is all cheap by Bali standards with the maximum price being Rp50.000. And it’s a good selection of food too with lots of muesli, bowls, toast and omelettes on the menu.

My French toast was quite good, but far from perfect. Firstly, they’re using strawberries and we all know that strawberries in in Indonesia are hit and miss — usually miss. Today they were sour and pale. Why can’t they used fresh seasonal fruit such as mango, jackfruit, dragonfruit and papaya?French Toast with fruit CrateAdditionally, the egg wash didn’t soak into the bread at all and this made the bread very dry on the inside. The French toast comes in different configurations and both I tried were ok, but I don’t need to try them again.

I really hope I picked the wrong dishes because I want to like this place. But based on what I experienced, I can’t really recommend it.French Toast bacon at CrateSo what’s the verdict? Not bad, but not great either. If you can put up with some of the cheeky crowd and can manage to pick the right dish, you will probably like what’s on offer here.

Crate Cafe
Jalan Pantai Batu Bolong No.64, Canggu
Opening Hours: daily 07:00 – 15:00
Instagram: @cratecafe
Drinks: Rp25.000 – Rp35.000
Food: Rp40.000 – Rp50.000

Categories
Bali

12 Best Cafes in Seminyak: All of them are Fantastic!

During a recent trip to Bali, I decided to search for the best cafes in Seminyak by trying as many of the good ones as I could. I scoured blogs for recommendations, tripadvisor for advice and apps like foursquare for the low down. I even checked out tripcanvas and found that the recommendations were awful as the writers hadn’t even visited the places they were recommending. The information I found was a real mixed bag!

So after trying all of these cafes out personally, I came up with my list of the best cafes in the Seminyak area. I actually went a little further afield to Canggu and the road to Batu Bolong to make sure I got all the coffee shops and cafes covered.

So without further ado, here is my version of the best cafes in Seminyak.

Sisterfields

Pancake at Sisterfields BaliLocation: Jalan Kayu Cendana 7, Seminyak

Sisterfields wins the title of my favourite cafe in Seminyak. Easily. I didn’t want this to be the case when I first visited. Why? Because it was so busy and I had to line up to get inside. I didn’t want such a super popular place to be awesome. But it is. The crowds have chosen this cafe as their favourite and I agree with them.

All the dishes I’ve had here except one have been awesome. Really amazing. The coffee is also very good and I love the cups it’s served in. Service is attentive despite the crowds. It’s just between Seminyak Square and Grocer & Grind. Go here.

Baby Revolver

Coffee at Baby RevolverLocation: Jalan Kayu Aya / Gang 51, Seminyak

This is actually a fantastic cafe located on Jalan Petitenget. The coffee is awesome, the location itself is tiny and the staff are friendly. It’s the sort of place you come to down a quick coffee on your morning walk/run around Seminyak.

It’s not a place to come with a big group or if you’re after a proper meal. A biscuits and pastries is all you’ll find here.

Milk & Madu

Coffee at Milk and MaduLocation: Jalan Raya Pantai Berawa No.52, Tibubeneng, Kuta Utara

Milk & Madu is a bit out of Seminyak in Canggu, but it’s worth a trip if you want great food, good coffee and a relaxing semi-outdoor environment. What’s more, there’s a large grass area for kids to play on and because the pavilion is open-sided, people don’t get so annoyed with kids shouting and running amok.

Get here and back with an Uber. Even though there is a local taxi mafia in place, you can get around this if you’re a stealth uber rider.

The Fat Turtle

Red Velvet Pancakes Fat TurtleLocation: Jalan Petitenget 886A, Seminyak

The Fat Turtle is another Jalan Petitenget number. Before entering, I was a bit worried it was going to be hopeless. But the food here was good (good range of standard cafe fare & the red velvet pancakes were delicious) as was the coffee and it was consistently full with customers. It’s not going to win any awards for best cafe, but I reckon it’s pretty damn good.

What I really like about it is that it’s unpretentious. Good food without the attitude of many other places around Seminyak and Canggu. This place will appeal to a lot of people.

Pison

Drinks at Pison CoffeeLocation: Jalan Petitenget 8A, Seminyak

I love the name of this coffee shop/cafe. I especially like saying it in an Indonesian accent. Makes me feel like an Aussie. The name aside, the cafe really does a fantastic job of the food it delivers. I thought the burger was a good one and the coffees I had here were all very good. One time when I visited, it got a little crowded for my liking. But at other times it was quite quiet… I guess it depends on the time of day and the time of year you visit.

It’s located up the Canggu end of Seminyak, but still well within the Seminyak area. You can walk here easily from Seminyak Square if you enjoy walking. Otherwise jump in a bluebird and paying about 7000 rupes.

Sea Circus

Location: Jalan Kayu Aya 22, Seminyak

If you’ve been to Seminyak before, you’ve almost certainly been to Sea Circus before. It was one of the earlier trendy cafes and ever since this time they have been bang on with food and coffee. The cafe feels like a mythical beach shack that exists only in people’s dreams and that’s not a bad thing.

Staff are pretty good and their menu seems to have maintained its modern feel over the past 7 or so years. In fact, this place remains one of my go to places because it’s so central to everything in Seminyak. 10 minute walk from Seminyak square down a couple of alleys.

Peloton Super Shop

Smoothie Bowl Bikers BowlLocation: Jalan Raya Pantai Berawa no. 46, Canggu

If you’re vegan, this is probably the best place in the world for you. Located right out in the Canggu area, you must visit this vegan cafe. Lots of soy products, no real milk, no meat lots of bowls. You know the deal. I wasn’t so enamoured with the place because I had my heart set on an bacon & egg roll, but I get it. I get that this cafe is heaven for vegans.

And even if you’re not vegan and just don’t fancy meat or dairy, this place is a winner. A seriously good cafe on the Bali scene.

Nook

Ricefield view Nook UmalasLocation: Jalan Umalas 1, Gang Nook 1, Kerobokan

A lot of you already know about Nook. It was all the rage back in 2011/12 when it opened because it had these great ricefield views and it was fairly low key. If you haven’t been there in a few years, don’t go back. It’s been expanded enormously and the ricefield has started to be built over.

But I’ve still included it on my list of best Seminyak cafes because if you haven’t been here yet, you might just love this place! The food is still good as is the coffee. It’s just that it doesn’t have the same feel for me as it did years ago, but without that comparison, it’s still a decent cafe in Seminyak. Even though it’s technically just outside of Seminyak in either Kerobokan or Umalas, depending on who you speak to.

Grain Cafe

Steak Sandwich Grain CafeLocation: Jalan Seminyak 16B, Seminyak

Grain Cafe is a good place to come for coffee and a bite to eat. It has the feel of a cafe in Inner Western Sydney circa 2010. And that’s not a terrible thing. It just means that the food and coffee is good, the fitout is not ultra-modern and it’s not a place to be snapping Instagrams.

But if you’re not into the world of Instagram, ultra modern cafes and all the fuss that goes along with them, you’re going to love Grain. Good cafe food at the Legian end of Seminyak, just north of Double Six and not far from the Haven.

Crate Cafe

Crate Cafe CangguLocation: Jalan Pantai Batu Bolong No.64, Canggu

I’m torn with Crate Cafe. It was packed when I was there and people seemed to love it. I’d already read a few rave reviews. But the food I was dished up was sub-par. And the fitout was trying to be cool by being minimalist, but it didn’t work for me. I felt like an old man when the backs of my thighs started aching as they were dangling off the super high concrete bench.

Coffee was good, crowd age average about 22, favourite past time = surfing. Try it out if you’re on your way to Batu Bolong. Maybe not worth a visit if you’re basing yourself in central Seminyak. But then again, it might also depend on how old you are.

Corner House

Location: Jalan Kayu Ayu (Laksamana) 10A, Seminyak

There used to be a cafe here back in the day which was ultra modern for the time. Tuckshop/Corner Store burned down years ago and Corner House rose from its ashes. Corner House is much more modern, has much nice food and is just a fantastic cafe on the Seminyak scene.

I was surprised that it wasn’t so busy, but maybe because the centre of Seminyak now seems to be closer towards Kerobokan rather than this end which closer to Sunset Road.

Ippolito Specialty Coffee

Location: Jalan Lebak Sari, Petitenget, Seminyak

This is an odd spot. I understand why there was only one other customer when I was there. It looks like a wine bar crossed with a hotel. But the coffee here is very good, the lounges are relaxing to chill out on and the free pool out the back is awesome. Bring your bikini and towel because you might just want to take a dip after you’ve polished off your coffee.

Maybe not either. If you’re into coffee or just want to try as many different coffee shops as possible in Seminyak, come here. It’s weird, but it’s good.

So there you have it. My version of the best cafes in Seminyak right now. Of course new places open up and old places close. But I reckon this is going to be a good list at least for a few years to come. Let me know what your favourite Seminyak cafe is!

Categories
Bali

Grain Cafe, Seminyak, Bali: Aussie Cafe in the Heart of Seminyak

Most of the good cafes these days are either in the far end or Seminyak towards Canggu or in Canggu itself. Grain is an exception as it’s located at the Legian end of Seminyak.

Many of the cafes in Bali are ultra modern and perhaps too over the top modern for some people. If you’re not into the really modern cafes, but still appreciate great food and drink, Grain is for you.Lower Floor Grain CafeLocated not far from Jalan Double Six, it’s quite close to hotels such as The Haven which will be convenient for most people.

We tried pasta and a steak sandwich and both were quite good, but nothing out of this world. In other words, we’d be happy to come here for a meal again, but don’t expect something which is going to blow your mind. And that’s ok. Comfort food done well.Steak Sandwich Grain CafeCoffee here has a good reputation and our friend had a cappuccino which he said was a good one. It certainly looked good!Coffee at Grain CafeThe fitout of the cafe is quite modern and enjoyable to sit in while you surf the wifi. And the wifi is very fast at 25mbit both upload and download.Upper Floor Grain CafeSo what’s our overall view? An enjoyable place for breakfast lunch or dinner in a pleasant environment. Centrally located and fast wifi. Worth a try.

Grain
Jalan Seminyak 16B, Seminyak
(0361) 730 528
www.grainbali.com
Instagram: @grainbali
Opening Hours: 07:30 – 22:00
Steak Sandwich: Rp95.000++
Spaghetti asparagus: Rp78.000++
Smoothies: Rp39.000++
Cappuccino: Rp30.000++

Categories
Bali

Sisterfields, Seminyak: One of my favourite cafes in Bali

Sisterfields is possibly the most popular cafe in all of Seminyak and after you’ve eaten there, you’ll know why.

We’ve been to Sisterfields numerous times over the years and there is a lot to like about it, but not everything is perfect in this hipster haven near Seminyak Square.Sisterfields when it's busyWe recently ordered coffees juices and 4 big dishes. 3 of the dishes were top notch, one of the dishes was poor. So what’s going on?

The egg and bacon baguette was filled to the brim with bacon and fried onion bits and was tasty and generous.Roast Beef Charcoal RollThe roast beef roll was a revelation coming with a pot of luscious gravy and a slathering of mild wasabi. Such a fantastic combination executed beautifully at Sisterfields.French Toast at Sisterfields BaliFrench toast is often disappointing, but at Sisterfields you get one single slice of toast with an awesome quinelle of ice cream and lots of matcha custard. We love this dish!Pancake at Sisterfields BaliThe single dish we hated was the pancake. The pancake actually looks the best, but it was dry and stodgy with no moisture at all. Your mouth instantly becomes clammy and dry. Such an unpleasant experience. What’s more, there seemed to be a lack of sweetness throughout the dish despite a generous amount of berries. It’s almost as if a sauce or syrup was accidentally left off. What’s going on there?Coffee and drinks at SisterfieldsCoffee at Sisterfields is top notch and one of our favourites in Bali. We especially love the texture of the cups the coffee served is in.Expat Coffee next to SisterfieldsWe love Sisterfields and it seems that everyone else does too. At peaks time you’ll wait 20 minutes for a seat in the cafe next door. A highly recommended cafe in Bali despite a few missteps.

Sisterfields
Jalan Kayu Cendana 7, Seminyak
hello@sisterfieldsbali.com
sisterfieldsbali.com
Instagram: @sisterfields
Opening Hours: setiap hari 07:00-17:00
Coffee: Rp35.000++
Mixed Juice: Rp46.000++
Brioche French Toast: Rp95.000++
Warm Roast Beef Charcoal Roll: Rp150.000++

Categories
Bali

Nook, Umalas, Seminyak, Bali

Nook is one of the trendiest cafes in the Seminyak area despite it having already been on the scene for years. A combination of good food and ricefield views insures happy customers.

The building is a light and breezy thing perched right on the edge of one of the last large rice fields in the area. And the ricefield is slowly being eaten away by the rampant development which characterised the rest of the south of Bali.Comfy environment NookWith that in mind, come here before even more of the ricefield disappears.

The menu at Nook is a cross between European and Indonesian and there is generally something here for everyone. We’ve had a range of dishes over the years and everything has been good, but not so spectacular that you’d come here just for the food.bottled juice at NookWe are super disappointed with their cold-pressed juices as they are bought from outside and not juiced in house. Why on earth would we come to a cafe and pay Rp50.000++ when they simply buy their juices from some other place? So so disappointing. For us, it’s enough for us to never come back.Nook Umalas BaliAnd it’s this sort of disappointment that we fear may seep into other parts of the business. But we just can’t know unless we try everything.

Nook is a great place to come and hang out on a hot afternoon, but don’t come here expecting culinary heaven. The food we’ve tried is quite good and the view is still ok. And let’s face it, most people do love Nook!Inside NookRecommended for photos and the relaxing atmosphere.

Nook
Jalan Umalas 1, Gang Nook 1, Kerobokan
(0361) 847 5625
Instagram: @nook_bali
Opening Hours: setiap hari 08:00 – 23:00
Rueben sandwich: Rp79.000++
Nasi Goreng: Rp48.000++
Cold pressed juice: Rp50.000++
Cappuccino: Rp28.000++

Categories
Bali

Peloton Super Shop, Canggu, Bali: Vegan Heaven Close to Seminyak

Located on Jalan Raya Pantai Berawa in an up and coming area of south Bali, Peloton Super Shop is a bicycle themed cafe serving vegan food.

And if vegan food puts you off, please don’t let that stop you from coming here as the food here is delicious.From Above Peloton Supershop Canggu BaliThe design of the of the cafe is modern and comes with a bunch of funky bikes hanging on the wall.Inside Peloton Supershop CangguWe ordered a few dishes and really like the smoothie bowl. Smoothie bowls can take some getting used to if you’re into super sweet breakfasts as often smoothie bowls lack sweetness.Smoothie Bowl Bikers BowlAnd the smoothie bowl at Peloton is just fruit and grains with no added sugar. Ours was mainly filled with sweet fruits and the lack of added sugar was not a problem at all. It was a seriously tasty smoothie bowl.Coffee at Peloton Supershop CangguCoffees here don’t come with milk. There is no milk in this cafe. Your only options are things like almond or soy in order to get your drink how you like it. But if you’re dairy intolerant, you will love the dairy free nature of this place.

My coffee was really strong and bitter and I didn’t like it. I even added sugar to it for the first time in months.Top Floor Peloton SupershopPrices here are slightly lower than similar standard cafes in Bali and we love that.

So what do we think about this place? Well, we’re not vegan, so we prefer our food to be full of animal fat and sugar. And this cafe doesn’t offer that. But if you love vegan food, this is one of the best out there. We are sure you’ll love it.Open Area Peloton Supershop CangguIf you’re not vegan, there are better cafes in the area.

Peloton Supershop
Jalan Raya Pantai Berawa no. 46, Canggu
www.pelotonsupershop.com
Instagram: @pelotonsupershop
Opening Hours: setiap hari (Juice Bar 07:30 – 16:30, Kitchen 08:00-16:00)
Biker bowl: Rp55.000++
Coffee: Rp27.000++