Want to know what's hot in Bali right now? Here are our fave new openings, hot destinations and must-do Bali bucketlist ideas.
It’s time again to share a new edit of the fabulous things to do in Bali right now – the things our Honeycombers editors are loving the most. You see, before the ink has even dried on our Hot New Tables round ups or top picks for Bali’s best beach clubs, new oooh-aaah places pop up faster than the mojitos go down. And with so much to see and do across all of Bali’s neighbourhoods, you’ll certainly want to take note and linger a little longer at these so-hot-right-now recommendations. So settle in and prepare to swoon – here’s what we’re loving in Bali right now.
This new VIP venue in Canggu
You’ll want to dig out your finest designer bikini for this one, because Finns VIP Beach Club is the brand new celeb-style venue from Finns Beach Club, and we’re totally hooked A sleek and elite sunshine destination that’s dedicated to treating you like the superstar that you are (sunglass-cleaning services and complimentary sunscreen included!) Finns VIP Beach Club sits right next door to the Finns Beach Club OG. It’s the first of its kind on the island, complete with five-star facilities wrapped up in island-chic aesthetics that sprawl across acres of manicured estate. Like a tropical Utopia that blends the glitz and glam of St Tropez or Santorini, this new Bali beach club is in a class all of its own.
These life-saving hair treatments
Soaking up the sun and sea in paradise does wonders for our soul, but it’s a tangly, split-endy nightmare for our tresses (#islandlife). Luckily for our locks, Spring Spa (one of our absolute FAVE spa names) is a go-to spot for detoxing your hair with its rescue remedies and restorative treatments. Not only is this social sanctuary the place to touch up your tootsies, hydrate your sun-soaked skin and banish any bad, wrinkly vibes (all the while being serenaded by an in-spa DJ with mocktails and cold coconuts) Spring Spa’s three island locations are currently saving lives with these 5 SOS hair treatments.
This international music fest
W Hotels has just added another mic-drop moment to its list of superlative successes, because this worldwide brand has recently rolled out WAKE UP CALL – the world’s first ever hotel music festival that’s embarking on a global tour like no other – and it’s making a stop at W Bali – Seminyak! With just three dates on the calendar at three top travel destinations around the world, Bali has made the cut and WAKE UP CALL will be touching down in paradise from the 4th – 6th October 2018. As the final stop on the global tour, the multi-day Bali fest will see headliners like Tove Lo, Angus & Julia Stone, Sam Feldt and Nightmares on Wax (and more to be announced!). This is one W Bali party you won’t wanna miss – get your tickets here!
This fine-dining game changer
Think of classic fine dining cuisine, and no doubt visions of velvety foie gras and meaty hunks of Wagyu tenderloin spring to mind – maybe even snail porridge if you’re really adventurous. But the times are indeed a changing, because the menu at Padi Fine Dining comes sans meat, serving up a pesco-vegetarian feast with a focus on fresh produce from both garden and sea. Carnivores, don’t look away just yet, because what Padi Fine Dining lacks in rumps and ribeyes, it makes up for in some of the most stunningly delicious avante-garde cuisine around. It’s the most recent work of celeb Indonesian chef Mandif Warokka, located at the stunning Desa Visesa Ubud, so you know you’re in the best hands here…
These dreamy weekend escapes to Uluwatu
Far removed from the frenetic buzz of Seminyak, the pace of life on Bali’s Bukit peninsula is slow and steady – easy like a Sunday morning by the sea. Quieter roads, a blossoming restaurant scene and a stack of stunning beaches mean that spending at least a few nights down here is a must. Luckily, there are plenty of places to crash, whether you’re after cliff top splendour, a shabby chic bohemian villa or cheap ’n’ cheerful homestay pads. Check out our top picks of where to stay in Uluwatu – the best places to rest those sandy feet and salt-tangled locks in Padang Padang, Bingin, Balangan & beyond.
The scrummy mix of restaurants in Ubud
It’s no secret that Ubud is home to some of Bali’s very best restaurants. It’s where you’ll find two of Indonesia’s most award-winning fine-diners, as well as Bali’s most famous Bagi Guling warung. From one end of the spectrum to the other, Ubud’s food scene is as diverse as its verdant, jungle-covered landscapes. So take a break from the temples, the boutique shopping and the bucket list adventures for a moment, because you’ll want a taste of these 50 best restaurants in Ubud. From gourmet to gastro, vegan to carnivorous, this fascinating neighbourhood has it all – no matter your budget or foodie fancy.
This beachfront resort in Seminyak
Honestly, we could wax lyrical for days on end about why Alila Seminyak is one of our fave beachfront resorts in Bali. Besides the fact it’s a five-star sanctuary of all things fabulous, this resort is sooo much more than “just” a luxury hotel. Glamorous, chic and oh-so sophisticated, Alila Seminyak is a haven of breathtaking architecture, the most divine food, a world-class spa and endless beachfront opportunities for your holiday necessities. And to really up the tropical ante, there’s not one, but five different infinity pools here, set across multiple tiers for next-level wow-factor. Insert happy, five-star relaxed *sigh* here. Here are 6 fabulous things happening right now at this forever-fave resort.
This new Bali beach club
Picture this. Palm trees are swaying, piña coladas are flowing and a flamingo-print shirt is bouncing from pool, to beach, to the bar and back again. Coconut oil is melting in the sun, shellfish is sizzling on an open fire and the sounds of splashing, chatting and toes tapping reverberate against the sea. This is Tropicola, the utopian beachfront invention from the unstoppable squad that gave us Motel Mexicola… Yup, this is one Bali beach club that you need to know about!
The ever-growing Canggu cafe culture
We’ve already put together our list of the best restaurants in Canggu, but how about the Canggu cafes and coffee shops that this boho beach neighbourhood is so famous for? There are some of Bali’s best brews, vegan nosh and gourmet brunches right here, dotted throughout Batu Bolong, Berawa and beyond. So settle in for a long and lazy morning (that could easily last until late arvo) and fill up on Bali’s best bites before hitting the beach, spa or Canggu’s best bars.
These breathtaking infinity pools
There really is nothing quite as breathtaking as that first glimpse of a glittering infinity pool. That double-take moment where you have to squint and check that the sky hasn’t actually melted into a horizon of aquamarine ripples. Well, we’ve dipped and dunked our way through Bali’s very best watering holes (this time we’re talking swimming pools, not bars!) from cliff-edge designer villas with gravity-defying masterpieces, to tropical rainforest retreats with an infinite jungle oasis. Check them all out here: the island’s finest infinity pools that’ll take your breath away, every damn time.
This new all-day destination in Seminyak
A glorious mishmash of good food, great cocktails, a killer bill of music and beachside vibes aplenty, SugarSand is an all-new, all-day lifestyle destination by the Seminyak beachfront. Not a beach club, not just a bar, and sooo much more than “just” a restaurant by the coast, this all-day spot has a healthy dose of it all – and then some. It’s set across two-levels with unobstructed ocean views, poolside daybeds, a toes-in-the-sand beach bar and a seaside terrace serving coastal bites and cocktails. There’s even an open-air rooftop lounge for those nightly sundowners, so you’ll want to settle in for the long haul here…
Happy island-hopping Honeys!
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