The Bohemian

Worth getting out of bed for

Once a relatively undeveloped coastal village in quiet contrast to nearby Seminyak and known only outside Bali to surfers, Canggu has been growing (in appeal and development) over the past decade or so: although still a coastal village – with a laid-back atmosphere and enough surf-lapped sandy beaches for all – its choice of bars, restaurants and upscale stays testifies to its popularity as a south-coast seductress – and a stay at the Bohemian puts you in pole position to enjoy the fruits of this evolution. Barley-sand beaches include Canggu and Echo Beach; Batu Bolong and Berawa have the most beginner-friendly breaks if you want to try surfing. If you prefer service and sustenance with your sunlounger, beach clubs such as Finns, Atlas Beach Fest and La Brisa are open to day guests. And where there are surfers, yoga is sure to follow, as Canggu’s abundance of yoga studios suggests – among them, the Practice, Ecosfera, Serenity and Samadi. Beyond the in-suite therapies the hotel is happy to arrange, stellar spas on your doorstep include Gold Dust, Spring, Amo and Espace Canggu. Art lovers in search of souvenir finds will want to check out local galleries including the exhibition space at Crate café and gallery, Sound Vision Library by Rostarr in Jalan Batu Mejan, as well as long-established Nyaman gallery in Seminyak. Tick a canter in the surf off your bucket list with horse riding along the beach. For a leisurely foray into the serene countryside, the Bohemian can arrange Vespa scooter hire (exclusively for suite guests) or chauffeured car hire, which you can put to good use touring the rice paddies around Seseh and Pererenan.

Local restaurants

At Mason in Canggu, there’s a lot vying for your attention: a fairy-lit terrace, a busy open kitchen of chefs tending to wood-fired prime cuts and succulent, seared seafood and a sesh-worthy cocktail list – not to mention an entire menu section devoted to pickles, cheese and cured meats. Overlooking Echo Beach, La Brisa (meaning sea breeze) is a terraced restaurant made from reclaimed fishing-boat timber, shaded by swaying palms, and open from breakfast until late. Its broad menu includes heavyweights such as slow-cooked lamb shoulder and pan-seared fillet of barramundi, but it’s in light plates – salads, pizza fine, picnic boards of cured meats and artisan cheeses – that this beach-club-style restaurant excels. Sunday’s weekly food market brings a throng of stallholders and hungry shoppers, so if you’re thinking of Sunday brunch, make sure you book ahead. Aficionados of the poke bowl should make a beeline for Moana, a thatch-roofed Polynesian restaurant specialising in fish, where the sashimi and tartare are as prettily plated as they are fresh.

Local cafés

Book a table for weekend brunch at Sensorium Bali – a light-filled, pale-tabled café-restaurant where the menu is Australian-meets-Asian and the coffee and pastries are as good as the ramen, eggs and quesadillas. Restaurant, deli and gelateria Cibo! serves casual Italian fare prepared on the premises using seasonal ingredients: handmade pasta, pillowy focaccia, flavoursome cold cuts and artisanal gelato are masterminded by Italian head chef Diego and team. 

Local bars

Craft cocktails and Asian/Japanese small plates come together at Club Soda – the Canggu outpost of popular Ubud restaurant Locavore. Open from 12 noon until 10pm daily, beach club Café del Mar brings a slice of Ibiza to the Canggu coast with cocktails and DJ sets washed down with sea views.