Seminyak and Kuta step aside — Bali’s latest hotspot, Canggu wins the popularity contest with its swell surf, yoga and cafes to excite even the most hard-to-please backpacker.
I am lucky to have two weeks to slow down and “jalan jalan” (loosely translated to: walking around town in a relaxed mood), and I have been to over 10 cafes! Here are my top 5 picks.
Shady Shack
Overlooking a little patch of padi field, Shady Shack is thankfully, not one of the many cafes crammed into the main street of Canggu. It is still an easy walk from anywhere in town, tucked in a smaller serene street accessible by foot or scooter. Shady Shack is where you get the surfer vibes of Canggu without the loud touristy crowd and pumping music. The avocado toast is one of the best I’ve had – I credit that to the assortment of exotic seeds and spices sprinkled over the eggs. Brilliant twist of crunch and flavours! Chai latte, however, was mildly disappointing. Try the other beverages and let me know a better alternative when you do!
Opens daily, 730am to 1030pm
Address: Jl. Tanah Barak No.57, Canggu, Kec. Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80351, Indonesia
Garden Gangstas, Cafe Organic
The food at Garden Gangstas is one of the best brunches I’ve had in Bali! Garden Gangstas is one of the many cafes squeezed onto Batu Bolong street. I was there with a friend who highly recommends the place for its food. The cafe is lovely, designed to feel like a garden inside. Despite sitting on a noisy road, Garden Gangstas feels like a retreat when you enter. Filled with plants (there was a baby pineapple on every table!) and chillout vibes. We had the Breakfast Criminal (poached egg switched to scrambled as requested), fries, and caramelised french toast with a full stick of ice cream on top. DIVINE! Nobody does burnt sugar bananas like Bali does. The coffee here is however weak and you might want to ask for double shot for your future order 🙂
Opens daily, 7am to 6pm
Address: Jl. Petitenget No.98, Kerobokan Kelod, Kec. Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia
Plant Cartel
Plant based fast food. Mmm, will it be as good as Impossible Foods? I wondered and so decided to give Plant Cartel a shot. Verdict? Impossible burgers – take a leaf. This place serves up the real fast food tasting burgers that taste like the real deal, without having to break the bank. It has a wide variety, making it so fun to eat plants! Being an occasional meat eater and ex- fast food addict, I am completely blown away by their chicken burger. The bun is soft, the slaw’s of the right crunch and freshness, and the fried chicken is savoury, juicy and tender. In my confusion as to whether they did serve me a vegetarian burger, I asked the staff and they revealed that it is mushroom that they used in the patty. An absolute must-try in Canggu! Fries are a tad bit over salted but alright if shared.
Opens Sun to Tue 8am – 10pm, Wed to Sat 8am – 12 midnight
Address: 83A Batu Bolong Canggu, North Kuta, Badung Regency, Bali, Indonesia
Canteen Coffee
The place where surfers hang, Canteen Coffee is no fuss and all chill, tolerating none of the cafe culture pink fluff. The walls are black, the sun floods in, and there’s good pumping music going all day long. I marvel at the best coffee I had in Canggu so far. Here they take their coffees seriously. Finally when I order a flat white, I get a flat white (and not some over-frothed cappuccino or a diluted latte). They have a couple of breakfast sets and I chose the pancake. At just around S$8, the set serves up a thick fluffy pancake with fresh strawberries, a bowl of Bali’s fresh fruit produce such as dragonfruit and papaya, and a strong legit cup of coffee. Come here for no-fail breakfast satisfaction!
Opens daily, 7am to 5pm
Address: 80361, Jl. Batu Mejan No.33, Canggu, Kec. Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia
Samadi Bali
Yogis, make this your hood! A full vegetarian menu that is possibly inspired by the Middle Eastern and Indian cuisines. A yoga studio within the compound. Guest lectures by yogic academics. Sunday organic market. Puppies. Golden milk lattes. Canggu is made better by the existence of Samadi Bali! The place is buzzing with luminous energy – calm and energising. The food tastes fresh, and as pictured above, served in huge portions. Samadi Bali is quite a distance from central Canggu thus giving it its tranquil, yogic (less surf) vibes. You may take a 15 minutes’ stroll here as I’ve seen many couples do so, or hop on a scooter and arrive in 5 minutes. Check out their yoga schedule and pop in a class before meal to make the healthy calories count.
Opens Mon to Sat 7am – 9pm, Sun 8am – 9pm
Address: Jl. Padang Linjong No.39, Canggu, Kec. Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia