The Ultimate Guide To Canggu, Bali: Where To Eat, Stay & Play

The island of Bali, Indonesia has always been the most popular destination for Australian tourists and that’s unlikely to change anytime soon. Many joke that the Indonesian island is pretty much an unofficial part of Australia and while tourism has had both good and bad effects in Bali, it’s hard to deny just how strong the connection is between the Island of Gods and the holidaying Aussie.

With Aussies regularly flying to Bali year-round, we thought it’d be a good time to put together our very own travel guide to one of the most popular areas of Bali, Canggu.

Canggu is that sweet spot that pulls on the vibrancy of Seminyak but still holds onto parts of traditional Balinese culture that at times feel like Ubud or Uluwatu. There’s a strong wellness scene, a genuinely impressive hospitality culture and some of the best villas you’ll find on the entire island. That’s more than enough for us to consider Canggu as one of our favourite spots in Bali and one of the only overly touristed spots that we can tolerate.

Below you’ll find plenty of suggestions on what to do in Canggu, where to eat and drink, as well as where to sleep.

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Where Is Canggu?

Canggu (pronounced “chan-goo”) is a small coastal village on the Indonesian island of Bali, primarily comprised of three areas – Berawa Beach, Batu Bolong and Echo Beach. All of these areas are connected to the main strip of Jalan Raya Canggu that runs northeast through to the seaside village of Seseh.

Three main streets – Jalan Pantai Batu Bolong, Jalan Pantai Berawa and Jalan Padang Linjong – comprise Canggu and it’s on these strips that you’ll find most of the action, including modern wine and cocktail bars, traditional warungs, cafes, restaurants, beach clubs and some of the best Airbnb villas in Bali.

You’ve got the metropolitan area of Seminyak about a 20-minute drive from Canggu while you also have easy access to Pererenan, which is a relatively quiet seaside area that’s often been called the “new Canggu” by Bali veterans.

In short, it’s one of the most convenient and exciting places to stay in Bali, offering a good balance between contemporary establishments, everyday Balinese life and water sports.

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What You Need To Know About Canggu

Distance From Ngurah Rai International Airport: 18 km
Bali Population: ~4.47 million (2023)
Best Way To Get Around: Gojek

Hipsters, ex-pats and surfers. In the past few years, Canggu has been built up as one of the more creative, exciting areas of Bali, taking a bit of shine off of nearby Seminyak with plenty of things to do for younger crowds who want to do very little but party, eat, shop and swim.

And that makes Canggu a perfect spot for travelling Aussies who are heading to Bali in a group, whether it’s for a boys’ trip, a hen’s weekend or just a couple of mates who want to get away from the daily grind. The general vibe is beach-by-day, and bar-by-night, which gives Canggu a consistent buzz seven days a week. You’ll usually see just about every beach club, restaurant and cocktail bar packed after sunset, with locals and visitors hitting Echo Beach or relaxing at their quintessential Bali villa during the day.

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Best Places To Stay in Canggu

Towards the tail-end of 2022, the Boss Hunting team decided to move office for a week and work from Bali. Villa Mana was our base and our little slice of paradise in Canggu. That’s not hyperbole either; it really is paradise out there and as soon as I walked in this massive private property felt like somewhere that’d be leased for a reality TV show.

A private chef was onsite to prepare epic feasts every day and there was a cosy media room with a pool table, PlayStation and a wide variety of books. We each had our own bedroom too, given there are seven of them with all but two having their own open-air en-suite bathroom.

Throw in a few little private nooks, an expansive view over working rice paddies and a lush 17-metre pool and you’ve got an excellent idea for any big groups looking to base themselves in Canggu for a few days.

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Penthouses with rooftop pools and private butler services? High-end hotels have to do a lot to win people over from those lavish Balinese villas and COMO Uma Canggu has more than enough going for it to stand out on the scene.

As the only big-name luxury resort in the area, COMO fashioned itself as a wellness retreat and surf school just a short walk from Echo Beach. The chic beachfront property is popular as a yoga retreat and aligns well with other COMO properties around the world with a major focus on restoration and premium spa treatments.

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Travel influencers Lauren Bullen (@Gypsea_lust) and Jack Morris (@JackMorris) run this magnificent four-bedroom village which, like many places in Canggu, watches over working rice paddies and offers a luxurious base for anyone who wants to explore Bali.

While Villa Mana above turns it on for bigger groups, Nanuku House keeps it nice and intimate, although if you wanted to you could fit around eight people in here. It’s most popular for its lavish private rooftop sauna and cold water bath, but the location also makes Nanuku House an easy pick for anyone looking to make the most of Canggu’s storied nightlife.

You’ll also get a villa manager who can arrange on-site massages and private chefs should you wish, as well as a driver so you won’t have to contend with the unpredictability of Gojek or Bali’s notoriously unreliable taxi industry.

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The Slow, like many Canggu developments, was masterminded by an Aussie. George Gorrow, the co-founder of Ksubi, is responsible for this minimalist project, which combines comfortable suites with a central kitchen and bar.

Design tends to flit between Bali-appropriate tropical aesthetics and brutalism, presenting 12 highly attractive concrete-cast suites – four of which have private plunge pools. It’s as low-key and unassuming as you’d want from a reasonably private property in Canggu, whispering away from the hipster crowd and acting as a bit of a sanctuary for digital nomads passing through.

Consider it a smart choice if you’re travelling with just one other and you want to base yourself somewhere that’s a bit less connected to the exhausting bustle of Canggu’s main strips.

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Just a two-minute walk from the quieter vibe of Nelayan Beach, ZIN Canggu is one of the better picks if you’re looking for some reasonably affordable yet comfortable accommodation in the area. The boutique hotel only has 36 rooms so there’s a great deal of privacy on-site.

As far as room type goes, I’d say go for the teak private pool villas if the budget allows for it. The stunning Balinese design is geared towards relaxation. The island’s obsession with wellness escapes has obviously informed the aesthetic, so it looks like your own private sanctuary when you’re not hanging out at the ZIN cafe or the large fitness studio.

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With five very distinct dining spaces and colourful traditional Indonesian designs, Hotel Tugu is rightfully considered a local institution for Canggu. While modern resorts have popped up with plenty of competition, this long-standing hotel was actually the area’s first and is the elder statesman of Bali’s beachside hospitality scene.

That much would be obvious as soon as you stepped into the lobby, which presents a 4.5-metre statue of Garuda hand-carved from a 120-year-old tree trunk, used commonly as part of traditional performances. Then you’d notice how each suite, housed in thatched roof buildings with 18th-century beds, moves away from the relentlessly modern and minimalist interpretations of Balinese design. There’s no mistaking this hotel for anything but the grande dame of Caangu.

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Best Beach Clubs In Caangu

Pro surfer Thai Buddha opened The Lawn a few years ago and has since watched it become one of the defining beach clubs of Canggu. Situated directly on the beach, the very open, very relaxed beach club is usually quieter than some of the nearby establishments, geared towards a relaxed drink in paradise with shared-style food and classic cocktails.

I didn’t like the cocktails here but the venue above The Lawn, Skool Kitchen, is much better if you want some great international cuisine and some well-made drinks.

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Old Man’s is a bit rowdier when it comes to Canggu beach clubs so you’ll find that most tourists would end up here towards the later hours of the evening. Open until 1 AM each and every night, it’s fashioned as one of Bali’s biggest beach bars and usually attracts international talent eager to showcase their latest sets to party-minded ex-pats.

I can’t speak to the food, but the drinks here are usually nice, cheap and consistent.

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Finn’s is one of the most recognised beach clubs in Bali and has the quintessential pool party vibe most visitors would expect from a week in Bali. You’ll end up here at some point, whether you want to or not, so it’s best to check and see if any big-name acts are playing and timing it right.

Some Bali veterans shy away from Finn’s in favour of calmer beach clubs like La Brisa and The Lawn. And while the place can feel too touristy at times, this spot definitely serves its purpose for those who want to make an entire day of it.

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La Brisa is typically an older crowd, located on the foreshore of Echo Beach with a nice spread of bean bags for those cosying up before sunset. Design plays a major part here from old fishing nets and wood sourced from boats helping build a nice, rustic feel while plenty of space is given to those ridiculously nice Balinese sunsets.

In fact, La Brisa is known as one of the best spots in Bali for sundowners so this will likely be when you end up at this huge Canggu beach club. Then, if you’re in for a big night, head on over to Old Man’s or Finn’s.

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You don’t have to be a hotel guest to gain access to COMO Beach Club, which aligns well with the property’s holistic wellness approach and is softly designed with a lot of muted features. The focus here is on relaxation, clean eating and that big, glittering pool, usually scored by acoustic musicians or DJs.

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Best Restaurants & Bars In Caangu

If you’re coming from Sydney then perhaps this reference will help you understand Mosto a bit better. It’s like a Love, Tilly Devine or Dear Saint Eloise situation – a fiercely modern wine bar serving high-quality snacks (yes, there are anchovies on toast) and interesting dynamic drops imported from around the world.

The curation here is on point. Every wine I had upon my visit was exactly what I wanted, light, structured numbers that paired well with the endless procession of satisfying snacks that kept marching towards my table. The dimly lit space gets most of its atmosphere from candlelight, but if I were to go back I’d want to score a spot out front on the porch watching all the scooters fly by.

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Santanera looks expensive. The multifaceted, multi-level interior would have taken years to design. This ambitious project opened in early 2021 and has so far been a massive hit for both locals and visitors.

It’s a great example of international minds coming together to add to Bali’s aggressive development, gifting Canggu a fantastic restaurant with a slightly Mediterranean lean best expressed by mains like chargrilled octopus, black cod encocado and a juicy Jack’s Creek black angus striploin.

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If Canggu’s nightlife had one institution, it’d be Luigi’s Hot Pizza from Aussie hospitality hotshots Maurice Terzini and Adrian Reed, who also own Seminyak’s beloved Da Maria. This open-air restaurant, where the pizzas are invariably excellent and the drinks are constantly flowing, is a major meeting spot for the ex-pat community and often the first stop for any visitors looking to party with fellow tourists.

During the earlier hours of the evening, Luigi’s is just like any other pizza spot. You sit down on long tables, order as many of those delectable pizzas as you can, and work your way through some reasonably satisfying cocktails. Occasionally, staff may come around and pour shots straight into your mouth, to get every in the mood when Luigi’s aggressively shifts from a sit-down restaurant to a stand-up nightclub.

Yeah, Luigi’s is about as touristy as your typical Seminyak day club. But it’s good enough that you won’t be wanting for more both in terms of food and good times.

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Located above The Lawn, Skool Kitchen is one of the more visually appealing restaurants in Bali and is particularly valuable at night when a well-dressed crowd show out for simple, uncomplicated food based around fire cooking.

The charming atmosphere couldn’t be any more removed from the typical Bali beach club, so it’s worth heading on up here after a session at The Lawn just for the contrast. Just make sure you’ve got a nice change of clothes because, while they aren’t overly strict when it comes to dress code, there’s a nice sense of occasion to the place.

Although if you’re heading through for lunch, make sure to book a spot out on the terrace overlooking the beach. It doesn’t get any better than that.

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Moody, fashionable and impeccably polished. Segno is the cocktail bar in Caangu and is likely the first recommendation you’d get from discerning ex-pats touting a well-crafted cocktail. Experienced barman Yutaka Nakashima opened this one above Luma Restaurant, sporting an extensive list of concoctions that are amongst the most precise and well-balanced you’ll find on the island. It’s a bar for the connoisseur, not for the party animal.

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The Back Room is one of the more interesting venues in Canggu. On most given days, it’s a stylish and dimly lit cocktail bar with a pool table located at the back of Mason Restaurant. But on occasion, it turns into a wild party with international DJs and some of Canggu’s trendiest club nights – a place to party that’s not a beach club.

Make sure you’re across the schedule before you go so you know what to expect. When it’s quiet, The Back Room can feel like the most hidden bar on the island. When it’s loud, it’s a completely opposite vibe and you better be ready for a party.

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What To See In Caangu

Compared to Ubud and Uluwatu, there really isn’t much to see in Caangu when it comes to those classic Balinese temples and statues. If you do want to do some sightseeing, then Tanah Lot Temple isn’t too far from the area. Surrounded by water, this temple is one of the most visually stunning in Bali and is best experienced at sunset when the light is piercing the water.

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How Do You Get From Canggu To Seminyak?

If you’re the type of traveller to stay in Canggu then it’s likely you’ll want a slice of Seminyak as well at some point during your trip. The two are well-connected. Walk down the beach for around 40 minutes from Canggu and you’ll be in Seminyak.

Driving isn’t advisable because traffic is so bad, but it should take around 20 minutes by car in reasonable conditions. The problem is, conditions are almost never reasonable in Bali so you could be waiting in a Gojek for closer to an hour. It’s best to plan ahead, especially if you’re heading to some of Seminyak’s best beach clubs like Woo Bar at W Bali and Potato Head or bars like Motel Mexicola or La Favela.

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How To Get Around Canggu

The best way to get around Canggu is to walk. Alternatively, you can hire a scooter (only recommended for sober drivers) or order a Gojek which will quickly take you into town. Although because Canggu is so walkable, assuming you’re already in the thick of the action, then it’s best to keep things on foot here. Traffic in Bali is a mess at the best of times.

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Best Time To Visit Canggu

The high season for Bali is usually during July and August, with most Australian tourists making the trek to escape the depths of winter. Although Bali is usually best in May, June and September, which are typically less busy but consistent and steady with that temperate dry season climate.

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How Often Boss Hunting Updates This Guide To Canggu, Bali

The Boss Hunting team is lucky enough to be able to travel on occasion to scout for the best places to eat, drink, party and sleep in some of the world’s greatest cities. Between us, we’ve visited Bali plenty of times over the past few years and regularly head back to the Indonesian island to see what’s new each year.

This Canggu, Bali guide will be updated after each trip we take, whether that’s because we discover somewhere new that we want to tell our readers about or because one of the listed places has either closed or fallen out of favour.

In its current form, these are the suggestions we’d give our mates if they were heading over to Canggu. 

Frequently Asked Questions

How far is Caangu from Bali airport?

To get to Caangu from Ngurah Rai International Airport you should expect about 40 minutes to an hour on the road.

Where should I eat in Canggu?

In Canggu, some of the best modern restaurants include Mosto, Santanera and Skool Kitchen

Is Canggu a party area?

While not as rowdy as Kuta or Seminyak, Canggu is fast becoming known as one of the more active party areas of Bali, centred around its surf culture and wellness scene. It represents the perfect balance in Bali.