CANGGU: A MINI TRAVEL GUIDE

after spending time in the sleepy coastal village of bingin and the lush forests of ubud, we were excited to explore more of bali's emerging culinary scene, design obsession and constantly evolving community. with the neighboring towns of seminyak & kuta seeming overrun with night clubs and trite western concepts, all signs led us to the bohemian surf town of canggu. where balinese locals live alongside a stable population of ex-pats - loaded with trendy cafes, yoga studios, a good surf break, ancient hindu temples and gleaming rice fields. there is no shortage of new developments here, but the overall vibe is consistently focused on health, relaxation and interacting with other like minded folk. 

THE FOOD SCENE IS ON ANOTHER LEVEL

we had a lot of really, really good food in bali but in regards to density and variety of options, canggu stood out exceptional. i am still daydreaming about that  damn soft shell crab sandwich [pic below]. from starting your day off with a brekkie bowl or smoothie to a hearty, healthy lunch and fresh seafood dinner, eating well and fueling your activities isn't hard around here. some of our favorites were:

• THE SLOW boutique hotel, art gallery and restaurant. the food presentation was an exhibit in itself and everything we ate was deliciously [repeat: crab sandwich pic]. the cool design vibes here are authentic and inspiring.
• SHADY SHACK vegetarian cafe and all day hangout. with their covered terrace, large porch and open air layout – rain or shine, this is a great spot for a drink or bite. 
• SPICY COCONUT & QUINCE – two casual cafes perfect for a breakfast bowl and coffee 
• CRATE CAFE canggu staple and the hot spot for breakfast, cold brew coffee or meeting up with friends
• CAFE VEDA organic cafe and juicery serving meals all day long. we loved their fish tacos 
• ECHO BEACH CLUB fresh fish BBQ on sunday, pick your seafood of choice and they will throw it on the grill while you enjoy drinks looking out over the waves.
• ITHAKA WARUNG for good indonesian
• NOOK technically in seminyak, this cafe has a massive patio overlooking the rice fields serving fresh, local cuisine. absolutely worth a visit, but bring a book and be prepared to end up staying for a few hours.

THE BEACH VIBES ARE LAID BACK & THE RICE FIELDS ARE STUNNING

ubud isn't the only place where you can see the gorgeous and lush rice fields of bali – canggu is covered in them, alongside beaches that definitely have more of a... vibe. more people [locals and tourists], more music, more happy hours. i can imagine during the busy season this might get overwhelming, but when we were there it was a welcomed energy. two favorite spots of ours to grab afternoon drinks were:

• DEUS EX MACHINA has a temple here which is awesome and ridiculous at the same time. it's worth going for drinks or food or anything really. we happened to stop by on an evening where they were playing a surf documentary outside with free food & drinks. everyone was propped up on bean bags under the stars and it was a really cool event.
• OLD MAN'S is nothing fancy, but it kinda goes off here as the local scene gathers for sun downers always with greats view of the water. they'll often have live tunes and the earlier the better to find a comfortable place to hang.

R E A D  M O R E: 9  T H I N G S  T O  S E E  W H E N  Y O U' R E  I N  U B U D

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