Bali Travel Journal

“But everyone's been to Bali”... Well, not really, but if you've lived in Hawaii for the last two decades you would surely think so. Ask any long-time Hawaii resident and I bet you that there's a 50/50 chance that that person has been to this little island in the middle of Indonesia. Funny, because it's not exactly close to Hawaii. It took us about 17 hours of flight time alone, not including layovers, just to get there. However, you can see why Hawaii locals frequent this place. This surf is legendary in this part of the world. It's affordable ( compared to Hawaii of course ) and it's an incredible shopping destination, especially if you happen to live in a tropical climate. Beautiful teak furniture, kitchenware, island-style clothing, yoga studios, vegan cafes, nightlife, and the nicest locals in the world, Bali's got it all.

I've actually tried to get down there a number of times but for whatever the reason, it just kept getting pushed back ( family obligations, money, enough time off from work, a few Australia trips, New Zealand, Argentina, Tahiti, the Cook Islands seemed easier for whatever reason? ) But now that we have gone, it will be hard to go anywhere else from now on ( we’ve been twice now in just 3 years and we’re planning another trip back down soon). Below I have uploaded a ridiculous amount of photos for you to check out ( sorry ). We were fortunate enough to spend a whole month on the island in 2016 and then again in 2017. I decided a long time ago that I wanted to spend my 40th birthday in Indonesia. Little did I know at the time that it would turn out to be our Honeymoon as well. Below you will find a bunch of tips on places/regions to stay in and of course, where to eat. I hope it’s helpful and if anyone has any questions, please feel free to reach out.

How do we get there?

Hawaiian and China Airlines - Maui > Honolulu > Taipei > Denpasar. We few over the entire country of the Philippines, parts of Malaysia, and the dense jungles of Borneo and I gotta admit, it was pretty cool to see all of this from the air.

Where have we stayed?

We’re not big “resort” people for the simple fact that we tend to spend very little time at our hotel while we’re on vacation. I did, however, have a ton of SPG points to cash out, so we ended up spending them at the Laguna Resort and Spa in Nusa Dua and the W Hotel in Seminyak. That being said, the Laguna ended up being one of the nicest hotels I have ever been to. We spent hours lounging in chaise lounges, enjoyed several glasses of wine at the beach bar and dropped some serious coin at the spa. On our return trip is 2017, we spent our first 3 days at the Laguna as well. It’s a perfect place to just chill and recover from jet lag. Besides hotels, we also took advantage of Airbnb in Bali. There are countless places to stay through Airbnb from super affordable to incredibly luxurious. We stayed at several over the weeks in sort of the “middle-range” ( approx $100 $130 a night ) Of all the places to stay in Bali, small private villas were our favorite option. All of our Airbnb villas had fully equipped kitchens, they were all pretty much open air, all were filled with beautiful locally made furniture and they all had cool dipping pools in the yards. If you go to Bali, I highly recommend renting a villa.

Nusa Dua is generally, a high-end resort area. It reminds me a lot like west Maui ( the Ka’anapali resort area ) Pretty beach, big resorts, fancy overpriced restaurants, some surf breaks but not much when it comes to finding the amazing vegan fare, international shopping, and yoga studios that I found elsewhere on the island. I would go back to Nusa Dua, but mainly just so I could stay at the Laguna Resort. Which, as I mentioned above, we did again on our second trip to Bali.

Ubud is located inland, about an hour from the International airport. It’s probably most famous for being the lush tropical backdrop featured in the movie, “Eat, Pray, Love”. Ubud is full of rice paddies, Hindu temples, inexpensive spas, home decor shops, yoga studios, detox retreats, and incredible vegan restaurants. Ubud is my favorite area in Bali. If are a vegan, you absolutely must visit Ubud. It’s incredible.

Canguu is a growing, trendy, surf village about 45 minutes from the International airport. Again, it’s full of cute clothing and interior shops, yoga studios, and beachside Instagram worthy cafes. There are also a couple of popular surf breaks in the area ranging from beginner to experienced. But keep in mind, the surf line-ups are super crowded! Best to surf first thing in the morning to try and beat the congestion. There is absolutely no way you’d ever find me paddling out in Batu Bolong mid-day. Hell no!

Seminyak is crazy! But crazy in a fun way ( except for the gridlock traffic ). Incredible shopping, amazing restaurants, day spas, and night clubs. Seminyak is an International hotspot. Lots of different languages being spoken, lots of selfies being taken, lots of day drinking, and lots of money being spent. I like Seminyak but I can only handle it in small doses. Bo and Bun, one of our favorite restaurants are located there as well as some of our favorite home decor stores in Bali.

Uluwatu - I love this area but unfortunately we haven’t had the opportunity to stay overnight there ( yet ). We’re planning on doing so on our next trip. Located around gorgeous high sea cliffs, Uluwatu is home to some of the best surf breaks in the world, beautiful Hindu temples, monkeys running amuck, stunning beaches, and the vegan scene is growing. We can’t wait to go back to Uluwatu!

The Bali Food Scene

Never have I ever experienced eating out as I did in Bali. Bali is heaven for vegans and listed below are just some of my favorite places. Not all of these places are 100% plant-based but they are 100% delicious.

Ubud

Moksa - beautiful restaurant. Mostly raw vegan ( although they do have some cooked dishes ) Moksa overlooks a peaceful permaculture garden. I love their Iced Spiced Tea, Jackfruit Tacos and Laksa. Their head chef is incredibly friendly and even sat down with us for a few minutes to ask us what we thought of the restaurant. He was nice enough to give me the recipe for their addictive spice tea which out of respect, I’ll keep secret.
The Elephant - I love everything about this place. It’s got a great bohemian vibe and an incredible view of the Campuhan Trail Hike. The Elephant offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner and has the best Malaysian Laksa I have ever had in my life. Order the veggie gyozas too. OMG so good. My husband is obsessed with their creamy Mushroom Fettucine. I could hang at this place all day. Such a cool vibe.
The Yellow Flower Cafe - We had breakfast here almost every morning when we were in Ubud. I love their fresh-pressed juices and avocado toast. Staff is super friendly, the walk to the cafe and the view is surreal.
kafe - A mostly vegan and vegetarian cafe that includes some chicken options. We love their Pasta Primavera, mezze platters, Vietnamese rolls, and big salads.
Clear Cafe - Huge vegetarian and vegan menu including Asia, Mexican, Italian and Mediterranean cuisine. Fish is also available at Clear Cafe.
Alchemy - One of my favorite places to people-watch in Ubud. Full of healthy-looking yogis and vagabonds, Alchemy has an incredible salad bar, smoothie bowls, and raw gourmet dishes like nachos, sushi rolls and pizza. The raw vegan desserts offered at Alchemy are the best I had in Bali. Save room for the Banoffee Pie.
Earth Cafe and Ubud Market - Vegetarian and Vegan cafe that is heavy on Mediterranean fare but offers so much more.
Locavore - Think The French Laundry of Southeast Asia. They offer a plant-based or meat included a 7-course menu with or without drink pairings. Multiple amuse bouches, appetizers and dessert courses are included on top of the 7 courses. GO HUNGRY! This was one of the most memorable dining experiences of my life. I highly recommend making a reservation for at least one month in advance

Canguu

The Shady Shack - The aesthetics of this outdoor vegetarian cafe in Canggu is on point! The Shady Shack is a cute, Caribbean style plantation house with lots of outdoor seating surrounded by lush tropical plants. It’s easy to spend an entire lazy morning here just taking it all in.
Betelnut - A popular cafe in the heart of Canggu with an eclectic menu with everything from Thai summer rolls to Indonesian curry to Burritos. Go early to get a seat. This small place fills up fast! Save room for dessert!
The Green Ginger - This is the sister restaurant to The Elephant in Ubud so it has a very similar menu. Of course, I always order the laksa and veggie gyozas. The Green Ginger is my favorite place for dinner in the Canguu area.
Peloton Supershop - Another super popular vegan/vegetarian cafe in Canguu. Everything I’ve had at Peloton has been fantastic! With almost too many delicious dishes to choose from, I usually end up going with my go-to standbys like burritos, jackfruit tacos, or mezze boards. My husband swears by the “Hash Stack” for brekkie and “The Veg Out” burger for lunch. Dinner is available at Peloton Supershop as well.
Quince - Love this stylish little place! Fresh, colorful vegan and vegetarian dishes, super nice owners and a beautiful textile and table wear shop in the room next door. We hung out there one morning so long ( while we were having our laundry done ) that we ended up just staying there for lunch too. Quince has amazing breakfast toasts and the best Jamu I had in Bali. For lunch, I love their summer rolls and green papaya salad.

Seminyak

Bambu is a classy, higher-end restaurant ( I finally wore my strappy high heels and my nicest “going out” dress there ). Bambu specializes in traditional Balinese food and everything we had was amazing. Make reservations in advance to ensure you can get a table for dinner.
Biku is just up the street from the W Hotel where we stayed. This became our go-to for dinner in Seminyak because everything we had at Biku was amazing. Love love love the lumpia, samosas, veggie korma, and Gado Gado salad. My husband leaned towards the traditional Balinese dishes like Nasi Goreng and chicken satay.
Bo and Bun is probably my husband’s most favorite restaurant in the world. We love their noodle/salad bowls and incredible baos. Bo and Bun doesn't have a vegetarian/vegan menu but they can easily swap tofu for the meat items and vegan options for their delicious dipping sauces. We’ve probably dined at Bo and Bun at least 7 or 8 times for lunch.
Cafe Organic - Instagram worthy both in decor and colorful dishes, this cute little place is open for breakfast and lunch. We’ve only been for breakfast but the lunch menu looks insane. Everything we had there was on point. I usually order one of the many smoothie bowl options, where my husband gravitates towards the “Mushroom Stack”. Cafe Organic is also located in Canguu.