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Best Things to Do in Seminyak, Bali

by URBAN JOURNEY
Your Ultimate Guide to Seminyak, Bali

Whenever we get the urge to skip off on a beach getaway, Seminyak always comes to mind. After all, this is one of Bali’s most happening spots with stunning hotels and villas, superlativedining options, unique boutiques, slicknightclubs, and world-class beach clubs perched on golden sands overlooking the Indian Ocean. With that in mind, is it any wonder that Seminyak attracts jetsetters from all corners of the globe? There’s always something going on in this cool beachy town, which means we always have new venues to check out along with our tried and true favourites that we go back to every time. If you’re planning a trip to Seminyak, these are the best spots to eat, drink, party, and crash.

STAY

Luxe:The Legian Bali

We recently booked into The Legian Bali not knowing what to expect, and holy mama this place blew us away. Set right on Seminyak Beach, this elegant grande dame has been here for over 20 years, but feels fresh and modern with gorgeous suites and private pool villas, lush manicured lawns, an exquisite 16-metre pool overlooking the ocean, and plenty of corners to settle into and watch Seminyak’s legendary sunsets with a drink in hand. It doesn’t get much better than this for scenery, the setting, and serenity.

The Legian Bali, Jalan Kayu Aya, Seminyak, Bali, Indonesia, 80361. p. +62 (0)361 730 622

Boutique: Katamama

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Brought to us by the Potato Head Group, Katamama combines traditional Indonesian culture with clean lines and contemporary flair. Each suite was designed with natural local materials and features vintage furniture, modern artworks, and hand-dyed fabrics. Extras include a cocktail kit and stocked bar, beautiful bath products, and a beach bag with a sarong. Spend the day reclining next to the pool, sipping craft cocktails at Akademi, and supping on Indonesian eats at Katamama Restaurant or next door at the famous Potato Head Beach Club.

Katamama, Jalan Petitenget No. 51B, Kerobokan Kelod, Bali, Indonesia. p. +62 (0)361 302 9999

Bliss out in a fab Bali villa: Ultimate Bali

If you’re travelling with a group or just want a bit more privacy than what your typical hotel offers, we highly suggest setting up camp in your own private villa. Seminyak has no shortage of gobsmackingly beautiful villas that come with plenty of space to spread out, private pools, and a full complement of staff to take care of your every need. Ultimate Bali offers a great selection of handpicked five-star villas, plus a team of villa specialists who can help you find the perfect accommodation for your next Seminyak foray.

Ultimate Bali

Modern & contemporary stay: U Paasha (Pictured above)

Enjoy Seminyak lifestyle and local design accents that pair with modern amenities, services and leisure facilities at U Paasha Seminyak. Take in the relaxed and tranquil atmosphere at this resort, and enjoy the ease and convenience of staying in the city centre. Enjoy perks of staying at this hotel like their breakfast ‘wherever whenever’ policy and 24 hour use of room which means after you have checked-in, you can enjoy the use of your room until the same time on your departure day.

U Paasha Seminyak, Jalan Laksmana No.77, Seminyak, Kuta, Seminyak, Kuta, Seminyak, Bali 80361, Indonesia

EAT

Brunchy goodness: Sisterfields Cafe

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If it’s all-day breakfast fare you’re after, you can’t go wrong with Sisterfields Cafe. This fresh spot does tasty Aussie-style dishes that range from super healthy to downright indulgent. Go ultra nutritious with an acai berry bowl or cure that hangover with the sinfully good pulled pork charcoal roll. They also do awesome single origin coffees, fresh tropical juices, and smoothies. Want to make it boozy? Go for a mimosa, espresso martini, or sangria.

Sisterfields Cafe, Jalan Kayu Cendana, No. 7, Seminyak, Bali, Indonesia. p. +62 (0)811 3860 507. Open daily 7am – 10pm

Get your caffeine fix: Revolver Espresso

By day Revolver Espresso is a hipster hangout serving up some seriously good brews made with single origin beans roasted in-house. Purists can go for a straight-up espresso or long black, while non purists can mix it up with an affogato, coffee shake or coffee tonic. Daytime eats include big brekkies, burgers, and salads. By night the space reverts to a cool restaurant and bar with offerings like steak frites, pork belly nasi goreng, and creative cocktails.

Revolver Espresso, Jalan Kayu Aya, Gang 51, Seminyak, Bali, Indonesia. p. +62 (0)851 0088 4968. Open daily 6am – late

Vibrant all-day eats: Sea Circus

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You can’t miss Sea Circus on Jalan Kayu Aya with it’s eye-popping facade of colourful circus characters. Step inside and it’s more of the same with huge murals and bright tropical hues. The menu is just as brilliant with all-day eats that range from chai tea and chilli scrambles to slipper lobster tacos, Jamaican spiced chicken, and passionfruit and guava margaritas. There’s something for everyone here including vegan and gluten-free dishes and a special menu for the kiddos.

Sea Circus, Jalan Kayu Aya No. 22, Seminyak, Bali, Indonesia. p. +62 (0)361 738 667. Open daily 7:30am – 10pm

For all the meat lovers in the house: Barbacoa

The decor at Barbacoa is enough to draw in the crowds alone with cool mosaic-tiled floors, supple leather banquettes, and tons of rustic recycled wood. However, it’s the smoky, South American food that you’ll come back for like the eight-hour wood-fired asado pork, charcoal grilled octopus, and pork spare ribs in a chipotle chilli glaze. The cocktails are also worth a try along with the small plates like ceviche and jalapeno chilli croquettes.

Barbacoa, Jalan Petitenget No. 14, Kerobokan, Bali, Indonesia. p. +62 (0)361 739 233. Open daily 12pm – 11pm

Contemporary Indonesian: Merah Putih

From the outside Merah Putih doesn’t look all that inspiring, but step inside and you find yourself in a space with soaring ceilings, loads of greenery, and unique vaulted columns that capture rainwater and channel it into the indoor gardens. The menu is just as impressive with a traditional section that showcases indigenous dishes from around the archipelago and a ‘baru’ section for imaginative creations made with local herbs, produce, and spices.

Merah Putih, Jalan Petitenget No. 100X, Kerobokan, Bali, Indonesia. p. +62 (0)361 846 5950. Open daily 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – late

Tacos and tequila on tap: Motel Mexicola

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For authentic Mexican fare in a buzzy space, Motel Mexicola is a must-visit Seminyak institution. Every corner of this colourful eatery is ultra-Instagrammable with quirky wall paintings, faux Mexican shrines, and geometric patterns all over. Start with a few cheeky Pornstar Mojitos, then stuff your face with slow-roasted pork tostadas, tempura prawn tacos, and the sinfully good tres leches cake. Stay on after dinner because the parties really kick off later in the evenings.

Motel Mexicola, Jalan Kayujati No. 9X, Seminyak, Bali, Indonesia. p. +62 (0)361 736 688. Open 11am – 1am

Sublime seafood: Sardine

Super fresh seafood in a serene setting overlooking rice fields? Sign us up. Sardine has old Bali charm with open-air seating under a thatched roof and sofas lined up along the edge of the rice paddies. Yet there’s nothing old-school about the cuisine, as the innovative menu changes regularly depending on the fresh catches of the day and veggies that are in season in the organic garden. Think Java green lip mussels steamed in coconut milk and lemongrass, lobster potstickers, and yellowfin sashimi.

Sardine, Jalan Petitenget No. 21, Kerobokan, Bali, Indonesia. p. +62 (0)811 397 8111. Open daily 11:30am – 1am

DRINK

Sundowners and good tunes: Ku De Ta

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Hailed as the ultimate Seminyak sunset spot, Ku De Ta just keeps getting better year after year. Boasting a beautiful beachfront locale, this gathering place is open all day, but really picks up in the late afternoon when people come from far and wide to sip cocktails, listen to laidback beats, and watch the sun sink into the ocean. The main restaurant serves up easy-going fare like pizzas and Asian-inspired light bites, while Mejekawi upstairs does next-level Indonesian cuisine.

Ku De Ta, Jalan Kayu Aya No. 9, Seminyak, Bali, Indonesia. p. +62 (0)361 736 969. Open daily 8am – late

Artisanal cocktails: Potato Head Beach Club

Follow Potato Head Beach Club’s signature wall made out of multi-coloured wooden shutters and it leads you to a sweeping open-air space with an infinity pool at the centre that overlooks the beach and ocean. Grab a seat at the bar, in one of the many dining areas, or on the lawn for tropical cocktails concocted with local ingredients. DJs hit the decks every afternoon for sunset sessions, and the craft cocktails keep flowing well into the evening.

Potato Head Beach Club, Jalan Petitenget No. 51, Seminyak, Bali, Indonesia. p. +62 (0)361 473 7979. Open daily 10am – 2am

Laid-back beachside bevvies: Mano Beach House

Want to soak up Seminyak’s legendary sunsets without the too-cool-for-school crowds? Mano Beach House is somewhat of a hidden gem set directly on the sands of Petitenget beach, but away from the main drag. The rustic, relaxed atmosphere invites you to settle in and chill for a while with breezy open-air spaces, comfy beanbags, cool tunes, and front-row seats to the Indian Ocean. Cold beers, creative cocktails, and seafood-centric dishes add to the experience.

Mano Beach House, Jalan Pantai Pura Petitenget, Seminyak, Bali, Indonesia. +62 (0)361 473 0874. Open daily 10am – 11pm

Dance the night away: La Favela

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After the sunset crowds clear out from the beach clubs, party people make their way to La Favela for late night dance sessions in a sprawling space decked out in greenery and quirky artworks. There are all sorts of hidden corners to explore, which is good because the place tends to get packed pretty much every night of the week. The best part is that with such an eclectic crew rocking up, you never know who you’re going to meet on the dancefloor.

La Favela, Jalan Laksmana Oberoi No. 177X, Seminyak, Bali, Indonesia. p. +62 (0)812 4612 0010. Open daily 5pm – 3am

PLAY

Hang Ten: Bali Green Surf School

Bali is home to some of the best surf breaks in the world and Seminyak is a great place to learn how to ride the waves because the surf is a bit calmer here than other places around the island. Bali Green Surf School is our top pick for beginners and novices because the instructors are fun, friendly, and really know their stuff, plus they use a portion of their proceeds to support disadvantaged youth in Bali. Learn to surf and support a good cause. It’s a win-win for all.

Bali Green Surf School, Jalan Drupadi 2 No. 9, Seminyak, Bali, Indonesia. p. +62 (0)819 9934 4122

Cook up a storm: The Amala

Fancy yourself a culinary connoisseur? Join chef Wayan Putra on a gastronomic journey of Balinese cuisine in his interactive and informative cooking classes at The Amala. Guests can opt for morning or afternoon classes that include hands-on experience chopping, grinding, roasting, and grilling three different Balinese dishes. There are three menus available including one with only vegetarian dishes, and at the end of the course guests get to devour their creations.

The Amala, Jalan Kunti I, Seminyak, Bali, Indonesia. p. +62 (0)361 738 866

Shop ‘til you drop: Seminyak’s best boutiques

Seminyak has always attracted the fashionable set, and many creative types have set down roots here and created internationally-renowned fashion brands. Some top Bali-based designers to keep an eye out for include Paul Ropp for his vivid, flowing creations, Thaikila for sweet and sexy swimwear, Niluh Djelantik for sophisticated shoes, and Bamboo Blonde for fun and flirty designs. For one-stop shopping, Seminyak Square and Seminyak Village malls are just a stone’s throw apart and offer a variety of local and international brands.

Seminyak Square, Jalan Kayu Aya. Seminyak, Bali, Indonesia. Open daily 10am – 10pm

Seminyak Village,Jalan Kayu Jati No. 8, Seminyak, Bali, Indonesia. Open daily 10am – 10pm

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