If you’re on Jalan Raya Canggu and come to a crazy four way intersection where quite literally, anything goes, take a left and you’ll find yourself on Jalan Batu Bolong, a fabulous street with lots to offer, from cute cafes, to a local swimming pool and a beauty salon that shines!
But Jalan Batu Bolong’s crowning glory is its cracking surf beach with a number of breaks including the legendary Old Mans.
At the very top of the street is a super cute new Deli called Pompoi, which in Thai means chubby. They stock goodies from all our favourite places around town: Little Green Café, Bali Buddha, Kreol Kitchen. We recently discovered a Thai green curry paste there that we can’t live without.
Fancy a dip? Then stop in at the local swimming pool, Taman Segara Madu, which has a 50-metre swimming pool where you can either knock out some laps or hire a blow-up boat and have a paddle. There are waterslides – but don’t go expecting Waterbom, ok? – and the restaurant does simple, cheap Indonesian food; the grilled fish is sensational!
If you’re feeling creative then drop into House of Alaia to take an art class or even make your own jewellery, or you can buy ready-made jewellery from the studio and some of the proceeds go towards classes for the local kids.
Gluten free bread in Bali isn’t easy to find, but you can stock up at Oka’s Bakery where they have a couple of varieties to choose from including potato and spinach.
It could be all the surf memorabilia on the walls or the laid back vibe that makes Canteen Café Canggu a beacon for the local wax heads. They do everything a surfer needs after a gnarly session: hearty breakfasts, good burgers and fries, salads, juices and great coffee.
If you’re craving a truly scrumptious burger – and we’re talking old school diner style – then drop by BJ’s Burger Joint. They whip up some spectacular salads as well.
Bet you didn’t think you’d find an authentic French bakery in Bali. Well, think again, mademoiselle! We are huge fans of the spoon, Monsieur Spoon to be precise. Drop in for mouthwatering croissants, divine cakes and fantastic breads.
At some point in your life, you’re going to come to some crossroads. In the case of Batu Bolong, you can choose to turn right and head past Deus towards Echo Beach or you can stay on the straight and narrow and just keep trucking.
Well fellow travellers, we suggest you stay on Batu Balong just a little bit longer because you’ll reach one of our favourite venues on the street, Betelnut Cafe. Set in a two story rustic building with views over a lush green rice paddy this café pumps out some of the yummiest, healthiest and happiest food we’ve ever tasted. Great salads, wraps and burgers, daily specials and cakes to-die-for! The lovely Aussie owners are always on hand to make sure everything runs smoothly.
Next door is the newly opened Roti Chanai Flow & Yonder, serving, well, yes… you guessed it… roti chanai, as well as other fabulously tasty street food like satay, martabak and Indonesian curries.
Golddust Beauty Lounge is an outstanding spot for some well-deserved beauty therapy. The house specialty is the 24k gold leaf facial, plus they do massages, hair treatments, manis, pedis…yes, the works, ladies!
Villa Puri Bawana
The Tugu Hotel is located just a stone’s throw from the beach and is the perfect combination of old world Indonesian charm and modern comforts. However, if you are travelling with a big posse, look no further than the stunning five bedroom villa, Puri Bawana, the ultimate in tropical luxury – and it comes with a 30 metre swimming pool.
Kakilima by the Sea has become one of The Honeycomber’s favourite places to take the kids for an early dinner. There’s an enormous lawn for them to run around on while the adults enjoy a cold beer while watching yet another stunning Bali sunset.
Just across the road is Old Man’s, another fabulously family-friendly spot to grab breakfast, lunch or dinner. Run by the same crew as the Petitenget restaurant, one of our absolute faves, this also has plenty to excite in both the food and drinks departments. Sit at the bar, retire to one of the many intimate nooks and crannies or grab an old school picnic table. It is a beer garden after all.
Which leads us to the sand. This is a great surf beach so generally not ideal for little kids. But it’s a beautiful spot to come early morning or late afternoon, to watch the surfers, grab a piece of corn from the local street vendors, to let the sea breezes gently wash over you as you dig your toes into the sand. Now that’s what Bali is all about, isn’t it?
image: Monsieur Spoon