Beach lovers who hate the inconvenience of the actual beach — the horrors of brushing sand off your feet, lack of loos, no cold beer — are spoiled for choice in Bali with plenty of “beach clubs” clambering for their business. These fancy, umbrella- and deckchair-clad bars skirt the beach, boast a pool and extensive … read the full post

Has a building ever made you smile? The striking facade of Potato Head Bali is the first architectural feature that’s brought a grin to my face. It’s a semi-circular construction by architect Andra Martin comprising old louvred shutters from Java, a mixture of whimsy and cleverness; try seeing it and not marvelling at how creative … read the full post

Open any inflight mag and the Bali beach bars that get name-dropped are inevitably the glossies like KuDeTa, Cocoon, Rock Bar, Potato Head, Tao Rooftop Bar and so on, but there’s one problem, none of these are actually on the beach. Sure you can see the beach from any of these joints, but you’re certainly … read the full post

“So it’s legal then?” I ask, as the grinning Indonesian fellow smiled across the table from me. He was going to injure himself if his smile stretched further. “Oh yes, Pak!” he assured me. I glanced down at the bottles of Swedish vodka, Scottish whiskey and American bourbon in front of me. The bottles were … read the full post

Bali is famous for its glitzy bars with menus awash in martinis and umbrella-festooned drinks, but one of our favourite local spots is Pantai Indah Seafood (we just call it “the shack”). It’s little more than a few planks of wood and long roughly-hewn tables right on the sands of Sanur Beach. The menu is … read the full post

Ever-popular Ku De Ta is probably one of the most recommended places on the island — “Dahhhhling, you must go for sunset cocktails!” — and it’s true, you probably should at least once. It’s a stunningly situated restaurant and bar overlooking a decidedly enticing stretch of beach and at sunset, in the right light, it’s … read the full post