How to spend a day in Canggu, Bali
The slow life is a state of mind and a modus vivendi in the hip, super-laid-back beach enclave of Canggu on Bali’s south west coast, where surfers and beautiful people migrate to escape the congestion and frenzy of Kuta and Seminyak. At the newly opened COMO Uma Canggu hotel, CATHERINE FAIRWEATHER discovers the best yoga practices, eco-friendly vegan outlets, and a new outcrop of surf bars and restaurants
7am
Wake up in one of the 119 airy bedrooms, suites and villas at the just-launched COMO Uma Canggu. With its low-lying architecture and design by COMO favorite Paola Navone, it adds a touch of modernist sophistication to the surf scene on the famous six-mile Echo Beach.
9am
Head to Canteen, the place to hang out for breakfast. Amid the recycled-surfboard decor, set yourself up for the day with a bowl of home-made granola and a dragon-fruit smoothie, then grab a great flat white before hitting the waves yourself.
11am
Hone your sun salutations at The Practice. With an excellent roster of yogis and workshops in the vast space of the shala, this is one of the best yoga spaces on the island.
1pm
Capture the quintessential freewheeling vibe of Canggu at buzzing al fresco café Shady Shack, with its mismatched furniture and boho clientele. The vegetarian and gluten-free menu is as tasty as it is feel-good – PORTER recommends the bestselling ‘Lost Paradise’ smoothie bowl.
3pm
Recharge at the Gold Dust Spa, an unpretentious Australian-owned salon that offers gold-leaf treatments to lift and firm skin, and soothing oil pedicures over ginger tea.
6pm
Come sunset, it’s all about beach-bar institution Old Man’s on the black sand and lava reefs of Batu Bolong Beach. This is where surfers gather to come down from their last adrenaline rush and shoot the breeze on beanbags scattered across the lawns of the garden, which turns into a more raucous arena for drinking games and ping-pong competitions on a Wednesday night.
8pm
Spend a cultural evening in the sexy environs of hotel-cum-boutique-cum-restaurant-cum-gallery The Slow. This hangout is a lesson in architectural ‘tropical brutalism’, where the creative crowd meet to work, play and enjoy some of the best food in the region (made from local sustainable produce), before taking in hot-ticket art and photography shows.
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