Nothing says tropical island lifestyle like chilling at a luxe beach club. Baliophiles have plenty to choose from – laid-back and lovely to family-friendly, swanky and scenic. Stephanie Mee feels the burn.
Karma Beach Bali
Combining laid-back, toes-in-the-sand beach vibes with jetsetter luxury, Karma Beach Bali is one of the Bukit’s most exclusive beach clubs. The experience starts at the top of a rugged limestone cliff where a travelator awaits to take you down to the beach below. As you descend past verdant foliage, the scene opens to a stunning aquamarine lagoon backed by a crescent of white sand and Karma’s thatched-roof cabana restaurant and bar.
Once at the bottom, you can make your way to the bamboo bar for cold drinks and tasty Mediterranean, Asian and Italian eats like freshly caught grilled seafood, sushi, sashimi, and wood-fired pizzas. Then it’s all about soaking up the sun on the private beach, exploring the reefs on a kayaking or snorkelling excursion, and getting pampered with massages and spa treatments on the sand or in the Ocean Spa.
After the sun sets, things get a bit more hedonistic with funky beats and a wide selection of craft cocktails (also available all day for those who want to get the party started early). Although Karma Beach Bali gives priority to guests staying at the Karma Kandara Resort, outside guests can pay an entrance fee that includes credit towards food and drinks. Reservations are highly recommended, especially on days when they have special parties and events.
Mano Beach House
While Bali’s big name beach clubs may draw in bustling crowds, Mano Beach House is a laid-back hidden gem. Set slightly away from the main drag on the sands of Petitenget Beach, Mano has a rustic, relaxed atmosphere that invites you to settle in and chill for a while. Natural features like wood and stone abound and breezy open-air spaces offer beanbags and sofas with front-row seats to the Indian Ocean.
During the day, the covered lounge is a peaceful spot to indulge in brunch dishes like the avocado toast with feta, dukkah, and kemangi oil on sourdough or the grilled halloumi and scrambled eggs. Cool off with a mixed juice, kombucha or smoothie. The small pool is great for cooling off, and should you want to stroll the beach or take a dip in the sea, the staff are happy to keep your belongings behind the bar for safekeeping.
Come late afternoon, the vibes at Mano Beach House really pick up as people start filtering in for sundowner drinks and views of Seminyak’s legendary sunsets over the ocean. Chilled music plays in the background and servers make the rounds with cold Bintangs, glasses of bubbles and vibrant plates like salt and pepper calamari, seared barramundi, and Panang curry with confit chicken leg.
Artotel Beach Club
There’s a youthful energy going on at Artotel Beach Club, a new oceanfront playground for all ages in Sanur. Spanning 7,000 square metres, this lush oasis offers multiple inviting spaces to eat, drink and play including manicured lawns, a two-storey restaurant, four bars, a massive free-form pool, and cabanas and daybeds that spill onto the white sand beach. `
Stroll through the tropical gardens to the heart of ABC where a designer pool features undulating curves that bring to mind Bali’s terraced rice paddies. Surrounding the pool is a white stone deck with al fresco areas for sipping and snacking, and wrapped around a 100-year-old banyan tree is a giant bamboo tree house that houses the restaurant.
ABC’s menu features tantalising Western and Asian dishes that incorporate fresh ingredients from Bali’s waters and farms. Little ones will love the burgers and pizzas, while culinary connoisseurs can try regional bites like the lamb shank braised in West Sumatran spices or Asian seafood bisque. Food is also a focus at their Sunday markets with live music, games, drink specials, and vendors selling everything from t-shirts to tequila.
Woobar at W Bali Seminyak
It’s pretty hard to beat Woobar’s enviable location in the trendy W Bali Seminyak, which sits smack dab in the middle of Petitenget Beach. Add to that a cool contemporary space where terraced pools wind around palm trees, round daybeds overlook the ocean, and DJs hit the decks every afternoon and evening for stellar sunset and after-dark sessions, and it’s no wonder Woobar has a reputation as one of Bali’s sexiest spots to see and be seen.
Snag a lounger by the pool or a soft sofa on the sun-dappled wooden deck and you can while away the hours sipping, snacking, swimming and sunbathing. Tapas and global-inspired fare are on offer from morning until late and include small plates like tuna ceviche, Jimbaran prawns with orange and yuzu, and goats cheese churros. Larger plates include Woobar’s famous thin-crust pizzas and wagyu carne asada tacos.
Drink specials are another draw with happy hour deals going down nearly every day of the week. Sunset sessions take place from Monday to Friday, 4pm to 6pm and include one-for-one signature cocktails like the passion fruit mojito and cucumber jalapeño margarita. After the sun goes down, the party keeps going in the underground nightclub and skybar on the upper deck. Keep an eye out for special events like silent discos and international DJ happenings.
Ibiza in Bali
By the time you read this, Ibiza in Bali will have not quite yet have opened its doors (they’re aiming for July), but we can already tell that this Mediterranean-inspired club on the white sands of Kelan Beach is going to be the next big sensation on the beach club scene. This is Bali’s first Ibiza-style spot where the parties will be pumping poolside, in the nightclub, and on the sand from noon to late.
Set on a beautiful strip of beach lapped by the calm waters of Jimbaran Bay, Ibiza in Bali boasts plenty of places to have fun in the sun including a gorgeous glass aquarium pool with a swim-up bar. Plush daybeds are positioned next to the pool and on the beach, and a rooftop bar with a Jacuzzi beckons private groups. Swing by the restaurant for exquisite Spanish cuisine or make your way to the Lagoon Bar for creative cocktails and sunset views.
Slick plans are in the works for Ibiza in Bali including themed parties, live music with local talent and well-known Ibiza DJs, fashion shows, fire dances, and cooking and cocktail demos. They also have a VIP Boarding Lounge experience for those who have late flights out of Bali. Simply show your boarding pass and you can purchase a ticket that gets you a daybed with poolside amenities like towels, bottled water, and Wi-Fi. They even have luggage storage so you can go straight from the pool to the plane.
