Shen Lee NgLounging on bean bags by the beach, sipping on fresh coconut water, feasting on bowls of vegetarian goodness and taking pictures by the golden backdrop of paddy fields – does this sound like your ideal vacay?
Bali’s Canggu is Instagrammable Indonesia encapsulated. It’s a top travel spot for digital nomads, young creatives and the health-conscious, thanks to its abundance of plant-based eateries and hip work-friendly coffee joints.
The food here is no exception too. From boho cafes sporting colourful smoothie bowls to dinner overlooking the paddy fields, you can be sure to be indulged in the most beautiful way possible in Canggu.
1. Smoothie bowls at Crate Cafe
Image credit: Crate cafe
One of the pioneer cafes in Canggu, Crate is perpetually packed with sun-kissed surfer types and travellers. This cafe cum art gallery also lures in hordes of artists thanks to its monthly exhibitions and plays a key role in spearheading Canggu as a destination for creatives.
Image credit: Crate cafe
Brunch time is the best time here at Crate. Although we recommend you start off with the picturesque smoothie bowls like “Bowlarama”, no one’s stopping you from coming back again the next day for toasties, super bowls and chia bowls!
2. Babi Guling at Warung Nasi Babi Guling Men Agus
Image credit: Warung Men Agus
Okay, Canggu might be the destination for bloggable cafes, but you simply can’t leave without sampling the famous babi guling (roasted suckling pig). And if there’s one Warung you can trust to satisfy all your porky needs, it’s Warung Nasi Babi Guling Men Agus. After all, you can’t go wrong when it’s in the name itself!
Image credit: Warung Men Agus
Local and true, this isn’t a pretentious pork restaurant where babi guling comes served in a plate ten times its size and thrice the usual price. Rice with the best bits of pork, crispy skin, chicken satay and lawar (local side dish of mixed veg, grated coconut, minced meat, herbs and pork blood) is what you have to order here when you’re in need of a good hearty meal.
3. Jackfruit tacos at The Shady Shack
Image credit: The Shady Shack
Ever seen those pictures of vegetarian/vegan cafes where plates are stacked high with all sorts of healthy goodness and seemingly garnished with an entire garden – flowers included? And where the smoothies are so vibrantly coloured you can’t help but snap a pic before you take a sip? The Shady Shack in Canggu captures the essence of that perfectly.
Image credit: The Shady Shack
All the options on the menu here are plant-based, even the burgers, tacos and wraps. With the right seasonings and cooking techniques, shredded jackfruit magically transforms into “pulled pork”; you won’t miss your meat here!
4. Avocado toast at The Avocado Factory
Image credit: The Avocado Factory
Hold on, what was that? A cafe dedicated entirely to avocados? You’re not dreaming. True to its name, The Avocado Factory features an extensive menu comprised primarily with the buttery fruit in the lead role.
Image credit: The Avocado Factory
Avo coffee, avo smoothie bowls, avo pancakes and even avo poke bowls served in avo shells, anything and everything you can dream of is made better with the addition of avocado. But the best way to savour the fruit? Atop a slice of crusty toast and sprinkled with roasted chickpeas. The gorgeous avocado rose certainly helps too!
5. The Nacho Libre at Peloton Supershop
Image credit: Peloton Supershop
With so many variations for breakfast and brunch, where should one go for an equally satisfying dinner? The answer to that question is undoubtedly Peloton Supershop, a vegan cafe and artisan bicycle shop situated in Berawa, Canggu.
Image credit: Peloton Supershop
The dinner menu, in particular, includes scrumptious vegan renditions of chicken schnitzel, hot dogs and rendang burgers. And if you’re sharing, the Nacho Libre is definitely one to look out for! Corn chips are covered with beans, salsa, guacamole, sour cream, more of that ingenious pulled BBQ jackfruit and even cashew sour cream!
6. Nasi Campur at Warung Bu Mi
Image credit: Warung Bu Mi
No trip to Bali is complete without a good Nasi Campur, and Warung Bu Mi’s take on the traditional Indonesian dish is exactly what you’d expect from arguably the most popular warung in Canggu.
Image credit: Warung Bu Mi
Warung Bu Mi caters to the crowds of health-conscious which frequent the place while still maintaining its Balinese charm. From creamy pumpkin curry to crispy corn fritters, this is one place where plant-based travellers can savour the taste of Canggu at its best, guilt and worry-free!
