For all your beach and nightlife needs, turn your attention to South Bali. This area is a bit more crowded, but it is also conveniently close to the Denpasar airport. There are many areas to visit here, as well as the temptation to relax at your luxury resort. Decisions, decisions…
Table setting at Jimbaran Bay
Where to Eat
The St. Regis Bali Resort (Nusa Dua): If your budget allows for it, you can’t go wrong dining at the St. Regis. While staying at this hotel, we ate breakfast at Boneka each day and had dinner at both Kayuputi and Dulang. Everything was absolutely delicious, but the breakfast at Boneka repeatedly blew us away. If you have Marriott platinum status, you can enjoy this restaurant complimentary with your stay. The breakfast buffet offerings at Boneka include lobster, wagyu beef, and dim sum … so yea. It’s pretty good. Kayuputi also has a delectable dinner, but we thought Dulang was a bit overpriced. You can get comparable traditional Balinese food for significantly cheaper outside the resort. For more information about the St. Regis, you can refer to our post about some of Bali’s best honeymoon hotels.
Jimbaran Bay(Jimbaran): Rather than a specific restaurant, Jimbaran Bay is an area on the southwestern coast of Bali with a collection of beachfront restaurants offering a variety of seafood dishes. The best way to visit Jimbaran is to stroll along the beach and check out the live seafood selections at each restaurant. Do your research ahead of time so you can narrow your choices to a few highly regarded options. If you can swing it, time your dinner to coincide with sunset because the views over the bay are beautiful. The only downside here is that the dinner is a bit touristy, so you’ll likely encounter some musicians going from restaurant to restaurant and pressuring you for tips.
Raja Bali (Nusa Dua): We loved the Balinese sampler at this restaurant in Nusa Dua. It was a TON of food for a modest price, and this type of meal is a great introduction to some of the foods you may have during your time in Bali.
Angel’s Billabong in Nusa Penida
Things to Do
Nusa Penida Day Trip: For more information on this awesome day trip from South Bali, refer to our Nusa Penida post.
Spa Day: Bali is known for its cheap and relaxing spas, and South Bali is no different. While staying in Nusa Dua, we decided to visit Zahra Spa, which offered two one-hour Balinese massages for just 400k rupiah along with free transport to and from our hotel. Many of the spas in Bali offer a similar shuttle service, so be sure to check online before paying for your own transportation.
Uluwatu Temple
Uluwatu Temple(South Kuta): This temple has incredible views at sunset. While Uluwatu doesn’t have the same look as many of Bali’s temples, it more than makes up for it with its location right on the cliffs of the southwestern coast. This temple also offers a nightly cultural show that you can watch for about 100k rupiah per person. Considering how early you need to arrive to get seats and the duration of the show in the heat, we would probably say it wasn’t worth it, but it was an interesting experience regardless. Also, note that you must wear a sarong to enter Uluwatu. Scammers will try to sell one to you when you arrive, but don’t fall for it. The cost of admission includes a rental sarong that you can wear.
St. Regis Beach
Beach Life: If you’re still jet-lagged when staying in South Bali, take advantage of waking up early to watch the sunrise. Especially if you are staying along the southeastern coast, the sunrise over the water is absolutely beautiful. There are many waterfront hotels in this region with their own private beaches, so choose one wisely and take a private early morning stroll.
Other Tips & Tricks
Kuta and Seminyak: While we did not visit Kuta or Seminyak during our honeymoon, we heard from both tourists and locals that these areas are the party destinations in Bali. They are a bit more touristy as a result, but you’ll have no shortage of beach bars and clubs to visit. If going out is your thing, your best bet is to probably stay in one of these two areas as opposed to Nusa Dua.