Bali is more than a destination. It’s a healing frequency. When I talk about it, I honestly remember that just going there cracked open a part of something I needed to experience. First, you are enticed by all the superficial stuff — the cool spots, the cafes, the views, the beaches (which are beyond amazing btw!!). Then you go deeper… starting with the spiritual, existenial and just begin to dream and let go.

We had an amazing driver who gave us so much history, a cultural tour, and an escape into nature that literally lit me up (Shout outs to Rahtu).

Then you go into a deeper experience within yourself: What do these experiences mean to me? Where do I feel I need to work on myself, heal myself or enhance myself? And you let Bali heal that part of you.

Maybe I’m someone who goes deep into everything, or maybe that’s Bali — it just does that to you. But it’s the perfect mix of exploration, wellness, adventure, deep healing, and escape. Keep reading for some of my favourites places (and my vegan, gluten-free carrot cake tour on the island of Bali!)

I’m counting the days until the next trip.

Where to Stay (My Faves)

Njirhara - nirjhara.com
This place is a portal. The most magical hotel on the planet — full stop. Hidden in nature, it feels like waking up in a dream. See my full write-up in my article: “The Wellness Getaway You Don’t Want to Miss”, where I describe my experience there, and you will understand all the reasons why this space changed me. Amazing thing about this hotel is its sustainable and affordable.

Bisma Eight Ubud - bisma-eight.com
STUNNING. A design-forward sanctuary in the jungle — stay here if you can, or at the very least come for dinner. It’s stylish, tranquil, and close to everything in Ubud while still feeling like you’re floating in nature.

Best Cafe’s in Canggu

Caravan – caravancanggu.com
Chill beach shack meets sunset apéritif. Its filled with low tables, toes in the sand, relaxed beats, and coconut mojitos. I would say its the kind of place you stop by for 20 minutes and stay for 3 hours because you can swim, eat, hang out, its very relaxed.

The Lawn – thelawncanggu.com
Sunset ritual with DJs playing soul-house, and a golden sky melting into the sea. Perfect for a slow unwind before dinner or dancing. Lots of people and a busy Canggu vibe!

Kynd Kitchen – kyndcommunity.com
I would say this is food for the conscious eater but also the dessert junkie. 100% plant-based and bursting with flavor — this is where I had the best carrot cake of my life. AND I was on a vegan, gluten-free carrot cake tour this whole trip. They have lots of amazing drinks, specialty matchas, jackfruit tacos, rainbow bowls, healing tonics. The energy is welcoming, earthy, and intentional plus everything is pink and cute!

Penny Lane - pennylanebali.com
Palm trees, very cool mix and match pillows, a huge outdoor-indoor area with really nice drinks. Even though we didn’t eat, it looked amazing. Stop by when you are walking around Canggu. Perfect lattes, plus I always order a coconut too (my favourite natural, super hydrating electrolyte drink)!

Best Pilates in Canggu

Fondue Pilates – fondue.world
This is where you find the workout set of your dreams. I bought all my Nagnata workout clothes here. Nagnata is an Australian brand that I am obsessed with and am unable to find it anywhere else. It’s sustainable and they use all natural fibers (wool) and it looks amazing on. I didn’t actually manage to work out here but loved their curated playlists, and instructors all seemed super nice when we popped in to shop. Will do pilates for sure there next time!

Best Food in Uluwatu

Mason Uluwatu – masonbali.com
This is very LA meets London, trendy but amazing execution. Dinner was perfect, great cocktails. It was super polished but down-to-earth. Locally sourced everything. Clean, minimal design with jungle undertones. I would not say it had a Bali vibe but it was really delicious.

Bar à Jus - barajus.com
A friend of a friend (Canadian connection) opened this amazing smoothie and juice bar and its such a yummy vibe. We only got to visit it when it was being built and not yet open but everything is genuinely so delicious-looking. Think superfoods meet adaptogens, meet all the tropical fruit. Check them out!

Bartolo – bartolobali.com
This is your European-style wine bar fantasy — in Bali. Elegant, intimate, romantic. A place for long dinners, big reds, and deeper conversations.

Gooseberry – gooseberrybali.com
Dinner spot with a French-tropical twist. It’s also totally a brunch vibe but we wanted to go for dinner and it ended up being super intimate and cute. Chic interiors, floral cocktails, moody lighting — a good place to lean into your soft, feminine edge - they even have a lingerie store in the restaurant because why not!

The Cashew Tree – thecashewtree.com
Your wellness cafe dreams, realized. Smoothies, plant-based bowls, surf vibes. Easy, breezy, deeply nourishing. Love these kinds of spots.

Ours – oursbali.com
Initially I read this as the french word “ours” aka bear and it reminded of something cute and cuddly, I could not get that out of my head so I had to try it. Its such a dreamy spot for hydrating food post-surf or post shopping (lots of cute shops around here).

Suka Espresso – sukaespresso.com
Brunch as a vibe. Open-air cafe with that signature Uluwatu flow — barefoot children, fresh fruit platters, dreamy travelers in flowy linen. Everything in Bali is so effortless I feel.

The Loft – theloftbali.com
Another amazing brunch escape, we went here twice after pilates and its just a perfect vibe— think a morning smoothie, that Bali slow-life energy with lots of people coworking from this cafe. I, of course, had to get a carrot cake to go… classic! As almost everything in Uluwatu though, its right on the main street so it can be a bit loud but I loved it.

Best Vibes in Uluwatu

Savaya – savayabali.com
There’s a funny story here, we got reccomended this over and over and were so tired from jet lag we didn’t end up going, so it became a running joke between me and my husband that we never “savayed” it up. But we heard its truly a full-on sensory event with amazing sunset parties with global DJs, spiritual-house music, panoramic ocean views. Its on my list of go-to’s for next time.

Palmilla Beach Club – palmillabali.com
Daytime beach escape. Who doesn’t want a beach club vibe. White sand, turquoise water, I really love that about Uluwatu that their is literally something for everyone. Surprisingly calm in the morning so come early to claim a cabana. It gets busier later.

Ulu Cliffhouse – ulucliffhouse.com
Cocktails and cliffside magic because of the super gorgeous views, chill crowd, and very very good music. Go late afternoon to catch golden hour from the edge of the cliff. You wont want to miss it!

Best Pilates in Uluwatu

Reform Pilates – reformpilatesbali.com
Such a fun place to do a reformer workout. Modern, simple, sleek studio in paradise. First time my husband Damien tried reformer was here and he LOVED IT. That says a lot. Amazing instructors and the kind of burn that makes you shake.

Wellness Favourites in Ubud

Pyramids of Chi -pyramidsofchi.com
This place operates on a different plane. Ancient sound healing that works on a subconscious level. It’s essentially simultaneous light healing, vibrational frequencies, gongs, drums — all inside pyramids. It's a deeply cleansing experience that bypasses the logical mind and speaks straight to your cells and your subconscious. We left there in a daze and I kind of had to sit and think about it after for a good thirty minutes, it really tapped into something existential… then I obviously had to leave with a carrot cake from there. (Carrot cake tour continues!)

Alchemy Yoga Center – alchemyyogacenter.com
Come for the ecstatic dance (sweaty, soul-liberating, tribal energy), stay for the salad bowls (build your own!!) and carrot cake. The food is vegan, most gluten-free, nourishing in every sense. Alchemy also offers treatments: cupping with Balinese massage, theta healing — it’s like getting a massage from a healer in a parallel realm. I really wanted to do all the treatments here, they had so many different things and it was honestly SO CHEAP! You walk out realigned and reawakened.

Yoga Barn – theyogabarn.com
The other pulse of Ubud. Big jungle shala energy. Movement classes, cacao ceremonies, ecstatic dance, and deeply somatic workshops. The food is just as alive — clean, conscious, satisfying. I think people come here for the yoga, yoga retreat, but stay for the community and events. The food is amazing and it feels like a living retreat. People are super nice too but I had a bit of an imposter syndrome as I don’t feel like a “traditional yogi” but it was clear that it was only me that noticed this. (Definitely something I noticed I have to work on within myself!)

Temples - everywhere in Bali
There are literally over 20,000 temples in Bali, and some are right off the main streets wherever you go, so visit as many as you can. Each has its own meaning, its own symbolism, and its own gods to protect it. I highly recommend you get a local to take you on a tour to help you actually dive deeper into Balinese culture, because I would definitely not do it justice trying to explain even a piece of it. It is genuinely one of the most interesting and energetic cultures I have ever experienced.

The clear mix of light and dark is everywhere (a reflection of what is in all of us)—you have gods that bless you and gods that are closer to the dark side of the energy trying to bring out your shadow. You even feel the darker energies in some places in Bali. Balinese are also really really family-oriented and the gods are an extension of their ancestors. Each house even has a temple in it. The amazing thing of all is to watch the rituals of the lcoals and experience the deep spiritual connection to nature, to the world, and to their spiritual energies around us.

Fascinating and moving to experience.

Best Vegan and GF Food

Zest Ubud – zestubud.com
As you may now I loveee all healthy food that tastes like heaven, and I never compromise on taste. So dinner at Zest is a love letter to your inner seeker. The place literally hosts events, promises to use high quality ingredients, host tea sommelier courses and prides itself on connecting to nature and the world around us. We went during dinner but during the day you have a beautiful view over the jungle and the Campuhan bridge. Food is all vegan, gluten free, full of flavor, and full of heart. The vibe here is very “Ubudian”: barefoot creatives, yogis, healers. Sunset, someone singing and playing guitar, cacao drinks — try the cauliflower pizza, and honestly everything else - food fomo here for everything I did not get to taste.

Bisma8 - bisma-eight.com
Staying at Bisma8 spoiled my taste buds because every single thing I ate was insanely delicious. This specific section is really just to highlight my favourite ones because nearly every single restaurant was either naturally gluten free, vegan or able to provied that kind of food which is probably why I am so obsessed with Bali in general. But Bisma8 was extremely special because they had both local food and the kind of vegan, gf goodies that you would find in Australia and California so it was the perfect balance of local, fresh, and healthy. Highly reccomend for dinner!

Best Outdoor Adventures in Ubud

Kajeng Rice Fields Walk
Right off the main street in Ubud. A spontaneous detour turns into a meditative walk through lush fields, ducks, distant temples, and local farmers. You can walk all the way up to an area called the art walk and there are one or two cute cafes and you get to an area that feels almost untouched. I think here you get a taste of what the old Ubud was like before all the tourists.

Saraswati Temple + Kecak Fire Dance – Ubud Palace Events
A sensual overload: incense, fire, chanting, sunset skies over water lilies. The most poetic way to end the day, its during sunset so you have a really full experience of a really sacred ritual. Part of me thinks it has been enhanced for touristic purposes (probably) but I still do think its amazing to see.

Tegenungan Waterfall – Ask the local guide
The waterfall tour had to be one of my favourites. This one was a more intimate waterfall — almost a hidden cave. Each waterfall has a temple at its entrance point because the Balinese see each natural symbol as sacred. Which is so beautiful. Highly reccomend.

Kanto Lampo Waterfall – Ask the local guide
A dramatic, roaring cascade where you can swim beneath the spray which I did and it felt like a renewal. I loved this experience. I really was basically imagining the water cleansing me, renewing me and giving me everything I have been imagining. I also just felt immense gratitude to experience this kind of beauty. Go early to beat the crowds though because this has become a full on instagram spot.

Lewak Coffee Tasting – Ask the local guide
Learn about the legendary (and controversial) Luwak coffee. Some people do not think this is worthwhile, which I understand but it is interesting to just see how coffee is made. You will get to taste, tour, and immerse yourself in the old-world Bali way of growing, roasting, and savoring coffee and specifically around the “trendy cat poo coffee”. It literally takes 20 minutes so it can be done as a stop on your way somewhere.

Monkey Forest Sanctuary – monkeyforestubud.com
So I loved the wild and sacred, mystical vibe of the forest. Ancient trees, moss-covered statues, and cheeky monkeys were creating full chaos in this forest. BUT honestly, I wasn’t incredibly inspired by the experience itself. Although it is on the must-see list so I do reccomend just going for a walk, which is what we did with my husband. I enjoyed the “walkthrough” because it is incredible to see so many monkeys playing with each other and just enjoying being silly but not seeing as a “thing to do” as that feels kind of wrong while these monkeys are in their natural habitat! Just do not look the monkeys in the eye they will aggress you.

Water purifiication ceremony and Local Healers
We didn’t get a chance to do the traditional water purification ceremony due to time constraints, but it’s genuinely at the top of my list. I did create my own version with the waterfalls, which was beautiful in its own way, but I’m really keen to explore the local Balinese healing practices more deeply—think Katuk from Eat Pray Love. Many Balinese families have their own healer who can guide you through physical, emotional, or spiritual healing, which is something I find incredibly fascinating. Both that and the official water purification ceremony are absolute musts for my next trip. If you get the chance, don’t miss it—it’s something I have heard is truly special.

Tabanan (Near Canggu)

Kedungu Beach
Empty and beautiful beach that is about 1 km with black sand in Tabanan. Amazing surf vibes! This beach is near Nirjhara the hotel and is so authentic and has such a powerful energy around it. Check it out if you are near Canggu.

Favourite Local Designers and Shops

Cacao and Kimono (Canggu) - Cacao and Kimono
This store is super cute and a mix of kimonos (as the name suggests) but also perfumes, underwear, Bali-vibe cocktail dresses, tarot cards, candles and all the goodies. I think I did like 4 laps in this store and found something from each category. They have really beautiful roll-on perfumes that are meant for calming, and energy. I bought an almond one with crystals inside and its kind of a seccret talisman I carry with me when I need to keep calm!

Lu-ciee (Canggu) - Lu-Ciee
All sustainable, stunning clothing brand with lots of long linen dresses, linen shirts, shorts and other pieces that made you feel super chic and beautiful. I bought a shirt that I wear as a jacket or tuck in to jeans for a laidback summer vibe.

Alchemy Market (Uluwatu and Ubud)
Alchemy Community Market is filled with amazing brands and runs on Saturday and Sunday and sometimes during other days of the week, but varies during different times of year. It’s filled with cute stalls of jewelry, bikinis, loungewear, toursit trinkets, energetic things, incense and more. I highly reccomend you look in advance on their instagram and plan to have brunch at Alchemy while browsing the market. It is such a cool vibe and a perfect way to get some of your shopping out of the way for friends, family and yourself!

Studio K (Canggu and Uluwatu) - StudioK
This is an amazing store of workout clothes, bikinis and loungewear, I feel everything in Bali is either loose and flowy or the most cozy workout outfits/ outfits that you would want to wear at home while having coffee in the mornings and answering emails. I bought such a soft tank top. I love it! Plus everything is made locally and sustainably which I loved.

Goosberry Intimates (Uluwatu) - Goosebery Intimates
Inside Gooseberry cafe, you have a full intimates store, with the most beautiful colours and lace lingerie. It’s actually an Australian brand that I knew from a while ago but was never able to find in Europe. Shopping here is perfect when you are bored from waiting for your food and want to try a quick set on. For some reason when you are hungry I find you are much more keen on spending. Oops!

Black List Coffee Roasters - Black List
Amazing coffee roasted here, you just feel the quality and the smell gets you when you walk in. The company is actually from Perth but they roast their coffee and get it in Bali (Sumatra). I love bringing back coffee because I have an amazing espresso machine at home so I had to stop by and buy a bunch to bring back for friends and myself!

*Lu-Ciee and the husband that waits while we shop*

Essential Vibes

Canggu = the creative vibey pulse of the island. Uluwatu = the mystical beachy edge. Ubud = Deep soul searching and clearing. Together, they’re the island wellness that I got to experience (althought there is so much more).

Move, dance, rest, explore, choose self-care, choose silence, appreciate everything that’s Bali.

Then don’t forget to swim, drink cacao, watch the moon and feel absolutely everything.

Bali is a masterclass in being connected to energy, culture and a lesson in soft power. Everything opens when you slow down. Yes its kind of a cliche to go to Bali to find yourself but you really do in a way rediscover yourself. Because when you let go of the “shoulds” and you let the land, the rituals, and the smiles do the work you feel something different.

I do not exaggerate when I say Bali changed me and started a transition into everything I could ever want for myself to come true. It unlocked something I needed help to open, to recognize, like a door, into the next chapter of life. If you are going to this magical island, I am sure you will find exactly what you need there.

Let me know if you enjoy these and more to come!

My Bali Wellness Guide