A guide for how to travel overland from Java to Bali by train, ferry, and bus.

Java and Bali are separated by the Bali Strait, and the islands are 2.4 km apart at the closest points. Ferries run continually between the two islands, so this is one of the easiest crossings when overlanding across Indonesia.

There are buses that originate from all over Java to Denpasar in Bali, so bus trips require little planning. It’s more enjoyable to travel across Java by train, so this guide explains how to travel from Java to Bali by train, ferry, and bus.

Index

Java to Bali overland map
Train: East Java
Surabaya – Ketapang
Probolinggo – Ketapang
Malang – Ketapang
Ferry from Java to Bali
Ketapang – Gilimanuk
Bali ground transport
Bus: Gilimanuk – Denpasar
Mengwi Bus Terminal
Terminal Ubung
Bus and taxi from bus terminals

Java to Bali overland map

Places referenced in this guide are shown on this map.

[Map of overland route from Java to Bali.]

Trains: East Java

Surabaya – Ketapang

[KA Probowangi at Surabaya Gubeng.]

KA Probowangi is a day train from Surabaya to Ketapang. This is the best option for day travel if you are slowly making your way across the archipelago.

There are also sleeper trains that operate from Surabaya to Ketapang. This will get you to Ketapang port early in the morning, which means you should be in South Bali by lunch time.

Search for Surabaya to Ketapang train tickets.

Probolinggo – Ketapang

Probolinggo is the most useful train station to get to Mount Bromo. If you’re travelling across Java for the first time it would be weird to not stop at Mount Bromo on the way to Bali.

[Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park.]

Probolinggo is on the Surabaya-Ketapang line, so the same trains that originate from Surabaya pass through Probolinggo.

There are Bromo tours that start in Probolinggo, or you can stay closer to the mountain at Cemoro Lawang and Wonotoro (a better option for sunrise tours).

The day train from Surabaya to Ketapang departs Probolinggo at 8:01, so there isn’t enough time to do a sunrise tour then get the train on the same day. Alternatively, you could get the overnight rain from Probolinggo to Ketapang.

Malang – Ketapang

Malang is another city that is useful for going to Bromo, and it’s a city that is well worth a stop.

Search for hotels in Malang.

Direct trains operate between Yogyakarta and Malang, so this is an alternative route if you aren’t planning to go to Surabaya.

There is a train service that operates from Malang to Ketapang, but it departs Malang at 16:30 and arrives at Ketapang at 23:40. You do not want to travel the ferries and buses of Indonesia overnight.

Search for Malang to Ketapang train tickets.

If you are staying in Malang and still want to get the train, it would be better to get the train to Banyuwangi Kota and stay in Banyuwangi. This is near enough to Ketapang to get a taxi in the morning, or you can stay for a day and explore if you are embracing the slow travel ethos. There are also Banyuwangi-Bali buses, so that would be easier than going to the ferry terminal and getting a bus in Bali.

Search for hotels in Banyuwangi.

Ferry from Java to Bali

There is no bridge from Java to Bali, so ferries are the only non-flying transport option.

Ketapang – Gilimanuk

[Java-Bali ferries in the Bali Strait.]

Ferries from Ketapang in Java to Gilimanuk in Bali run 24 hours a day. They leave every 20-30 minutes, though when I went it looked like they were sending ferries as fast as they could fill them. Either way, there is no need to stress about getting to the port before the next ferry departs.

I arrived in Ketapang by train, and it’s a 10-minute walk to the port. There are cycle rickshaws (becaks) outside the station, which I rarely use. In this case I decided to take one in the interests of this review. I was quoted 20,000 IDR to go to the port. I knew I was paying twice as much when I sat down and the other becaks riders started laughing. One even took a photo of me. I didn’t mind though as they picked the oldest uncle to take me, and I am too old to be haggling with uncles. Plus is was $1.25 USD. It just felt odd to get a ride for such a short distance. I marked this up as taking a hit for Nomadic Notes readers.

[Becaks at Ketapang Station.]

At the entrance to the ferry port there are representatives of bus companies that are selling seats on buses to Bali. I always feel on guard at ferry ports when someone is trying to sell transport. The agent said it would be quicker for me to get on a bus now rather than waiting for a bus in Gilimanuk. I reluctantly bought a ticket for 150,000 IDR ($9.40 USD), and this turned out to be the best decision.

The bus hadn’t arrived yet, but the agent said it was about 10 minutes away. 10 minutes in Indonesia could mean anything, but it was indeed about 10 minutes. The agent guided me to the bus, then the bus drove to the queue to board the ferry. A few minutes later the agent boarded the bus and told me to get on another bus that was leaving earlier, so I was glad he was looking out for me even after he had received his rupiah.

[On the bus at Ketapang Ferry Port.]

If you get a bus, you board the ferry with the bus. If you are a foot passenger, then you walk on when instructed.

[Truck and passenger bus in the ferry from Java to Bali.]

Once the bus has parked on the ferry, you are free to go to the upstairs deck.

The ferry crossing takes about 30 minutes on a normal crossing, but our ferry was stuck at sea for 30 minutes while waiting for an available dock.

[Waiting to dock at Gilimanuk, Bali.]

Board the bus before the ferry arrives so the bus can leave immediately. If you are a foot passenger, it’s a 6-minute walk (450 metres) to the Gilimanuk bus terminal.

Bali ground transport

Once you have arrived in Gilimanuk you may be lulled into thinking that your journey is almost over. If you are going to South Bali though (as most tourists are), then there is a long ride ahead.

Bali is one hour ahead of Java, so you also lose an hour if you didn’t account for that time zone change in your planning.

Bus: Gilimanuk – Denpasar

The bus from Gilimanuk Ferry Port to Terminal Ubung in Denpasar takes about 3 hours and 30 minutes to travel 123 km.

[Route map from Gilimanuk Ferry Port to Terminal Ubung (map link).]

My Google Maps estimated it to be a 3 hr 37 min trip. I’m familiar with the terrible traffic of Bali, so this was a believable figure. I budgeted 4 hours for this bus trip, and it turned out to be exactly 4 hours.

The bus stopped for fuel after 20 minutes of driving. This was a 10-minute fuel/toilet break, and then the bus drove non-stop for 3 and a half hours. When I’m on long trips I usually fast and reduce my liquid intake to a minimum. I was glad to not need to go to the toilet in those 3 and a half hours.

[A view of Bali traffic from the back of the bus.]

The trip is so slow because the main “highway” that runs along the coast is only two lanes for most of the way. All of the trucks that arrive from Java on the ferries use this road to go everywhere else in South Bali.

[The bus is constantly looking for opportunities to overtake trucks.]

The good part of the trip is that you get to see the beauty of West Bali. It is nowhere near as built-up as South Bali, so there are endless amounts of rice fields with mountains in the background.

There are some stunning river crossings that looked what people come to Bali for.

[The rivers in Kuta no longer look like this.]

Mengwi Bus Terminal

Mengwi Bus Terminal in Badung Regency is the long-distance bus terminal of Bali. If you are arriving by coach from another island then the bus will terminate here. There is a plan to extend the proposed Bali LRT to Mengwi, but that is far in the future if at all.

Mengwi Bus Terminal is closer to Ubud than Terminal Ubung so this is a better stop to get off at.

My bus was a small bus, so it made a stop at Mengwi and then kept going to Terminal Ubung.

Terminal Ubung

Terminal Ubung was the main bus terminal of Bali until it was replaced by Mengwi Bus Terminal. Ubung is still used by small buses and minivans, and it’s closer to Kuta-Seminyak and Sanur.

Bus and taxi from bus terminals

My bus arrived at Terminal Ubung in the evening and it was too late to consider a local bus. The local bus is Trans Metro Dewata. They don’t have a website, but you can download a PDF map via linktr.ee/transmetrodewata. The bus goes to Central Parkir in Kuta, where you can connect with other local buses.

Bluebird Taxi is a reliable taxi company in Bali, so take one of those if you see one. There were no taxis when I arrived, so I used the Grab app. If you are travelling in Indonesia then you should already be using Grab or Gojek for ride-hailing.

I was approached by a taxi driver before I had a chance to book a Grab. He asked where I was going and he showed me how much it would cost if I booked it on Grab. The price was 80,000 IDR ($5 USD) from Ubung to Legian, and I agreed to the fare. The taxi took 40 minutes, so that was a reasonable fare. After having taken a train, becak, ferry, and bus to get here, I was happy to finish the trip with a taxi.

This train travel guide is part of my Southeast Asia railways guide.

I first visited Canggu in 2014 when it was already creating a name for itself as the next cool place in Bali. By then it was called “the new Ubud” and “Ubud for surfers”, so of course I had to see for myself. Sure enough I could see the new-age/organic of vibe Ubud fused with hipster surf culture.

Three years later I found myself back in Canggu and I was staggered at the changes over that time. This little hipster enclave has appealing cafes and restaurants everywhere. If you measured its cool factor by hipster cafes per capita, it might just be the coolest place on the planet right now.

I enjoyed my visit in Canggu, though I know it’s not for everyone. For me I have come to associate Bali as being a luxurious recovery stop in between visiting Indonesian islands. Travel east of Bali and coffee comes in a sachet and hot water in a guesthouse is a rare luxury. You’ll be hard pressed to find cultural travel in Canggu, but if you want a beach town with an amazing variety of food and great accommodation, then this is your place.

Where is Canggu?

Canggu (pronounced as “changgoo”, and known as The Gu if you have been there long enough) is an area in South Bali, between Seminyak and Tanah Lot. If you look on the map of Bali, tourism development has gradually eaten its way north from the airport through Kuta, Legian, and Seminyak. Canggu is after those well-known travel hotspots.

From rice paddies to hipster paradise

What I like about Canggu is that it is still set among rice fields (for now). I’m based in a concrete jungle teeming with motorbikes, so I found the change of pace refreshing.

My first impression of Canggu was of it being similar in vibe to Ubud, which has a high proportion of organic/new age shops.

The difference being that you can drink, smoke, and eat hamburgers here, and not feel guilty about it.

And of course the one thing that Canggu has over Ubud is a beach. At first glance the beach doesn’t look appealing (like the brown beach of Pangandaran) but upon closer inspection it is soft beach to walk on.

The Australian influence is prevalent here, but not overrun with bogans like in Kuta Beach. I’ve heard Canggu being described as “Bondi on Bali” (named after the trendy Sydney beach neighbourhood).

I found a cafe called Little Flinders, which is a reference to a street in Melbourne.

It’s not all Aussie cafes though as there is a wide range of international representation here. Scandinavians are a well-travelled lot, so it is not surprising to find a restaurant of Scandinavian comfort food.

French and Chinese fusion doesn’t sound obvious, except when you are in The Gu.

Walking up and down the main road I just wanted to eat everything.

Filing under TIL – I learned that you can make flour out of dried bananas, which is what Made’s Banana Flour Company does (the world’s first banana flour bakery).

A rare beast in Southeast Asia are good Mexican restaurants.

And excuse this blurry photo – you can get Cubanos here!

Even with all the foreign influence it is still Bali at heart. Balinese temples and shrines are everywhere, and the ubiquitous daily offerings are laid in front of every building.

Paradise or parody?

At times it feels like Canggu is one big parody of itself, with paleo this, vegan that, and organic everything else.

Can I interest you in some colon hydrotherapy?

If you do Crossfit on the beach and didn’t Instagram it, did you do Crossfit on the beach?

And no hipster paradise is complete without a hipster barber shop.

My favourite cafe in Canggu

There are plenty of cafes in Canggu serving espresso-based coffee, though I wasn’t there long enough to compile a “best cafes in Canggu” list for my Bali cafe list. The best coffee I had was at Machinery Cafe on Jl. Pantai Batu Bolong.

And for the drinkers

I don’t drink, but if I did I would have found myself at Ji, which is a Japanese fusion restaurant/wine & sake bar. The bar is housed in a Kang Xi period temple from 1706, which was facing demolition in Java until it was transported and reconstructed in Bali. This is more like something you would find in Seminyak, which is overflowing with uber-cool world-class bars. This is perhaps a harbinger of things to come as the Seminyak influence creeps its way north.

Less formal is this beer cart that you may find on your travels.

The institution of Canggu is Old Mans, which is on the beach at Jalan Pantai Batu Bolong.

Where I ate

I visited Hungry Volks purely for its location near my accommodation, and it turned out to be a favourite. I liked it unpretentious Indonesian/Western menu and reasonable prices (for Canggu), where many places are charging Australian prices.

I prefer eating local where ever I go, which is a challenge in Canggu. I enjoyed Warung Bu Mi which is a modern take on traditional Indonesian restaurants that serves rice and your choice of side dishes.

Digital nomad scene

I’ve been hearing the buzz about Canggu on various nomad forums so I was curious to see its suitability as a place to live and work. Canggu is spread out without a real town centre so there isn’t an obvious congregation spot. There is a co-working space here, and some villas have been set up and marketed specifically for digital nomads.

At this point Canggu is still a mix of surfers, hippies, hipsters, digital nomads, and expats who fled to Canggu to escape the development of Seminyak to the south, which has now caught up with them and who are now complaining about said development.

I prefer living in big cities, though I could see myself spending a month here to get some work done.

Getting around Canggu

Getting to and around Canggu is a pain. As Bali has grown over the last few decades little thought has been given to future infrastructure planning. Perhaps they did think about it, only to put that thought back in the too hard basket. Family land ownership is a big deal here, and properties are built up against public roads, making property acquisition and road widening an impossible task.

To make matters worse, the two main roads of Canggu run parallel with a valley of rice fields separating the two. It is here that you will find the infamous short cut road that crosses the valley to connect Batu Bolong and Batu Bewara. The short cut is wide enough for one car, so cars have to check the other side of the valley to make sure no other cars are coming before making the crossing. I have seen photos of cars that have rolled into the rice paddies.

The taxi mafia is powerful in Bali and there is resistance to the new wave of ride apps that are sweeping Southeast Asia. The big app players here are Gojek, Grab, and Uber. I personally use Grab in Vietnam, so that was useful to have the same account already work in Bali. I also tried out Gojek to see what the buzz is about.

The Minister of Transportation banned online transportation services in December, 2015 and then lifted the ban a day later. So they are still legal but taxi mafia strongmen have been known to intimidate riders and drivers of the new transportation companies.

At my guesthouse the listed price to get from Canggu to the airport by private taxi was 200,000 IDR. The rate I was quoted on Gojek was 63,000 IDR for the 45 minutes drive to the airport by car. It was about the same price for Grab to the airport.

One time I took a Grab car from Seminyak to Canggu and the driver messaged me to ask if he could cancel and add another 10,000 to the price. The price was still way cheaper than a mafia cab, so I obliged.

I prefer the apps because when you are in a new place and unfamiliar with what the actual transport price should be, it is given to you without any haggling or tipping to worry about.

Gojek also offer a variety of other delivery services.

Where to stay Canggu

There is a serious accommodation boom happening in Canggu (849 properties were listed on Agoda at the time of my visit). The cheapest places are the home stays that can be found down little alleys off the main roads. Some of them have online booking, but if you are here for a while it would be worth enquiring at ones you pass in an area that interests you.

I was only there for a short time so I didn’t want to spend my time finding a place by foot. I prefer to book in advance and I found a good homestay option on the main road. It’s a bit of a hike from the beach but if you are going to be here a while with a bike it is a good option. Find out about Canggu Stay here.

For a guesthouse that feels like a resort have a look at Coconuts Guesthouse Canggu.

In the 4-star range the Aston Canggu is walking distance to the beach.

Search all hotels in Canggu here. And don’t forget Airbnb as an accommodation option.

How will Canggu handle future development?

As I mentioned previously, the pace of change has been staggering. I suspect if I visit again in another three years time more agricultural land will have been paved over. Before I left I passed this rice field on Batu Bolong which was being boarded up ready for a new construction project. This rice crop will be the last one on this field.

The word is definitely out the Canggu is the place to be, with the Intercontinental putting up a new hotel here.

Further reading

Canggu Guide – Bali-based Travelfish has a big guide on things to do.

The Ultimate Guide to Canggu for Independent Travellers and Digital Nomads – Carolin from breathingtravel.com spent a few months in Canggu and put together this guide.

Flight: Malindo Air OD 308
From: Kuala Lumpur (KUL) To: Denpasar (DPS)

I flew with Malindo Air from Kuala Lumpur to Bali. I compared flights online with Skyscanner and they were the cheapest, and also flying at a reasonable hour of the day. I had never flown with Malindo, which was another reason I picked them. I like to try out different airlines if it’s an option, and I there there is no points benefit from any airline.

Malindo is part of the Lion Group, which I have flown with before. I went with Thai Lion Air from Chiang Mai to Bangkok, which remains as the airline with the least amount of legroom I’ve flown in. I have also flown with Wings Air in Indonesia. I haven’t flown with Lion Air, which was the airline that belly-flopped in the water short of Denpasar in 2013. Expats always seem to complain about them as well so I went in with low expectations about Malindo. It turned out that Malindo exceeded my expectations, even before I arrived at the airport.

I figured that Malindo would be a low-cost airline given that they are associated with the Lion brand. Upon booking, I found that you get a free checked bag and you can select your own seat at no cost. The booking process is simple with no extra hoops of added charges to jump through. The total fare is shown clearly, without any extras added on. I paid 179 MYR ($40 UD) which is a great deal for a 2-hour 40-minute flight.

Malindo flies out of the main KUL airport terminal (KLIA) and not KLIA2, which is where the low-cost airlines are. If you are going to the airport from KLSentral (the main train station in KL) then you can make use of the check-in facilities at the train station.

I have seen this at other airport trains but have never tried it, so today was my day to test it out. Checking in at the train station is available for Malindo Air, Malaysia Airlines, and Cathay Pacific. There was no one checking in when I went so I went straight to the counter and checked my bag. The bags are loaded onto a special compartment at the end of the train, so it is going to the airport at the same time as you. I was a bit nervous to part with my bag away from the airport, but in the end, it was not a problem, and it was nice to have unloaded my bag so quickly. The airport train takes 28 minutes to the airport, and it’s the fastest airport railway in Southeast Asia.

We boarded via an air bridge.

Upon boarding, I was surprised to see there were personal entertainment units on the flight.

And I was also surprised by the legroom. When I sat down I thought I was in the exit row for a second, such was the amount of legroom. I don’t think in inches, so for scale here is my hand with the amount of space left. For comparison, on my Thai Lion Air flight my knees were touching the back of the seat in front of me.

Malindomag – the inflight magazine of Malindo Air.

There is internet available onboard for purchase, should you need to get some work done or can’t go without for a few hours.

There were 8 movies available in English, though at under 3 hours of flying time I didn’t feel the need to watch a movie.

The route map for the KUL – DPS flight.

A welcome snack and drink are provided after take-off.

A hot meal is also provided on the flight. I got the vegetarian as the chicken option ran out early on.

I entertained myself with a book, though I was happy to have a USB port in the entertainment system so I could charge my phone.

Overall this was a great flight option to get to Bali. Malindo Air also flies to destinations throughout Southeast Asia so they are a good option to fly to Bali in one day.

Flight: Sriwijaya Air SJ 2710
From: Dili (DIL) To: Denpasar Bali (DPS)
How I Booked: Searched via Skyscanner.

Sriwijaya Air is an airline based in Jakarta that flies domestic Indonesian routes and well as a some regional international flights. In this case I was flying one of their international services from Dili in East Timor to Denpasar Bali.

I found the flight via Skyscanner which compares flights out of Dili. The Sriwijaya website looks like it’s from 2001 so I was wondering if my booking would work. I’ve had problems booking domestic flights in Indonesia before but the booking this time was easy. I selected my dates and the next thing I knew I was being asked for my credit card details. No up-sell for baggage allowance, meals, seat, insurance, credit card fee, aircraft fuel, or oxygen. How refreshing.

[Ticket price without all the silly extras.]

I didn’t know anything else about this airline before flying. It’s not in any alliance and outside of of Indonesia I would hazard a guess that most people have never heard of it. The flight is 1.45 hours so I wasn’t expecting a meal service. The meal was plain but I was happy to have something to eat.

This flight was a good option to get back into Indonesia after overlanding to East Timor from West Timor. I note that the airline is expanding services from Dili into other parts of Indonesia so a trip to Dili is now a viable visa run from more places in Indonesia.

Bali has long been a popular destination for creative types, but for us reliant on the internet its reputation of poor internet connectivity precedes it. I was a bit sceptical to come back myself. Last time I was here (4 years ago) I had a hard time finding accommodation with wifi, and there wasn’t much of a cafe scene in the beach area.

I’m happy to report that the wifi situation has improved dramatically over the past few years. While the internet isn’t as fast as mainland Southeast Asia, I was still able to get work done without wanting to throw my laptop out the window in frustration. I used to have to ask if there was wifi on the premises, but now even the most basic guesthouse comes with wifi.

What has also improved in Bali are the cafes. Going from my previous experience in Bali I was expecting to find tourist restaurants filled with Aussies watching football (AFL and NRL) all day. Sure, there is still plenty of that around, especially in Kuta and Legian. Many of the new cafes though are as good as you will find anywhere in the world. If it wasn’t for the palm trees and tropical climate you could be mistaken for being in Brooklyn rather than Bali. The best of these cafes can be found in Seminyak but there are good cafes in all the areas listed.

In this cafe list when I say Bali I am referring to the urban conurbation of the southern beaches, from Canggu down to Kerobokan, Seminyak, Legian, Kuta, and Tuban (next to the airport). I have left out Ubud in this post as it is a fair distance from the beaches and there are so many cafes in Ubud that it deserves a separate blog post.

Bali Cafe Map

If you want to just find a cafe nearest to you refer to this cafe map.

Direct link to the Bali Cafes Map.

Seminyak

Revolver

Down a little laneway and behind an unassuming door is this cafe that wouldn’t be out of place in Melbourne. In this dark wooden interior you could forget that it’s tropical Bali outside. Great coffee and one of my favourites.

Location: Jalan Kayu Aya/Gang 51, Seminyak.
Website: revolverespresso.com

Anomali Coffee

Anomali is another popular cafe that takes its coffee roasting and serving seriously.

Location: Jalan Kayu Aya No.7B, Seminyak.
Website: store.anomalicoffee.com

Shelter

Upstairs is where it’s at here with its breezy covered rooftop space serving coffee and western food.

Location: Jl. Drupadi 1. No 2A, Seminyak.
Website: www.sheltercafebali.com

Drop

A small cafe on Jalan Petitenget.

Location: Jalan Petitenget 888x, Seminyak.
Website: www.facebook.com/Drop.Bali

Mantra

More of a bar/restaurant but in the day time it is quiet enough and worth coming to admire the interior design.

Location: Jl. Petitenget Raya 77x, Seminyak.
Website: mantrabali.com

Potato Head

Visitors to Bali should come here at least once if only to check out the architectural marvel of the building, which is completely clad in recycled wooden windows. It’s a bit pricey but as you can see from the location you are paying for the view. Sit by the pool and enjoy being in Bali.

[h/t to Dan @ TropicalMBA for this one.]

Location: Jalan Petitenget (on the beach), Seminyak.
Website: www.ptthead.com

Melbourne Coffee

I was on my way to another cafe when I passed this one, and with a name like that how could I not visit! With its thatched roof and free wifi its not really Melbournesque (the coffee wasn’t either), but handy for a place to work if you are near the Flea Market.

Location: Jl. Kayu Aya Square Unit 22 (Flea Market), Seminyak.
Website: www.facebook.com/tunjung.dwi.169

Bali Bakery

Big bakery cafe in Seminyak Square.

Location: Seminyak Square, Jl. Raya Kuta 65, Seminyak.
Website: www.balibakery.com

Sisterfields

Another hip cafe in the Seminyak scene, it was packed when I visited.

Location: Jl. Kayu Cendana No. 7, Seminyak.
Website: facebook.com/sisterfieldsbali

Gourmet Cafe

Cafe restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating.

Location: Jl. Petitenget 45, Seminyak.
Website: www.balicateringcompany.com/cafe/

Warung Ocha

More of a restaurant than a cafe (it is a warung afterall) but a good place to work outside of lunch hours.

Location: Jl. Raya Seminyak 52, Seminyak.
Website: foursquare.com/v/warung-ocha/4f0055b10e01089c56116d3e

Cafe Moka

Cafe Moka is a cafe/bakery chain with a few more branches around Bali.

Location: Jl. Raya Seminyak, Seminyak.
Website: cafemokabali.com

Chat Cafe

I am usually averse to working in places that have tablecloths, but when I visited Chat Cafe I saw more people with laptops than any other cafe. I’ve since been told it is a digital nomad hotspot.

Location: Jalan Kunti No. 18, Seminyak.
Website: foursquare.com/v/chat-cafe/4c15ac8182a3c9b6ac42fff8

La Plancha

A cafe right on the beach (as in on the actual sand) and priced accordingly. There are several cafe/bars along this stretch of beach to choose from. Good location if you want to take a “digital nomad working on the beach” photo.

Location: Jl. Mesari Beach, Seminyak.
Website: foursquare.com/v/la-plancha/4c5d33b56147be9ab06a9109

The Moose Espresso Bar

Another Aussie-run cafe bringing great coffee to Bali.

Location: Jl. Batu Belig, Seminyak.
Website: www.facebook.com/themooseespressobarbali

Cafe Madonna

At the end of Seminyak on the way to Canggu is this decent little cafe/lunch spot.

Location: Jl. Batu Belig No.80, Seminyak.
Website: www.facebook.com/cafemadonnabali

Legian

Sacred Ground

The best coffee I had in Legian was here (the beans are from Revolver so that came as no surprise). It is not a big cafe but there is also space on the other side of the lane. Good option if you are staying in the touristy area of Double Six Road.

Location: Jalan Arjuna (Double Six) 99x, Legian.

Mugshot Coffee

A little cafe oasis in a street filled with bogan tourist restaurants. Get your “mugshot” taken to be put on the wall (and your donation will be given to charity.)

Location: Jl. Padma Utara 5, Legian.
Website: www.facebook.com/mugshot.coffee.7

The Caffeine Coffee Shop

Reassuring to know that my coffee will have caffeine in it. Beyond the small street entrance there is a cafe set in a garden and old building out the back.

Location: Jl. Legian Kaja 462 Legian.
Website: www.facebook.com/thecaffeinebali

Coffee Corner

Australian style breakfast cafe on the touristy Jalan Melasti.

Location: Jl. Melasti Block 1 & 2, Legian.
Website: www.facebook.com/CoffeeCornerBali

The Coffee Library

I nearly didn’t list this one as it’s more of a restaurant and bar (with tablecloths!), plus there is a live band in the evening. The cafe section though is worth a look. It is the first cafe I have seen that offer coffee by Aeropress. They also offer French Press coffee.

Location: Jln Padma No 39, Legian.
Website: foursquare.com/v/the-coffee-library-legian-bali/51fcb009498eeb37123988ff

KAE (Kedai Asia Eropa)

Cafe/restaurant in inside a hotel lobby.

Location: Lobby of Grandmas Hotel, Jl. Sriwijaya No. 368, Legian.
Website: foursquare.com/v/kae-kedai-asia-eropa-denpasar-indonesia/5290413811d2f4cc5fcb5369

Starbucks

There are numerous Starbucks in Bali (of course) but I have listed this one if you are in the heart of the Jalan Legian tourist area (not far from the Bali Bombing Memorial – Ground Zero Monument).

Location: The 101 Legian, Jl Legian, Legian.
Website: foursquare.com/v/starbucks-coffee/51978bd7498e614a027d264f

Kuta

Espress

Technically in Kuta but away from the tourist area, Espress cafe is one of the hippest little cafes I visited in my Bali cafe exploration.

Location: Jalan Dewi Sri 101, Kuta.
Website: www.facebook.com/EspressBali

Bemo Corner Coffee Shop

Bemo Corner Coffee Shop is located in Deepest Kuta. You will see more Bintang T-shirts per square metre here than anywhere else in Bali. Some of the cheapest guesthouses in Bali are around this area so if you are here then Bemo Corner is a good option.

Location: Jl. Pantai Kuta No. 10A, Kuta.
Website: www.facebook.com/bemocappucino

Tuban

De Bali

There’s not much going on – cafe wise – in Tuban, but if you are down here then De Bali is a suitable cafe/restaurant to work from.

Location: Jl. Wana Segara No. 8, Tuban.
Website: www.facebook.com/De-Bali-116241018458209

Kerobokan

Nook

Mention Kerobokan to an Australian and they will most likely associate it with the prison and its celebrity Aussie inmates. Kerobokan is just north of trendy Seminyak and starting to get developed. No doubt this area will be concreted over in 10 years, but for now you can still sip on a coffee with a view of rice paddies.
[h/t to Travelfish for sending me here.]

Location: Jl. Umalas 1, Kerobokan.
Website: foursquare.com/v/nook-restaurant-badung/516e803d498ea3466d4cfd75

Livingstone Bakery

Livingstone is a bakery cafe that is set in a light-filled space that looks like it was once a warehouse.

Location: Jl. Petitenget no.88x, Kerobokan.
Website: www.livingstonebakery.com

Canggu

Bungalow Living Cafe

This is a home interior shop with a cafe attached. The cafe has a hippy vibe that wouldn’t be out of place in Ubud.

Location: Jl. Pantai Berawa 35A, Canggu.
Website: www.facebook.com/BungalowLivingBali

Hungry Bird

Restaurant/cafe place to work.

Location: Jl. Pantai Berawa 33, Canggu.
Website: www.facebook.com/hungrybirdcoffee

Oka’s Bakery and Cafe

A good cafe option on Canggu’s main road.

Location: Jl. Batu Bolong, Canggu.

Canteen

A must-visit if you are coming to Canggu. This cafe is decked out with retro surf posters and paraphernalia and is a popular place to eat.

Location: Jl. Batu Bolong 34, Canggu.
Website: www.facebook.com/CanteenCafeCanggu

Monsieur Spoon

A well-regarded bakery in Bali (there is a branch in Seminyak as well).

Location: Jalan Pantai Batu Bolong (Jalan Batu Mejan), Canggu.
Website: foursquare.com/v/monsieur-spoon/515394dce4b0bdbdf14f5176

Betelnut Cafe

Betelnut is a popular hangout cafe in Canggu set in a beautiful two storey building and another “must visit” for Canggu. Come here and you will see why Canggu is regarding as the up-and-coming area in Bali.

Location: Jl. Batu Bolong 60, Canggu.
Website: www.facebook.com/pages/Betelnut-Cafe/289844997715255

Closed

The Townhouse Bali: Jl. Laksamana 151, Seminyak.
The Coffee House (Thai Kitchen) Jl. Raya Basangkasa 3A, Seminyak.
Buzz Cafe Corner Jl. Raya Seminyak and Jl. Kunti, Seminyak.
Triplo Coffee Jl. Kerobokan Raya No. 82, Seminyak.
Babar Cafe Jalan Raya Basangkasa 17, Seminyak.