Celebrate New Year’s in the tropics! Whether you are resolving to surf more, brunch better, or skip right to the best hangover spot; let us guide you to the best Bali New Years’ experience. We’ve got you covered; from where you get ready, to where you recover, and every cocktail in between.
Written by Laura Buck.
Part 1: RELAX INTO IT
The Bali lifestyle is all about doing things in due course. The Balinese actually have a saying “What cannot be done today, can be done tomorrow.” So we suggest you make like the locals, and forget all about responsibility until next year.
AMO SPA
@amospabali | www.amospa.com
Did you get a little too excited at the Rock Bar Bali Eve Eve Party? Or shop and cocktail hop a little too hard. Luckily Amo Spa offers two locations of reprieve and relaxation with their Petitinget and Amo Express location in the heart of Seminyak. Get fresh faced and glow like a goddess with their Give Me Oxygen, Dead Skin B Gone or Ultimate Face Time treats. Add on a body scrub to maximise your tanning this trip, or a 30 min head and shoulder massage for the ultimate mini escape.
ESSENSUALS HAIRDRESSING BALI
@essensualsbali | www.essensualshair.com
Enter hair heaven before you hit the New Year party scene. There is no other salon in Bali that can get your hair feeling so fresh. It also may be the only salon in town with DJ decks. The rock star team are now housed at The Village Seminyak Mall and are ready to treat you to their international and highly experienced team of hair tech heads. Whether it’s a trim, treatment or new year new you look, you’ll be knocking back the 12am kisses in style. Bookings are super essensual!
MADHU BOUTIQUE
@madhubali | #madhubali
Madhu Boutique is a little slice of shopping paradise located on Jalan Batu Bolong in Canggu right next door to Lacalita Bar y Cocina. The name Madhu translates to honey, and boy have they got some sweet little treats for everyone; from beach essentials to extravagant accessories you’d imagine packing to trapes across the islands of Indonesia in your super yacht. When you’re back in Bali they also have the perfect textiles, arts and crafts from across the globe to take home for your loved ones.
GOLDUST BEAUTY LOUNGE
@goldustbali | www.goldustbali.com
After you have shopped up a wet season storm at Madhu Boutique, head down the road to see the ladies at Goldust Beauty Lounge to make the most of their December special. They say silence is golden, so shhh and enter their upstairs boudoir and indulge in a 24k gold facial, mani, pedi and divine hair spa AKA 2.5 hours of The Bliss Package for IDR 1.9 million.
SPRING SPA
@spring_spa | www.springspa.com
It’s all white everything at Spring Spa, right across the road from the W Hotel. Forget about one oxygen facial, Spring Spa has a Triple Oxygen Instant Energizing Mask. Perfect for tricking people into thinking you are just one of those people “who never look hung over” or “sweated it all out” the night before.
PRANA SPA
@pranaspabali | www.pranaspabali.com
Prana, a word from ancient Sanskrit meaning breath, life and vitality. If your New Year’s resolution is to become a king or queen, this is the perfect transition. Slip into the robe life and enjoy rituals of ancient royalty. Our fave is the Turkish Trio with a dip in the hot and cold plunge pools, a trip to the steam room, followed by a nourishing hair cream bath. You are now actually Cleopatra.
PART 2: DINE IN STYLE & AVOID THEM JAMS OF THE TRAFFIC VARIETY
It’s your last meal for 2015, what will you be eating? There is a bigger and better offering in Seminyak than ever before, plus it’s where all the action is at. The key is to avoid planning to travel too far (AKA 100m), the roads get super packed the closer it gets to 12am. So with distance in mind, these are our top eats; and if you’re not into the club vibe post dins you can settle in for the night.
LACALACA CANTINA MEXICANA
@lacalacabali | www.lacalacabali.com
Tacos, tequila and tunes. What more could you want? It’s located in the middle of all the action, which also means it is stumbling distance from your villa. With 6.30pm and 8.30pm bookings, it’s perfect for those with bambinos in tow. Post dins the margaritas will be flowing freely and dancing on the bar is inevitable. Taste the amigos new drinks menu. Our pick is the Mamacita Margarita not only because it’s loaded with tequila but because it comes with a hibiscus flower. Duh! Laca, and head party man child Will Lovejoy, love themselves a dinner gone wild.
CORNER HOUSE
@cornerhousebali | www.cornerhousebali.com
Corner House is a Bali classic and what is New Year’s without a little champagne and class. It could only be cooler if the team built a Frenchy chic chalet so we could just stay the night, because you’ll no doubt end up coming back for breakfast. The husband and wife team, Matt and Magali, have created a Seminyak gem with a little history, and whole lot of heart.
SAIGON STREET
@saigonstreetbali | www.saigonstreetbali.com
It’s the most flavoursome addition to the Seminyak foodie scene. You’ll spend the first fifteen minutes just staring at the fit out before chowing down on a modern take of Vietnam’s classic and regional dishes. Book in before you miss out and take up their NYE offer trying a touch of everything with a 3-course set shared menu and a glass of Chandon. It’s IDR 700,000 per person and their bar is open until 2am.
WARNING: You’ll want to marry the Coconut Frozen Daiquiri by midnight.
AYANA RESORT
@ayanaresort | www.ayanaresort.com
Ayana Resort is bucket list worthy and more so now than ever with the latest renovation to Rock Bar Bali. Head in early to Kisik Restaurant allowing the beauty of the Indian Ocean and seafood set menu feast to inspire you for the year ahead. Check out the amazing fireworks display from Rock Bar, UNIQUE Rooftop or the annual Centrecore event space with live entertainment by Sonia Rao and a fire show.
MERAH PUTIH
@merahputihbali | www.merahputihbali.com
Celebrating Indonesia’s finest cuisine, culture, craftsmanship & people, Indonesian classics are served alongside creative dishes that experiment with traditional spices & flavours from across the archipelago.
BARBACOA
@barbacoabali | www.barbacoa.com
Whether you’re gazing into the rice fields from their patio or perched up at the Warehouse space’s bar, make sure you’ve got an espresso martini in hand. It’s New Year’s Latin America style, with Asado BBQ and a real life wood fire (as opposed to those pretend plastic ones you see). Meat lovers will die and go to Pork Spare Rib heaven.
PART 3: THE PARTY SCENE
They always say when the ball drops at midnight, it’s is a sign of how you’ll spend the next year. Well we hope you like dancing! If by now you haven’t lined up the perfect 12am kiss, these picks will definitely give you some options, or at least some quality cocktails and international DJs.
W BALI
@wbaliseminyak | www.wretreatbali.com
Celebrate like there’s no tomorrow because they are going gold with Claptone at The W Bali. From 6pm until 4am, the renowned resort has ocean frontage, signature cocktails and shisha goods. We can think of a lot worse places to spend NYE. Make sure you try their Candy cocktail which is like a tropical explosion in your mouth.
KU DE TA
@kudetabali | www.kudeta.net
It’s a superstar DJ line up from 7pm at the Seminyak institution. With international music delights including Injut Boys (UK), Psychemagik (UK) and Darshan Jesrani (NYC). Sip it right and get your tickets before the night to avoid the last minute run around.
POTATO HEAD BEACH CLUB
@pptheadbali | www.ppthead.com
There is just so much room for activities! The big guns are mixing it up this year with a two day music and cultural Festival. New Year’s Eve will host two areas and seven acts from 4pm and recovery from 2pm New Year’s Day with the Balearic Legends. Get cultured/tickets via their website.
JENJA
@jenjabali | www.jenjabali.com
Jenja Bar & Club is open for the cosmopolite, the traveler and music lover who’s in for a whole new experience of nightlife in Bali.
Jenja presents a one-stop evening entertainment realm on two levels. Open from 8 pm on Wednesdays til Saturdays, Jenja Foyer offers a superbly atmospheric scene for everyone to enjoy. Watch the stairs on the way down when you leave to see the first sunrise of the year.
DOUBLE SIX ROOFTOP
@doublesixrooftop| www.doublesixrooftop.com
Get high and secure the best rooftop spot to watch the Seminyak beach fireworks unfold. Sip on a cocktail and save yourself for their New Year’s Day Party from 2pm with Prok & Fitch heading the bill it’s going to be epic. Pre-sale tickets IDR 250,000k or IDR 400,000k on the day.
DEUS EX MACHINA INDONESIA
@deustemple| www.deuscustoms.com
It’s perhaps the most laxed New Year’s you will have in the Gu (Canggu for those who aren’t hipsters or in the know). Forget about proper shoes or faring the trek into town and celebrate a cosy evening with your fam and friends. There will be food fit for a king, queens and even you. Wash it down with a bevy and hit the backyard for a ‘jam boree’ (which is made up of long haired Lord looking musicians) and gaze up at the firework lit sky as the clock strikes 12.
BOSS MAN BALI
@bossmanbali| www.bossmanbali.com
Think 2am, think bad ass burgers. If you’re locked, loaded and wandering the streets on the way home, smash a classic soak and head to Boss Man Bali. Their feeds are huge and they’re open until 4am daily. Their staff also won’t judge you, so order both if you cannot decide between The Notorious P.I.G or Al Capone burgers.
PART 4: RECOVER LIKE A ROCKSTAR
HAPPY NEW YEAR! Headache? Hungry? Unsure of where you ended up? We’ve got you sorted for your tender, love and feast spots. Ease your way into your drunken resolutions and new Facebook friend requests.
LACALITA BAR Y COCINA
@lacalitabali | www.lacalitabali.com
Did dinner get a little spicy at Lacalaca Cantina Mexicana last night? Get some fresh air, head across the rice fields to Canggu and switch to vodka at sexy-Mexi sister restaurant Lacalita. Enjoy some story time, braised pork filled Cubanos and a Bloody Mary or ten. It will be the best walk (ride) of shame you do all year. Lacalita opens from 9am daily.
GRAIN ESPRESSO
@grainespresso | www.grainespresso.com
It’s all about the beans. Supporting local, Grain Espresso feature their own unique custom blend and roasted from imported 100% Arabica beans. Located right off the main drag, these guys are a breath of fresh air on the Bali coffee scene. Head into the air con or up onto the open air roof terrace and enjoy fresh juices, all day breakfast and high speed WIFI. The Bali Benedict is the ultimate NYE hangover cure made with their secret scrumptious sauce.
SEA CIRCUS
@seacircusbali | www.seacircus-bali.com
It’s a restaurant, bar, coffee den and despite what some might say *not an actual circus. Unless you went to their super fun Japanese Honeymooners fifth birthday earlier this year. Like a spork they love to do everything but the difference is these guys do it yum. Sit back and relax to their mega playlists and if your head is banging never fear because their hangover happy meals come with berocca shots, Panadol and 15 minute massages.
REVOLVER
@revolverespresso | www.revolverespresso.com
Revolver was started with the aim of doing things a little differently. Sorry. ALOT differently. They have you in mind. All the time. Through every process. Every coffee. Every meal. Every smile. For you.
Coffee speaking they are sourcing some of the best beans from the best farmers in the world. They roast and blend right here in Bali and their priority is getting it to your taste buds on time.