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154 GOURMET TRAVELLER

cocktail bar. Hip-hop music plays to a mix of locals,

expats and adventurers in the know, and behind the

bar it’s the crème de la crème of mixology.

“In the land of black-sand beaches, an uncrowded

white-sand beach with snorkelling, warungs selling the

freshest seafood, cold drinks and assorted bric-a-brac

provides welcome respite. And that’sVirgin Beach(its

local name is Pantai Bias Putih). It’s a couple of hours’

drive from Canggu, so make it a weekend jaunt.

“When I yearn for greenery and misty mountain

mornings, I head toD’Wan Tea Mountain Side,on

Bali’s second-highest mountain, Gunung Batukaru.

It’s the perfect base for travelling to waterfalls and

Hindu temples, and the sun rises in the huge valley

surrounded by mountains: Gunung Batukaru, Batur,

Abang and, of course, Agung.”

McInerheney is the special projects

manager of motorbike, surf and skate

specialist Deus ex Machina, with

three outlets in Bali: The Warung

of Simple Pleasures, The Temple of

Enthusiasm, and at Potato Head

in Petitenget; deuscustoms.com

The Lawn, Jalan Pura Dalem, Balu

Balong, Canggu; thelawncanggu.com;

O LaLa Bistronomy, Jalan Bumbak

Anyar Kelod gang Carik 1, Umalas 2, Kerobokan, North

Kuta, Badung; olalabali.com;40 Thieves, Jalan Petitenget

7, Badung;Virgin Beach, Look for the signs in the village

of Bugbug, five kilometres east of Candidasa;D’Wan Tea

Mountain Side, Jatiluwih, Penebel, Tabanan

LIA-BELLE KING AND LOTTE BARNES

Worn Store

“Bali is where it all began for Worn, so it’s a very

special place for us. And even though we don’t live

there anymore, it still very much feels like home.

Places likeThe Sloware inspiring. It’s a hotel first

and foremost, but it has the best coffee in Bali and

wonderful art, too. There’s a very Los Angeles vibe

• think downtown meets modern Malibu. The
  tableware at the hotel’s restaurant, designed by
  co-founder Cisco Gorrow, is understated yet utterly
  modern, much like The Slow itself.
  “For a thrilling dining experience, head toMejekawi
  at Ku De Ta. The chefs, Australians Benjamin Cross and
  Stephen Moore, do an incredible tasting menu. It feels
  really special but not stuffy.
  “One foot insideBodyworksand you’d be forgiven
  for thinking you’d been transported to Morocco.
  With burnt orange walls and terrazzo baths, it’s a
  true oasis amid the at-times frantic energy of Seminyak


• it also offers the best mani-pedi on the island. As
  for shopping,Biasais the epitome of island luxe. The
  hand-printed sarongs, locally made resin jewellery and

easy-to-wear pieces in the softest Indian

cotton are a little bit Bali, a little bit

Italian and every bit desirable.”

King and Barnes are co-founders of Worn,

an Australian furniture, fashion and

homewares label; wornstore.com.au

The Slow, Jalan Batu Bolong 97, Canggu;

theslow.id;Mejekawi, Jalan Kayu Aya

9, Seminyak; kudeta.com;Bodyworks, Jalan Kayu Jati

2, Petitenget; bodyworksbali.com;Biasa, Jalan Raya

Seminyak 34, Denpasar; biasagroup.com

JAMES BROWN

Mash

“I’ve been going to Bali since 2011. It sometimes gets

a bad rap because of the rapid development, but the

spirit remains. I love the people, and the place is equally

special – I’m constantly reminded of that, whether

riding a moto beside a rice paddy in the rain, coming

across a wave or hunting for the best babi guling.

“A lot of the time in Bali, I crave an air-conditioned

icebox. That’sDa Mariafor me, albeit one with

clam gnocchi and cotoletta. My favourite dish is the

arrosticini – the super salty skewers remind me of being

in the backstreets of an Italian village with a bundle of

them doused in lemon and wrapped in newspaper. At

Clear Café, meanwhile, it’s all about juices – this place

has the best juices, elixirs and shakes on the planet. The

Cajun fish sandwich with pineapple is also a must.

“Tropicola Beach Club, my latest project, is scheduled

to open this month on Batu Belig Beach. Without

spoiling the surprise, it’s as if this place existed in

another time and place: coconut oil melting in the sun,

sizzling shellfish over woodfire. Think Ettore Sottsass

meets Slim Aarons on a Bali beach.

“Deus Ex Machina were onto something when they

openedThe Temple of Enthusiasm. It gave the world’s

“Where will Bali

be in five years?

No one knows. It’s

changing at a rate

of knots.” Anthony

McInerheney