56 MAY 2017 / TRAVELANDLEISUREASIA.COM
LEFT COLUMN: COURTESY OF AZUL BEACH CLUB (2)RIGHT COLUMN: COURTESY OF SUNDAYS BEACH CLUB (2)AZUL BEACH CLUB
With its lofty, three-story bamboo tree
house, Bali’s only tiki bar is instantly
recognizable. Opened in Legian a year
ago, the large, open-air bar rises from
the sand to a second level with sunset
pods and an infinity pool overlooking
sea and palms. Behind the bar, well-
trained can-shakers fill custom-made,
sculpted tiki-god glassware with
signature cocktails. Try the Mai Tai 2.0,
which fuses three rums and selected
fruit juices.
Chef Arief Wicaksono elevates
Azul’s menu beyond the usual beach-
bar fare. Step out of the surf, shake
off the sand, and order the calamari,
sprinkled with lemon, crisped garlic,
and shallots. Sturdier appetites will
appreciate the wood-fired pizzas and
Asian-influenced tapas. azulbali.com;
cocktails Rp100,000–120,000.SUNDAYS
BEACH CLUB
At the bottom of a steep limestone cliff in Uluwatu, Sundays
commands its own secluded pocket cove. Admire the pristine
white sands and sparkling waters below before climbing into
the inclinator (basically an elevator tilted at an angle) for
the two-minute descent. To board, you’ll need to buy a day
pass (Rp300,000 for adults, Rp50,000 children 3–11 years,
free for kids under three), which gives you beach access, a
towel, Wi-Fi, Rp150,000 of food and beverage credit, and the
use of kayaks, snorkeling gear, and stand-up paddleboards.
Bring your own surfboard if you want to tackle Uluwatu’s
legendary reef breaks just offshore.
Every seat in the large round bar has an ocean view.
Jack’s Pulled Pork Sandwich, made with smoked pork
braised in Jack Daniel’s, and served on toasted sourdough
with melted smoked cheddar, caramelized onions, and sliced
green apple, makes a perfect après-surf meal. Imaginative
bar concoctions include the Burning Mandarin, a blend of
chili-infused vodka, triple-sec, orange juice and cranberry
juice; and the Daiquri Tango, where white rum meets
triple-sec, fresh mango, lime juice and strawberry purée.
sundaysbeachclub.com; cocktails Rp150,000 –175,000.FROM TOP: Azul
Beach Club is home
to Bali's first tiki bar;
order the Island
Nectar.FROM TOP: The cove at
Sunday Beach Club; bean
bags and beers.beach bars/
BALI
FINNS BEACH CLUB
At Canggu, the bohemian luxe enclave
north of Seminyak, Finns offers an
impressive 170 meters of Indian Ocean
frontage facing Berawa, an uncrowded
surf break where rocky reefs tip perfectly
shaped point breaks. What puts Finns
near the top of the list is that it’s the only
place in Bali—possibly all of Asia—where
surfers can drop their sticks on the beach
and step into luxury wearing boardshorts.Watch wave-carvers from around
the globe negotiate blue peaks while
lounging on day beds scattered along
the beach. Or take up a post at the pool
bar, at the end of a 30-meter infinity pool
fitted with state-of-the-art underwater
speakers. Resident DJs stir the beat from
late afternoon until closing.
A rambling open-air pavilion fashioned
from bamboo, salvaged wood, stone
and sand offers shaded seating. The barmenu targets Instagram hippies with
dishes like the Surfer Bowl, an artfully
arranged pile of sweet potato, tempeh,
cured ham, poached egg, dried tomatoes,
mushrooms, cabbage, feta, kale and
goji berries doused with Greek yogurt
and lemon. Signature cocktails include
Chénola, a blend of light rum, peach
liqueur, passion fruit and lemon juice.
finnsbeachclub.com; cocktails
Rp110,000–120,000.BY JOE CUMMINGS