Your ultimate guide to Bali's vibrant Seminyak

Seminyak sits pretty on Bali’s southwest surfer coastline where rolling waves wash up on creamy sands shaded by white flowering camplung trees.

The upscale beachside neighbourhood of Seminyak is easy on the eye and boasts some of Bali’s best restaurants, drinking establishments, shops and boutiques that sell everything from colourful sarongs, swimwear and beach hats to special occasion eveningwear. From the ceremonial dress worn by locals to the Balinese design redolent in resorts such as Hotel Indigo Bali Seminyak Beach, one thing is for certain, you won’t mistake this neighbourhood for anywhere other than Bali.

Relax by the pool while enjoying contemporary Japanese cuisine at Hotel Indigo Bali’s SugarSand.

A stroll around the streets can have you ducking in for a latte at Expat Coffee Roasters, purchasing a chic cotton kaftan from Uma and Leopold and having a classic nasi goreng at much-loved Made’s Warung all before you’ve had time to hit the beach. Hand-in-hand with the contemporary-cool beachside vibe, Seminyak also taps into the abundant spirituality and culture of the Balinese people. Gamelan music plays at the local temples and canung sari flower offerings can be seen crowding roadside shrines.

Spot locals in stunning ceremonial dress.

Where to stay in Seminyak

1. Hotel Indigo Bali Seminyak Beach

Indigo Hotel’s first-ever resort location is in a central position on the southern stretch of Seminyak beach, just 30 minutes from the airport. Hotel Indigo Bali is inspired from the ground up by Balinese aesthetics and craftsmanship, with 270 rooms and suites, plus 19 villas all designed to mirror the traditional Balinese concept of compound living.

Sleep in a one-bedroom pool villa, inspired by Balinese aesthetics and craftsmanship.

Luxury facilities – including five swimming pools, eight eating and drinking venues, and a 10-suite spa – are finessed with Balinese elements such as stone and wood carvings, woven hanging basket lights and teak furniture and fittings. A sacred pule tree is the centrepiece of the Tree Bar, while the lobby design evokes a Balinese local government banjar and serves as a Neighbourhood Gallery featuring local artists.

See if you can find the tranquil ‘Secret Garden’.

Seminyak restaurants

1. Mama San

Chef Will Meyrick’s Mama San is well-known for mastering the best cuisine from across Asia and a recent renovation has further elevated the dining experience. In the downstairs dining room, Grill & Bar, feast on favourites such as northern Thai dry spiced tuna, slow-cooked rendang, and crispy soft-shell crab. Or take it up a notch upstairs at the new and intimate Supper Club, where dry-aged sashimi, chicken, and lobster xia long bao are among the premium offerings.

Feast on creations by Chef Will Meyrick at Mama San.

2. Motel Mexicola

One of Seminyak, nay Bali’s, most beloved dining institutions celebrates its tenth anniversary this year, and the enthusiasm for the eclectic Mexican-inspired fit-out and chili-hot menu hasn’t waned. Come to Motel Mexicola for slow-cooked beef tacos, blue swimmer crab tostados and cheesy quesadillas, and don’t leave until you’ve tried the margaritas, mezcal and ‘mexipolitan’ cocktails. At about 9pm, the decibels are dialled up and the dining room ad-libs as a dance floor, DJ and all.

Stop in at the eclectic Mexican-inspired Motel Mexicola.

3. Kim Soo

In a wonderful white Dutch colonial building on one of Seminyak’s most stylish streets, Kim Soo is an Aussie-influenced cafe serving the likes of eggs benny, Baja fish tacos and marinated avocado on sourdough. Fabulously, it’s also a homewares shop inspired by artisans and creatives from across the Indonesian archipelago making it the perfect one-stop shop for keepsakes and gifts for loved ones at home.

Devour lunch and peruse homewares at Kim Soo, an easy walk from Hotel Indigo Bali.

4. Sangsaka

Many of the Indonesian archipelago’s intriguing and varied cuisines can be tasted here in Bali at Sangsaka: a 70-seater restaurant with a rooftop bar and al fresco dining room permeated by the aromas of the woodfired grill. The traditional dishes are given a twist. Shellfish laksa from Tangerang is served with lobster dumplings, for example, and pork belly from Singaraja comes with abalone sambal matah and rice pancakes.

Breath in the aromas of the woodfired grill at Sangsaka.

Other things to do in Seminyak

1. John Hardy Boutique

From the traditional architecture to the roving exhibitions starring creative collaborators, John Hardy Boutique has been designed to ignite a passion for all things Bali. The fit-out feels like a cross between a gallery and an exclusive boutique, all the better for perusing the iconic jewellery brand’s rapturous display of male and female earrings, necklaces, bangles, rings and much-loved classic chain bracelets. A deck looking over the rear garden seals the deal with cocktails and teas spiked with typical Balinese flavours.

Peruse traditional architecture and roving exhibitions at John Hardy Boutique.

2. Seminyak beaches

To say that people visit Seminyak for its beach is an understatement. Along this coastline, the blue-green waves, coconut palms and sandy scenery conspire to look like a vision straight out of a travel brochure. Explore Seminyak beach bars and restaurants, try your hand at a surf lesson with the help of instructors stationed along the beachfront, or lay out a towel and make the most of cheap and cheerful offerings – fresh coconuts, local massages and cheap sarongs.

Enjoy fresh coconuts, local massages and cheap sarongs on Seminyak Beach.

3. Petitenget Temple

Colourful yellow and white sun umbrellas and black and white chequered fabrics add a festive element to Petitenget Temple’s classical Balinese architecture of characteristic red brick and carved sandstone. This centuries-old cultural landmark, sitting serenely between the shoreline and the bustle of the retail hub, is an oasis of calm, a place where the Balinese people show respect to their Hindu traditions.

Wander the centuries-old cultural landmark, Petitenget Temple.

Book Hotel Indigo Bali and start planning your Seminyak holiday.