BALI’S BEST BEACH & POOL CLUBS

Soak up those heady Bali vibes at the island’s best beach and pool clubs, where you can feast, swim and dance. Oversized sunnies essential…By

Helen Dalley

Seminyak’s popular pool club, Mrs Sippy has hosted some of the world’s biggest DJs, including Armand Van Helden and Duke Dumont, at its sprawling outdoor space, which features the island’s largest saltwater lagoon-style swimming pool with three diving boards (1m, 3m and, if you’re feeling adventurous, 5m). By day, you can feast at the openair kitchen, which applies traditional wood fire cooking techniques on everything from fresh Bajastyle snapper tacos to pork ribs with coleslaw. Pair your bites with the signature Sippy Colada (rum, pineapple and coconut puree) as you chill to epic tunes. To secure your space, don’t forget to book your daybed in advance. mrssippybali.com

Sundays at the Ungasan Clifftop Resort in Uluwatu offers complimentary kayaks, paddleboards and snorkels and you can explore the lagoon and scattered rock pools before stopping in for a frozen margarita or a sparkling sangria at the Ocean View Bar. Beach bonfires are lit daily at sunset and you can toast some marshmallows and sink into a beanbag as you chill out to live music and DJs from 4pm. Book one of their 34 sunbeds on the elevated sundeck and you’ll get access to a private VIP bar, while if you opt for one of its four beach bungalows, you’ll get a private cabana with VIP sunbeds on your own section of beach. What could be better if you’re travelling in a group or as a family then claiming your own stake on gorgeous Uluwatu? sundaysbeachclub.com

A short walk from Potato Head, Ku De Ta is another classic Seminyak beach club, with a pool situated just steps away from the surf. Its famous sunset sessions, soundtracked by the club’s resident DJs, take place daily from 4.30pm and make for an iconic sundown experience, as does dinner at Palm Deck, where menu highlights include Tasmanian salmon sashimi, miso butterscotch quail, and fire-roasted octopus. Every second and fourth Friday of the month there is live music from local and international musicians from 6pm onwards. The kids can join in the fun on Family Sunday, with workshops, face painting and arts and crafts from 10am until 2pm. Rock up early and you’ll not only secure a great spot but can also test-drive the breakfast menu, which includes a take on the McMuffin and smashed avocado with poached eggs and feta on sourdough. kudeta.com

One of Bali’s best-known beach clubs, Potato Head offers a beachfront location in Seminyak with infinity pool and DJs keep guests dancing ‘til 2am. At the amphitheatre, musicians channel the island’s energy throughout the day, and when the weekends roll around, revellers swing by for experimental music sessions, sustainability workshops, ice baths and morning meditation. The beach club menu features healthy options like veggie poke bowls alongside spicy hot dogs and pepperoni pizza, while brunch standouts include the Desa Benedict (poached eggs, capsicum hollandaise, corned beef and cheese toast). Want to stay longer? Then check into a Potato Head Suite (the Rooftop Suite has its own outdoor jacuzzi) or at the adjacent Desa Potato Head, an OMA-designed creative village championing regenerative tourism and where you can catch awesome sunsets from the newly opened Sunset Park, a rooftop bar that’s making a name for itself with its riff on the classic Aperol Spritz. seminyak.potatohead.co

With four pools, nine bars, two swim-up bars and five restaurants, Canggu-based Finns Beach Club certainly isn’t short on facilities, and you can book everything from a single day bed for one to a deluxe platform for 20 in advance; arrive before 3pm to save up to 50 per cent. If you’re just planning to rock up, then hit the lower surf deck seats, manta bar tables or sunset lounge bar, all of which offer free seating. There are two other areas: the adult-only Finns Beach Party located next to the DJ and dance area, and Finns VIP Beach Club, which is popular with celebs and has adult and family areas. This year, Finns will open a new section of the Beach Club with a nightclub, beer garden, wine cellar and speakeasy bar. finnsbeachclub.com

Set on the towering cliffs of Uluwatu, shady daybeds are set around the pool and thatched bungalows at beachclub Ulu Cliffhouse. The cocktail menu includes some deliciously zestysounding choices like Kaffir Lime Caipirinhas and Smoked Pineapple Margaritas, while dishes include clam risoni with braised artichoke and barbecue pork ribs. Some of the biggest names on the DJ circuit have played here, including Carl Cox and Fatboy Slim, and Ulu Fridays and Sunday Sessions at Ulu Cliffhouse run from 6pm ‘til late, as do its hip-hop nights. Pull up a stool at the Ocean Deck Bar or sink into sofas framed by fairy lights as you check out the breaks that roll across the club’s vertical rock face. If one day isn’t enough, there are seven accommodation suites named after Uluwatu’s legendary surf breaks, including Impossibles, The Peak, and Dreamlands. ulucliffhouse.com

Home to Bali’s first tiki bar, signature cocktails at adults-only beachfront hideaway Azul include the Rabbit Hole (gin, amaretto, almond syrup and carrot juice) and Bali Blossom (vodka, cinnamon run, passion fruit puree, pineapple, black tea syrup and lemon juice), all of which are served in custommade glassware. Over in the open-air restaurant, which begins on the lower deck and expands to the second-floor sunset pods, there’s not only a dining area but also an infinity pool with spectacular views across Legian Beach. On the menu, there’s blue swimmer crab and lobster ravioli to begin, while mains including coriander boneless lamb leg from the tandoori oven. Featuring afrohouse music, Sunset Rhythm takes place every Saturday, while on Tuesdays there’s an all you can eat seafood barbecue soundtracked by silky-smooth Bossa Nova beats. azulbali.com

Nestled between the jungle and Uluwatu’s limestone cliffs, Savaya is a little enclave of luxury 100m above the Indian Ocean. An all-day party destination that plays host to an infinity pool surrounded by day beds, at Savaya revellers dance the afternoon away before toasting the sunset and drinking in the clifftop views. Some of the biggest names on the DJ circuit have stopped by to play at this beach club: it has hosted globally renowned acts including US music producer and DJ Marshmello, South African house music DJ and producer Black Coffee, and Nigeria’s DJ Neptune while Jason Derulo recently had the masses grooving into the early hours. You can reserve VIP tables for all events, but they do come with a minimum spend. savaya.com

This beach club and Spanish restaurant in Uluwatu is famous for its seafood dishes — try the hot seafood platter on stones or the fish tacos with barramundi and tuna, and don’t forget to save some room for the churros. The Sunset Theater space offers unobstructed views at the edge of the ocean, and you can access seats, cocktail tables or small dining tables with a minimum spend of IDR1 million (US$65) per person. Order up an El Kabron Mojito or Lychee Martini and raise a glass to some of the island’s best sunset vistas. Over at the Hedonism Lounge, an infinity pool awaits: book a double day bed, sunset deck sofa or go crazy and book a sofa on the dance floor and you’ll be well-placed to shake your thing when the right tune comes on. elkabron.com

Home to the longest beach bar in Asia, the longest pool slide in Southeast Asia and the biggest street market in Bali, Atlas Beachclub in Canggu is not just a beach club but a onestep entertainment centre with much more than sand and surf to keep you occupied. Here you’ll find everything from four-person lagoon daybeds to VVIP and VIP sofas that seat up to 12 available for hire, while public spaces the Pool Bar and Helen’s Pavilion are dubbed family-friendly. Events like Halloween and New Year’s Eve are celebrated festival style over three days, and the club also hosts workshops like tote bag printing and perfume making. The beach club menu includes seafood aglio olio and nasi bakar beef cheek along with the usual round-up of burgers, tacos and chicken wings while the Kaffir Lime Sling cocktail (white rum, orange and lime juice, orgeat syrup, kaffir lime leaves) is a sure way to beat the Bali heat. You can also book a spa treatment (shiatsu, Lomi-Lomi, foot massage) or get your hair braided during your visit. atlasbeachfest.com