Time Out named Pererenan as Asia’s Coolest Neighbourhood in 2024. Here’s why the title still fits.
Pererenan sits just 15 minutes north of Canggu by scooter — close enough to borrow its buzzing energy, far enough to skip most of its traffic. Rice fields still outnumber beach clubs here, but don’t mistake that for a sleepy vibe. New restaurants are sprouting up every month, and the good ones are genuinely worth seeking out.
What’s unusual is the speed of how things are developing in Pererenan. Garages and family compounds get reworked into some of Bali’s most photogenic restaurants within months. Glass walls and open decks are angled toward the fields rather than away from them, so the rice paddies stay part of the view. That’s something we can definitely get behind.
The best part of Pererenan is how easy it actually is to enjoy. Three days is enough to understand why people who book a long weekend keep extending it.
Let’s get you started: Villas vs Hotels: The Great Holiday Stay Debate
Day 1: Land, Unpack, Jump In
Check into Akashi Residence, a 15-minute walk from Pererenan Beach and tucked behind rice paddies that keep the road noise out. Acclaimed architect Alexis Dornier built it around a central atrium — three open-air levels stacked over a pool with its own water slide that brings out the inner child in everyone.
Smaller groups can take Villa Tana Takah down the road instead, a three-bedroom designed by local studio Asimapra with a sky bridge linking the master suite to the rest of the house. For a beachfront stay, Pantai Lima Estate has three villas: Villa Ambra and Villa Melissa sit right on the water’s edge, a short boardwalk down to the beach, while Villa Mary sits back a little further, facing the rice fields with views of both the ocean and the river.
Once you’re ready to move, walk to Pererenan Beach for sunset — a stretch of black sand with fishing boats, sunbathers and surfers paddling out well past 5pm. Book dinner at Shelter Pererenan, a wood-fired Mediterranean and Middle Eastern restaurant with communal tables where you can enjoy delicious sharing plates.
Post-feasting, head straight back to the villa. The pool stays warm well into the night, reason enough to stay in with the group on the first day.
In case you missed it: Uluwatu vs Canggu: Which Bali Neighbourhood Is Right For You?
Day 2: Sunrise by the Shore and Sundowners with the Crew
Start your morning at 7AM Baker’s Club or Kilo Pererenan, both open early enough to beat the laptop crowd to a table. The croissants at the bakery sell out by 9am most days, proving that the early birds do catch the worm (the flaky kind, obviously).
Pererenan Beach suits beginner surfers well, a great, active way to start the day. More experienced surfers should head 10 minutes north to Echo Beach, where the reef break draws a serious local crowd. Board rental and lessons are easiest arranged through our Guest Experience team rather than haggling with the surf touts working the beach.
An active morning calls for a midday indulgence. Mostly runs an Asian fusion menu under executive chef Nathan, known for a truffle ramen regulars swear by. Sol Rooftop is another good spot to pin on your Google maps — a rooftop restaurant serving comfort food dishes from Italian, Mexican, and Spanish cuisine.
Work off lunch at Jungle Padel, the unofficial meeting point for half of Pererenan. Looking for something more sedate? Sign up for a pottery or candle-making session at Vagabond Design Lab, which keeps your hands busy but frees up the mind. If you’re staying at Akashi Residence, be back by five in the afternoon for a swim followed by an ice bath. Punctuating the day with contrast therapy is oh-so-Bali.
Part of the pleasure of staying in Pererenan is that there’s no shortage of places to eat, and no wrong way to choose among them. One of our favourites is Origen, which opens at 6pm and stays busy until midnight. Get the tacos de lechón and a margarita; save room for the lemon pie, which regulars order before the mains even arrive. A few minutes south in Canggu, MASONRY. by chef Benji Cross runs a mostly wood-fired menu — the halloumi and roast chicken alone justify the drive. Order a charcuterie board for the table to nibble on while waiting for the bigger dishes.
Read more: The Eat List: Chef Benji Cross of MASONRY. on His Fave Dining Destinations in Bali and Beyond
Day 3: The Other Side of Pererenan
Wake up hungry and hop between cafes, a more sociable way of admitting nobody’s decided on what they want for breakfast yet. Start with something sweet at Ettore Gelato before noon (no judgment). Move on to LOOP Café for a flat white and the Aegean Morning Plate, then finish at Honey with their lemon ricotta pancakes.
Munggu Beach and Seseh Beach are both about 20 minutes’ drive from Pererenan. Munggu has a tidal pool set in black volcanic rock, with rarely more than a handful of people in it. Seseh, near the village of Cemagi, has a black sand shoreline with Tanah Lot Temple visible out over the water with even fewer visitors than Munggu. Either one is worth clearing an entire morning for, not just a quick stop on the way to lunch.
Once the sightseeing winds down and the group’s ready to eat, RiZE is the move. Think: naan straight from a wood-fired clay tandoor and a dosa, a fermented rice and lentil crepe, worth the short wait. Zali is another option, featuring Lebanese food from chef Liza, whose shawarma recipe is a family heirloom and you can taste the warmth of it in every bite.
Pura Desa Pererenan is one of the village’s kahyangan tiga, the three core temples every Balinese community is built around, which is still used for everyday ceremony. Bring a sarong, make a wish, and capture a shot of the impressive carved stone gateway.
Rumah Rabbit Bali keeps kids from ages three to 18 busy with art most days, drawing and painting on the regular schedule, pottery or macrame thrown in a couple of times a month. Adults get their own sessions too, so it works as an easy afternoon off the beach for the whole group.
HOME by Chef Wayan turns dinner into a full culinary experience built around ingredients curated specifically from across the island — spices, roots, chillies and more. Chef Wayan trained at the Michelin-rated Blue Hill Stone Barns before returning to Bali, and the room seats so few that it feels personal. Book ahead, since tables go fast.
Sip and dine: Canggu Dining Guide: 20 Best Restaurants, Cafes And Beach Clubs To Know
Day 4: One Last Coffee
Before the airport run, stop at ST. ALi, the Melbourne import worth a small dose of nostalgia, or Stray Dog, a newer specialty coffee spot in Tibubeneng already known as much for its design as its espresso, and conveniently on the way south toward the airport. Three days rarely feels like enough. Most guests spend day three checking whether the flight home can be pushed back — and Pererenan gives them no reason to stop.
Extend that trip and keep exploring Bali with our guides:
Ubud vs Jimbaran: Which Side of Bali Is Right for You?
72 Hours in Uluwatu, Bali: Surf, Sunsets, and The Villa Worth Flying For
Seminyak vs Sanur: A Family-Friendly Seaside Showdown – Which One is Right For You?