You may think a Sunday Roast is a meal best suited to a cold dark winters day in England, however Sundays at The Barn have become famous in Canggu for their traditional roast dinners. Whether you’ve spent the last 6 months backpacking in Asia and are in need of a taste of home or you just want a nice big cheat meal after a week of healthy eating, The Barn Sundays have become a bit of an institution in Bali. Since we started our Sunday Roasts back in 2021 our Sundays have gotten increasingly popular as our British head chef Philip Mowforth took on the challenge to make them the best Sunday Roasts in Bali. With the choice of beef & horseradish, pork & apple sauce, roast chicken, lamb shank with mint sauce and our delicious veggie nut roast, we now have the widest selection of meats in Bali. Having the veggie nut roast has been particularly successful in Canggu where there is a high percentage of vegetarians and vegans.
A Sunday Tradition
A Sunday in the pub is a highlight of any weekend back home and that has now become true of The Barn on Sundays, where there is often big sporting events and live music in the evenings making it the place to be every Sunday in Canggu. Our roasts are served from midday until our kitchen closes at 9pm on Sunday however the meats often sell out earlier so we recommend pre-booking your roast to ensure you’re not left disappointed. All our Sunday Roasts come with crispy roast potatoes, cauliflower cheese, green beans, honey roasted carrots, braised red cabbage, a huge Yorkshire pudding and plenty of gravy! For those people who are extra hungry we do an XL roast which comes with extra meat (pork or beef) extra potatoes and an extra yorkie!!
One of the first things any visitor to the hipster hotspot of Canggu will notice is the abundance of restaurants! From local Warungs (local indonesian restaurants) to fine dining rooftops there really is something for everyone in this little corner of Bali. Canggu first rose to notoriety as a surfing spot with just a few cafes for the surfers to grab a brekkie and coffee before hitting the waves. Since then the last 10 years have seen Canggu become a sprawling suburb lined with cafes, restaurants, gyms, spas and high end villas catering to the young digital-nomad generation searching for a more laid back lifestyle in the sun. You will nowadays find just about every type of cuisine in the world in this small town – you name it, we have it! From Greek tavernas to japanese izakayas there is always something to tickle your tastebuds in the Gu. Some of the best restaurants in Canggu have international chefs who help design the menus and run the kitchen such is the competition here.
For those of you wanting something a bit more casual and heartwarming The Barn brings you classic British pub cuisine with great options for breakfast, lunch & dinner. Our unique space is inspired by classic London boozers but with a tropical touch. From burgers to salads to pizzas, we have something for everyone – especially the homesick Brits who can enjoy our pies, fish & chips, bangers & mash and not forgetting our famous Sunday Roasts!
Some of our picks
Ok so what are the best restaurants in Canggu (aside from The Barn of course!) The local warungs are always super popular as people search that authentic taste on Indonesia. Some of the more popular ones are warung local, warung varuna and warung sika which have all been long running in the area. Casual cafe spots like Milk & Madu, Copenhagen, Cafe Vida, Avocado factory & Motion cafe are good options in Batu Bolong for healthy brunch/cafe sort of vibes. For more fancy dinners Skool, Santanera, Shelter, Mason & Yuki are some of our favourites. For more casual dinners and beers/cocktails, Mexican restaurants Lolas, Mexicola & Lacalita are all good fun. Or if you want a wider variety of foods you can visit us for some classic pub food & western favourites.
This November brings the worlds biggest sports competition to Qatar where the worlds best football teams will compete to become the world champions. Many people are looking for the best place to watch the World Cup games with a big screen and a great atmosphere and The Barn will be sure to be one of the best venues in Canggu with 7 huge screens, A/C and a late license. Due to strict licensing in Bali, there will only be a select few bars and pubs which will be able to show the World Cup games live and The Barn Gastropub will be one of those! We will be open til late every night to show the games and will have special promos to keep you up and full of energy including 2 for 1 Espresso Martinis and 4 Jaeger Bombs for 249k! With these amazing deals you’ll have no excuse for missing your country’s late kick off. On top of that we are also offering a pint of draft Heineken and a burger for 149k. Alongside the live sports we also offer an array of bar games including pool, table football & shuffleboard to kill time before your team kicks off.
The decision to host the World Cup in Qatar did raise a few eyebrows however the decision to hold the tournament in the winter doesn’t affect Bali as much as European countries where it will be dark and cold. In Bali The Barn is all under cover and we will be closing the doors past midnight so we keep the noise contained inside the venue. Due to the time difference games will kick off between 6pm and 3am for the late games. The Barn will stay open for big games and will remain open for all the knockout games where we will be serving pizzas and Burgers til 5am as well as having a full bar with 10 beers on tap and great value cocktails. With our HUGE 120″ projector screen you will be close to the action wherever you are sat and we will have English commentary on for all the games. The first England game vs Iran is already nearly a sell-out so ensure you book your spot for your countries games prior to arriving.
While you may associate Bali with beautiful beaches, yoga and healthy living; over the past 5 years Canggu has become the central hub of the western community in Bali. This increase in people has brought about an increased demand for a place to watch the top sporting events and our modern sports pub concept fits the bill perfectly. Opened in December 2021 we have quickly become a staple in Canggu for people looking for a place to call home and enjoy live sports in an air-conditioned venue.
Air-conditioned booth seating
The Barn brings that authentic homely British pub experience to Bali – combining casual sports-bar vibes with excellent pub fare and delicious cold draft beer. With 6 big flat screen TVs and a popular beer terrace it’s the perfect location to watch sports any time of day, as we show any sports our customers demand. Staying open til late on the weekends The Barn has become one of the best places to watch sports in Canggu. From football to rugby, UFC to F1, AFL to Gaelic football, there is never a shortage of sports being shown at our authentic British sports bar.
Sundays at the Barn are especially great for sports as we have our famous Sunday roasts being dished up to locals and tourists alike searching for a slice of home in a cosy gastropub. With a British head chef and British manager (and owner) we are the most authentic gastropub experience in Bali without the gimmicks.
Big screens at the bar
If you’re looking for a place to enjoy live sports in Canggu you can contact us to book a booth for your group at the only air-conditioned sports bar in Canggu. With 6 huge HD TV screens and surround sound, we are the best sports bar in Canggu for comfort and delicious home-style food just like your mum makes it!
So you’ve landed in Bali for your holiday of sun in the tropics but the Balinese gods have got other ideas and its raining – fear not we have a list of some great activities in Canggu to keep you entertained.
Bali has 2 seasons – wet which runs from November/December to March/April, and dry which goes from March/April to November/December. In dry season it rarely rains (maybe once a month) and in rainy season it tends to rain most days even if just for an hour or 2. While rain on your holiday may be frustrating, Bali actually has plenty of options for those washed out days even though it is very much catered to the sun and sea. Here’s a list of 5 of the best activities for those rainy days in the Gu.
1. Surf
Now Surfing may not be the first thing that comes to mind when it’s raining, but sometimes that can be the best time to go in. The wind often dies down and most of the other surfers get out or turn back if they’re headed to the beach. In high season the number of surfers in Batu Bolong can be crazy so a rainy day is a great time to learn how to surf for the first time without crashing into anyone. Walk down to the warungs on the beach and ask around for a surf instructor if you’ve never tried it before and get out into the ocean! There is something particularly therapeutic about being in the water when it’s raining!
2. Get a Massage
Going to the spa is one of the most popular activities on a rainy day as everyone makes a b-line for the top spas in Canggu. AMO, Spring, Therapy and TONIC are some of the best spas and they will book up quickly if the heavens open so make sure you book early. Bali is known for its super cheap spa treatments so make sure you go and check them out while you’re here.
3. Go to the gym
Canggu has an abundance of gyms and yoga shalas as it has become synonymous with health and fitness over the past few years. Drop-in gym sessions or yoga classes range from around 100k-200k per session depending on the gym. Some of the most well known gyms in Canggu include Body Factory, Avenue Fitness, Power & Revive and Bull Gym. For yoga your best bet is The Practice, Samadi, Canggu Studio or Serenity.
4. Work in a cafe/co-working space
Canggu has more cafes than you can ever need and there has recently been an increase in cafes with air-conditioning to cater to the increasing digital nomad population. Places like the common, cafe coach and Zin are all perfect for working from on a rainy day and offer fast wifi and plenty of plugs. If you want to experience a true working environment you can pay for the day at one of Canggus numerous co-working spaces such as Dojo, B-Work or Tropical Nomad – day rates are usually around 200k which will come with printing credit, free tea/water and use of the skype booths. Co-working spaces can also be a good way to network or meet people if you’re in Bali alone as they do work social events out every week.
5. Come play games at The Barn!
The Barn is Canggus newest gastropub and restaurant serving up draft beer, great food and amazing cocktails, but it is also a great place to come and entertain yourself when it’s raining. With a pool table, a foosball table and Bali’s only shuffleboard table as well as loads of board games, you’re never bored at The Barn! We welcome adults and children and are open 6 days a week for anyone wanting to kill a few hours in a nice homely air-conditioned venue where you’re always made to feel at home. It’s completely inside so you’re safe from Bali’s tropical storms and all our games are completely free-of-charge! Located just a few minutes from the beach it’s within a few minutes drive from all of Canggus main attractions.
The world has changed significantly since the outbreak of the Covid Pandemic in early 2020, and one of the industries which has noticed the biggest changes is the hospitality sector. While restaurants never really locked down in Bali in the same way they did in Europe, the ongoing safety protocols will probably be felt for the foreseeable future amongst tourists returning to Bali. Much like the rest of the world, Indonesia has implemented strict social distancing measures as well as the mandatory use of masks to help prevent the spread of the virus, however the changes implemented here have never been as draconian here as in other parts of the world.
Bali has generally followed the lead from Jakarta, although due in part to the significantly reduced density of people in Bali, the pandemic never took hold in Bali in the same way it did in the capital. Another possible reason that Covid didn’t seem to be as widespread here as in EUrope is the fact that most bars & restaurants are outdoors meaning there is less chance of bacteria being spread in a small closed space like restaurants in colder climates. Another theory is that the tropical heat in Bali kills bacteria on surfaces much quicker than in cold temperatures. Whatever the theory, it’s true that many of the local people in Bali have been left frustrated at the borders being closed to international tourists considering such a high proportion of the population rely heavily on tourism to make a living.
One of the biggest changes brought about worldwide by the pandemic is the increased use of delivery companies such as Uber Eats & Deliveroo for people still wanting restaurant-quality food, delivered to their home. Indonesia actually has its own version of these popular food delivery companies – GoJek & Grab are the 2 of these such delivery services.
Our safety Precautions
As part of our responsibility to our guests’ safety, The Barn will be committed to enforcing social distancing along with government regulations and will be disinfecting all tables and chairs in-between guests. Face masks will also be mandatory when not at your table and we will be conducting temperature checks on all guests as is now commonplace in Bali. Another change which you may notice in bars & restaurants in Bali is the increased use of QR codes to view the menu as opposed to the old physical menu which we’ve grown accustomed to over the years. We will still offer physical menus to people who prefer the feel of a real menu, but will also offer virtual menus for people who so wish. In addition to this, all our staff will be serving you wearing full face masks to ensure the safety and comfort of our guests. If you have any other questions regarding the safety protocols being enforced at The Barn please don’t hesitate to contact us.
With Indonesia being a majority Muslim country, many tourists often wonder how easy it is to get your hands on a cold beer while on your vacation in Bali. Luckily beer is everywhere in Bali and is drunk by locals and tourists alike. Bali is in fact a majority Hindu island so most of the locals like to enjoy a bottle of beer (or a glass of Arak – the locally produced liquor) as much as the foreigners do.
There are no real rules on drinking alcohol in Bali as long as you are friendly and don’t disrespect their culture or religion. There are also no real drink driving regulations so be extra careful driving late at night. Most accidents happen when tourists come off their scooters driving under the influence of alcohol. Beer is generally cheap in Bali aside from the beach clubs which can often charge the same amount as you would pay in Europe or The US.
In the past a beer in Bali has meant 1 thing – Bintang, but now Bali is catching up with the rest of the world. More and more breweries are cropping up in Bali to cater for the more discerning beer drinkers. Below we list the top 5 beers you should try on your dream trip to Bali.
1. Bintang
Where else could we start than with Bintang. By far the most popular and widely recognised beer brand, Bintang is found almost anywhere you go in Bali. The word Bintang has pretty much replaced the word beer in Bali. The brewery is actually owned by the well-known Dutch beer brand Heineken and that is reflected in the packaging which looks nearly identical to a bottle of Heineken but in a different colour. The word Bintang means Star and you will see the big star on the bottle much like a bottle of Heineken. Bintang is a light, refreshing lager – perfect for sipping in the midday heat. With an alcohol content of 4.7% ABV it is a premium lager, and the cost of Bintang is usually cheap – most places charge between 20-40 Rp (Around $1.5 – $3) a bottle.
As well as the regular Bintang, there is also Bintang Radler which is a fruity shandy which comes in either lemon or orange flavour. The Bintang Radler is a low alcohol alternative with only 2% volume and it is perfect for those with a sweet tooth or for those who don’t really like the taste of beer.
2. Bali Hai
Bali Hai is another commonly found beer in Bali – mostly found in bottle but also occasionally available on draft. Another premium beer it is 5% ABV with a golden appearance and crisp taste. Based on a Munich lager, the taste of Bali Hai is slightly more distinctive than Bintang, with a more floral, aromatic flavour, but is just as refreshing. Like Bintang Bali Hai is usually cheap – again $1.50 to $3 in most places.
3. Stark Craft Beer
Stark claim to be the only premium craft beer created in Indonesia and while that claim is slightly dubious there is little doubt that they are the most well known. Brewed in the north of Bali using natural spring water, Stark came to the market as an alternative to existing beer brands in Indonesia which were generally either a lager or a pilsener. Stark craft beers are uniqueto other local beers on the market and come in flavours including – mango, lychee, low carb, IPA, wheat and dark wheat. Stark beers are generally premium (4.7% ABV) and are slightly more expensive than Bintang & Bali Hai. While not as commonly sold as Bintang or Bali Hai, Stark is getting increasingly popular in bars around Bali.
4. Prost
Prost is another local lager influenced by the taste of a German lager – even taking it’s name from the German word for ‘Cheers’. A light but premium lager (4.8%), it has a slightly more hoppy taste than a Bintang or a Bali Hai. An easy to drink lager with a smooth and refreshing taste, Prost is gaining popularity among expats. Prost is commonly found in bars and pubs around Bali and is usually one of the cheapest options available. Most often available in a bottle it is also sometimes available on draft.
5. Tumage
Another of the newer craft beers on the Bali beer scene Tumage is a high quality beer brewed with hops from around the world to create a real international standard beer. Tumage offers a full bodied flavour for those in search of a more sophisticated tasting beer. Tumage offers a selection of craft beers – a Pale Ale, a Golden Ale and a Red Ale. More cloudy in appearance than the more popular Bali beer offerings, Tumage beer also has a more fruity, hoppy & malty taste. While not as common yet as other beers in the list it is gaining in popularity and is now sold in most big supermarkets. Currently Tumage is only available in bottle form and costs around 40 – 60 Rp ($3 – $5) in most bars.
After months of deliberating and planning we are finally now at the building stage of The Barn Gastro Pub & Cocktail Bar. Bringing the style and comfort of a British Pub to the hipster capital of Canggu, we are excited to share our vision with you all.
We are expecting building work to be completed around August 2021 – if you want to keep updated on how the project is coming along follow our Instagram page @thebarnbali. We are currently looking for passionate English-speaking staff with experience in the service industry to help make The Barn a success from the start. If you have any queries about the business or would like to apply for a job at The Barn just send us an email or DM us on Instagram.
