Where to Stay, Eat & Explore in Uluwatu

My trip to Bali was everything I could ever dream of. From cliffside resorts and decadent smoothie bowls to spontaneous monkey encounters and an extremely affordable lifestyle, this island is full of unforgettable experiences. Here’s everything you need to know to plan the ultimate Bali getaway—especially if you're gluten-free like me!

🌊 Where to Stay: Dreamsea Surf Resort, Uluwatu

Dreamsea Surf Resort is hands down the most beautiful resort I have ever stayed in. The hotel is perched on a cliff overlooking Padang Padang beach 🩵 

No two rooms are the same but each showcases the beautiful aesthetic in the hotel. This menu was my DREAM menu!!!! Each smoothie was better than the next and since they’re only 65.000 IDR ($3.96) I tried every single one I wanted on the menu 😂 they offered gluten free avocado toast, smoothie bowls, mahi mahi, noodles, spring rolls & many more delicious gluten-free options. 

Each room includes a complimentary breakfast & since I was alone in a double room that meant 2 drinks and 2 breakfasts for me!!! So, each morning began with a meal, coffee, and juice and was followed a few hours later by a smoothie bowl, all included:) although a monkey did jump on my placemat mid-meal to finish off my Indonesian Breakfast Plate 🤭

Along with the restaurant the hotel offers surfing, yoga & massages overlooking the water, live music & beachside BBQs - I took advantage of the yoga class and massage and both were so relaxing and amazing🩵🩵

When you arrive there are 200 intense steps and the hotel itself has a lot of steep steps as its build into the rock so definitely be prepared! The hotel has staff who carry your bags up and down the steps for you like kings 

From the top of this view when it’s really sunny out you can see turtles swimming from above!!! 🐢 be careful of the moneys! One second I was walking alone on the beach and saw just 1 and within 30 seconds there were dozens climbing around me and trying to steal my sunglasses and bag 😅 keep your balcony shut !!! 

I would come back here in a heartbeat any time I visit Bali in the future 😍😍😍🩵🩵🩵✨💕🥥🐢 I can’t recommend this magical hotel enough!

🛵 Getting Around Bali: Grab Scooter App

Getting around Thailand on a Grab scooter is a fast, affordable, and convenient way to navigate the busy streets. The app is easy to use, and the rides are quick, helping you skip the traffic jams.

Scooters usually arrive much faster than cars, and in my group of four, it was often cheaper for each of us to take individual scooter rides than to split a car.

Even with reliable service through T-Mobile during my travels, I occasionally ran into connectivity issues when trying to find a driver—especially at the top of the stairwell leading down to Dreamsea Surf Resort. To avoid this, I started ordering my Grab scooters using the hotel’s Wi-Fi, ensuring the driver would arrive by the time I made my way up the stairs and down the long stairwell to the resort.

It’s also important to know before you ride that when you're on the back of a scooter, it’s best to hold onto the handles under the seat rather than wrapping your arms around the driver. Not only is it safer and more comfortable, but it also shows respect for the rider’s personal space. Wrapping your arms around the driver could catch them off guard, but I imagine if you made the mistake, they’d politely redirect you to the handles!

I always felt safe with these drivers.

💰 Currency: The official currency is the Indonesian Rupiah- I was able to use my credit card at most places in Bali. Some markets only take cash

📍 Top Things to Do in Utuwatu

• OneEighty Pool Club → The photos I took at this pool club are my most commented on social media posts from from trip to Bali. The gorgeous dayclub spills into a breathtaking glass-bottom sky pool extending almost 20 feet off the edge. The views are absolutely beautiful and there are many cozy spots surrounding the pool to lounge and enjoy the menu

• Visit Alchemy → Not to be dramatic but I would move in here if I could. I remember actually sitting down here for brunch contemplating moving to Bali to be a digital nomad at Alchemy every day. They have a nourishing environment, surrounded by more than just the restaurant: there’s a wellness center, yoga and meditation spaces, a cozy coffee shop, and even a plant-based culinary school. They also host pop-up markets, which made for such a fun afternoon of browsing, shopping, and picking up thoughtful gifts to bring home.

• Sundays Beach Club → Sundays is a popular spot but for me it was’t my favorite - there were comfy chairs to lounge on by the beach but it is very crowded. There are float and the famous clear bottom boats available to use but there is usualkly a long line of people waiting for them/fighting over them and on the day we were the water was so strong that getting on them was for more of a photo op than anything else. The food wasn’t great, especially gluten-free - the gluten free crust  was so bad I didnt even eat it - for the price I would go for another spot, personally

• Massage/spa day - Treat yourself to an affordable massage or spa day!

🌴 Beaches

• Bingin Beach 

• Padang Padang 

• Thomas Beach

• Dreamland Beach 

• Balangan Beach 

🍽 Restaurants (GF-Friendly!)

🥥 Dreamsea Surf Resort→I seriously can’t say enough good things about the menu—and the standout gluten-free inclusivity—at Dreamsea Surf Resort. I stayed solo in a room for two, which meant I got to enjoy two complimentary drinks and two meals each day. I pretty much tried the entire menu, and it was all incredible!

🍣 Tabu Sushi → The sushi here was sooo incredible! The whole place had such a fun, vibrant energy—perfect for a night out. The menu was packed with incredible options, including tons of gluten-free choices like specialty rolls, crispy shrimp tempura, and even chocolate brownies. The prices were unbeatable. I would absolutely come back!

🧘‍♀️ Alchemy (Ubud) → Not to be dramatic but I would move in here if I could. I remember actually sitting down here for brunch contemplating moving to Bali to be a digital nomad at Alchemy every day. They have a nourishing environment, surrounded by more than just the restaurant: there’s a wellness center, yoga and meditation spaces, a cozy coffee shop, and even a plant-based culinary school. They also host pop-up markets, which made for such a fun afternoon of browsing, shopping, and picking up thoughtful gifts to bring home.

🍓 Oakberry → delicious, fresh smoothie bowls! You can enjoy these worldwide but they are always a treat

☕️ Nourish  → This was nice low key breakfast shop - casual

🍳 Suka Espresso → I really liked the vibe here! There is both indoor and outdoor seating and lots of gluten-free options!

🌿 Mana Uluwatu → I stumbled upon Mana Uluwatu by accident, and it ended up being the best surprise! It was just a short walk from my accommodation on my first solo day in Uluwatu, so I wandered over— and was blown away. I had the most amazing pressed juice and flavorful chicken sandwich on gluten free sourdough bread and it was so delicious that I went back for dinner another night! I had the most refreshing pressed juice and a flavorful chicken sandwich on gluten-free sourdough that was so good, I went back again for dinner another night. The whole place feels like a tranquil treehouse escape, with a calm, relaxing vibe. As a bonus, since I dined at the restaurant, I got access to the gorgeous infinity pool where I spent the afternoon lounging with my book and soaking up the view. 10/10 experience all around!!

✈️

Bali exceeded every single one of my expectations. Between cliffside breakfasts, ocean-view yoga, scooter rides, and a seriously dreamy food scene, this trip was unforgettable.

If you’re heading to Bali—especially as a gluten-free traveler—add Dreamsea Surf Resort and the places above to your list. I’d come back in a heartbeat. 🩵✨