Who says all Canggu beach clubs are loud and rowdy? COMO begs to differ

Every time I get stuck in Canggu traffic and start questioning my life choices, I just want to find a quiet place to Nongkrong. The places next door are always packed like sardines, so loud it gives me a headache. This time, I stumbled into COMO by accident, and instantly, the whole world felt peaceful. So comfortable! 😌

This isn't the kind of place with deafening party anthems, but rather, live music that's chill to the bone[1], and you can actually hear the sound of the waves. The whole design is stylish yet relaxed, not as pretentious as some other places. We arrived in the afternoon, snagged a daybed to just lie down, and watched the sun slowly sink into the ocean. Now this is what Bali is supposed to be like!

So, is the food any good?

Honestly, I never have high hopes for beach club food, but COMO gave me a little surprise. That Chicken Satay my friend raved about, I tried it and it was truly Mantap![2] The meat is tender, and the peanut sauce is just right. Also, the Crispy Fish Tacos[3], the fish is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and with the sauce, the texture is amazing. Overall, the quality of the Western food and grilled dishes is on point.

Hold on, don't praise it just yet. Here come the complaints.

Of course, for a place under a five-star hotel, the prices are definitely not cheap. The minimum spend for a daybed is 500k to 700k IDR per person[4], which definitely hurts the wallet a bit. And the food can be a bit of a gamble. For example, the soup that claimed to be Soto Betawi, as a Jakarta native, I have to say, it tasted more like Laksa, okay[5]... Anjay!

What I want to complain about the most are the cocktails! They look good, but the alcohol content feels a bit low, tasting like sugary water with just a tiiiny bit of alcohol[6]. We ordered several different ones and they were all like that, not great value for money.

The Editor's Guide to Avoiding Pitfalls

Finally, here are the key takeaways for you girls, if you want to have a comfortable time, remember these tips:

All in all, this place is especially suitable for friends who want to quietly watch the sea, go on a date, or bring their family[9]. If you're looking for a place to party and rave, you'd better go next door, haha. Peace out! ✌️

• 1. Book in advance: Especially the daybeds for sunset time, they're super popular! And definitely don't be late, they will really give your spot to someone else[3]!
• 2. Choose the right spot: The best spots for sunset viewing are by the pool or in the lounge area at the far end[7], fewer people, beautiful views, 100% photo-worthy.
• 3. What to order: Go straight for the grilled meats, seafood, and simple Western dishes; you can't really go wrong with those. Lokal dishes and cocktails… well, leave it to fate.
• 4. How to get there: It's a bit tricky if you're driving; you have to park at the nearby Echo Beach parking lot[8], and then walk a short distance to get there.