La Laguna, Canggu

La Laguna, Canggu

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Posted 2017-01-05 by Karen Rossfollow
I spent a blissful three months in a rented villa in Bali a couple of years ago and watched, with increasing interest, a magical place emerge before my very eyes.



I first noticed a rickety bridge being built over the lagoon on the beach that stretches from Seminyak to Canggu. The first time I gingerly crossed the bridge I discovered, on the other side, fern-fringed ponds, ducks, geese and peacocks.

Each time I passed by, over the next three months, I noticed new additions; huge slabs of timber that looked as though they had been at the bottom of the sea for a decade, full-sized, Dutch-style lamp-posts. Then a Gypsy Caravan appeared. The whole place had taken on an 'other-wordly' aura.



With my interest fully piqued I was frustrated to leave the island not having seen the result of this mystical project.

Not one of my regular virtues, I'd heard the saying 'patience is bitter but its fruit is sweet' so I filed that memory away until my next Bali visit, when, I hoped, all would be revealed.

Fast forward to 2016 and another Bali visit. I researched, as I do, to find the new and interesting places to visit. 'La Laguna' was being heavily advertised as the new, gypsy-chic restaurant/bar on Jalan Pantai Kayu Putih at Canggu, the next 'village' on from Seminyak.

The people responsible for La Laguna are the same as those who gave us La Plancha (the bean-bag bar on the beach at Legian) and La Favela (the hidden-from-the-road bar/restaurant full of madness on Kayu Aya at Seminyak). La La La.



I took a Grab-taxi to Jalan Pantai Kayu Putih and eagerly followed the path through palms and past ponds.



There are now a whole series of gypsy caravans, at least one offering Tarot Card Readings.



The timber beams-from-the-sea had been arranged to form flooring, walls, ceiling, posts, shelves and a bar and were covered with fairy lights, candles and lamps of every description.



There was so much to look at I paused, heart a-flutter, to order a cocktail at the bar before settling in for a serious perusal.

Cocktail prices are reasonable at La Laguna; Rp125k for 'signature' cocktails which use lesser known spirits, and Rp175k for the 'premium' version. I ordered a 'signature' Long Island Tea which tasted pretty good to me.



I felt like I was in a kitsch museum, a living one, in a good way. I've always loved kitsch. A teapot in a glass dome; why didn't I think of that?



Every timber surface is painted in keeping with the gypsy-chic theme and there are embroidered tablecloths, placemats and napkins on the timber tables.



Even the high-chairs are adorned thematically.



The menu offers sandwiches, including the 'Casablanca' (moroccan-style lamb sausages with eggplant relish, grilled helium and yoghurt) for around Rp75k as well as tempting salads for Rp65k-95k.

Having passed the kitchen on the way into the restaurant, I was particularly interested in the grill menu.



All so tempting but I had a 'hot date' with a different restaurant across the road for dinner, so I ordered Mediterranean Dips for Rp90k as a starter. Very delish.

Nicely settled in now, I focussed in on who was there. People of all ages from everywhere, that's who. I saw families with babies and children, locals, expats and travellers. A table of hipsters sat beside a couch full of grey-nomad-types wearing Hawaiian-style leis. Clearly La Laguna has something for everyone.



As evening approached the lights and lamps and candles were lit, adding to the magical aura.



I loved it, it's definitely my kind of place, but there's always lots to do in Bali and I needed to head for my 'hot date'; a favourite restaurant just across the road.



Although not in the same family, it's called 'La Finca' and I highly recommend it.

La Laguna, I'll be back. La la la la.

#beaches
#food_wine
#quirky
#restaurants
#seminyak
%wnbali
92301 - 2023-06-11 09:01:44

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