La Brisa is in the popular Balinese neighbourhood of Canggu, and it sits on Echo Beach (which the song is not named for). It has a nautical theme for its decor, which gives the club a very distinctive look and feel.
The beach club is one of the most well-known on the island, and to many folks who go to Bali regularly, it needs no introduction. However, we wanted to see for ourselves if it lived up to the hype, so our crack review team was dispatched to find out for us.
Here’s what they learned at La Brisa, Bali, after spending some quality time on Southeast Asia’s paradise island.
Introduction – Getting To La Brisa Beach Club
La Brisa is on the island of Bali, which is part of the Indonesian archipelago, and while it’s only a short flight from Australia to Bali, it might be a substantially longer journey if you’re coming from Europe or America.
Of course, one of the plus points about Bali is that it’s a fairly cheap destination when compared to many others, so it’s often easy to offset the flight costs with less expensive but still world-class hotels.
Once you’re in Bali, then La Brisa (and Canggu) are an easy drive from the airport and most of the popular tourist destinations on the island. While traffic in Bali can be a touch fierce at peak hours, you shouldn’t spend much more than 40-60 minutes in a taxi getting there in most cases.
Echo Beach is one of several beaches in Canggu, and it’s famous for its surf break, which is, perhaps, the toughest in the area and should be tackled by intermediate to advanced surfers.
It’s very well-positioned to catch the sunset, and there is plenty of parking near La Brisa. However, if you come by rideshare, you are expected to get out near the road and then walk to the front door, which is a short (but often hot and humid) walk.
Where Is La Brisa Beach Club? La Brisa, Jl. Pantai Batu Mejan, Canggu, Kec. Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia
Online: La Brisa
Opening Hours: Open daily, every day except for Nyepi, from 10 a.m. to 12 midnight.
What’s Available At La Brisa Beach Club?
La Brisa has a pair of fairly small pools and one large pool, which acts as a focal point for the beach club. These pools are bordered by buildings and edged by furniture, which have all been constructed from reclaimed wood that was previously utilised for fishing boats.
The beach club has a bar and restaurant with table service at their comfortable seating, and there is a range of seating options, including some that offer a raised view on the upper deck of the club.
This beach club does offer some entertainment at times, including DJs, but it’s certainly not in the same league as nearby FINNS Beach Club, which offers all-day entertainment every day.
Our Detailed Review For La Brisa Beach Club
We conduct all of our beach club reviews on the same basis. This ensures that we treat the clubs, their owners and management in a fair and even-handed manner. It also makes it easier for people to use our reviews to compare one club against another.
The process we follow is simple:
- A team is assembled, and they are tasked with each visiting the beach club to be reviewed. They do not need to visit the beach club together, nor must they visit on the same day or at the same time.
- Each individual reviewer must make notes and score the beach club out of 5 (1 being the worst, 5 the best) against the 20 criteria laid out below.
- Once the whole team has completed their visits, they meet up to discuss the final grades in each category, which are decided by vote. They also share and discuss their own experiences.
- Finally, a single member of the team is tasked with writing our final review. They must incorporate the grades as agreed and reflect on the discussions that have been had. Then, the review is placed on our website.
Reservation and Booking Process
The booking process at La Brisa is not the worst that we’ve encountered, but it could be greatly improved too.
They have a nice clickable map that you can use to find a seat, something we approve of, but they spoil things by reserving a ton of seats for walk-in guests and not identifying those seats on the map, which means you have to keep clicking until you find something.
However, once you’ve finally found a seat you are allowed to book, you stick in the date and are then asked to choose an arrival time. Given that ostensibly a booking is for the whole day at La Brisa, we don’t really understand why we are expected to do this.
Then, you can pay your minimum spend deposit online and look forward to your day at the beach club.
Ambience and Atmosphere
La Brisa is very much a chilled-out kind of place, and if you’re expecting wild vibes, you’re going to be quite disappointed.
Once you make the walk through the lane outside of the club, you will find it’s full of people having conversations and eating attractive food.
There is music, but there’s nothing that interferes with your ability to hear other people, so you can enjoy their company and kick back.
Location And Accessibility
This location on Echo Beach is in Bali’s most popular area, Canggu. We should note, again, that this is not the Echo Beach of the Martha and The Muffins song (and in fact, their songwriter says the one in the song was a figment of his imagination, it’s not based on any of the various Echo Beaches around the world).
It’s a great spot for some surfing, and there are bars, restaurants and boutique stores within walking distance.
It’s not an ideal beach for swimmers, however, as the waters can be treacherous and even experienced swimmers can be dragged out to sea, and there are no lifeguards.
The sunset view from this spot is excellent, though. There is a downside to this location, though, and it’s a substantial one.
You cannot be picked up by a ride share or taxi due to the presence of the local taxi mafia, if you want to have a reasonably priced ride home, you’ll need to walk a long way from the club.
Aesthetic And Design
The nautical theme of La Brisa is very distinct, and the club should be congratulated for developing its own design aesthetic rather than copying one of the other clubs in the area.
The use of reclaimed wood and other sustainable materials is a very nice idea, and it makes the idea of spending an afternoon at La Brisa even more attractive.
The use of a pool as a focal point without it dominating the view is also a good idea, and it’s a pleasant beach club overall.
Staff Friendliness and Professionalism (Service Standard)
The Balinese are famous for their hospitality, and we found the service staff at La Brisa to be as friendly as any other on the island.
However, we felt that they weren’t always as professional as we’d have liked, and there were serious gaps between entering the club and being able to find a seat.
Once the minor issues had been overcome, the overall service was OK.
Service Speed and Efficiency
We also didn’t find the staff here to be particularly speedy or efficient. We didn’t have to wait so long that we thought we might leave, but there were moments when we were left without drinks for appreciable periods of time.
We’d be more understanding if we were drinking complicated cocktails at the time, but opening a bottle of beer and bringing it to your table ought to be a very quick turnaround job.
There was also a fairly substantial wait for the bill when we came to the end of the day.
Food Quality and Variety
The food at La Brisa is sustainably sourced, which is a rarity in Bali, but the good news is that sourcing does not seem to have added a large price premium to the menu.
It’s not the most varied menu that we’ve seen at a beach club in Bali, mind you, but we did feel that the quality was there.
The portions are also a sensible size, which means you don’t need to order a second meal because the first just made you hungry.
Beverage Selection and Creativity
The beer selection was a bit minimalist, but there are plenty of wines and spirits to choose from, and there’s a decent cocktail list too.
However, we had two complaints here. The first is that the drinks are not particularly well-presented, though they are strong enough.
The second is that they are expensive even for Bali, and in a place that gives us more upmarket beach bar than full-blown beach club vibes, we’re not sure that’s merited.
Cleanliness and Hygiene
One area where we had no criticism at all of La Brisa was regarding cleanliness and hygiene. The seating areas were nicely kept, the pool water looked crystal clear and the area itself was well maintained.
Even the toilets, which are sometimes a bone of contention on the Bali beach club scene, were very nice to use.
Comfort of Seating and Lounging Areas
We all felt that the seating was OK. It wasn’t the comfiest we’d ever used, and some of the non-daybed furniture was slung so low that it made our backs ache a bit after a couple of hours.
There’s no doubt that we love the fact that it’s made from sustainably sourced materials, but we’d really like a better design too.
We don’t think that being kind to the planet requires that you abandon basic creature comforts.
Music and Entertainment
La Brisa, like many other beach clubs in Bali, doesn’t seem to have wasted any time on creating a musical identity for itself.
The music we heard on our visits was uniformly described as bland and inoffensive. It didn’t spoil our good time, and it did mean that we could enjoy conversations with our guests, but there’s nothing memorable about the music in this beach club.
That’s a shame, as we feel that beach clubs have a real opportunity to distinguish themselves using music.
Seasonality
The joy of being in the tropics is that there really is no need for beach clubs to close down. Yes, Bali does have a rainy season, but on average, it has 8 hours of sunshine a day during that season, and even in the rainiest month of the year, there are ⅓ of the days without even a hint of precipitation.
In fact, in common with most beach clubs on the island, there’s only one day a year when La Brisa closes – Nyepi. That’s the Balinese day of silence and it’s mandatory for everything to close for the day, even the airport.
Pricing and Value for Money
We liked La Brisa and we would go back, but the prices of drinks make it hard for us to justify rushing back.
It’s not that we expect beach clubs to be cheap; we know there’s a premium for the raised level of service, furniture, etc. when compared to a local warung (an Indonesian restaurant) but we do expect more of a wow factor in return for that additional spending than La Brisa currently offers.
Beach Access and Quality
Echo Beach is an odd beach because it mainly disappears at high tide. The black sand is wonderfully attractive at sunset when the light reflects in the pooled water in the sand.
However, it’s not so pretty during the day, and this beach is bad for swimming, and even the surfing requires a certain amount of skill before you can take part.
It’s fine as a backdrop for the beach club, but otherwise, it’s not all that important to your experience at La Brisa.
Sustainability Practices
La Brisa is one of a number of beach clubs in Bali that is putting some effort into sustainability. While it’s not as far along the road as Potato Head or FINNS, it’s using reclaimed wood for furniture and buildings.
It also offers a sustainably sourced menu, which is a great touch and something we’d like to see more of.
Exclusive Perks for Guests
La Brisa offers you a free towel and a free seat with a minimum spend; you can’t really argue with that, but it doesn’t really stand out in any way, either.
Overall, we’d like to see beach clubs do more in this area. We wouldn’t mind paying for a VIP experience if it felt like value for money, and it would be so easy to do.
Safety and Security
We are big believers in safety at beach clubs, and it’s not hard to carry out a bag check on the door and so we’re pleased to report that La Brisa carries out such checks.
Otherwise, Bali is a very safe destination, and there’s very little risk of trouble inside any of the major venues.
Not least because the security team at La Brisa is always within reach if they’re needed.
Event Hosting Capabilities
La Brisa does offer “group bookings”, but it doesn’t really go out of its way to pitch for the events market, nor does it appear to have an event management team in place.
This leaves you with a fairly self-explanatory menu of food and drinks to choose from and some clear pricing.
Consistency of Experience
We’ve been to La Brisa a few times over the years, and we’ve spoken to many other customers and read their reviews in detail.
The experience at this beach club is very consistent; however, they’ve not done very much to change or elevate that experience over the time they’ve been open, either.
Additional Amenities and Facilities
La Brisa has everything you really need from a beach club, but there’s not much in the way of extras.
Of course, you’re in Canggu and thus, within a short distance of pretty much everything else you could need or want in a beach town anyway.
Summary
Overall, we feel that La Brisa is a beach club that’s perfect for a few hours of chilling with your mates. To enjoy a nice meal and a few beers.
We do wish it were a little cheaper and that they’d raise the service level just a touch, but if you want a warm-up spot before the main event in Canggu, La Brisa is perfect for it.
FAQs
Can You Go Swimming At La Brisa Beach Club?
Yes, there are a pair of pools in which adults are welcome to swim, and, in addition, there is a shallow pool which has been designated a child-friendly pool.
Towels are provided at La Brisa for free if you have agreed to a minimum spend at La Brisa; otherwise, they are available for a rental fee of 50,000 IDR. You are not allowed to take the towels out of the venue.
While you do have access to Echo Beach at this beach club, it’s not a good beach for swimming; there are no lifeguards present, and the currents can be wildly unpredictable. It’s best to do your swimming in the beach club.
What Is There To Do At La Brisa Beach Club?
You can enjoy food and drinks at La Brisa and relax on the furniture provided. There is also a set of swimming pools to enjoy.
On Sundays, this beach club also has a Sunday Market from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The market sells food, drinks, fashion, beauty and wellness products. It’s a very popular event.
Is La Brisa Beach Club A Child-Friendly Venue?
Yes. La Brisa’s policy is that children are welcome at the beach club. However, as with all beach clubs in Bali, parents are expected to ensure that their children don’t disturb any of the other guests.
There are lifeguards available at the children’s pool, but there are no other special facilities for kids in La Brisa.
Overall, it’s still a nice place to spend a day as a family, but you might want to bring some backup options to keep the kids entertained.
Who Is The Owner Of La Brisa Beach Club?
La Brisa Beach Club Bali is part of the LYD Bali Group. The group owns and manages several other hospitality properties across the island of Bali. La Plancha, another beach club, is also part of the LYD Bali Group.
Final Thoughts On The Review Of La Brisa Beach Club
La Brisa is one of the staple beach clubs in Bali. It’s a sanctuary for those seeking refuge from the wild parties of other Canggu beach clubs and a nice place for a sunset session.
Our preference is to join friends there early in the day and enjoy some lunch and good times before we move on to somewhere like FINNS, the world’s best beach club, to dance the night away.
Overall, if you’re coming to Bali and you want somewhere to chill, La Brisa is a good choice. We like the fact that it’s worked hard to create a distinct brand identity.
