Folk. The new place to chill in Ubud. Bring a book, sunscreen, hat, swimwear and your most laid back attitude.
Think low slung mattresses, deck chairs, hammocks and cabanas scattered around a pool set amongst low key Balinese gardens. There’s a chilled out pool party vibe.
No resort style lounges or formal service here. In fact the service is so relaxed you’d best plan to not be in a hurry for any reason. No one’s rushing.
Folk have nailed what their place is all about…
It cleverly pits together the nuances of yesterday against the refinements of today to create a charming clash of cultures.
What’s the deal? You have choices…..
Rp50,000 (around $AUD5) gets you entry, a garden seat, towel, the right to swim to the pool bar and hang out for as long as you like. Food and drinks extra.
If you’d like to snooze and read in a little more comfort, book one of the cabanas for rp250,000 (that’s $AUD25). Food and drinks extra.
I went for the Afternoon Tea package at rp95,000. It bought me a pot of English Breakfast tea and the most delish and unusual selection of sweet and savoury treats served with style. There was enough for two… I shared! This package includes the towel and swim.
As you would expect from a cool Ubud scene, the food and drinks are mouth wateringly good. Fresh ingredients, Indonesian style, with a twist.
Its reasonably priced but if you’re spending your last Rupiah before you leave town you need to budget for the 15% service/tax in the fine print.
Hit the Folk website for opening times, menus and event news. Think Mojito Thursday for Mojito happy hours all day long or Popcorn Club on selected Saturdays for movie screenings.
We wandered in with no booking mid-week, and found two cushions, table and mat poolside. The cabanas were full. The staff tell me it gets busy on the weekends with both locals and travellers.
You really should book ahead, especially if you fancy a cabana.
I arrived at Folk with my laptop in my bag, as is the norm. I planned to write a little but it felt so wrong….. that’s my bag in the pic. The laptop didn’t get an invite to come out and play.
Next up…. Moksa Ubud
The addition of a DOJO with a line up of Martial Art Aikido, Qigong, Tai Chi, Capoeira and Yoga makes perfect sense at my fave place to eat delish raw food… Moksa Ubud.
Chef Made Runatha and Janur Yasa set out to create ‘a place to awaken all the senses’. And they get it so right. Food, gardens, deli, markets, culinary classes and dojo blend seamlessly to create an authentic experience calling on Balinese heritage and heart.
At Moksa I can feel, see and taste what I can only describe as ‘excellence applied with gentleness and grace’.
Read a full post on my Moksa experiences here.
Next up… Eating local style. Quick. Spicy. Simple. Local price.
Aside from a few fave restaurants, I prefer to eat local style. But it’s not easy to find street food in Bali if you don’t know your way around local markets outside the tourist areas. 
The next best thing is Padang Food. You know those places that have dishes of food stacked in a cabinet behind a net curtain? The vibe is basic local style, no chatting, this is a place for eating food like it matters, and go. I love the rendang chicken, grilled aubergine, tapioca leaves and bergedel (spicy potatoes). There’s usually no English spoken so just point at what looks good. You can eat really well for less that $5.
Known as Masakan Padang, you’ll find them all over Indonesia. My fave Padang place in Ubud is two doors up from Bali Buda on Jalan Raya (directions from Ubud Palace here for you).
Next…. I’d like you to meet one of my friends
Say hello to Komang, the safest, nicest driver in Bali. As Komang lives near the airport and has family in our village he’s good for airport pickups as well as all day tours, volcano climbs etc. I don’t make any $ from the tours, I only want to help Komang and our other guides stay connected with you. Please contact Komang via FB Triadi Yatnantara (or email sharingbalitours@gmail.com) Komang has great English and responds quickly. Please contact Komang and recommend him to your friends. Thanks!
Watch this space…..
I’m missing my sunrise climbs to Mt Batur so I’m planning to do a new sunset and sunrise overnight camping stay with my favourite guide Radia for my “What’s going on in my Bali’ post next month.
If you have places you’d like me to check out or recommend, drop me an email (info@sharingbali.com) or a message on FB. FYI. I do have limits… I’m a mountain and village gal so I don’t go south of Ubud unless I’m going to the airport or Nusa Lembongan and I don’t really do resorts….
