The Slow Kitchen and Bar

"This 12-room bolthole is all of Canggu distilled into an achingly cool cocktail of art, music, and interior design. Conceived by fashion designer George Gorrow and his wife Cisco, the hotel matches brutalist concrete with tropical teak wood and mid-century modern furniture, topping it off with a jealousy-inducing collection of works from Gorrow’s artistic friends. Downstairs, the restaurant dishes up comforting fare inspired by Balinese flavors and international classics, the caramelized half chicken with Sichuan salt and fermented chili mayo is a must. On the shopping front, there’s a sleek boutique with edgy T-shirts under Gorrow’s Non-Type label and a wide collection of Cisco’s beautiful ceramic-and-wood tablewares." - Chris Schalkx, Juliet Kinsman

"Take us to the place. What's The Slow all about?It wasn’t so long ago that if you were to drive down Batu Bolong you’d pass grazing cattle and reach an organic café at the end of the street and a quirky hotel called Tugu. Now it’s packed with so many sushi joints, boutiques, and hipster-packed cafés you could almost drive straight past The Slow, which has a bar-restaurant and an adjoining gallery and concept store. Who's behind it?The Slow is the baby of George Gorrow, the founder of an Australian fashion label, and his wife, Cisco Tschurtschenthaler. Great. So let's get to the most important part: the rooms. What are they like? If we could secure one in particular, which would it be?The tropical-brutalism aesthetic blends local artisanal design and urban minimalism in 12 concrete-cast suites. Since there isn’t much in the way of facilities, it's especially important that the bedrooms nail the simple, stylish, and cool essentials. We especially loved the ready-mixed cocktails in the minibar and the big dial by the bed, which switches on a perfectly pitched retro playlist. The four ground-floor rooms have private plunge pools—and you definitely want to book one of those. How about the restaurant on site? Worth a stop, or should we look elsewhere?The roadside bar-restaurant, with hanging plants and arty photography, punches above its weight when it comes to small plates; hand-crafted tactile ceramics are filled with a fresh spin on Indonesian flavors. Pause on a sofa or barstool for a triple-distilled-arak cocktail, and you'll notice that the vibe here feels on-par with fashion-forward urban hangouts. How's the service?As low-key and laid-back as the property is, the team here stands poised to tend to your immediate needs. What kinds of people are most likely to stay here?Off-duty creative directors, drifting digital nomads, and a see-and-be-seen generation of surfer-model-influencers. Zoom out a bit. If we venture beyond the hotel grounds, what are we likely to find? What should we seek out?Canggu is made up of zig-zaggy dirt roads from Umalas, Berawa, Echo Beach, and Pererenan. At the end of the road, at the sea, hard-partying boarders flock to Old Man’s beer garden for pints of Bintang. More upmarket sundowner options are Ji, the rooftop bar at Hotel Tugu, and the Lawn, which is right on the beach. Bottom line: Why would you recommend this property?The switched-on stylings and comfortable suites do the basics well." - Juliet Kinsman

"Located inside one of Bali’s most achingly stylish hotels, Eat & Drink at The Slow is a surfer-luxe hangout that marries cool gray concrete with wood paneling. The vibe is at once bohemian and ultra-contemporary, and the food and cocktails match the bar's gorgeous looks. Chef Robbin Holmgren’s all-day menu, inspired by Asia, Europe, and South America, is a cut above. Keep things light with the likes of marinated watermelon or tuck into braised short rib and grilled baby corn. This is a swanky, versatile option for drinks and superb food after a jaunt (or surf) in Batu Bolong Beach." - Travis Levius