Be merry in Bali

For many Australians, Christmas means family gatherings, overindulging in food and sometimes debating over who’s doing the dishes.

But for those willing to trade tradition for something different, Bali offers a rather appealing alternative.

From candlelit dinners in Canggu to Japanese-inspired feasts in Ubud, here are a few places worth considering if you’re looking to spend Christmas and New Year’s Eve on the Indonesian island.

Canggu

For those who prefer their Christmas celebrations with a little French flair, La Reserve 1785 in Pererenan offers an intimate alternative to the usual festive fanfare.

The adults-only boutique hotel has just 13 suites, each named after a former lover of Henriette Reboul, a French antique dealer whose colourful life inspired the property.

The hotel also has a subterranean spa and offers candlelit dinners, which I think adds to the appeal, particularly for those wanting a quieter way to ring in the new year.

A short distance away in Berawa, things are considerably livelier at Etta the Place.

Inspired by the energy of New York City, the hotel opened earlier this year and brings together restaurants, bars and boutique accommodation in a neighbourhood-style setting.

At street level, there’s a coffee shop, restaurant and vinyl-spinning disco, with 15 guestrooms upstairs.

Its Win Win Restaurant takes cues from 1990s New York, with a menu featuring nostalgic favourites such as spicy vodka rigatoni and Black Forest cake sliced at the table.

There’s even a build-your-own-martini experience, where guests can specify everything from the ratio of ingredients to the garnish. A nice touch for those who take their cocktails seriously.

For something more relaxed, Shelter just north of Canggu in Pererenan is worth considering. Here, Middle Eastern and Mediterranean flavours meet open-flame cooking in a candlelit, open-air setting.

Uluwatu

If Christmas is more about switching off than celebrating, Lyvin Melasti is a good option.

Built into the cliffs of the Bukit Peninsula, the property features minimalist architecture, long swimming pools and sweeping views of the Indian Ocean . . . the perfect spot to recharge before, or recover after, your New Year’s Eve festivities.

Those wanting something more sociable might prefer My Dear Clara, an Italian-inspired restaurant that opened in September. Here, you can enjoy fresh pasta, hand-pulled mozzarella, negronis and paper-covered tables with crayons for you to get creative with.

What’s more, families can opt for an earlier New Year’s Eve sitting, while those keen to see in 2027 can settle in for a later celebration.

Ubud

YUKI Ubud offers a Japanese-inspired alternative to the traditional Christmas feast.

Located beside Ubud Palace, the restaurant combines charcoal-grilled dishes, seafood and sharing plates with Japanese highballs and curated vinyl sets.

There’s an interactive omakase counter, a central tree growing beneath a skylight and a cool vinyl bar.

It’s not your traditional way to celebrate Christmas or ring in the new year, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.