Home Ground: A Bali Local Shares The Wine Bars, Neighbourhoods And Community Groups Shaping Culture

After 20 years working with luxury hospitality brands including COMO and Capella, Brooke Moralejo launched Belle Travel to give clients access to the kind of hotel experiences you don’t usually get by booking direct. Brooke seeks out and shares insider knowledge, special pricing and thoughtful VIP touches at some of the world’s best hotels.

Now based in Bali, Brooke takes us to her Home Ground, sharing where she heads for an after-work wine, the local fashion label championing Balinese craftsmanship, and the one day of the year "where massive hand-made demon statues are carried through the streets to drive out evil spirits". 

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What's a local spot you always take visitors to?

Pulau Kelapa restaurant in Ubud. It's tucked into this organic garden in central Ubud, and it does something most restaurants here don't—it serves traditional Balinese cuisine with genuine respect for the craft, without dumbing it down for foreign palates. I love watching visitors realise that Balinese food is far more sophisticated than they assumed. The setting helps too—you're essentially dining in a garden, surrounded by the herbs and vegetables that end up on your plate. It's the perfect introduction to what Bali can be: rooted in tradition, thoughtfully executed, and utterly unpretentious.

Image Credit: Pulau Kelapa | Instagram

Which neighbourhood do you think best reflects the real Bali right now, and what do you love about spending time there?

Ubud remains the heart of what makes Bali magic—that rare intersection of deep spirituality, creative energy, and nature. What I love is how it's evolved beyond the yoga-retreat stereotype into something more nuanced. You'll find serious culinary talent here alongside traditional warungs, padel courts overlooking ancient temples, and wine bars tucked between rice paddies. It's Bali at its most authentic: constantly evolving while staying rooted in what matters.

Where's your local cafe? What's your go-to order?

Rusters in Ubud. Great coffee, proper cocktails when the mood strikes, and those rice paddy views that remind you why you live here.  I go for the avocado toast every time–served on a thick slice of freshly baked sourdough–I think even the most discerning Aussie would approve. My husband won't leave without a croissant from the bakery, by far the best in Bali.

Image Credit: Rüsters | Instagram

Where's the best spot for dinner?

The Sayan House in Ubud. The sunset views alone would be enough—perched above the Ayung River valley with that golden-hour light filtering through the jungle—but the food and cocktails are genuinely accomplished. It's one of those rare places where the setting and the food are equally great. The cocktails are excellent, the energy always feels right, and somehow it manages to be special occasion-worthy without taking itself too seriously. I actually bought the whole place out for my wedding a couple of years ago, and it was perfect. 

Image Credit: The Sayan House | Instagram

What's the best bar and what are you drinking?

Belle Wine Bar, without question. It's my husband's place, so I might be biased—but there's something special about settling in with an excellent bottle of Chablis and a gorgeous cheese board and watching the Bali evening unfold. It's where Ubud's food & beverage community naturally congregates, and the wine list is genuinely impressive for Bali. I love watching first-time visitors realize that sophisticated wine culture exists here.

Image Credit: Belle Wine Bar | Instagram

Who are some Bali creatives, makers or small business owners you think deserve more love?

Stelar. They're working directly with Balinese artisan communities to create hand-woven bags and accessories that preserve traditional techniques. Each piece connects you to the actual artisan who made it. Exceptional quality, sophisticated design, and proof that luxury can support communities rather than exploit them. 

Also, the team behind Bali Grazing Boards. They've turned cheese boards into genuine art. They're 100% locally sourced and arrive perfectly assembled in gorgeous banana-leaf packaging. It's the perfect thing to have waiting in your villa when you arrive anywhere in Bali. 

Image Credit: Uma & Leopold

Uma & Leopold for their handcrafted clothing that actually reflects Balinese artistry without veering into costume territory. And frankly, anyone keeping traditional crafts alive while building sustainable businesses around them deserves more recognition than they get.

Lastly, Tresna Bali cooking classes. Frances and Adi have created something genuinely special—he's Balinese, and she's Canadian, and together they've built this purpose-built cooking school on their riverside property where you learn actual ceremonial Balinese dishes, not the simplified versions tourists usually get. You pick ingredients from their organic garden, learn techniques Adi grew up with, and the feast at the end will be the highlight of your trip! 

Is there a community or cultural space in Bali that means something special to you?

The padel community has become unexpectedly important to me. There are about a million courts all over the island now—many also offering gyms, pools, spas and cafes. What started as just wanting decent exercise has evolved into this wonderful network of women for me. It's one of those rare spaces where you connect with people outside the usual expat circles, and the energy is genuinely supportive rather than competitive. There's something refreshing about a community built around showing up, playing hard, and then having a proper conversation afterwards. It's become my kind of networking—less talking about what we do, more just being present. 

Image Credit: Yamtono Sardi

Which local events, markets or festivals do you look forward to every year?

Nyepi—Bali's annual Day of Silence. The night before, there are these incredible Ogoh-Ogoh parades where massive hand-made demon statues are carried through the streets to drive out evil spirits. The energy is electric, almost chaotic. Then at sunrise, everything stops. The entire island shuts down for 24 hours. No lights, no noise, no travel allowed. Even the airport closes. It's the only day of the year when you're genuinely forced to be completely still, and there's something profoundly resetting about it. In a world where we're constantly productive, being mandated to do absolutely nothing feels almost radical. The quiet feels like peace.  

If you had one day to show someone 'your' Bali, what would the itinerary look like?

Early morning fire yoga class at Alchemy Yoga Centre—their space is beautiful, and the instructors are amazing. Followed by a smoothie bowl at their cafe across the street. Then head to Tjampuhan Spa—it's an old gem hidden at the bottom of the valley right by the river, and the hot/cold spring water jacuzzi carved into that mythical stone cavern is genuinely magical—alternating between the plunge pools and the sauna with the sound of the river in the background is the perfect reset.

Image Credit: Alchemy Yoga Centre

Afternoon, we'd escape to the eastern beach at Keramas—Komune Resort has that perfect setup where you can watch proper waves roll in and soak up the sun without hordes of tourists. Evening drinks at Belle Wine Bar because that's non-negotiable. Then dinner at Mozaic if we're feeling celebratory with the tasting menu, or Batubara if we want something more intimate and wood-fired. I usually head to bed after that, but I will always send my friends to The Blue Door for a nightcap (or a late-night dance party!). 

Brooke Moralejo runs local travel agency Belle Travel Co, so if you want to funnel these local recommendations into your next vacay, check her out.