10 Best Shopping Experiences in Candidasa

The Tenganan Village art shops are most famous for the geringsing 'double ikat' weavings they produce and sell. This rare fabric is a heirloom item and a cultural legacy, well-preserved by the village community. Producing a single length of geringsing is a painstaking process, requiring intricate weaving and dying processes leading up to its final form. The natural dyes are also unique, sourced from various indigenous tree barks, plants and herbs.

There are several types of geringsing and some very rare specimens are believed by the Tenganan villagers to have mystical powers. You can have an exotic piece of ‘magic’ from one of Bali’s oldest villages, the simplest form ranging from Rp 500,000 while the most intricate ones reaching to hefty prices of Rp 25 million apiece. Shopping through the home stalls, you can also find prasi art etchings on lontar or palm leaves, as well as wooden tribal masks and old Balinese calendars that look good on your living room wall back home.

Sensatia Botanicals produce 100% natural soaps from its small warehouse in the Jasri Beach coastal community, east of Candidasa proper. There’s also a small shop which showcases the various colours, sizes and scents of herbal soap bars, bath and body creams, and facial skincare products that are all locally made here.

The small community-based company is dedicated to creating quality handmade natural products and prides itself in being one of the first local profit-sharing co-operatives in this far-flung region of the island. Among the refreshing combinations and scents to choose from are lemon myrtle, eucalyptus, spearmint, patchouli, rosemary, lavender and tea tree. There are also great gift sets that feature an assortment of handmade soaps.

Alam Zempol produces refreshingly scented soaps as well as a range of other natural bath products from its base in Mendira Beach in the village of Manggis. One of its unique products is its clay soaps, which come in 4 different colour codes, each with different levels of coarseness and cleansing properties, suitable for varying skin types and sensitivity. Made with organic clay, these soaps absorb dust, dirt, old keratin and excess oil and leaves skin smoothened.

Herbal ingredients used include kukui nut oil, basil, cinnamon, paprika, and vanilla. Their shop on Jalan Mendira also showcases a variety of fragrances from essential oils sold in vials that are good when used in household potpourri mixes, burning oils, or as simple mists. Scents range from fruity ones like apple, avocado and grapefruit to floral ones like jasmine, lavender and frangipani.

Gogo's Silver is one among the many souvenir shops that line the Candidasa main road, offering various silver items in the form of figurines and exquisite jewellery pieces. Gogo's Silver is noticeable with its clear signage at the front of its green lawn, where an open gallery houses many displays.

Intricately etched necklaces, miniature horse carts that look great on tabletops or as paperweights, earrings, rings and pendants are among the little shiny things that will catch your eyes inside. Gogo’s also receives orders to tailor-make their pieces, so if you have an idea, or maybe want to have a name of someone special engraved in a gift piece, this is one of the best places in Candidasa to do so.

Gubuk Kita is a small but packed shop that’s a kind of mini convenience store, a souvenir shop, a locally run transport and tours office, and motorcycle and bicycle rental rolled into one. Besides a cool shade to retreat to for a cold coke or beer, you can also browse through some nice Garuda statuettes, dreamcatchers, framed paintings of different sizes and postcards. 

If you’re interested in a unique carving and have an idea of your own, they might just be able to make a personalised version as a gift, as they welcome orders.

Nadi’s Bookstore is one of the longstanding shops along the Jalan Raya Candidasa main route, where you can find some rare map prints and the latest and updated travel guides. But despite its name, it doesn’t only sell books. Its collection of antique vases, statues, and tribal art pieces is quite impressive for the shop’s size.

Colourfully painted Chinese porcelain urns, ornamental plates, golden life-size Buddhas and the good selection of international book titles of destination guides, novels, art and culture and photography are among the things you can spend some good time here before continuing your leisurely strolls through Candidasa.

You can find Segara Wangi Art Shop & Gallery right next to the small guesthouse of the same name on Jalan Raya Candidasa. Inside the small shop, you can find a full range of Balinese souvenirs which range from mini paintings depicting Balinese rural life and rice fields, handicraft items such as woven baskets and Garuda statuettes, to functional household décor items such as mosaic plates, batik liners, and ornamental ashtrays.

If you want to explore the coastal area of Candidasa by bike, you can rent yours from the shop, too. They offer a good selection of bicycles that come in various sizes, mostly mountain bikes with multiple gears.

Nusantara Archipelago is a small art and gift shop in the central Candidasa area. It has quality handicrafts and giftware in store which are not only from Bali but also from all over Indonesia. Inside, you can find all sorts of antique ceramics and pots, tabletop displays and exotic jewellery pieces among its petite collection.

The items are well arranged, making browsing through the collection a breeze. Most are quite unique, too, with small selections of sculptures and tabletop décor that can easily fit in your luggage for your trip back home. All of their top-quality products are offered at reasonable prices.

Family Shop is one of the larger convenience stores that you can find along Candidasa’s main road. It offers a range of art items and souvenirs and is also a source among locals for their temple ceremonial needs. These include traditional Balinese clothing, ornate offering boxes and sarongs in various motifs and sizes (children included).

Even if it caters mainly to locals, as a visitor to Candidasa you’ll also admire the intricate artworks of these items that may well work out as gifts and as a personal token of your visit to this less-travelled eastern coast. There are also wide-brimmed straw hats that are great if you’re exploring Candidasa on foot on a sunny day.

Gemini Shop is one of the small and central supermarkets that line the Jalan Raya Candidasa main road. It mostly caters to local shoppers with its assortment of refreshments and daily necessities. Even so, it has also become a source among visitors for snacks and drinks as well as goods such as postcards and visitor maps thanks to its dedicated stationery section.

The fixed prices at Gemini Shop are reasonable and make for a rough guide for what you should pay on your bargain-hunting adventures elsewhere throughout Bali’s eastern coastal region.