Livingstone: Bali Travel Guide

How this guide was made: Editor-reviewed, AI-assisted. Facts are pulled from live Google Places data; images are licensed or public domain. See our editorial policy.

Why Livingstone Is on Every Petitenget Itinerary

Livingstone sits on Jalan Petitenget, the strip of Kerobokan that bridges Seminyak’s polish and Canggu’s rice-field cool. It’s built around a jungly, multi-level layout — think oversized rattan chairs, hanging greenery, a pool-adjacent lounge area, and enough Instagram-ready corners that it’s become a fixture of Bali’s “trendy café” circuit rather than a quiet neighborhood find. With a 4.8 rating across more than 14,000 reviews, it’s firmly in very-popular territory, and the crowds reflect that: this is a place to enjoy for the design, the all-day menu, and the people-watching, not for solitude.

Getting There

Livingstone is at Jl. Petitenget No.88X, Kerobokan Kelod, in Kuta Utara district, Badung Regency — about 10–15 minutes by car or scooter from central Seminyak, and roughly 15–20 minutes from Canggu’s Batu Bolong area, traffic depending. There’s no rail system on this part of Bali, so the realistic options are a private driver, a scooter rental, or ride-hailing apps (Gojek/Grab both operate here, though pickup zones near Petitenget’s café strip can require a short walk to a designated point due to local restrictions on ride-share pickups). Parking is available on-site but fills up fast during peak hours, so scooters have an easier time than cars.

What to See and Eat

Livingstone functions as café, restaurant, and lounge in one footprint, with a menu that spans all-day breakfast bowls, wood-fired pizzas, Asian-fusion plates, and an extensive cocktail and mocktail list. It’s the kind of place where a smoothie bowl and a Negroni-style cocktail can plausibly appear on the same table. At a price level of 2 (moderate for Bali’s café scene), expect mains in the mid-range bracket and drinks priced accordingly — confirm current menu prices on-site, as these shift seasonally.

Beyond the food, the draw is the space itself: multiple seating zones (sunken lounge seating, open-air garden tables, a bar area) mean the vibe changes depending on where you land, from laid-back daytime brunch energy to a livelier bar scene after dark. The surrounding Petitenget strip also holds boutique shops and other well-known cafés, making it easy to combine a visit here with a longer walk down the street.

When to Go

Mornings (roughly 8–10am) and early afternoons on weekdays are the calmest windows — brunch rushes typically build from mid-morning through early afternoon, and weekends see the heaviest volume all day. Evenings shift the crowd toward a bar/lounge atmosphere, which comes with its own energy but also its own wait. Bali’s dry season (April–October) brings more visitors overall, so a weekday visit during these months is especially worth planning around opening time.

How to Visit Like a Local

Livingstone’s scale and reputation mean it draws a steady mix of tourists and long-term Bali residents rather than being a local secret — so the smart move isn’t finding a quiet version of it, it’s timing your visit to dodge the crush. Arrive right at opening or aim for a 3–5pm lull between lunch and dinner services. For dinner or weekend visits, reserve a table in advance rather than walking in; large group without a booking is the most common reason visitors end up waiting. Payment is straightforward — cards are widely accepted alongside cash, and a service charge is often already built into the bill, so check before adding an extra tip on top (a small rounding-up is appreciated but not obligatory beyond that). Dress code is relaxed resort-casual — Bali café culture doesn’t require dressing up, though many visitors do treat it as a photo stop, so expect phones and tripods around the more photogenic seating areas. If you’re mainly there for photos rather than a full meal, visiting during the slower afternoon window lets you actually use the space without rushing past other guests waiting for your seat.

Nearby to Pair With Your Visit

Petitenget’s café row means Livingstone is easy to combine with a broader half-day out: nearby beach clubs and Petitenget Beach itself are a short scooter ride away, and Seminyak’s shopping streets are close enough to fold into the same trip. Given the popularity and the traffic patterns along this corridor, building in extra time for both the meal and the drive is the most realistic way to plan the visit.