The two most popular beach clubs in Bali are FINNS and Potato Head. They rank in first and second place of our best beach clubs guide and we think it’s time to put them head-to-head.
Which of these huge names in Bali delivers the best beach club experience and which beach club offers the kind of day out that you will never forget?
Our review teams have carefully considered everything each beach club has to offer and broken it down into an easy-to-digest series of comparisons. Let’s take a look at which is the best beach club of them all.
About FINNS Beach Club
At FINNS you will find three venues in a single place. There is FINNS Beach Club, FINNS VIP Beach Club and FINNS Party Area.
If you want to enter the VIP section, you will need to use a separate entrance, even though it’s officially at the same address.
FINNS Beach Club, Canggu is one of the biggest beach clubs in Bali physically and currently it has 3 swimming pools including an amazing oceanfront infinity pool, 11 bars (2 of which are swim-up bars), and 3 restaurants with multiple kitchens serving those restaurants.
Address: Jl. Pantai Berawa No.99, Canggu, Kec. Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia
Online: FINNS
Where Is FINNS VIP Beach Club? Jl. Pantai Berawa No.99, Canggu, Kec. Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361
Website: FINNS VIP
Opening Hours: Open daily, every day except for Nyepi, from 11 a.m. to 12 midnight.
Read Our Full Review Of FINNS Beach Club
About Potato Head Beach Club
Potato Head is also a big beach club and it’s part of the Desa Potato Head cultural village which has a bunch of other facilities too.
In the beach club, you will find 3 restaurants, 3 bars, a big lawn area, a nice lounge as well as an oceanfront infinity pool.
We should note that they may or may not have additional facilities available at the time you visit and they may or may not charge additional fees for the use of them. It’s best to check their website before you go.
Where Is Potato Head Beach Club? Petitenget St No.51B, Seminyak, Kuta Utara, Badung Regency, Bali 80361, Indonesia
Website: Potato Head
Opening Hours: Open daily, every day except for Nyepi, from 9 a.m. to 12 midnight.
Read Our Full Review Of Potato Head Beach Club
FINNS Vs Potato Head: Head To Head
Pre-Club Advertising
FINNS dominates the advertising side of beach club life in Bali. With beach clubs popping up everywhere, you’d think that each beach club would take it in turns, but no.
Wherever you go, online or offline, you will find the FINNS brand and this is a good thing. It means that FINNS is always busy and your day at FINNS Beach Club, Canggu is always going to have a party vibe to it.
Potato Head does advertise but not a lot and they tend to push their hotel property and special events rather than their beach club.
This means that their crowd isn’t as reliable as the one at FINNS but it’s usually pretty good compared to many other beach clubs in Bali.
FINNS wins this category and comfortably.
Location
FINNS sits on Berawa Beach in the heart of Bali’s most popular district, Canggu. On your way there, you’re bound to pass along the beach road which is full of boutique stores, bars and restaurants.
The beach itself is also a great place for surfing, but please don’t swim there. Go into FINNS and use the pool – the current on Berawa Beach is dangerous even for experienced swimmers.
Potato Head is in Seminyak, which is right next door to Canggu, and also a very popular place. The area is also full of boutique stores, restaurants and bars.
Seminyak is slightly more upscale (and expensive) than Canggu but there’s not that much in it.
Overall this category is a tie.
Booking Process & Seating Options
One thing we love about FINNS is that the beach club makes it super easy to book. Their booking engine is, currently, the best in Bali.
Pick your day, find your seat and get all the terms and conditions and pay your deposit and be on your way. (Of course, you don’t have to book – you can always walk-in but if you want to be certain of a seat in the beach clubs in Bali, it’s best to book).
Potato Head, on the other hand, has a slightly more confusing booking process (though it has been improved slightly since our original review of the venue) and you can pick your time slot, the number of people you’re with and then get appropriate seating offers.
Overall, FINNS wins this category but there’s not a huge amount in it. Both of these clubs do a much better job that most beach clubs in Bali do.
Entrance Fee
FINNS has no entrance fee. Not for the ordinary beach club and not for the VIP section. This is in keeping with the best practices of beach clubs in Bali.
You shouldn’t need to pay money to come inside a club, take a seat and buy a beer. It’s really that simple.
Potato Head used to be the same, but has recently introduced an entrance fee of 180,000 IDR (that’s about $12 USD or $18 AUD) from 4.30 p.m. to 7 p.m. – the time around sunset.
The entrance fee does include a drink, but really if you were coming for sunset cocktails, why do you need to buy the first one at the door?
In this category, FINNS wins. No entrance fee always beats being charged an entrance fee.
Minimum Spend
Both FINNS and Potato Head require you to commit to a minimum spend if you want to sit on the beanbags or on their day beds.
This is OK. This is how nearly all beach clubs in Bali work and it just means that you will need to eat, drink (and smoke, if you do) enough to make supplying you with nice furniture profitable.
FINNS has two options for this – arrive before 1 p.m. and get a discount and a “turn up anytime”.
Potato Head also has two options, but one is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and the other from 4.30 p.m. to when it closes.
We think you should be able to secure a bed for all day and night if you want to without making two bookings. So, we give FINNS this category.
Overall, both clubs have reasonable minimum spend requirements that aren’t extortionate.
Welcome And Security
FINNS does a great job of welcoming you to the venue, checking you in and providing you with enough information to get you to your seat.
They also do a brief security check, which is something we like, it keeps everyone in the venue safe.
Potato Head has a nice warm friendly welcome and also a brief security check. However, from where you are welcomed into Potato Head and where you need to be, there is an extremely long walk.
And it’s not always clear if you’re going in the right direction, it could use more signs and more staff along the way to ensure that the welcome is finished off as warmly as it began.
FINNS Beach Club, Canggu takes this category but there’s not a lot in it.
Inclusions
Potato Head has a single set of inclusions for minimum-spend customers – you get a towel for use in the pool and showers and some free fruit.
FINNS Beach Club provides a towel, WI-FI and shower facilities. But if you opt for the VIP side of things, you will find that they offer a big list of inclusions including suncream which is really expensive in Bali.
Overall, we think that offering a premier tier of inclusions is a good idea and we wish that every beach club did this. So, FINNS wins this category.
Service
With beach clubs popping up all over Bali, the one way they can all differentiate themselves is through excellent service.
And FINNS does. No matter how busy it is, the staff are friendly, kind and courteous and most importantly, efficient. You won’t wait forever for a drink or food.
Potato Head offered friendly, kind and pleasant service too but then completely failed the efficiency test. Waiting for 30 minutes for a bottle of beer is just not good enough at these prices.
We’d also note that Potato Head has a bit of a shortage of toilets, particularly at busy times, which can make things a bit uncomfy.
FINNS wins this category easily.
Entertainment
We wouldn’t expect any beach club in Bali to dethrone FINNS as the entertainment masters of the scene and Potato Head doesn’t even try.
Potato Head is about chilling to bland music by the ocean. That’s what it does. There’s no entertainment at all.
FINNS has non-stop DJs, vocalists, dancers and actual entertainers in the venue all day long. There’s never a moment when you’re bored at FINNS.
This is an easy win for FINNS.
Pool Quality
FINNS has multiple pools and they’re all great for splashing around in. They have two swim-up bar facilities which are great for sunset cocktails and the pools are clean and well-maintained.
Potato Head only has one pool, but it’s pretty big and can accommodate plenty of people. It’s also kept clean and well-maintained.
We’re going to call this category a tie. Both places have really made the most of their pool facilities.
Menu/Drinks Pricing
FINNS is surprisingly reasonable when it comes to pricing. It’s cheaper than many other beach clubs in Bali and the emphasis seems to be on value for money.
Potato Head is all about plant-based, sustainable stuff and they charge a pretty stiff premium for it. But nobody seems too bothered about paying for it.
Overall, FINNS probably edges this category but they both have happy customers.
Food And Drink Quality
The quality of food at Potato Head is excellent, but the quantity not so much. A main course here feels like half of a main course at any other restaurant in Bali.
The drinks are strong enough though, which is a plus point.
FINNS offers excellent quality food, nearly on par with fine dining, which is amazing when you consider how many meals they make each day. The drinks are strong too.
This is an easy win for FINNS. We like a full plate of food when paying a premium for it.
Sunset View
Both clubs look out on the Indian Ocean in roughly the same way and thus, this category is a tie.
They’re only a few miles apart on the coast and the sunset on this side of the island is legendary.
Music And Ambience
We do like Potato Head but it’s not because of the music. We’ve never heard such bland and unengaging tunes and they don’t even have a DJ on most of the time.
FINNS isn’t breaking barriers with its music policy but has come up with a setlist that will please most people most of the time. That’s a pretty fine art and we always feel uplifted by the music in FINNS.
This category is a walk-over for FINNS.
Payment Options
Both clubs seem to accept all legal forms of payment in Bali and the process is straightforward and easy in both places. This category is a tie.
Exit Process
You walk miles to get in to Potato Head, you walk miles to get out and without the enthusiasm of knowing you’re about to have a lot of fun.
FINNS, on the other hand, makes leaving the club as easy as arriving there and thus, FINNS takes this category.
Transportation
Potato Head is in the middle of a taxi mafia zone and you will have to walk a few hundred meters to get a Grab or Gojek.
FINNS, on the other hand, facilitates pick up from the door at VIP and from the marked area at the regular beach club. Another easy win for FINNS.
Social Media Presence
FINNS is the online king of beach clubs in Bali. They have a presence on all major forms of social media and it’s well managed and regularly updated.
Potato Head is very nearly as good with a decent range of social media presence and professional attention to detail.
FINNS takes this but there’s only a small dividing line between the two clubs.
Other/General Comments
Overall these two clubs are very different places and have very different vibes. They both offer polished, professional and high-end experiences that are out of the league of most other beach clubs on the island.
The Results: FINNS Beach Club Vs Potato Head Beach Club Which Is Better?
As you can see from our head-to-head FINNS and Potato Head are both great beach clubs but FINNS wins every category or the categories are drawn.
If you can only go to one beach club in Bali – make it FINNS. It is hands down the best experience you’re going to get.
But if you go to two, we’d do FINNS the day before and then go to Potatohead the day after to get over our hangover.
FAQs
What Is The Number One Beach Club In Bali?
The most popular beach club in Bali is FINNS. While there are many competitors for this spot, FINNS has time and again managed to stay ahead of the curve and lead the market.
The beach club offers the best mix of pools, bars, restaurants, and entertainment of any venue in Bali. Nearly 15% of people who get off a plane at Denpasar airport will spend, at least, one day at FINNS Beach Club, Canggu.
Is FINNS Beach Club Worth It?
Yes! In fact, we’d say that if any day at one of the beach clubs in Bali is worth it, it’s a day at FINNS.
Their beachfront infinity pool is amazing, the sunset cocktails are superb at their swim-up bars, and the entertainment is out of this world. There’s never a dull moment at FINNS.
Is FINNS Beach Club VIP Worth It?
We like FINNS VIP Beach Club very much. It’s not a service we use every time that we go to FINNS but when we’re in the mood to be pampered a little, it’s a no-brainer.
Free charging stations, free drinks, free snacks, and so much more. The VIP beach club offers a genuinely premium beach club experience. FINNS is the only beach club to really get this right.
Is Potato Head Worth It?
Yes, Potato Head is worth it. While it may not be our pick vs FINNS, it’s the second-best beach club on the island and Potato Head Beach Club is ideal for a day of chilling out by the beach.
It’s not somewhere you go to party, but that’s OK. The atmosphere at Desa Potato Head is tranquil. You can nurse a hangover by the infinity pool or drink cool sunset cocktails while watching the ocean lap against the shore.
What Is The Best Day To Go To FINNS Beach Club?
There is never a bad day to go to FINNS. As someone on Reddit said recently, if FINNS is empty, Bali is empty.
In fact, it’s probably the only place where you can guarantee a good beach club experience even in the low season.
However, Friday, Saturday and Sunday are the busiest days and we’d strongly recommend that you book ahead if you want to be sure of a seat at the beach club on these days.
Is There An Entrance Fee For FINNS Beach Club?
No, FINNS has no entrance fee at any time of day. The club believes, as we do, that people should be free to come inside and see what they think without being compelled to pay to take a look.
What’s The Difference Between FINNS Beach Club and FINNS VIP Beach Club?
FINNS VIP Beach Club is a premium service that sees a lot more included with your daybed than the ordinary beach club.
So, you get a locker for free, smartphone charging for free, sunglasses cleaning for free, drinks for free, snacks for free and more. It’s a nice way to give your day at FINNS the touch of a little luxury.
Is There A Dress Code At FINNS Beach Club?
You have to wear swimming clothes in the swimming pool and should be dressed appropriately for the beach in the areas around their multiple pools.
After 6 p.m. their restaurants operate a smart casual dress code and we’d recommend checking out their site for the latest on this.
However, there’s one thing they don’t compromise on at FINNS, if you have a facial or head tattoo, you cannot enter the venue. This is made abundantly clear during their booking process, so don’t come crying to us if you book and then get turned away for this reason.
Is There A Dress Code At Potato Head?
Potato Head has no dress code of any kind. They say that this “celebrates diversity” but you will be expected to wear actual swimwear in the pool. This is because clothes that aren’t meant for swimming shed fabric in the pool and clog up the drains and they often get bleached by the chlorine in the water too.
Sadly, this policy makes the restaurants look a lot less appealing at night when some people turn up dressed to kill and others look like they dressed after a kill.
What Is The Minimum Spend At FINNS Beach Club?
There is no minimum spend at FINNS Beach Club, Canggu. This lovely spot on Berawa Beach allows anyone to come in and use their bars or restaurants without paying any kind of entrance fee or agreeing to a minimum spend.
You only have to agree to a minimum spend if you want to use a day bed by their multiple pools. This is a great way to get a fantastic seat while only paying for food, drinks and tobacco products.
Final Thoughts On FINNS VS Potato Head Beach Club
With beach clubs popping up all over the island, it’s a credit to both FINNS and Potato Head that they remain kings of the beach club experience on the island.
However, it’s fair to say that FINNS Beach Club offers the better day out for most visitors. Particularly, if you want to be entertained and enjoy a party vibe while you relax in the sun.
Potato Head Beach Club, on the other hand, is a more reserved, chilled-out place, it’s somewhere that we would take our hangover after a night at FINNS or go for a few hours by the pool.
And as you can see by the scores, FINNS is currently, the best beach club in Bali and probably in the entire world.
