By K&P 
Mixue ice cream? Check. Local warung? Check. Known beaches? Too far, and the idea of racing an hour through narrow mountain roads isn’t appealing. The northwestern part of Penida is full of shops, food stalls at night markets, local warungs, and nice restaurants. There are plenty of cool places open late, offering both loud and mellow music – everyone can find something to suit their taste. However, there aren’t any great beaches here. Sure, there’s the beach near the port and a stretch of beach in the western part of the island, but access is limited. Hotels and restaurants have taken over, turning the beaches into private zones. You can still use them, but you’ll need to walk through a restaurant and likely use their loungers or tables with umbrellas by the sea. Is there any publicly accessible beach around here?
Manet’s Beach is located right off a side road – you’ll need to turn off the main east-west route. It’s not signposted, but there aren’t many side roads in this area – this might actually be the only one. Along the single side road, you’ll find local offices organizing transfers, snorkeling, and diving trips. At the end of the road, there’s a large parking lot and, beyond that, the beach.
This is mainly a gathering spot for trips organized by the local agencies, as well as for small boat transfers to Lembongan and Ceningan. It’s a hub for full-day tours to Diamond or Kelingking Beach, serving as a transfer point from boats to cars and for visitors arriving from Lembongan.
The beach doesn’t look very impressive, and most people don’t stay long, rushing off to more famous spots. But if you take a moment to stop and look around, you might notice Mount Agung and Bali’s mountain range to the right, Nusa Ceningan straight ahead, and the beautiful hills of Penida with charming bungalows offering stunning views to the left. On closer inspection, the water here is calm and clear, the sand is white, and there are even some nice trees providing shade and separating the beach from the town. You might think it’s actually a pretty great spot, but most people are too busy staring at their phones, planning their next stop, or checking their watches while waiting for their transfers. After all, it’s just a transfer point, right?
It’s worth spending at least a few hours at this “transfer point.” There are plenty of boats in the water, but they’re the charming local kind. While the ropes anchoring the boats crisscross the beach in many places, there are still areas free from such obstacles. The water is calm and clear – no, it’s not Suwehan or any of the more famous beaches, but for such easy access and a lazy afternoon, it’s more than enough.
Local kids play beach soccer while others snack or relax in hammocks under the trees. In the evening, streetlights from the town partially illuminate the beach. There are small, makeshift benches, low walls, or logs where you can sit and enjoy the view. It’s an underrated spot, perfect for a leisurely evening, a walk, or simply unwinding.