Here're some places for shopping in Bali:
Ubud:
Lovely quirky boutiques in Ubud, but if you're more a budget traveller and don't have much time, then head straight for the market (while prices may be cheaper for certain items at other markets, this is almost a one-stop-shopping).At the market, take your pick on rattan stuff - bags, baskets, placemats; tissue box holders made of coconut husk, rattan, etc; sarongs, pareos, batik, masks, bags, salt and pepper shakers. Think crafts, home and decor. There are clothes as well at the market, but you can find these same clothes in the markets in Kuta. Remember to negotiate the price!
Art in Ubud -Neka Gallery and the Neka Museum (they sometimes have temporary exhibits at the museum which you can also buy.
Agung Rai Musuem of Art Seniwati Gallery of Art by Women
Blanco Renaissance Museum
Gaya Gallery
Genta Fine Art Gallery
Museum Rudana & Rudana Fine Art Gallery
Pengosekan Community of Artists Showroom Puri Lukisan Museum
There's also another place, on the way towards Ulun Ubud Resort. It's opposite Tjamphuan and it's full of weird stuff but interesting. The artist is Simon or Simone. You can't miss it. It's on a small "hill" and you can see the sculptures from the road. If you're going towards Ulun Ubud Resort from Ubud Centre, it's on your left.
Note that Neka's "THE" museum of Bali. The Museum and the Gallery are at different places. The Museum is next to Uma Ubud and the Gallery is nearer Ubud Centre. You can also see paintings by Arie Smit. Lovely colours, some of it is like an Impressionist style, because of the colours. Arie Smit is kinda like the Gauguin of Bali.
If these are too expensive, then there are many shops selling paintings, drawings, etc (and you can even find some at the market) along the roads in Ubud.
As for their small boutiques, they sell lovely jewellery, clothes, sequinned flip-flops(but it's better to buy this in Seminyak as they have a wider selection).
Another popular place in Ubud is Uluwatu Lace. A favourite is Pithecan Thropus (lovely Batik stuff, good quality, not cheap by Bali standards. Sizes tend to be a bit limited for certain stuff though).
Then there are villages which specialise in craft work:
Mas - woodcarving - for display as well as furniture.
Very ornate and intricately carved. Might be a bit heavy for some people, though it's fascinating to see some of the work. Kerobokan (in the south) there are a lot of good furniture shops there, and they specialise in import and export as well. Try the area around the jail. (uh-huh)
Celuk - gold and silver smiths
Batubulan - Stone
Here, you can find out what the real art means to be and you can see that you never saw. High price but worthy.
In the South - Kuta/Legian/Seminyak:
Now having said all that, if you are really a serious shopper, then buy more of the craft stuff in Ubud and then head to Seminyak/Legian and Kuta for more clothes/shoes, funky, surf stuff, etc. There, you can find Biasa (owned by one of the supermodels - Linda Evangelista or Christy Turlington, or some other, not sure if still owned by them), Paul Ropp (there's also one in Sayan), Body and Soul, Billabong, Stussy, Ocean Pacific, Quicksilver, etc, etc, etc....
You can also find uluwatu lace in Legian/Kuta and Pithecan Thropus has a huge store in the Kuta/Legian area.
In the south, think clothes, shoes, funky, stylish, interesting stuff. While you can find handicraft there as well, Ubud is the area for crafts.
do find that the prices in Bali have risen steadily over the years and things aren't that cheap as before.
However, the shops are more interesting and while price has gone up, so has quality. A lot of the shops don't really cater to plus sizes though.
Apart from all these small, easy to carry stuff, you can also buy mirrors, dining sets, lamps, frames, furniture, etc...
Jenggala has also got lovely handmade ceramics.
Geneva Handicraft - Kerobokan
A plug for Geneva Handicraft on Kerobokan area north of Kuta. (check on Google as they have a web site) - you'll get 4 floors of warehoused type handicrafts - a trove of stuff that you'll be able to purchase extremely cheaply. This is not art quality stuff, for the most part, but is on par with the stuff you might find at the Matahari department store and other handicraft stores for about 1/2 of the price if not less. No bargaining, prices are clearly marked. Note that they accept credit cards but tack on an additional 3% - so take plenty of cash. Masks, wooden handicrafts and baskets of all sorts and sizes. More limited on clothing but plenty of batik type houseware items such as pillow covers, table covers, etc. Having been to Ubud and gone to the "art markets" there, found that Geneva Handicraft was significantly cheaper.
Serious Shopper Alert:
Be prepared and bring an extra bag. If you won't regret not buying, then just come with a bag half full...But don't worry, there are SAMSONITE shops in the south and worse comes to worst, you can just patronize them!
Impt question: Can one bargain?
It all depends. At the markets, yes. At certain shops - am sure you all out there know what mean - no. However, if you want to try your luck at these places, you can always ask - "Do you have a discount?", or better still do it in their language, "Ada discount?" and say it with a smile. You'll notice that you can't bargain at some small shops/boutiques as well. But if you can bargain, if you're Asian, you can try starting off with a third of the price. Unfortunately, there's discrimination. If you're not Asian, they will probably charge you more - but then again, the locals know that the (for example) dollar/pound/Euro is stronger than the Malaysian Ringgit.
But most importantly, Bali needs help boost their economy. And $1 goes a long way for them. So think twice when you want to bargain for that extra few thousand or hundred rupiah which can work out to be less than 0.25.
Shop till you drop in Bali! Enjoy!
Some addresses: (These are obviously more "upmarket". If they have an internet page, they are usually more expensive.)
PitheCanThropus
Jl. Legian 368, Kuta; Bali 80361. Tel: 0361 765 073
Jl. Monkey Forest, Ubud; Bali 80571. Tel: 0361 970 990
Pusaka may be the same owner as PitheCanThropus and they have handwoven Natural Dyed stuff
Jl. Pantai Kuta 20D, Kuta; Bali 80361. Tel: 0361 761 880
Jl. Monkey Forest No 71, Ubud Kelod 80571, Bali. Tel: 0361 978 619
Pura Vida
Jl Legian Kaja 38b, Seminyak.
Jl. Pantai Kuta 29a
Biasa
Jln. Raya Seminyak 34 - 36, Kuta Bali 80361. Tel: 0361 730 308
www.biasabali.com
Threads of Life
www.threadsoflife.com
Uluwatu Lace
Shops in Legian, Kuta, Nusa Dua, Sanur and Ubud
www.uluwatu.com
Jenggala
Jalan Uluwatu II, Jimbaran; Bali 80361. Tel: 0361 703 311
www.jenggala-bali-com
Online shopping: www.jenggalashop.com
Jenggala's products are also available at: Made's Warung II in Seminyak; Ritz-Carlton; Nikko Hotel Gift Shop; DFS Bali; Toko East in Ubud
They also have a factory outlet in Sanur.
Christy Furniture and Art Gallry
Jl Raya Kerobokan No 98, Banjar Taman, Kuta, Bali. Tel: 0361 735 502
www.christyfurniture.com
Spa Factory
Jl. Toya Ning 4, Kedonganan, Jimbaran, Bali. Tel: 0361 701 439
MOD Jewelry
Jl. Legian 1&2, Legian Arcade, Kuta, Bali. Tel: +62 361 763483
MODJewelry product are also available @ Pointbreakworld Kelapa-Gading Jakarta, City Surf PIM2 Jakarta, Pasaraya Grande Jakarta, Surfer Girl Legian Bali, Rip Curl Kuta Square Bali, Extreme Toys Nusa Dua Bali, Kite & Surf Bali, Ubud point Ubud Bali, Surf Factory Outlet Bali.
All Indonesian Harley-Davidson Dealers
Website: http://www.modjewelry.com
