Why Nine-Nine is the best cultural experience in Lombok during our surf retreat
Beyond the waves, experience the heart of Lombok: traditions, women empowerment, and Sasak culture, all in one magical place
Beyond the waves, what truly makes Lombok special is its soul: the people, the culture, and the traditions. And the best way to dive into the heart of Lombok? Through Ninē-Ninē, a cultural and sustainable hub where Sasak traditions, women empowerment, and handmade crafts come to life.
Meet Lulu: The woman behind Ninē-Ninē
During our Waves & Freedom retreats in Lombok, we take our guests on an authentic Sasak experience in Lombok, to Ninē-Ninē, where we meet Lulu, the founder, and the incredible women preserving Lombok’s heritage. Ninē-Ninē's heart and soul is Lulu. Originally from France, Lulu fell in love with Lombok and its traditions and saw an opportunity to:
✨ Preserve Sasak heritage
✨ Empower women with fair wages & skill development
✨ Create a space where culture and sustainability thrive
She built a home for local artisans. And today, her vision continues to empower an ever-growing community of weavers, seamstresses, and craftswomen.
What is Ninē-Ninē?
Ninē-Ninē means 'women' in the Sasak language and its entire philosophy is built around empowering local women and preserving Lombok’s rich traditions.
Ninē-Ninē is:
✨ a movement dedicated to supporting local women by providing them with fair wages, skill development, and financial independence
✨a studio where a collective of female artisans, seamstresses, and weavers transform traditional sarongs into beautiful and handmade products
✨ a concept store that exclusively sells handmade, traditional, and locally crafted pieces
✨ a workshop space for cultural immersion
✨ a café that serves traditional Lombok dishes
Lulu has built more than a shop, it’s a movement. Women artisans work together to upcycle traditional sarongs into beautiful handcrafted accessories, blending sustainability with cultural preservation. What started with just five weavers has grown into a thriving collective of artisans, seamstresses, and craftswomen, all working together to keep Lombok’s traditions alive.
Our favorite workshop: Coco, Sambal, Coffee
(Price : 280K per person)
Ninē-Ninē offers the best cultural workshops in Lombok that allow visitors to dive deep into Sasak culture:
- Coco, Sambal, Coffee
- Bamboo Poscard and Note Book with @awan.paper
Book your next workshop here!
Our absolute favorite is the Coconut Oil, Sambal, and Coffee Workshop. We love bringing our guest to discover the the ancient techniques behind three essentials of Sasak daily life:
🥥 Coconut Oil
🌶 The authentic Indonesian Sambal Sauce
☕️ Lombok Coffee
We sit side by side with local women, learning how to balance heat, texture, and flavor, all while sharing stories, laughter, and maybe a few tears (from the spice, obviously).
The new café : Pawon Ninē-Ninē
YUMMMMM! Can we talk about how GOOD this food is?!
Ninē-Ninē just opened Pawon Ninē-Ninē, a café serving only Sasak traditional dishes. Every day, the café serves a different menu, offering homemade recipes passed down through generations by the incredible women of Kuta.
A unique taste of Lombok’s traditional cuisine!
Why Ninē-Ninē is a must-visit in Lombok:
♥ Experience authentic Sasak traditions
♥ Support local women artisans
♥ Get creative with upcycling and handicrafts
♥ Make (and eat) the best homemade sambal of your life
♥ Taste Sasak cuisine in their café
♥ Take home a piece of Lombok with meaningful handcrafted souvenirs
Book a workshop, visit the store, come for lunch and immerse yourself in the true spirit of Lombok.
From Lombok with love,
Anais ✿
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