The most idyllic hotels in Bali
Oft referred to as the ‘Island of the Gods’, as much for its mystical culture as its myriad temples, Bali is famed for its sugar soft beaches, unique cultural attractions, verdant mountains and laid-back locals. Add to that a bounty of fantastic hotels, with quite literally something to suit every type of traveller on every type of trip – from surfers to yogis to honeymooners, families and soul seekers – and what's not to like?
The stylish south coast town of Seminyak is located on a buzzy beach lined with upmarket boutiques and fashion stores, trendy bars and restaurants. Away from the beaches, Bali is a land of serene mountain valleys and spectacular rice paddies, where emerald-green terraces have been carved out by hand over 2000 years. In the town of Ubud, Bali’s cultural heart renowned for its traditional crafts, the cool mountain air will wash over you – along with a feeling of utter tranquillity.
Top tips: be sure to visit Pura Ulun Danu Bratan; lying on the shore of Lake Bratan, it’s dedicated to the Balinese Hindu water goddess Dewi Danu. If you have time, just east of Bali, the beautiful island of Nusa Penida is brilliant for adventurous travellers who love hiking and snorkelling. April to October is fantastic in Bali and although November to February is monsoon season, punctuated by heavy storms and downpours, it does mean fewer tourists and cheaper rates on rooms. But definitely avoid late November and early December: it’s a busy Australian high-school holiday week.
Tried and tested, these are eight of the best hotels in Bali.
Tim Street Porter1/8Ubud Villa Hartland Estate
Best private residence
Yearning to reconnect with loved ones or planning a group getaway to celebrate a big birthday or special anniversary in a simply magical location? Ubud Villa Hartland Estate – a thoughtfully conceived and elegantly executed five-bedroom luxury private villa – might be the answer. Built by celebrated architect Yew Kuan and Studio Jencquel, the property has been carefully crafted around its natural environs high on the jungle-clad Sayan Ridge, just outside Ubud. Each aspect of the villa was designed to integrate seamlessly with its spectacular surroundings from the traditional Javanese-style suites constructed from reclaimed teak wood to the salt water infinity pool fed from a natural spring, and the vast decks offering incredible views of rice paddies, the river valley, and distant mountain peaks.
The villa comes with a concierge, who can organise anything from speciality guided tours to bespoke body treatments and one-to-one yoga classes, and is fully staffed with attentive friendly people who, owners promise, will feel like family by the time you leave. Chef Nyoman’s heart-full and healthful cooking will nourish your body and soul; but most of all this is the kind of accommodation that feels as welcoming as home. But with every comfort and whim allowed for.
- Address: Jl. Raya Kedewatan No.29b, Kedewatan, Kecamatan Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571, Indonesia
- Room rates: price on request
Christian Horan2/8Four Seasons, Jimbaran Bay
Best for beachfront lounging
The Four Seasons at Jimbaran Bay may be part of the old guard of Balianese hotels, but it more than holds its own among the competition. Not only does it offer a fabulous location and the end of a wide bay with lots of local fish restaurants in walking distance, but the style of the hotel gives it a wonderful sense of place, and there’s impeccable service and attention to detail. The vast majority of staff have worked for the hotel since its inception, and over 70 gardeners meticulously look after the hotel’s fragrant gardens – including areca nut and neem oil trees to vibrant frangipani and bougainvillaea. The facilities are incredible with kids club, two pools and a beach club – in our opinion the place to be. Here you’ll find contemporary Asian cuisine and zesty cocktails, with two for one sundowners between 5pm and 7pm.
It’s conveniently located just 20 minutes from the airport, making it the perfect first-stop on an island tour. Cascading down the hillside, the resort comprises 147 stunning villas enveloped by beautifully landscaped gardens and impressive swimming pools. Each villa is built to resemble a traditional Balinese compound with thatched-roofed pavilions opening onto private stonewalled courtyards with private pools and a sun terrace. Bedrooms are furnished with local fabrics and intricate wooden carvings. And don’t miss the spa – on menu are a wide range of suitably luxurious treatments including Balinese massages, pearl and jasmine scrubs, rose-scented facials – as well holistic offerings.
- Address: Jimbaran, Kuta Selatan, Bali 80361 Indonesia
- Room rates: from £702
felixhug/eyesonasia.net3/8Mandapa
Best for families
Located in Ubud, where the lush jungle meets the tumbling Ayung River, Mandapa hugs the hillside with magnificent views of the valley and rice terraces below. The story goes that when the Ritz-Carlton bought this pristine land from local villagers, they bought double what they needed for the resort itself. Sure, part was for its impeccably designed suites, villas, spa facilities and yoga pavilion. And part to give guests the gift of space and time. Because here you are completely wrapped in your environment – this is a sanctuary for the mind, body and soul.
The reserve has 35 suites, 25 villas (each with a private pool) and five unique dining experiences, offering everything from poolside burgers to riverside fine dining in bamboo pods. Its focal point is a rice terrace that tumbles down the hillside, overlooked by the pool and its bar, meanwhile the villas are tucked away in private gardens.
For families, we recommend one of the two- or three- bedroom villas with a spacious sundeck and private pool. Mandapa has a truly exceptional children’s club and also offers immersive family experiences. So why not unleash their Indiana Jones fantasies with the Mini Explorers programme, where children will make new friends while learning survival skills?
- Address: Jalan Kedewatan, Banjar Kedewatan, Ubud, Gianyar, Bali, Indonesia, 80571
- Room rates: from £1,071
Gabriel Ulung4/8Bambu Indah
Best for indoor-outdoor living
Oh so peaceful, perfectly in harmony with nature, and so laidback you won’t want to leave, this tiny luxurious boutique hotel encapsulates old school Bali. And no wonder, since the owner John Hardy arrived in Ubud in the 1970s. He met and married his wife Cynthia a decade later. Together they designed Bambu Indah – meaning beautiful bamboo in local language – bringing together an ecologically-mindful ethos with world class service.
In 2005 they installed eleven antique Javanese bridal homes collected on their travels on a jungle cliff top overlooking padi fields, inviting first their friends to stay. It was such a success they turned it into a hotel, later adding a range of spectacular rooms, all made from their signature material, bamboo. Today there are six houses overlooking natural spring-fed swimming pools by the river, four more luxuriant clifftop retreats, and a small range of other utterly original buildings. We especially love the Tree House, designed by their daughter Chiara, nestling in the branches of two Bunut trees.
Indeed, Bambu Indah gives guests the ultimate in indoor-outdoor living, a veritable garden of Eden. All of the common areas, including the riverside Warung restaurant, are outside. And nothing is off limits – guests can help harvest food in the kitchen garden and even go in the open kitchen to watch chefs cook. Simply outstanding.
- Address: Jl. Baung, Sayan, Kecamatan Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571, Indonesia
- Room rates: from £245
HOSHINOYA Bali5/8Hoshinoya, Bali
Best for aesthetes
On an island where there’s a dazzling array of beautifully-designed luxury hotels, the Hoshinoya Bali stands out. For this is where Japanese design principles meet Balinese culture and craftsmanship. Indeed, it was the first hotel in the 100-year-old Hoshino Hotel Group to be opened outside Japan. Think jaw-dropping light-filled interiors defined by traditional Japanese Shoji doors, meanwhile hand-painted batiks and Balanese carved wooden panels bring a distinctly Balinese touch to proceedings.The resort was designed by Rie Azuma, who spent considerable time researching Hindu temples and traditional Balinese culture. For her the choosing of the location is key. “It needs to be unique, offer something special, or have some kind of cultural significance.” she says. Located a pleasant 20-minute drive from Ubud, the resort stands between trees along the edge of the Pakerisan River valley and running through the property are sacred water canals, part of the island's age-old water temple network recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage landscape.Thus, all 30 villas open onto canal-like swimming pools that have been artfully designed to feel peaceful and private. “Hoshinoya is about how you spend your time at the resort,” says Azuma. “And about how the design can help you relax, rather than just big luxurious rooms.” And in keeping with the hotel’s Japanese heritage, beds are futons. Each morning the sunrise greets guests from the top of the valley, and during the day guests enjoy cultural activities like Batik workshops and rice field excursions. Indonesian cuisine and afternoon tea add to the richness of your stay.
- Address: Jl. Pengembungan, Pejeng Kangin, Kec. Tampaksiring, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80552, Indonesia
- Room rates: from £540
© Amanresorts Limited 1996-present. All Rights Reserved.6/8Amandari, an Aman resort
Best for luxury
Founded by Indonesian hotelier Adriana Zecha, the hotel group Aman is known for building luxurious sanctuaries in the most inspiring landscapes on earth, and – of course – impeccable service. Amandari was the brand’s second property, and its timeless elegance still sets the standard for laidback luxury on Bali. The property itself is perched on the verdant lip of the Ayung River Gorge in Ubud and the name means peaceful spirits, for there’s a seventh-century shine at its heart.
Designed by renowned architect Peter Muller to resemble an Indonesian village – albeit a luxurious one – with pathways winding through tropical gardens. There are 35 free-standing guest suites, as well as a three-bedroom private villa, while the curving swimming pool mimics the rice paddies below. And as with every Aman destination, the resort promises a deep connection to people and place: half of the team working here are from the local village and thatched-roof suites (decked out in marble and teak) surrounded by floor-to-ceiling glass windows enable uninterrupted views of the natural world surrounding you.
The Restaurant is an elegant, open-air building, where you’ll dine on locally grown fare, including green papaya, water spinach, jackfruit accompanied by spicy sambals and – for example – char grilled tiger prawns. When you’ve had enough – if you’ve had enough – of this enchanting setting, the resort is just a five minute drive from Ubud town, where you can shop for inexpensive carved furniture, colourful works by local artisans, as well as textiles and tapestries.
- Address: Jl. Raya Kedewatan, Kedewatan, Kecamatan Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571, Indonesia
- Room rates: from £927
Buahan, a Banyan Tree Escape7/8Buahan, a Banyan Tree Escape
Best for adults only
This year the Banyan Group celebrates its 30th anniversary – and is giving away some exclusive offers on spa treatments and rooms (including 20% off when guests stay for three nights or longer). But that’s not why we love Buahan. We love it for its timeless elegance, pioneering “no walls no doors concept”, gravity-defying suspended swimming pool and holistic spa.
Named after its neighbouring Buahan village, the hotel is a scenic 40-minute drive from Ubud, perched high in the rainforest with spectacular views towards seven distant volcanoes – which in the morning are enveloped in mist and come dusk alive with dancing fireflies – and the Ayung River rumbling below. This is far from the tourist trail – although, according to locals, close to the centre of the universe at nearby Taro village.
There are just 16 well-appointed villas – called bales – here. Each feels contemporary yet Balinese in flavour. Space inside divided with evocative white curtains. Hammered copper bathtubs on each veranda mean guests can bathe with 180 views of jungle and distant mountain peaks. A funicular transports guests up and down the steep hillside to the spa, yoga pavilion and rice fields, to explore as you wish, and a sacred waterfall.
And we can’t not mention the sustainability focus – like their natural wastewater system and employing local women to hand-loom uniforms – and an incredible restaurant where a zero-waste menu concept rediscovers the forgotten flavours of Bali.
- Address: Buahan, a Banyan Tree Escape, Banjar Selat, Buahan Kaja, Payangan, Gianyar, Bali 80572, Indonesia
- Room rates: from £1,102
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Tommaso Riva8/8The Slow
Best for surfing
This is a delightful, little, laidback hotel, located in the heart of Canggu, just 300 metres uphill from nearby Batu Bolong and its popular surf spot – Old Man’s. This is a tropical brutalist paradise that invites you to do just what the name suggests: kick back, relax and slow down for a day or two. The Slow is the lovechild of Australian designer George Gorrow, and his wife, Cisco Tschurtschenthaler and the pair have carefully considered every detail of hotel like it's their own home. Indeed, the plot that it’s on was going to be, until they realised the secret was out about Canggu and the area badly needed somewhere suitable to stay for the laid back surf crowd flocking to its breaks.
Furniture made in the hands of Balinese artisans distinguishes the 12 bedrooms; 100-plus audacious artworks from Cisco and George’s personal collection punctuate the walls. “The Slow is definitely getting better over time,” says Garrow. “I'm not sure it will ever be finished. I think it will always be a work in progress, which could actually be a beautiful thing.” The roadside bar-restaurant punches above its weight when it comes to small plates; hand-crafted tactile ceramics are filled with a fresh spin on Indonesian flavours. The hero here is chef Shannon Moran. Not only does he bring “a rock 'n' roll attitude to food and a string of culinary accolades” says Garrow, “but he embraces local produce and sustainability and makes food that is bold, exciting and relevant.”
- Address: Jl. Pantai Batu Bolong No.97, Canggu, Kec. Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia
- Room rates: from £422
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