Lush, laidback and perennially welcoming, Bali will beat the most entrenched case of the blues. The Indonesian island gives with both hands, sating sensualists and spiritualists alike. R’n’R opportunities can be found in abundance, with glorious beaches and a thriving spa culture; and its indulgent, spice-laden cuisine will keep you coming back for more. And yet, it’s the culture that often makes the biggest impression, borne out in unique Balinese-Hindu traditions, the sense of community spirit and deep respect for nature. Sold? Us too — the only question is where to lay your head.
To help you find your match, we’ve selected the best hotels in Bali based on your priority, whether that’s unfettered romance, cultural immersion, beachfront bliss and more.
FOR A ROMANTIC BREAK
Buahan, A Banyan Tree Escape
A hotel with no walls or doors might sound a tad risqué, but trust us, it works a treat at Buahan, A Banyan Tree Escape. This canopy-grazing stay is in the highlands north of Ubud, surrounded by hills that are swathed in jungle or layered with terraced rice paddies. Throw in a ravishing treetop pool and a spa with valley-spanning views, and you’ll soon forget the tyranny of right-angled structures. The hotel is adults-only, too, making it a perfect match for honeymoons and romantic retreats.
Best room for romance There are no duds here: all the rooms are a similar size and have an open-plan design scheme. Balé 12 (one of the Buahan Valley Pool balés) has particularly splendid views of Bali’s Seven Peaks, best admired from the freestanding copper tub on the terrace.
Design details Instead of walls or windows, each balé has linen curtains hanging from the vaulted ceiling, veiling the bed and living area. There are more heavy-duty drapes around the room’s perimeter, ensuring you stay comfy if the wind picks up or rain passes through.
Something to eat The Open Kitchen embraces the same breezy concept as the rest of Buahan. Chef Eka Sunarya has whipped up a zero-waste menu in collaboration with the holistic restaurateurs at Agency X, who focus on traditional dishes cooked with local and sustainably sourced ingredients.
See the sights You’d be forgiven for becoming a hermit here, but there’s much to tempt you from your bower. The staff can arrange Indonesian cooking classes in nearby Paon, early morning hikes up Mount Batur and cycling trips through the valleys, with a stop at one of the local farms.
FOR FIVE-STAR LUXURY
Amankila
Famed for their intuitive, one-step-ahead service, Aman hotels give you room to breathe. The idea is that it never feels busy; there’s always a space to make your own. Amankila‚ home to no fewer than three infinity pools, each privy to a blue-on-blue view of the Lombok Strait — delivers that in spades. The tiered design echoes the terraced rice paddies carved into the hills of neighbouring valleys, where you can trek to sunset-spying peaks or explore traditional villages. Alternatively, you can walk five minutes down the hill, where there’s a garden-ringed beach club and a final, palm-flanked pool for good measure.
Best room for indulgence It’s got to be the Kilasari Suite, set high on the hillside with an expansive private pool and sprawling terrace overlooking the sea.
Design details Late, great American architect Ed Tuttle was the driving force behind Aman’s signature minimalism, and Amankila is up there with his best work. The suites are on stilts, connected by raised, frangipani-lined walkways partly inspired by Bali’s Ujung Water Palace.
Something to eat Among Amankila’s trio of restaurants is Arva, where coastal Italian dishes are served under a poolside portico. You can’t go wrong with the seafood, delivered every day by a fisherman from the nearby village of Jimbaran. Try the Asian grouper, served with cherry tomatoes, capers, olives, garlic and a white wine sauce.
See the sights Take a trip to Tenganan, said to be Bali’s oldest traditional village, where you can listen to Gamelan music and admire ornate ikat fabrics. Also in the area is Tirta Gangga, a former royal palace with lush gardens, tiered fountains and decorative stone sculptures.
FOR NATURAL-WORLD THRILLS
Nadi Nature Resort
Nadi Nature Resort is as Earth-kind a stay as they come, with just four luxury tents made of bamboo, reclaimed wood and handmade textiles. It’s well off the tourist trail, in a rural stretch of Tabanan province, among the foothills of three forested mountains. The lush organic gardens form the backdrop for restorative walks and fuel the restaurant’s wellness-boosting menu, keeping you in peak condition for foraging outings, jungle survival skills workshops and purification ceremonies led by a Balinese priest.
Best room for wildlife wonders Surrounded on three sides by lush forest, Mountain View is on a raised platform that allows you to take in the jungle, rice fields and distant peaks. In Waterfall, you can roll up the canvas by the bath tub, so you’ll have a soothing natural soundscape as you soak.
Design details The owners opted for tents because they’re the least environmentally disruptive structures. If you’re having flashbacks of Glastonbury-esque wallowing, think again: all four have solid floors, terraces and beautiful teak and rattan furnishings.
Something to eat The Nadi Café gets the bulk of its produce from the hotel’s organic permaculture farm and native forest, and what can’t be grown on-site is sourced from sustainable local farmers. On the menu, you’ll find Balinese classics like nasi goreng as well as Mediterranean dishes adapted with local ingredients, such as mung-bean falafel with coconut tzatziki.
See the sights In nearby Bayan, you’ll find a sprawling, 700-year-old tree with a wealth of spiritual significance. From there, you’re a few minutes’ drive from the Jatiluwih Rice Terraces, which sweep down the volcanic mountainside like a lush green staircase. Local guides can also accompany you on a walk through Anseri village, past rice fields and hidden hot springs.
FOR A SUPERLATIVE SPA
The Asa Maia
The Asa Maia is within strolling distance of Thomas Beach in Uluwatu, famed for its white sands and thriving surf scene. Wooden walkways snake through the hotel’s verdant grounds, connecting century-old dwellings that were once traditional Javanese homes. Reassembled and restored by hand, the suites have been spruced up with king-size beds and freestanding copper or Belgian bluestone baths (the materials for the latter were salvaged from a train station in Java).
Zen zealots will find much to love in the yoga shala, Himalayan-salt infrared sauna, hydrotherapy pools and treatment rooms, where the therapists use natural skincare products from Indonesian brand Sensatia Botanicals.
Best room for pampering Swing for the Asa Maia Suite, which has a sofa set into an alcove with a picture window; it’s the perfect spot for a little post-yoga contemplation.
Design details Every room is styled like a traditional Javanese home (gladak), with pitched timber roofs, rattan interiors and a terrace overlooking the gardens. There’s a sense of rustic simplicity that chimes perfectly with the hotel’s healthful focus, but you do get modern frills like a Bose speaker and a minibar stocked with free snacks.
Something to eat The hotel restaurant has a preconception-busting menu of vegan and pescatarian dishes that will convert the most committed carnivore. Meals are held at a long communal wooden dining table by the pool, meaning you’ll get a chance to swap stories with fellow wellness seekers.
See the sights Padang Padang and Suluban beaches are among the best sunset-watching spots in Uluwatu; you’ll also get dramatic photos from the sea cave at Tegal Wangi, though you may need to jostle for position at golden hour. Beginner surfers can find their feet on the mellow swells of Thomas Beach; seasoned pros flock to Outside Corner and The Bombie, two legendary Uluwatu surf spots that produce some of Indonesia’s biggest breaks.
FOR A PRIVATE POOL
La Reserve 1785 Canggu Beach
La Reserve 1785 is in the former Bali home of Mademoiselle Henriette Reboul, who counted Coco Chanel, Picasso and Paul Cézanne among her friends. Today, Henriette remains something of a matriarch, presiding (in spirit) over the temples, gardens and fountains of this Francophile sanctuary. The new architect-owner has taken up the mantle of high priestess, introducing private pools, spa-treatment rooms and a Gallic café turning out French-Asian fusion dishes.
Best room for a dip The Pool Pavillion Suites are the ones to go for. Each has a four-poster canopy bed and French windows that open onto a private terrace, where there’s a plunge pool set against a jungly backdrop.
Design details Mademoiselle Reboul was a renowned collector — of antiques, art, famous friends and lovers, the last of which earned her a reputation as a ‘love priestess’. The interiors pay tribute to her amorous and adventurous spirit, mingling artefacts from East Timor with furnishings that wouldn’t be out of place in a Provençal villa.
Something to eat Like the hotel itself, Le Café Rouge reaches from East to West, drawing on cuisine from Indonesia and the South of France. You might have tartines and burrata to start, followed by chicken fried rice or spiced tuna tartare. Private chefs are on hand to whip up bespoke meals, including poolside breakfasts and candelit dinners on your terrace.
See the sights La Reserve’s team can arrange horse-riding, diving trips, hikes to nearby rice fields and guided tours of the temple of Tanah Lot, a Hindu pilgrimage site atop a rock formation that can only be reached at low tide.
FOR PRIVATE VILLAS
Aman Villas at Nusa Dua
Sunrise dips in a pool flanked by frangipani; listening to birdsong from your wood-panelled library; sipping a crisp French white on your roof terrace at sunset. Moments like these are the bread and butter of a stay with Aman Villas at Nusa Dua, a collection of luxury residences on the southern tip of Bali. Every villa has sprawling indoor and outdoor living areas, gardens with a 25-metre pool, two butlers and a chef. Whether you feel the pull of a sunset cruise or just a want a ginger tea to be delivered poolside, satisfaction is always just a phone call away…
Best villa for individualists All of the villas are furnished to the same exacting standard. In the end, it comes down to how big your party will be. The smallest villa sleeps four; the largest, 12.
Design details There are subtle stylistic variations between each residence, but they all adhere to Aman’s signature minimalism and borrow from the local architecture: thatched roofs, tropical timber and pale stone.
Something to eat There’s no restaurant, but your private chef is available around the clock, ready to whip up a full-on Balinese feast or simple midnight snacks.
See the sights Your butler can arrange guided painting sessions in the comfort of your villa, book a local insider to take you around nearby galleries and museums, and organise private sailing trips in the Indonesian archipelago — on a wooden yacht with a full Aman staff, naturally. For a sea swim, try Geger Beach to the north, overlooked by a stone temple perched above a coastal cliff.
FOR BALINESE BLISS ON A BUDGET
Hidden Hills Villas
Head for the hills — Hidden Hills Villas, to be precise — and you’ll find a cosseting world that seems to span continents. Although the surroundings are indisputably Balinese (evergreen hills, lush forests, surf-lapped shores), the residences take design cues from around the world, tapping into Japanese minimalism and Balearic bohemianism. This cosmopolitan attitude is echoed in the restaurant, where pan-Asian dishes sit alongside classic surf ’n’ turf and the wines traverse old and new worlds. Best of all, the hotel offers serious bang for buck, with wallet-friendly rates, roomy villas and butler service as standard.
Best room on a budget The Studio Bedroom Garden View Villas are the most economical. They’re far from small, however, with lofty ceilings and a furnished terrace or balcony with views of the tropical gardens.
Design details Every room is different, inspired by places the owner loves. Take ‘Monaco’, which has a headboard like a radiant sunburst, or ‘Tokyo’, where the wooden panels reference wabi-sabi design principles.
Something to eat Locally sourced produce forms the foundation for the all-day menu, with oyster platters, surf ’n’ turf and pan-Asian plates. The wine list is equally head-turning; there’s a vast range of labels, many of which can be drunk by the glass. If you’d rather dine chez vous, your butler can take care of poolside barbecues and private dinners.
See the sights Staff can arrange outings to the hot springs near Mount Batur, tours of temples and ATV riding. For a taste of local culture, sign up for a cooking class or carve your own wooden souvenirs in a handicrafts workshop.
FOR FAMILY GETAWAYS
Lost Lindenberg
True to its name, Lost Lindenberg eludes the bulk of Bali’s tourists. And that’s just as well, because the moment you lay eyes on this eight-suite stay, you’ll want to keep it all to yourself. You bed down in 12-metre-high towers surrounded by jungle, just steps from a volcanic beach on a quiet stretch of the island’s west coast. The long expanse of black-sand beach never gets busy and offers endless entertainment for kids, who can cash in on unlimited surf lessons, fly homemade kites and recount the action of the day around the nightly beach bonfire.
Best room for families There are two room types: the Jungle Panorama Suites and the Ocean Panorama Suites. Both have green Balinese-stone floors, teak walls and lofty views — the main difference is whether you want to spy the sea from the oversized picture windows. Handily, both rooms can fit an extra bed, which is free for children under 12.
Design details You’ll have a string of beautiful communal areas at your disposal, including a jungle-flanked pool, a water-pond lounge and a sun terrace from which you can spy bodhi, banyan and baobab trees.
Something to eat After a bonfire on the beach, guests gather over plant-based sharing plates, served family-style at a communal table. There’s no pressure to join however: you can also have a private table set up in your suite, at the bar or on the beach. The chefs are more than happy to modify dishes for picky eaters and small appetites, too.
See the sights There’s plenty to keep the whole family entertained. You can go snorkelling, borrow electric bikes and scooters, or enlist a guide who’ll take you to nearby villages and waterfalls. The staff can also set up football and volleyball nets in the grounds and will distribute iPads with Apple TV and Netflix on rainy days.
FOR BEACHFRONT IDLING
Oberoi Beach Resort, Bali
Bali is nicknamed the ‘the island of the gods’ for the many temples and deep-rooted spiritual beliefs that lend character to its lush landscapes. It seems the gods were feeling especially generous the day they created the Oberoi Beach Resort, with celestial suites (replete with sunken tubs in marble bathrooms, hand-carved furnishings and teak accents), a view-blessed beachfront pool and tropical gardens dotted with bhoma and kala, gargoyle-like sculptures meant to keep malevolent spirits at bay.
Best room for beach bums The Luxury Villa with Ocean View is the one to aim for. It has a high, conical ceiling with a thatched roof, a four-poster king-size bed, a marbled bathroom with a sunken tub and a terrace with an alfresco dining area overlooking Seminyak’s golden sands.
Design details The grounds are laced with a labyrinth of walkways that weave between tropical gardens, winding their way past the lotus ponds, spa pavilions and stone amphitheatre, where Balinese dancing and live music are performed. The pool is right by the beach, lined with gold-and-purple parasols and royal-blue sunloungers.
Something to eat Surrounded by coconut trees and fragrant frangipani, the Frangipani Café is the hotel’s all-day dining spot, with teak tables shaded by fringed parasols. This is the place for indulgent Balinese breakfasts, poke bowls and Indonesian noodle dishes. Kura Kura is a dressier and dinner-only affair, serving charred barramundi fillets, yellowfin tuna steaks and Australian wagyu-beef tenderloins.
See the sights The hotel can arrange full-moon celebrations on the beach and priest-led sunset blessings at the 15th-century Petitenget Temple. Aquaphiles can catch the waves at Kuta Beach or venture further afield on a catamaran cruise to Nusa Lembongan, off Bali’s south-eastern coast. If you’re stopping at Oberoi between May and October, ask staff to take you to the onsite turtle sanctuary, when Olive Ridley turtles come to nest.
FOR THE CULTURE
The Ridge Bali
Just west of Ubud in the tiny village of Sayan, The Ridge Bali lords over the jungly terrain of the Ayung River valley. Its five luxurious villas follow the Japanese principles of wabi-sabi, with unfussy teak furnishings, custom-print yukatas (cotton bathrobes similar to kimonos) and layouts that maximise the views — which are especially spectacular at sunset.
Aside from being a posterchild for Bali’s beauty, Ubud is arguably the island’s cultural heartland, with temples, palaces and shrines galore. The town is also a hotspot for artisans and craftspeople, making it a prime place to pick up intricate silver jewellery, fine teak furniture and carved statuettes.
Best room for cultural contemplation The Premier River View Villas stand pride of place at the front of the hotel, with uninterrupted views across the jungle canopy, Ayung River and soaring Sayan Ridge.
Design details Much of the fittings and furnishings were made from recycled teak, ensuring the warm-toned dwellings have a sustainable lean. Every villa has a plunge pool, an outdoor bath tub and a terrace with a dining area, from which you can admire Ubud’s fiery sunsets. On the walls, you’ll find custom artworks by Indonesian artist Wayan Donal.
Something to eat Sayan Restaurant has just 12 tables, perched on a sunny terrace overlooking the pool and jungle-swathed ridge line. Expect lavish Indonesian breakfasts, light lunches and sunset dinners, cooked using seasonal, locally sourced produce. Try the charred pork rib or the grilled sawah duck, prepared with a slew of spices including galangal, kaffir lime leaves, candlenuts and coriander seeds.
See the sights At the hotel, you can embark on a Sunia energy- healing session with Balinese healer Wayan Windia, or try a watercolour painting class with Tatiana Efinova, whose botanical-themed works can be found in the villas. Your butler can also arrange silver- jewellery-making workshops, introductions to the art of batik and tours of a traditional farm in Buahan, where you’ll learn about sustainable agriculture and medicinal plants. In town, don’t miss Ubud’s daily art market, Pasar Seni Ubud, where you can peruse a cornucopia of local crafts.
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