Best Luxury Hotels in Bali
Beautiful Bali – a destination synonymous with far-reaching rice fields, laid-back beach bars and dramatic rainforest-covered landscapes. A paradise setting where the barefoot way of life does not compromise the luxury offering. From treehouses in the sky to beachfront hotels, two things remain the same – the service is outstanding and the views are unparalleled. Chic, modern restaurants, day clubs and bars sit comfortably alongside traditional temples and a rich culture. The spas are some of the best in the world and the shopping may warrant some extra hold luggage. Elizabeth Gilbert famously fell in love with Bali during her ‘Eat, Pray, Love’ era, now it’s your turn.
Here are our favourite 5 star and luxury hotels to stay at on the island.
Bali, Uluwatu
Bvlgari Resort Bali
The Italian designer brand has extended its hotel portfolio to include this stunning property on the south coast in Uluwatu. The resort comprises 59 exclusive villas and mansions – with bespoke butler service, private pools and all rooms containing well-stocked minibars and of course, Bulgari toiletries in the enormous bathrooms. Utilising local materials including volcanic stone, the interiors are suitably glamorous boasting exotic art, Balinese antiques and moody dark wood with flourishes of textile colour. Guests can enjoy a fine dining experience at the hotel’s sophisticated restaurant and enjoy light bites, cocktails and spectacular views from the bar which sits under a traditional Balinese alang-alang thatched roof. For guests who love the water there is an extensive outdoor pool or the idyllic sandy beach sits just below the resort. The spa is a haven of relaxation with treatments that integrate Asian and European approaches, whilst the fitness centre offers the latest digital innovations with partner Technogym. There is a children’s club and a variety of locally inspired experiences that can be enjoyed both at the resort or in the nearby area. The Bvlgari Resort Bali truly exists in an echelon of its own.
Bali, Nusa Dua
Mulia Resort – Nusa Dua Bali
Choose one of 526 intimate guest rooms, lagoon pool rooms and grand suites with apex ceilings, for your stay at the Mulia Resort. Here you’ll have access to many restaurants serving pan-Asian, Chinese, Japanese and French cuisine, multiple lavish bars, a spa, four swimming pools with cabanas (including one by the sea and one for families), a fitness centre, a tennis centre, a games room and a kids club with a packed schedule of activities. And it enjoys a setting as glamorous as its amenities, perched on the white sandy beach that’s dotted with palm trees and comfortable loungers.
Bali, Nusa Dua
The St. Regis Bali Resort
This beach and thalassotherapy spa retreat from the renowned St Regis group is full-on luxe, with less of an emphasis on local authenticity and more on the high-end bells and whistles f an international resort. Expect chandeliers, marble, statement art, 24-hour formal butler service, a cellar of imported wines, wagyu beef and caviar. There’s a champagne bar, two very fancy restaurants, a Children’s Learning Center and a regal penthouse complete with a grand piano. Take a swim in the central lagoon and you’ll discover a submerged sitting room and beach beds in the shape of human silhouettes by landscape designer Bill Bensley.
Bali, Uluwatu
Six Senses Uluwatu, Bali
This sustainably minded Six Senses property on the Bukit Peninsula was created from local wood, and cleverly designed with heat-absorbing lava roofs (no need for air-con). It has 103 rooms made up of suites and villas, two pools, a spa and sleek contemporary decor. The dining options include Japanese-inspired barbecue, sushi, farm-to-table cuisine and a chef’s table offering daily specials. Vegan, gluten-free or detox-friendly dishes are all available. With an emphasis on local links and eco-friendly living, ingredients are organic, mostly grown on-site and bath products come from within Indonesia. Those preferring more casual atmos can head to the Cliff Bar for poolside pizzas and healthy homemade kombucha.
Bali, Nusa Dua
Kayumanis Nusa Dua Private Villa & Spa
Exclusive and secluded, this all-villa resort provides private accommodations, each with its own walled garden framed by banana plants, a pool and dedicated butler service. It caters to an adult-only clientele, with a spa, two restaurants, an alfresco waterside bar and beach access. Kayumanis Nusa Dua has a wealth of options for those wishing to pick up skills or try something new while on holiday; take a dance class, go scuba diving, join in with water aerobics and play tennis. Or just kick back, do nothing and allow the staff to wait on you as you sip cocktails in paradise.
Bali, Nusa Dua
Grand Hyatt Bali
The Grand Hyatt’s meandering low-rise style ensures it blends in seamlessly with the natural surroundings; public spaces are contained within pagodas, leafy trails lead to the seashore, there’s an emerald Balinese pool and a longer thinner pool winds river-like through the trees. Yet despite this haven-like atmosphere, the resort manages to accommodate 636 bedrooms, more pools besides the ones already mentioned, a kids’ club, three tennis courts, mini golf, Kriya Spa and The Bay Club Fitness and Health Centre. Dining options include the Nampu Japanese restaurant, a buffet surrounded by fountains and freshwater pools and an eatery set up like a local night market.
Bali, Nusa Dua
Aman Villas at Nusa Dua
Found in the southernmost part of Bali, the Aman Villas at Nusa Dua is set on a hillside overlooking the Indian Ocean. Each is designed with an inside-outside layout to fully immerse themselves in the natural surroundings. Menus revolve around local produce from the nearby Jimbaran Market, across a beach club restaurant, a Japanese restaurant, and a poolside bar Treatments at the spa make use of traditional Balinese healing techniques, plus there’s a fitness centre, a tennis court and water sports activities available. The villas are serviced by two butlers and a private chef, with guests enjoying access to a private Beach Club and the Bali National Golf Club.
Bali, Seminyak
W Bali – Seminyak
A huge stone W is set between a row of swaying palms and the white sandy shores of the beach, marking the spot for this trendy seaside hotel. Taking a cue from the local area, its centrepiece layered pool has been inspired by a rice field. Rooms come with terrazzo bathtubs, robes and 350-thread-count cotton linens, with villas adding private pools. Be sure to party at the outdoor Woobar accompanied by the sounds of resident DJs. And do brunch at Starfish Bloo’s; an epic and famous buffet spread featuring a BBQ smokehouse, a ceviche bar, a sushi and sashimi station, and oyster shucking stations, as well as mountains of puds.
Bali, Uluwatu
Jumana Bali Ungasan Resort managed by Hilton
This clifftop resort opened in 2010. Its 73 palatial villas enjoy views across the Indian Ocean at the southern tip of the island, as well as plunge pools, hot tubs and full-length glass sliding doors to create an indoors-outdoors vibe. Peddle Thorp Architects and Wilson Associates Inc have fused traditional Balinese with contemporary Asian and signature Banyan Tree style. The peaceful outdoor areas take you back to nature, with tropical gardens, two chilled pools, a kids’ club, a full-service spa and three fine eateries. Do take the opportunity of the in-villa barbeque service with your own personal chef.
Bali, Ubud
Tanah Gajah, a Resort by Hadiprana
Tanah Gajah, a Resort by Hadiprana is a 5-star luxury resort in Bali located just outside the artists’ village of Ubud which was once the former estate of Hendra Hadiprana – one of Indonesia’s most respected art collectors. Tanah Gajah, is hidden among Bali’s culture-rich highlands and the resort comprises 24 villas and suites, four of which are the property’s new Premier One Bedroom Club Pool Villas. Each Balinese-style villa features a 14-meter long private plunge pool, an outdoor dining pavilion, an outdoor deep soaking tub and original Balinese artworks from the late owners’ private collection. With an exceptional range of curated experiences that showcase local culture at its best and superb Balinese inspired cuisine along with classic Western options too guests are well-looked after. The beautiful resort is spread out over six hectares and is available for buyouts for corporate groups, wellness retreats, incentives, and weddings. The property is large enough to offer guests plenty of space but also intimate enough that the entire resort can be booked by one group.