Words and Photos Christian Razukas

Near Bali’s southernmost point, the Alila Villas Uluwatu offers stunning views and luxurious tranquility.

WHAT’S IT LIKE

Elaborate driftwood sculptures and wooden trellises at the resort’s semi-open reception area greet guests as they disembark from the hotel’s Wi-fi equipped van, which is available for airport pickups. Immediately you face an immense three-meter-wide entryway, offering unobstructed views of contrasting blues, as an infinity pool blends in with the azure of the Indian Ocean and the cloudless horizon. Uluwatu means land’s end in Balinese. Perched on the edge of a cliff, Alila Villas Uluwatu features a minimalist architecture using wood, water, stone and rattan that foregrounds stunning panoramas.

WHERE IS IT

Thirty minutes from Ngurah Rai International Airport, 15 minutes from Jimbaran Bay near Uluwatu Temple. Nightlife in Seminyak is about an hour away. World-class surfing and beaches are nearby.

ROOM RUNDOWN

One-bedroom suites, just over 230 square meters, feature Balinese touches, with dark wood and rattan balanced by pale marble and tile

A floor-to-ceiling window fronted by an immense batik-cushioned daybed dominates the suite, offering serene views of a personal 21-square-meter swimming pool and the jungle beyond. Sublimely illuminated at night, the pool also features a cabana for lounging.

Between the daybed and its far-more-plush nocturnal companion on the opposite wall is a large round wooden table, gorgeous and lacquered, with a selection of local fruit to welcome you. A functional desk lies to one wall, should you wish to cleanly strike a work/life balance; the other wall, with twin entrances to the bathroom, boasts a gorgeous dark-brown wooden bookcase and flat-screen television, mounted on a swivel, viewable from the daybed or bed.

The luxurious and immense bathroom, bathed in natural light from large window panels at either end, runs the entire length of the suite, offers deck access on one side. The other features a secluded a stone-lined, rainforest-style outdoor shower, surrounded by high walls. There’s also a standing bathtub, glass-enclosed shower, twin sinks and a wardrobe to store your personal items and luggage–which sounds like a lot, but seems delightfully open and spare, given the bathroom’s immensity.

Inter-enabled tablets, with a wide selection of music and movies, can be connected via Bluetooth to the villa’s sound system. On-call butlers will take care of chores such as ironing and packing on short notice.

Hillside two-bedroom and cliffside three-bedroom suites (topping out at 2,000 and 3,000 square feet, respectively) come with private 21-meter infinity pools.

Suites, which all have fast Wi-Fi, offer spacious solitude and can be quite distant from reception. While walking is possible (and pleasant), on-call golf carts offer a comfortable ride to and from public areas.

DINING

In addition to 24-hour room service, the hotel offers all-day dining with a predominantly East Asian fare at Cire, which features unlimited orders from a degustation menu for breakfast and open-air unobstructed views from its expansive patio. Meanwhile, The Warung, dominated by a meters-long sharable wooden dining table that spans the length of the restaurant, offers Indonesian fine-dining in a similar open environment.

Opposite, and hanging over the cliff, lies the wooden-cabana Beach Bar, where locally sourced cocktails and endless views of the Indian Ocean are the specialty. Nearby cabanas offer an elevated perspective. A two-story cabana, accessed by spiral staircase, offers candlelight dining. On Fridays, The Warung offers a gourmet take on Balinese street food, with a happy hour of music, sate ayam, grilled pork and other treats served kaki-lima (street-cart) style, which spills over to the Beach Bar.

LEISURE

Surrounded by pools and the rainforest, a glass pavilion hosts a small, well-equipped fitness center. Also available are curated day trips to the island’s southern beaches, cycling trips of the Bukit peninsula and a day-long “Journey of Enlightenment” to five sacred Balinese temples. Resident yogi Nyoman Warti offers aerial yoga overlooking the sea, while Spa Alila offers a section of Asian and Western therapies and techniques using products with all natural ingredients. The globally renown hospitality company Hakkasan recently said it would open two venues in 2017 with Alila Villas Uluwatu: An Omnia Dayclub as well as a branch of the acclaimed London-based luxury Japanese restaurant, Sake No Hana.

BUSINESS

A well-appointed library features flatscreen Apple iMacs, a printer, as well as the International New York Times and a selection of books on Balinese art and culture.

PRICE

Rates start at US$800 midweek with direct booking.

VERDICT

Gorgeous Balinese architectural vibe and serene of Indian Ocean views makes for a personal, private, and luxurious escape.

CHECKLIST

3 Airport pickup (with in-van Internet)
3 In-room wi-fi
3 Dedicated butlers
3 Private swimming pools
3 Fitness Center
3 Indoor and outdoor showers
3 24-hour room service
3 Signature spa

CONTACT

Jl. Belimbing Sari Badung, Bali 80364
Telp: +623618482166
alilahotels.com/uluwatu
Twitter: @alilavuluwatu
Instagram: @alilavillasuluwatu

The writer was a guest of Alila Villas Uluwatu.

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