Why Stay?

The Anantara brand’s third and latest Bali outpost draws travelers away from the busy coastline to a secluded hideaway nearly 600 meters above sea level. A tranquil resort best suited for those who wish to be in nature without skimping on creature comforts, Anantara Ubud debuted in late 2024 with tastefully designed suites and pool villas facing a forested ravine. Also notable are its crop of excursions that immerse guests in the island’s culture and deep-rooted spirituality.

The Area

A 40-minute drive north from Ubud proper, the Anantara sits amid the valleys and iridescent paddy fields of the Payangan district. The property may be far removed from the crowds thronging Bali’s cultural heart, but still puts guests relatively close to some significant attractions. On four wheels, it takes half an hour or so to reach Kintamani, a village brimming with cafés on the rim of the scenic Batur caldera. The travel time to the famed (if heavily commercialized) Tegalalang rice terraces is similar. Meanwhile, the UNESCO-listed water temple of Tirta Empul lies 40 minutes away down winding country roads.

An aerial view of Anantara Ubud Bali Resort at sunset.

The Feel

Anantara Ubud will appeal to introverts seeking peace and quiet: you’re likely to spot only a handful of other guests in the communal areas. Greenery softens the tropical modernist architecture by Jakarta-based studio Aboday, with breezy indoor-outdoor spaces flooded in natural light. Malaysian firm EDC (also behind Anantara Desaru Coast in Johor) did the soothing interiors. Nods to Balinese culture abound: the lobby’s centerpiece is musical installation Gamelatron – Tirta Swara, whose name translates to “The Sound of Water from a Spring.” The work of American artist and composer Aaron Taylor Kuffner, it incorporates antique 1950s Balinese trompong gongs. On the Lobby Lounge’s alfresco deck, take the time to sink into a sofa with a view of Mount Agung—Bali’s highest and holiest peak—and Mount Abang rising above the treetops. From this level, two custom-built inclinators whisk guests to the pool villas, which cascade down the steep hillside in terraces. These in turn are linked by walkways faced with rough blocks of locally quarried stone.

Guest Quarters

A balance of whitewashed walls, timber elements, and soft furnishings (like sumptuous king beds) gives the rooms a restful vibe. The resort’s 35 villas start from 105 square meters; there are one- and two-bedroom options. Below a pitched wooden ceiling in the living room, you’ll find a sturdy round dining table for four and a thickly padded couch. Wide glass doors slide open to a patio with lounge seats and a shaded infinity pool stretching nearly the full length of the villa. Local touches include a large wooden relief depicting the rice harvest, colorful miniature paintings of legong dancers, batik-patterned cushions, and a handcarved chess set. The 50 suites (some with a private terrace) are housed in a separate wing on the far side of the lobby. From their balconies, guests can hear the sound of rushing water in the stream hidden below. All accommodations feature double vanities and deep soaking bathtubs with a built-in headrest.

Food and Drink

Scottish executive chef James Willis leads the culinary department at Anantara Ubud. Meat and fish are dry-aged at signature restaurant Amerta, whose open-fire kitchen turns out Mediterranean-inspired dishes with an Indonesian twist: think mahi-mahi in a fruity-savory tomato and lemon sauce, and grilled Tokusen wagyu sirloin on bed of kale with charred onion and creamy andaliman pepper béarnaise. One floor below, some of the cocktails at Sulang Lounge Bar (which has its own adults-only pool) are based on arak, the local moonshine. Others feel like naughty smoothies: Drag On melds vodka with purple dragon fruit, lemon and mango juice, passion fruit purée, and Monin hibiscus syrup. Nearby all-day dining venue Kirana serves breakfast dishes from salads and poached egg with avo on toast to Balinese-style nasi goreng. Its lunch and dinner menus offer both international and local fare; try the indulgent babi Kirana—crispy-skinned suckling pig with spiced young jackfruit and pork sausage—and an appetizer of grilled scallops featuring roasted tomatoes and the classic Balinese condiment sambal matah.

Scottish chef James Willis at work in the kitchen at Amerta, the signature restaurant at Anantara Ubud.

Wellness Factor

The intimate spa inhabits a separate building directly beneath the resort’s infinity-edge Family Pool. Go for one of the signature treatments like the 90-minute Taksu massage, which combines Japanese Shiatsu bodywork, Hawaiian Lomi-Lomi kneading, and Balinese techniques to relieve muscle tension and improve blood circulation. The warm scented oil and therapist’s expertly applied pressure will have any tired city-dweller feeling as good as new.

Family Matters

Anantara Ubud has an indoor Kids’ and Teens’ Club beside the 24-hour gym. Daily-changing activities range from walks in the rice fields and Balinese dance to face painting and making grass jelly, while teenagers can look forward to board games and coffee scrubs. Children are free to frolic in the heated, cabana-lined Family Pool.

Sustainability Cred

In-room drinking water and refillable bath products avoid plastic packaging; sensors turn off the air conditioning if balcony doors are left open. About 90 percent of ingredients at Amerta are sourced locally, while breakfast at Kirana is mainly à la carte (only fresh fruit and pastries are served on the buffet counters) to reduce food waste. Anantara’s Dollar for Deeds program allows guests to donate one U.S. dollar for each night’s stay, which is then matched by the resort; funds raised support the conservation of the critically endangered Bali Starling through the Begawan Foundation. Eighty percent of staffers are Balinese, with half of those hired from the immediate surroundings.

What Else?

Off-site experiences include a water purification ritual at a lesser-visited temple, visits to secret waterfalls, and a trek to the summit of Mount Abang. Not to be missed is the three-hour Alas Taro Exploration, exclusive to Anantara Ubud guests. It involves a 20-minute ride in the back of a mini-jeep to nearby Taro village, followed by a guided walk through the forest and rice fields to a firefly conservation and breeding center set up by a local family. (Sadly on the decline across Southeast Asia, the luminous beetles serve as bio-indicators of clean air and water as well as soil health.) Along the way, you might taste hibiscus nectar and freshly plucked young ferns from the side of the path, and learn about the various uses of the arenga palm. The outing ends with moringa tea and a morning snack of laklak—little cakes of rice flour and tapioca starch—cooked over a wood fire.

Reviewed by James Louie

anantara.com
+62 361 2017 888
Jl. Raya Puhu Payangan No. 88, Payangan, Gianyar, Bali, Indonesia

Anantara Ubud Bali Resort: Secluded Luxury

Bali Hotels

Stay inspired with our DestinAsian newsletters