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Luxury travel inspiration from the Asia-Pacific region

DestinAsian

<h5><strong>Why stay?</strong></h5>
<p>Look no further for a discreet hideaway in southern Bali that is well placed but feels far removed from the more built-up areas of the Bukit Peninsula. The 23-hectare resort melds Raffles’ traditions of bespoke luxury and white glove service with a laid-back seaside location. Dedicated Wellbeing Butlers attend to guests in each of the ocean-facing pool villas, which cascade down to a secluded stretch of golden sand.</p>
<h5><strong>The area</strong></h5>
<p>Home to a lineup of bustling seafood restaurants, Jimbaran Beach is just a few minutes’ drive away, while the airport can be reached in 20–30 minutes (traffic conditions permitting). The clifftop Uluwatu Temple and its outdoor theater—where visitors gather to watch <em>kecak</em> dance performances at sundown—are less than an hour in the other direction.</p>
<p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-133803 size-full" src="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Raffles-Bali-2BR-Villa-Pool-Terrace.jpg" alt="The private pool terrace of a two-bedroom villa at Raffles Bali." width="1200" height="800" srcset="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Raffles-Bali-2BR-Villa-Pool-Terrace.jpg 1200w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Raffles-Bali-2BR-Villa-Pool-Terrace-300x200.jpg 300w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Raffles-Bali-2BR-Villa-Pool-Terrace-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Raffles-Bali-2BR-Villa-Pool-Terrace-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></p>
<h5><strong>The feel</strong></h5>
<p>This resort may appear classic Balinese at first glance, but look closer and you’ll notice a pared-back Japanese aesthetic in line with the wishes of the late Dr. Shoichi Kajima—a construction magnate who dreamed of building a property here as far back as 1984. Winding pathways lead through the luxuriant grounds to elegant villas in muted colors with a focus on materiality: think Jimbaran limestone quarried from the site, hardwood floors, woven bamboo-mat ceilings. These elements are balanced with locally made batik tapestries behind the beds and a trove of antiques sourced from around the Indonesian archipelago. Villas and public spaces alike come peppered with artifacts like bronze <em>nekara</em> kettle drums, paddles from Papua, and tricolor <em>gorga singa</em> sculptures carved by Toba Batak artisans in North Sumatra.</p>
<h5><strong>Guest quarters</strong></h5>
<p>The term “spacious” does not begin to describe the generous proportions of accommodations at Raffles Bali. One-bedroom villas start from 375 square meters, while two-bedroom abodes measure in at more than twice that size. Inside, the cloud-like pillows on the king beds come misted with lavender; tall bouquets of fresh tuberose perfume an enormous bathroom featuring double vanities, a deep-soaking tub, and an indoor and outdoor shower. You’ll likely spend a lot of time in the limestone-clad pool out front and the thatch-roofed <em>bale</em> with an oversize daybed. Both are ideal vantage points from which to admire the sun sinking over the Indian Ocean, or, in the early mornings, the hazy blue outlines of Bali’s central mountains.</p>
<h5><strong>Food and drink</strong></h5>
<p>The main building at the highest point of the resort contains two of its three F&amp;B outlets. Rumari is a breezy spot for à la carte breakfasts; the smaller portions allow even solo travelers to graze on everything from tuna poke and Central Javanese <em>soto ayam</em> (chicken soup) to decadent lobster omelet in rock lobster bisque, a guest favorite. By night, Lyon-born culinary director Gaetan Biesuz and his team turn out exquisite interpretations of Indonesian dishes: tasting menus may feature a modern twist on Balinese vegetable salad <em>serombotan</em> and a dry version of the shaved-ice dessert <em>es campur</em>. Rumari is the first and only restaurant in Indonesia that’s recognized as a Krug Ambassade, so pair your meal with a Grande Cuvée from its namesake champagne house. The Writers Bar next door shakes up sundowners that incorporate Balinese <em>arak</em> from a family-owned distillery; afternoon tea sets of bite-size pastries and Indonesian treats are taken in a cozy library graced by two Walter Spies paintings. Closer to the shoreline, Loloan Beach Bar and Grill serves wood-fired pizzas, a zesty garden salad with hummus, and grilled catch of the day slathered in a Jimbaran-style spice mix.</p>
<p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-133804 size-full" src="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Raffles-Bali-overview-and-Rumari-dish.jpg" alt="An early-morning view of Raffles Bali; contemporary Indonesian cuisine at Rumari." width="1200" height="800" srcset="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Raffles-Bali-overview-and-Rumari-dish.jpg 1200w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Raffles-Bali-overview-and-Rumari-dish-300x200.jpg 300w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Raffles-Bali-overview-and-Rumari-dish-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Raffles-Bali-overview-and-Rumari-dish-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></p>
<h5><strong>Wellness factor</strong></h5>
<p>Therapists deliver muscle-melting massages in the main building’s two treatment suites and at The Sanctuary, a stilted hillside pavilion where spa-goers are cocooned in the surrounding greenery. Guided morning meditations can take place on a wooden deck or inside the sand-floored Secret Cave, which was discovered during construction. Newly launched multiday Retreats by Raffles offer a tailor-made wellness journey for those in need of a reset.</p>
<h5><strong>Family matters</strong></h5>
<p>Childcare is available upon request, while complimentary kid-friendly activities run the gamut from in-villa workshops for fashioning Balinese floral offerings and bracelets to dance classes and an hourlong pizza-making session at Loloan.</p>
<h5><strong>Sustainability cred</strong></h5>
<p>On the eco front, initiatives extend well beyond the use of cassava starch straws, electric buggies, and refillable glass bottles in the villas. No less than 80 percent of the sustainably sourced ingredients used in the resort kitchens are Indonesian in origin; some, like rare dark honey produced by stingless bees, come straight from the on-site Farm Terrace Garden. (Staff members here cultivate a variety of herbs as well as chilies, torch ginger, mango, and passionfruit.) Raffles Bali recently made its first foray into sea turtle conservation with the creation of a bamboo-built hatchery for turtle eggs rescued from Jimbaran Beach.</p>
<h5><strong>What else? </strong></h5>
<p>Raffles Wellbeing Butlers can arrange private dinners at a seaside gazebo, a rustic pergola next to the fruit and vegetable gardens, or the aforementioned natural cave. The property’s resident landscape architect offers a botanical tour that educates guests on the medicinal qualities, nutritional benefits, and cultural significance of the myriad plant species found within the grounds.</p>
<p>Reviewed by <strong>James Louie</strong></p>
<p><a href="https://www.rafflesbali.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" class="broken_link">rafflesbali.com</a><br />
+62 361 201 5800<br />
<a href="https://goo.gl/maps/MJ3vZYzFa5MoeNpE9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jl. Karang Mas Sejahtera No. 1A, Jimbaran, Bali, Indonesia</a></p>


The bedroom of an Ocean Pool villa at Raffles Bali.

Raffles Bali

Bali Hotels

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