From Ubud to Seminyak, Uluwatu to Canggu, here is the best of Balinese villa life
Mandala The House
Canggu, Uluwatu, Nusa Lembongan
Mandala boasts five different villas. Located just minutes from Canggu’s famous surf breaks, The House has five king rooms with signature ensuites, two infinity swimming pools that overlook the adjoining paddy fields, a fully equipped gym and a secret library. Elle Decoration even photographed the stunning getaway, deeming it one of the “World’s Most Beautiful Homes.” The Home lies next door and is Mandala’s latest opening in Canggu. It offers a beautiful outdoor dining area and brass bar shaded under a fragranced canopy of bougainvillea and jasmine.
On the rocks of Uluwatu is the aptly-named The Rocks, which has six en suite bedrooms with a private terrace overlooking the white sand and surf, while the open plan entertaining space includes a private bar and ocean deck. A unique cliff gym and direct views of the Island’s iconic waves, Impossibles, makes this the ultimate beach house. The Bay, Mandala’s newest addition, is located on the small island paradise of Nusa Lembongan, just a twenty minute boat trip from Bali. This five bedroom waterfront villa is the perfect site for diving, surfing and snorkelling, and overlooks Sandy Bay, arguably the best sunset spot in Bali.
Villa Tamarama at The Ungasan Clifftop Resort
Uluwatu
Voted Bali’s Best Villa in 2016 by The Yak, Villa Tamarama boasts 2,500 square metres of gardens, two swimming pools, an oversized bar and 30 metres of clifftop frontage. The suites themselves accomodate 10 plus guests with its five, king-size bedrooms and take design inspiration from the colonial style found in the Hamptons and the Caribbean. A private butler provides personalised attention, ensuring guests get the most out of their stay. Enjoy a scenic brunch — known as the Morning Harvest — gourmet poolside bites or a relaxed BBQ to end the day. Additional offerings include a secluded Vela Spa treatment, a private tennis lesson with a professional coach or an adventurous day of complimentary water sports at the Sundays Beach Club.
Soori Bali
Tabanan
The Soori Estate spans 5,250 square metres of beachfront space, showcasing uninterrupted views of the island’s southwest coast. Ten bedrooms rest at an elevated position, while two master bedrooms and adjoining suites are on the upper level and an additional six bedrooms are on the ground level. Designer furniture, walk-in wardrobes and oversized bathtubs make for an exceptionally comfortable stay, while the estate’s own spa therapy room provides additional relaxation. Vacationers can walk the landscaped gardens to the 20-metre private infinity pool, settle down with a book at the library or grab a bite at one of their three dining options. This premiere villa is customizable for any type of stay, from a more laidback escape to family holidays to an opulent island celebration.
Noku Beach House
Seminyak
Among Seminyak’s rare beachfront villas, this six-bedroom escape is a clear standout, with its more private setting location and short distance from the heart of the city. Twenty-five professional staff, an on-hand car and driver and a personal in-house Concierge all make the Noku one of Bali’s best destination villas.
Alex Zabotto-Bentley designed the residence, combining ancient and modern to create a lush tropical oasis with stunning views of the Indian Ocean and Bali’s famed sunsets. Gigantic marshmallow daybeds, a huge covered dining terrace and a relaxation balé overlook the 27-metre pool and tropical garden. A private spa and plunge pool within a serene walled garden is just one of the secret hideaways found in this event-ready villa, which lays claim to one of the best beach-side spots in chic Seminyak.
Hartland Estate
Ubud
This premiere getaway is nestled into the slopes of Ubud’s scenic Sayan Ridge, overlooking a wide tapestry of rice paddies bordering the Ayung River — yet only a 10-minute drive from the center of Ubud.
Stunning Sayan Valley views greet guests upon arrival, as they wander the 6,000-square meter estate. Hartland boasts five beautifully furnished, air-conditioned bedroom suites, all created with a natural design fitting for its stunning Bali location. Each suite has a spacious double bedroom, a bathroom, a large wooden deck with an outdoor lounging area, open spaces for early morning yoga or meditation and its own private space with a garden and decks surrounding it. Three of these suites are made from reclaimed teak wood houses, and a Meditation Gazebo is located in a secluded spot further down the hillside.
Kaba Kaba Estate
Kaba Kaba
One of among Bali’s most exclusive villas, Kaba Kaba is a spectacular eight-bedroom estate leisurely spread over more than three acres. It is staffed by a large professional team including a private chef, and designed for regal entertaining, multiple family gatherings and romantic weddings.
The villa’s rural rice-terrace setting, panoramic views, private multi-pavilion design, antiques-filled interiors, fascinating art collection and no-expense-spared facilities – including four pools, a tennis court, home theatre, games room, spa and gym – create an unmatched experience for up to 18 guests. From the Rajasthan palace elephants guarding the lotus courtyard to the gilded throne from a Burmese temple presiding over the dining pavilion, the stunning interiors alone make Kaba Kaba unique.
Arnalaya Beach House
Canggu
One of Bali’s most luxurious villa rentals, the architecturally designed Arnalaya Beach House at trendy surfside suburb Canggu is a no-brainer for the contemporary design enthusiast. Located right on the beachfront and with a team of staff on hand to cater to you hand and foot, the incredibly sophisticated accommodation is still effortlessly cool and supremely relaxed, making it idea for families. We love the landscaped gardens and private terraces, ocean-front bale and 20-metre pool – and did we mention the tennis court and spa? This beautiful villa has five double bedrooms along with a gym that converts into a sixth bedroom, providing space for up to 18 guests.
Villa Atas Ombak
Batubelig
In what feels more like a luxury boutique hotel than a traditional villa, Villa Atas Ombak has no less than 100 metres of absolute beachfront and one and a half acres of lush, tropical gardens replete with manicured lawns, lotus ponds, frangipani trees, palms and penjors (Balinese offering decorations). Located on Bali’s south-western coast, just four kilometres from Seminyak, Villa Atas Ombak is, of course, fully staffed, and offers five spacious bedroom suites, along with an oversized beach-edge swimming pool. Relish a lazy afternoon in the seaside living pavilion; take in Bali’s legendary sunsets with a cocktail in hand from the comfort of the deck and then dig into a gourmet dinner created by accomplished chefs in the candle-lit gardens. Bliss.
