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Find Your Bliss: Bali’s Best Five-Star Resorts
Written by Anna Tabrah
With so many jaw-dropping places to stay in Bali, how do you choose? Here, we help you find Bali’s best five-star resorts for your next escape.
With striking raw landscapes, breathtaking beaches and a spiritual hinterland, Bali is all about rest and rejuvenation – backed by a huge number of luxury retreats. A quick search for the most blissful base can quickly become overwhelming, so we’ve done the hard work for you. These are Bali’s best five-star resorts.
The best five-star Bali resorts for beachfront bliss
Mulia Villas, Nusa Dua
Clear your phone of photos before a stay at Mulia Villas. This luxurious multi-award-winning resort is set on the edge of a secluded beach in Bali’s southeast and is the perfect spot for both first-time and return visitors to Bali. Overlooking the Indian Ocean, the resort complex boasts jaw-dropping views, nine exceptional restaurants and bars, a state-of-the-art spa and Bali’s longest oceanfront infinity pool. If that wasn’t enough, each glamorous villa features a sun-kissed private hydrotherapy swimming pool, blissful indoor jacuzzi, lush garden or sparkling ocean views and personalised butler service.
The Anvaya Beach Resort, Kuta
Family-friendly beachfront bliss awaits at The Anvaya Beach Resort Bali. With gourmet dining options serving Indonesian and international fare, a world-class spa, exciting kids’ club and five expansive outdoor pools, the resort is a labyrinth of leisure for the whole family. The resort’s diverse program of activities can keep all members of the crew as relaxed or active as they desire, with activities like yoga, aerobics, Balinese dancing, water polo and beach volleyball on offer throughout your stay.
The Meru Sanur, Sanur
One of the most hotly anticipated hotel openings of 2024, The Meru Sanur more than lives up to the hype. Boasting an unrivalled position on the golden sands of Sanur Beach – one of Bali’s most sought-after beachfront destinations – the resort brings opulence to new levels with the top-notch Svasana Spa, an authentic dining program and masterfully designed suites brimming with handcrafted touches. Private terraces showcase lush gardens and the shimmering Indian Ocean beyond, forever tempting guests to hit the surf.
The Apurva Kempinski Bali, Nusa Dua
Attentive staff and beautiful rooms aside, The Apurva Kempinski Bali boasts extravagance at its finest with an abundance of high-end facilities. Lap up luxury in the 60-metre outdoor pool bordered by palm trees and sun loungers, let the little ones splash down the waterslide at the kids’ pool or indulge in a lavish treatment at The Apurva Spa. When hunger strikes, dine at Bali’s first aquarium dining destination, Koral Restaurant, or savour Japanese delicacies at Izakaya by Oku. If golden hour glamour is more your scene, head to Reef Beach Club for some of the island’s finest pours and live music.
The Ungasan Clifftop Resort, Uluwatu
If you prefer a clifftop setting over a beachfront one, The Ungasan Clifftop Resort is perfect. The five-star resort is perched on the limestone cliffs of Uluwatu, above Sundays Beach Club – a favourite chill-out area – and home to one of the best beaches in Bali. Each bespoke suite and villa is a careful union of architectural excellence and modern amenities, designed to offer complete comfort. Take in breathtaking ocean views from your sun-kissed private pool, sample wood-fired cuisine at Waatu or savour a beachside massage at Club’s Spa Bale, where the sound of crashing waves will lull you into a state of utter bliss.
AYANA Resort Bali, Jimbaran
Hovering over Jimbaran Bay’s soft sands, it’s no wonder AYANA Resort Bali was included in Luxury Lifestyle Awards’ list of the Top 20 Best Luxury Hotels in Bali. As Bali’s only integrated resort (with RIMBA Jimbaran Bali), guests can enjoy access to five-star amenities across both opulent properties – satisfy every craving with 19 restaurants and bars on offer (including Rock Bar, Sumizen and Kubu Beach Club), luxuriate in one of 12 swimming pools, practice precision at the golf-putting course or book in at Spa on the Rocks, perched on the edge of the Indian Ocean.
The best five-star Bali resorts for health and wellbeing
Viceroy Bali, Ubud
Family-owned retreat Viceroy Bali is perched high on a ridge overlooking the Petanu River gorge. With more than 170 staff for just 40 pool villas, unmatched service and relaxation are a given. Lembah Spa is considered one of the finest in Ubud and offers treatments merging modern Western science with the age-old wisdom of Balinese healing traditions. After massages, scrubs and reflexology, take a dip in the infinity pool overlooking the jungle ravine. For something a little more active, take a leisurely walk or afternoon cycle through the rice fields.
Maya Ubud Resort & Spa, Ubud
Get lost in nature and rediscover yourself at Maya Ubud Resort & Spa, poised between the dramatic Petanu River valley and the rice paddies of Peliatan. Paying homage to the spirit of a traditional Balinese village, this resort unfolds across 10 hectares of verdant jungle and is home to one of the region’s best spas: Maya Spa. Discover invigorating massages to lull your senses into a euphoric state or perhaps opt for a tropical rejuvenating facial. Say good morning with a restorative session at the Bale Raga Yoga Studio, then cool down with a dip in the blissful infinity pool that melts into the forest’s edge.
The best five-star resorts for contemporary Balinese luxury
Andaz Bali – a Concept by Hyatt, Sanur
Do you want to experience what it’s like to stay in a Balinese village? Andaz Bali’s entire design is based on a modern local village concept. Bamboo, stone and teakwood feature in each of the elegant rooms, suites and villas, which look out over lush greenery. Boasting a picture-perfect beachside location, this unique resort is home to five exquisite restaurants, three sparkling swimming pools and a world-class spa, meaning you won’t have to set foot outside the property throughout your stay.
Kayumanis Jimbaran Private Estate & Spa, Jimbaran
South of Sanur, in the fishing village of Jimbaran, lies Kayumanis Jimbaran Private Estate & Spa, an exclusive sanctuary set beneath a canopy of swaying coconut palms. Occupying the site of a former coconut grove, the boutique estate boasts a truly authentic Balinese design, with Indigenous materials used throughout. Soak up the sunshine from your in-villa plunge pool, sample full-flavoured Indonesian cuisine at the charming onsite restaurant or enjoy a luxe treatment at Kayumanis Spa, designed to rejuvenate mind, body and soul. The best part? It’s just a short stroll from Jimbaran Beach.
Kayumanis Ubud Private Villa & Spa, Ubud
The thatched-roof villas of Kayumanis Ubud Private Villa & Spa offer private pools and personalised butler service. Each villa within this urban sanctuary is tastefully and individually decorated, inspired by traditional architecture and sleek design elements – from hardwood feature walls to aquamarine pool tiling. The resort also offers market visits, cooking classes, trekking tours and a new moon blessing dinner.
The best five-star resorts for sustainable luxury
Maya Sanur Resort & Spa, Sanur
Maya Sanur Resort & Spa has taken its eco-practices so seriously it’s been awarded a Green Globe Certification. Designed to harmonise with its natural surroundings, this beachfront oasis features an eco-friendly rooftop adorned with a gazebo, perfect for unwinding while gazing at the glistening ocean. Within each room and suite, upcycled decor takes centre stage – think lavish beds made from recycled rice ploughs, coffee tables made from railway leftovers and decorative table lamps fashioned from old tea-picking baskets. The resort’s three restaurants and award-winning spa blend authentic Balinese aesthetics with sustainability, featuring thatched roofs, recycled timber and lush gardens.
Alila Seminyak Bali, Seminyak
Alila Seminyak Bali has its own hydroponic garden, where dedicated staff grow vegetables and herbs to use at the onsite bar and restaurant. Dine at Seasalt to taste the homegrown organic produce in a diverse and flavourful menu or sample zero-waste cocktails at Beach Bar. Step into a world of sustainable luxury at Spa Alia, offering a range of natural and eco-friendly treatments, or explore the resort’s lush secret garden, wall-hugging plants, green roofs and landscaped terraces. Thanks to its partnership with the Bali Children Foundation, a stay at this enchanting resort also means you’re helping support local schools.
Potato Head Suites and Studios, Seminyak
Potato Head Suites and Studios need not be introduced. What many don’t know, however, is that this sleek and chic resort is the first hospitality company in Indonesia to be declared climate-neutral by the United Nations. Situated within Desa Potato Head – Bali’s “creative village of the future” – this beachside paradise places sustainability at the heart of every detail. In-suite slippers are crafted from biodegradable materials, furniture is made from reclaimed plastic and the cocktail bar spotlights local ingredients. With a dedicated research and development team at the onsite Waste Lab, the range of eco-friendly options continually evolves, ensuring a sublime yet environmentally responsible stay.
Six Senses Uluwatu, Uluwatu
Perched on Uluwatu’s limestone cliffs, Six Senses Uluwatu has been a pioneer of sustainability, wellness and all things green since opening in 2018. As the only resort in Bali certified by the World Green Council, this five-star oasis composts food, bottles water, converts kitchen oil to biodiesel and treats wastewater onsite. To top it off, the resort gardens are teeming with Indigenous plants, while all villas are constructed from sustainable timber. For guests who want to flex their green thumbs, the organic onsite garden offers interactive workshops and tours.
The best five-star resorts for a celebrity-approved stay
Soori Bali, Tabanan
Follow in the footsteps of Justin Bieber, Snoop Dogg and the Kardashians with a five-star stay at Soori Bali, located on the island’s southwest coast. Every villa has private pools and courtyards with sweeping vistas of the mountains or ocean. The entire resort is postcard-perfect, set between rice paddies and volcanic-sand beaches. With its seclusion and manicured gardens, it’s not hard to see why it’s the go-to for big-name celebrities. If you can pull yourself away, don’t miss a trip to the nearby legendary Tanah Lot – a temple atop an imposing rock, surrounded by shimmering ocean.
COMO Shambhala Estate, Ubud
COMO Shambhala Estate, the favourite retreat of power couple John Legend and Chrissy Teigen, is one of the world’s most luxe wellbeing retreats. Its bespoke offerings include a carefully curated program of events, from private hiking tours to Mount Abang and calming yoga sessions within the yoga pavilion to rejuvenating herbal body scrubs at the spa. After a long day basking in paradise, feast on elevated Indonesian plates at Kudus House or unwind in your suite as the sounds of the jungle lull you to sleep. It’s no wonder celebrities hide out here to rejuvenate their mind, body and spirit.
W Bali, Seminyak
With Hilton heiress Paris Hilton once taking residence at W Bali, this is clearly a place for very important people (or those who want to feel very important). Located on a lively pocket of Seminyak Beach, four trendy restaurants and bars (including Starfish Bloo and Fire) draw a stylish and hip crowd to this bold haven. For moments of bliss, AWAY Spa offers a long list of decadent treatments. Otherwise, cosy up to a loved one within a breezy beachfront cabana to escape the buzz of Seminyak beyond.
Ready for more inspiration? Read Bali’s Best Bars for Cocktails
Featured image: Alila Seminyak Bali. Source: Supplied.
