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Beach Lover? Romantic? 14 Best Luxury Hotels in Bali for You

For such a relatively small place, the island of Bali sure offers a deliciously large number of deluxe resorts – way over 50, by our count.

We’ve stayed at so many luxury hotels in Bali, we almost feel like Bali hotel inspectors!

Now we’ve compiled our reviews on the best luxury Bali hotels here in this one convenient guide.

Best luxury hotels in Bali

Quick guide to the 14 best luxury resorts in Bali

1)  Hotel Tugu Bali
Most unique hotel in Bali

2)  Kayumanis Ubud
Most romantic hotel in Bali

3)  Kunja Villas and The One Boutique Villas
Best Seminyak villas

4)  Alila Seminyak
Best Seminyak hotel

5)  Belmond Jimbaran Puri
One of the best hotels in Jimbaran

6)  Four Seasons at Sayan
Best hotel in Ubud

7)  The Haven Suites Bali Berawa
Best Bali surf hotel

8)  Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve
New and ultra-luxurious Ubud resort

9)  Kayumanis Nusa Dua
Among the best hotels in Nusa Dua

10) Six Senses Uluwatu
Best sustainable eco-resort in Bali

11) Ayung Resort Ubud
Best of the affordable boutique hotels in Bali

12) Alila Villas Uluwatu
Tops of the most amazing 5 star Bali hotels

13) Soori Bali
Favorite hotel to get away from it all

14) Four Seasons at Jimbaran Bay
Best beach resort in Bali

best luxury hotels in Bali

Each of these 5-star Bali resorts is special in its own way.

How do you choose which of these top Bali hotels to stay at?

To help you, we’ve categorized these Bali hotel reviews according to your hotel style and preference.

Are you a sucker for romance? Or do wicked ocean views seal the deal for you?

Bonus!

Many of these properties are Bali hotels with private pools, where you have your own villa and pool.

Best luxury hotels in Bali

So without any further ado, here’s our guide to 14 of the best luxury hotels in Bali – to suit your style!

Best luxury hotels in Bali

1) Most unique hotel in Bali

Hotel Tugu Bali

best luxury hotels in bali

If you’re trying to figure out where to bed down in Canggu, put Tugu Bali on your list.

Staying at Hotel Tugu Bali is like immersing yourself in an engrossing book on Indonesian art and culture.

Hotel Tugu Bali bathroom

Among the most unique places to stay in Bali, this lovely boutique hotel – only 21 rooms and suites – is decorated with one of south-east Asia’s largest private collections of eye-popping paintings, sculptures, antique furniture and other treasures.

On Thursday evenings, you can watch free authentic Balinese dance performances.

Tugu Bali: One of the most unique hotels in Bali

Like to surf?

The Canggu beaches just beyond Tugu Bali’s lush grounds are hot spots for catching some of the best intermediate surfing waves on the island.

But feel free just to doze in the shade by the garden pool…

best luxury hotels in bali - hotel tugu bali

Read our review: Seeking bliss at the Hotel Tugu Bali

Hotel Tugu Bali

Location: Canggu, a little further north of Seminyak
Best for: Couples who’d like to stay in a unique Bali hotel

Check rates and availability

2) Best place to stay in Bali for couples

Kayumanis Ubud Private Villa and Spa

Kayumanis Ubud Bali

On your honeymoon? Celebrating an anniversary?

The 21 villas at Kayumanis Ubud Private Villa and Spa ooze romance.

They’re exceedingly private, and the Deluxe Pool Villas have high walls around your own flowering garden, with separate bedroom and living room pavilions, topped with Balinese roofs.

A seductive lap pool begs you to dive in (white plumeria blossoms kept falling into ours).

We’ve lathered up in some pretty amazing hotel bathrooms around the world – and we loved our open-air bathroom with an outdoor shower in the ferns.

Outdoor bathroom at Kayumanis Ubud

Most guests have breakfast in their villas.

A butler arrives with a wicker basket of goodies and prepares eggs for you on your living room’s cooktop (included in the rates).

best luxury villas in Bali - Kayumanis Ubud

When you’re ready for your complimentary 30-minute massage, a bridge across a river leads to Kayumanis’ open-air spa bungalows.

(The massage treatments are so good though that you’ll want to book for longer.)

While there’s stiff competition, this place could possibly be the most romantic hotel in Bali.

Read our reviewKayumanis Villas make a splash in Bali

Kayumanis Ubud

Location: Near Ubud
Best for: Romancing Bali – this is one of the best hotels in Bali for couples

Check rates and availability

3) Best villas in Bali (Seminyak) with a kitchen

Kunja Villa and The One Boutique Villas

The Kunja

Sometimes when traveling you just want to feel like, well, you’re not traveling – you want to bring the feeling of home with you to the city or country you’re visiting.

Enter The Kunja Villas and The One Boutique Villas. 

These are two luxury Bali villas smack-dab in the heart of upscale (and happening) Seminyak.

You have your own private walled-off villa with a pool and garden (and super-fast WiFi), plus a kitchen should you feel like whipping up a light dinner or snack.

Don’t fret about chores – your villa comes with daily maid service.

And you get breakfast made for you in your villa. (What do you feel like today? Cheese omelettes?) Afternoon tea is delivered daily too.

Best villas in Seminyak

As well, there’s complimentary on-demand chauffeur service when you want to hit the nightclubs or go into town for dinner.

Read the TripAdvisor reviews here (the Kunja Villas & Spa) and here (One Boutique Villas) and you’ll see that these are two of the best villas in Seminyak.

best luxury hotels in bali - the one boutique villas

Read our review: In Bali, luxury villas in Seminyak with private pools are all the rage!

Seminyak villas

Location: Seminyak
Best for: The 1-bedroom villas appeal to couples; the 2-bedroom villas are great for families or two couples sharing

Kunja Villas: Check rates and availability

The One Boutique Villas: Check rates and availability

4) Best Seminyak hotel

Alila Seminyak

Alila Seminyak, Bali

Okay, so a Seminyak villa sounds great. But you really want to be right on the beach.

Of all the resorts in Seminyak, the mod and stylish Alila Seminyak gets our vote for the best Seminyak beach hotel.

It’s set right on the quieter end of Seminyak Beach. And it’s spitting distance close to organic cafés, cool restaurants and trendy beach clubs.

Alila Seminyak has 240 rooms and suites – clean and uncluttered in décor – housed in four-storey blocks. Think white terrazzo floors and white walls lashed with dark wood accents.

Alila Seminyak terrace suite

In your bathroom and dressing area, you’ll find a yoga mat, beach bag and organic sunscreen.

There are no less than five pools, including three infinity pools.

Sip a cold one by the smaller beach pool which overlooks a 65-year-old Hindu temple.

Or do laps in the main pool.

Alila Seminyak beach bar

We were super impressed by the Alila Uluwatu (reviewed later in this post). 

If Alila Seminyak is anything like the Uluwatu property, we’ve no doubt it boasts its own wow power.

Alila Seminyak

Location: On the eastern-end of Seminyak Beach
Best for: Young-at-heart surfers, sun worshippers and glam lovers (Note: There’s a party pool)

Check rates and availability

5) One of the best hotels in Jimbaran

Belmond Jimbaran Puri

We adore the Belmond brand.

Their hotels always have a marvelous sense of place. Ditto for the Belmond Jimbaran Puri – which blends right into the lush Bali landscape.

Directly on Jimbaran Beach, it has 64 cottages and villas sprinkled around gardens blooming with bougainvillea, hibiscus and frangipani.

One of the best hotels in Jimbaran: Belmond Jimbaran Puri

Interiors feature marble floors, teak furnishings and Balinese art.

The charming cottages are rustic-luxe, with high, open-beam, thatched roofs (the best ones have beach views).

For more sophisticated (and secluded) accommodations, pick a deluxe one- or two-bedroom pool villa. Decorated with Balinese art, they have black stone bathtubs and both indoor and outdoor showers.

You also get your own sunken swimming pool.

Not that you necessarily need your own pool.

The resort’s main infinity pool, made from Javanese stone, is huge and right by the beach. As it faces the sunset, it’s the perfect spot for sipping sundowners!

This is one luxury Bali resort we’d definitely like to check out next time we travel to Bali.

Belmond Jimabaran Bali

Location: On the beach in upscale Jimbaran Bay
Best for: Couples and families seeking a laid-back escape (but with all the luxuries)

Check rates and availability here

Related: Take a peek at the beautiful Belmond La Residencia in our post on where to stay in Mallorca

6) Best Bali surf hotel

The Haven Suites Berawa

The Haven, a Canggu hotel, is one of the best luxury hotels in Bali

Bali’s new haven of cool, Canggu, is home to this 60-room boutique resort.

While rated a 4-star Bali hotel, The Haven Suites Bali Berawa is more like other 5-star Bali resorts and gets great TripAdvisor reviews.

Rooms are appealing, contemporary in feel, but with artistic vintage tile floors and Balinese-style engraved wood accents.

Plum rooms are ones where you can go for a dip right from your deck in the huge outdoor swimming pool, which is the hotel’s star feature.

Bali surf hotel: The Haven Suites Berawa

Gates open onto the grey-and-black-sand Berawa Beach. When you want a change of scene, trendy bars and restaurants are a 10-minute walk away along the beach.

If surfing tickles your fancy, you’ll be jazzed to know that The Haven Suites Berawa is one of the best places to stay in Bali for surfing.

It’s just a 5-minute drive from one of Bali’s top surfing sites – Echo Beach – known for its perfect reef break and consistent 3- to 8-foot swells.

Canggu hotel: The Haven Suites Berawa

Haven Suites Berawa

Location: In Canggu
Best for: Couples, especially surfers who like sophisticated digs

Check rates and availability here

7) One of the best places to stay in Ubud

Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan

best luxury hotels in Bali - Four Seasons Sayan

You can always count on Four Seasons to deliver in the luxury department, and the Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan is no exception.

It’s one of the top resorts in Bali (indeed, considered by many the No. 1 hotel in the world).

It certainly feels out of this world when you arrive – you cross a teak bridge high above a gorge to enter the resort.

Best luxury resort in Bali: Four Seasons Sayan

And its 42 Balinese villas with outdoor plunge pools and living rooms transport you to your own little piece of heaven. (Your bathtub is inlaid with mother-of-pearl.)

Complimentary perks include guided walks through the resort’s own rice paddies and village bike rides.

It’s little wonder the former US president Barack Obama and his family stayed here (in the Royal Villa) on their 2017 Indonesian vacation.

Or that Julia Roberts chose the Four Seasons Sayan as her temporary home when filming Eat Pray Love in Bali.

best luxury hotels in bali

Read our review: The Four Seasons at Sayan is fabulous, with private pool villas in the Bali rainforest

Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan, Bali

Location: Ubud
Best for: Tried-and-true luxury (appealing to couples and families)

Check rates and availability here

8) One of the most luxurious Ubud resorts

Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve

Pool view at Mandapa

When it comes to ultra-luxury, Ritz-Carlton Reserves are about as indulgent as it gets. (We’ve stayed at the first Ritz-Carlton Reserve, an exclusive 54-villa retreat at Phulay Bay in Thailand.)

The third Ritz-Carlton Reserve – Mandapa – is found on the outskirts of Ubud. And Mandapa is also on our hot list when we visit Bali next!

Resembling a Balinese village with its own rice paddy and farmers, Mandapa has 60 one- and two-bedroom villas.

They’re kitted out with private plunge pools, Balinese furniture, outdoor showers and riverfront, rainforest or rice terrace views.

Of course, you have 24-hour butler service.

Villa at Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve

The resort’s Kubu restaurant is a hit.

You dine by candlelight overlooking the river in one of 9 private cocoon-like structures made from bamboo – very romantic.

Kubu Restaurant at Ritz-Carlton Mandapa

When you feel like visiting hidden temples and highland villages, Mandapa’s vintage Volkswagen convertibles can be booked for tours.

Mandapa vintage car

Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve

Location: A 15-minute drive away from Ubud
Best for: Families (there are programs for children and kids’ menus) and couples who like being pampered

Check rates and availability here

9) Among the best hotels in Nusa Dua

Kayumanis Nusa Dua Private Villas & Spa

Of the 5-star hotels in Nusa Dua, Kayumanis Nusa Dua is the best boutique one.

Picture-perfect with white-gold sand, the Nusa Dua beaches are some of the most beautiful beaches in Bali.

The 21-villas aren’t right on the beach. But the resort has its own serviced beach club with cushioned lounge chairs and umbrellas, just a 7-minute scenic walk away.

best luxury hotels in Bali - Kayumanis Nusa Dua

Better still, take out the complimentary bikes and pedal all along the waterfront, bicycle-and-walking path in the private Nusa Dua enclave.

Then cool off with a swim in the ocean before heading back to your villa.

The villas themselves are sophisticated, contemporary-style havens – think polished wooden floors, four-poster beds, outdoor black marble bathrooms and private pools with mini-fountains.

The hotel’s romantic Piasan restaurant gets rave reviews (choose modern Italian or go for the smoked duck rolls on the Indonesian menu).

best luxury hotels in bali - kayumanis nusa dua

Read our review: The Kayumanis Villas in Bali spoiled us silly with private pools, massages and complimentary afternoon tea

Kayumanis Nusa Dua

Location: Nusa Dua
Best for: Couples who like beaching, bicycling and privacy (it’s adults-only here

Check rates and availability here

10) Best sustainable eco-resort in Bali

Six Senses Uluwatu

Six Senses Uluwatu is a deluxe new eco-resort in Bali

“Minimalist chic” aptly describes the feel of the Six Senses Uluwatu.

We’ve stayed at the eco-friendly Six Senses Yao Noi in Thailand, where lovely wooden bungalows with private pools feel like treehouses.

In contrast, this Bali property is very modern.

Its 103 suites and villas are all built from limestone. Set atop a dramatic cliff, they have staggering views of the Indian Ocean.

We love how some suites are called “sky suites.” Sky pool suites each have their own outdoor pool and are 1,765 square feet in size.

And from the resort’s shimmering three-tiered pool, you look down at crashing waves.

What really sets this luxury resort apart though is its focus on sustainability.

Food waste is composted and grey water is recycled. Sensors turn off the air-conditioning when you leave your room. The Six Senses also bottles its own water.

And an organic garden supplies much of the produce and herbs for its three restaurants, while meat is locally sourced.

We found the dining fresh, healthy and totally delicious at the Six Senses Yao Noi.

Judging by that, the Uluwatu resort no doubt dishes up equally tantalizing plates. One of its restaurants, Crudo, serves Japanese-Peruvian fusion cuisine; it especially sounds like a must-try.

Six Senses Uluwatu

Location: Nusa Dua
Best for: Eco-conscious foodie couples who love clean design

Check rates and availability here

Do you love splurgey hotels? Then check out some of the best villa resorts with private pools around the world

11) Best of the affordable boutique hotels in Bali

Ayung Resort Ubud

best luxury hotels in Bali - Ayung Resort Ubud

Where to stay in Ubud that’s 5 star but doesn’t break the bank?

One of the best affordable hotels in Bali, Ayung Resort Ubud is perfect. It’s tucked away in the lush rainforest about a 15-minute drive from Ubud town.

Huge hotel rooms have granite floors, four-poster beds and balconies overlooking a beautiful pool or the rushing Ayung River.

Or choose one of the immense Javanese villas with a private swimming pool. For cool places to stay in Ubud, you can’t beat these ornately-carved wood villas!

best luxury hotels in bali - ayung resort ubud

Ayung Resort’s top-rated restaurant is one of the best in Ubud – and you see exotic butterflies and monkeys in the trees.

Rates include a delicious breakfast, English-style afternoon tea, transfers three times a day to Ubud town and WiFi.

Read our reviewAyung Resort Ubud wows with its fantastic art and tropical luxury setting

Ayung Resort Ubud

Location: Near Ubud
Best for: Couples looking for an affordable boutique hotel in Ubud

Check rates and availability here

12) Tops of the most amazing hotels in Bali (jaw-dropping views!)

Alila Villas Uluwatu

One of the best luxury resorts in Bali? Alila Villa Uluwatu

Having checked into so many fabulous hotels around the world, it’s sometimes hard to be truly wowed.

But Alila Villas Uluwatu – poised on a high clifftop overlooking the Indian Ocean – had our jaws dropping at every turn.

Its 165-foot infinity pool on the cliff edge is nothing short of stunning.

So too is the “lounge,” which is like a big wooden birdcage, cantilevered out over the water.

best luxury hotels in Bali - alila villas uluwatu

And then there are the 3,000 sq. foot villas (84 of them) built from recycled railway sleeper cars, volcanic rock and local bamboo.

How to feel like a multi-millionaire! Almost all the window walls on all sides slide open so you feel like you’re living outside (and you can almost slip right from your living room couch into the pool).

Can’t figure out the state-of-the-art sound system? Just ask your butler.

Alila Villa Uluwatu is a top contender on our list of best luxury resorts in Bali!

Read our review: Is Alila Villas Uluwatu the most luxurious hotel in Bali?

Alila Villas Uluwatu

Location: Bukit Peninsula on the south coast (“billionaires row”)
Best for: Bragging rights (not ideal for families with children)

Check rates and availability here

13) Best for escapism

Soori Bali

The Soori villa retreat, surrounded by UNESCO’s world heritage protected rice paddies, hugs a black sand beach on the southwest coast, near the sacred Tanah Lot Temple.

Best luxury hotels in Bali: Soori Bali

Formerly managed by the Alila Hotels group, it’s now run by the new Soori brand.

And it’s a world away from popular go-to places in Bali like Nusa Dua, Seminyak and Ubud.

On the drive to get there, we felt the stresses of everyday life melt away as we passed rice terraces and rural villages.

Award-winning architects created the 38 villas, most with ocean views (eight have mountain and pool views).

Recently refurbished, their Asian-themed décor is cool and calming.

Luxury resorts in Bali: Soori Bali

Keep an eye out for the “Biebs” (if you’re into celebrity spotting).

Canadian singer Justin Bieber has stayed with his mother three times at the Soori property. (The hotel’s remote setting no doubt makes it paparazzi-proof.)

Soori Bali

Location: About 20 minutes north of Tanah Lot Temple
Best for: Guests who want to get away from it all

Check rates and availability here

14) Best beach resort in Bali

Four Seasons at Jimbaran Bay

best luxury hotels in bali - four seasons jimbaran bay

On a beach?

It’s a few minutes’ walk from lovely Jimbaran Beach – one of Bali’s best beaches – with calm waters for swimming during the day and simple seafood restaurants in the sand for dining at night. (Jimbaran is also less frenetic than, say, Seminyak or Sanur.)

Romantic?

You stay in a gorgeous villa (designed like a traditional Balinese house), with an open-air living room, outdoor shower and your own plunge pool.

Relaxing?

No detail has been overlooked at the spa, nestled in a garden, which begs to be visited. (Even the view through the doughnut hole of the massage table is pretty – we each looked at a blue, lotus-shaped, glass bowl with plumeria blossoms, before drifting off in pleasure.)

Nightclub action?

The resort’s Sundara is the spot when the sun goes down.

four seasons at jimbaran bay

Yes, the Four Seasons at Jimbaran Bay – the last in our guide to the best of Bali’s 5-star resorts – has a little bit of everything to appeal to most all luxury lovers.

Read our postJimbaran Beach is one of Bali’s best beaches – and it has Sundara

Four Seasons at Jimbaran Bay

Location: On Jimbaran Beach, Bali’s south coast
Best for: Beach-loving couples and families like staying here

Check rates and availability here

Tips for choosing your Bali hotels

Don’t limit yourself:

When visiting the island of Bali, stay in at least two different areas (and two different luxury hotels in Bali) to get a better appreciation of the island’s diversity.

Be sure to stay in Ubud:

Ubud is Bali’s cultural heart – famous for its art galleries and Balinese dance performances (and cheeky monkeys too in the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary

Other great things to do in Ubud include taking an authentic Balinese cooking class, white water rafting and visiting the lush Tegalalang rice terraces to learn how rice is grown.

Get off-the-beaten-path:

Consider staying in places like Lovina, Sidemen and Amed to avoid the Bali crowds.

Our top travel tips and resources

Here are our favorite travel resources:

Hotels: Booking.com is great for scoring a “wow” hotel – or at least a decent one. (We especially like their flexible cancellation policy!)

Vacation homes, condos and rentals: We prefer and use Vrbo (Vacation Rentals by Owner).

Tours: For the best local food, walking and other guided tours plus skip-the-line tickets to attractions, check out GetYourGuide and Viator.

Car rental: Renting a car is often one of the best ways to explore off the beaten path. Discover Cars searches car rental companies so you get the best rates.

Travel insurance: SafetyWing is designed for frequent travelers, long-term adventurers and digital nomads. It covers medical expenses, lost checked luggage, trip interruption and more.

Travel gear: See our travel shop to find the best luggage, accessories and other travel gear. (We suggest these comfy travel sandals for city walking, the beach and kicking about.)

Need more help planning your trip? Check out our travel tips and resources guide for airline booking tips, ways to save money, how to find great hotels and other crazy useful trip planning info.

Pssst! If you make a booking or purchase through our site, we may earn a small commission (at no cost to you). Thanks!


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Photo credits: 6, 11, 40 © Janice and George Mucalov, SandInMySuitcase | Other hotel photos courtesy the respective hotels


We stayed at many of these luxurious hotels in Bali as media guests for various travel magazine articles we’ve written. But we always write what we think and retain complete control over our stories.


About the authors

Luxury travel journalists and SATW, NATJA and TMAC “Best Travel Blog” award winners, Janice and George Mucalov are the publishers of Sand In My Suitcase. Between them, they’ve traveled to all 7 continents. See About.

Find destination guides, global food-and-wine stories, luxury hotel reviews, articles on cultural explorations and soft adventure trips, cruise reviews, insanely useful travel tips and more!

Andrew

Tuesday 9th of June 2020

I love these hotels. We want to honeymoon in Bali, so these are great ideas, thanks.

Ryan Biddulph

Saturday 13th of October 2018

Super list guys. Bali is top shelf for glam hotels. We visited for a good 5 times.

Janice and George

Saturday 13th of October 2018

So you know Bali well! Bet you've stayed at some glam Bali hotels yourself :-).

Jane M

Thursday 6th of September 2018

Oh man, these places are gorgeous! We stayed at the Four Seasons Sayan for a month since my husband was teaching yoga there! Just an amazing place, fabulous staff and so peaceful. I didn't know Julia Roberts stayed there but everyone is very proud that the Obamas spent a week there after his presidency ended!

We also stopped by the Alila in Uluwatu just to gawk. It is incredible too and the beach right below it might be the best beach in Bali!

Janice and George

Thursday 6th of September 2018

How nice to spend a month at the Four Seasons Sayan! We know you visit Bali frequently; maybe the Alila Villas Uluwatu needs a yoga teacher for a month too :-).

Mette

Tuesday 23rd of February 2016

I haven't been to Bali, but I'll definitely follow your recommendations when I go. The photos alone merit a visit.

Janice and George

Tuesday 23rd of February 2016

You'd probably love Bali - though very different from Italy!

Suze

Monday 22nd of February 2016

I've stayed in 2 other great hotels in Bali, Alila Ubud and Kayumanis Jimbaran and I'd highly recommend both - thanks for this great list of additional places to stay

Janice and George

Tuesday 23rd of February 2016

We heard great things about these hotels too (and read your posts!)...