Seminyak is hands down Bali’s most stylish neighborhood. With its cool cafes, organic restaurants, and hip boutiques, it’s a haven for creative expats. Most of them are escaping their daily grind to run their own businesses, and they’ve set up shop in Seminyak. This neighborhood is different from Kuta, which is more party-oriented and attracts a younger crowd.
A different kind of luxury is on offer here. Acai bowls, designer kaftans and a wide variety of outdoor activities are the staples of this hippie paradise. Spas are plentiful, and there are always new, fun bars and restaurants to try.
The Caribbean is a place where you will find more small boutique hotels than big name chains. The luxury and design of these hotels take the place of the drab, beige, identikit hotel rooms found in other parts of the world. Unlike other parts of the Caribbean, there are still plenty of affordable options to choose from.
1. Kayana
When you enter your villa, you’ll walk along a fragrant path lined with frangipani flowers to a private garden with a pool and sun loungers. The garden is next to a traditional thatched villa. The villa offers you instant solitude. Inside, you’ll find enormous canopied beds and spacious bathrooms.
The hotel’s incredible staff will serve a breakfast in your pool. After the morning, you can head to the spa for massages. Later, you can have free afternoon high tea with local Balinese cakes. This peaceful place is close to the Seminyak’s most lively bars.
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2. GrandMas Plus Hotel Seminyak
When you’re travelling on a budget, it’s easy to get stuck in a rut. But there is another way. Grandmas is a warm, urban hotel offering rooms for a pittance. Hone your inner creativity with lime green and orange accents in your room and endless plants hanging from the ceiling. And don’t forget to treat yourself to a relaxing spa session after a busy day of sightseeing.
The cosy rooms at the Kinky Tiki are small but cozy. They have a mini fridge, TV, desk, and plenty of room for luggage. A great social spot is the bar where you can mingle with fellow travellers and take in nightly live music. The bar offers fun cocktail-making classes too.
3. Katamama
This is the first hotel from PTT Family, the architectural practice behind Seminyak’s famed Potato Head beach club. It’s a design fan’s dream, a 58-room boutique lodging with an unusual façade that conceals a number of interesting design touches. For example, every one of its 1.5 million bricks was hand-pressed in a neighboring Balinese village.
The interior design continues the focus on local artisans. Hand-woven, custom-made textiles mix with Arne Jacobsen’s mid-century Danish classics. You can even take a field trip to learn more about Indonesian craft.
4. Anantara
This hotel combines contemporary interiors with traditional Balinese wood carvings. The rooms provide gorgeous panoramic views of the Indian Ocean. You can soak up the sun at the beachfront infinity pool or relax in your two-person terrazzo spa tub on your private balcony.
At night, enjoy a romantic meal at one of two restaurants, or work with hotel staff to create a special romantic meal for two. Later on, enjoy a drink on the rooftop bar that is popular with locals and tourists alike.
5. Luna 2
This hotel has a space-age feel, and the staff resembles 1960’s Pan Am stewardesses. They are warm and friendly, and greet you when you arrive. The hotel is named after the first spacecraft to reach the moon’s surface. It feels like it should be on Clavius rather than an island in South-east Asia.
The Orbit Restaurant serves British classics with a twist. It’s like a classic fish and chips restaurant, but it’s underground and kitschy. If you’re not feeling the British classics, you can stay in your room and have a stewardess bring you ‘in-flight dining.’ It’s a fun experience, with 16 seats in the underground cinema showing retro classics.
6. W Hotel
The world’s hippest hotel chain has opened a new location: Bali. This five-star, five-storey W has huge contemporary rooms decorated in sleek whites and muted tones, with splashes of bold colour. All the signature glam you’d expect from the W is present, including epic swimming areas, incredible service, and a 24-hour spa (just in case you fancy that 3am pedicure).
The best Sunday brunch on the island is served only at Starfish Bloo. This seafood buffet is so spectacular that it’s become a local legend.
7. Alila
This is a prime location in Seminyak, and you’ll be mesmerized by the views. The Petitenget Temple next door is 15th century, and there are awesome rooms here. They’re bigger than apartments and are full of goodies. The hotel bathroom has everything from a pillow mist to sunscreen.
Travelling with kids? Alila Ubud has a great solution. They offer connecting rooms and a huge family pool. You can drop the little dears off at the complimentary kids’ club while you enjoy a free yoga session or take a shopping trip in the Alila’s 1960s VW camper van.
8. One-Eleven
Hidden behind the bustle of Seminyak’s shopping and clubbing areas, there’s a luxurious oasis of nine opulent villas, each with a private pool and beautiful lawns. Surrounded by Balinese stone walls, this adults-only escape is just 20 minutes from Seminyak’s main shopping and clubbing areas.
One of the most difficult things about visiting this place is leaving it. The villas are outfitted with a butler on call 24-hours a day. If you have any requests, he’ll be happy to make them. Still having trouble unwinding? The hotel masseurs will visit your garden gazebo.
9. The Legian
If you have the money and the time, you can stay at this luxurious resort. You can choose from a suite in the hotel or a villa in the Club. If you’re staying in the hotel, you can choose between three pools that face the ocean. If you’re staying in a villa, you will have your own pool. There is a well-stocked library on site.
The minibar in your room is stocked with free drinks! The hotel has two bars: Pool and Ocean. If you prefer to go out, there are bars on the beach. If you’re not relaxed enough, you can have a private yoga instructor come to your room.
10. Double-Six
Seminyak’s flashiest luxury hotel, the Double-Six feels like a place to be seen. If you want to be catered to, this is the place to go. The staff will take care of your every need. They’ll even check you in to your suite without you ever having to leave your room!
With so many dining options, it’s a foodie’s dream. And don’t forget to visit the huge rooftop bar to watch the sunset on the black sand beach.