In March 2023, I checked into the One Bedroom Villa at Hotel Indigo Bali Seminyak Beach. Set along Mesari Beach within the vibrant beachside neighbourhood of Seminyak, the 289-room property is the world’s first ever Hotel Indigo resort. Ngurah Rai International Airport is a 25-minute drive away, while nearby dining attractions include 40 Thieves, MamaSan, Mexicola and Sisterfield’s.
Other notable resorts in the vicinity include Grand Mercure Bali Seminyak, W Seminyak, Pullman Bali Legian Beach and The Stones Hotel – Legian Bali, Autograph Collection.
The UTW (“Under Ten Words”): Chic beachfront resort in buzzy Seminyak neighbourhood
The must-dos (if any): Enjoy breakfast at Makase, have a cocktail at Tree Bar, grab a coffee at Pottery Cafe, observe the sunset from SugarSand.
HOTEL INDIGO BALI SEMINYAK BEACH
With its clashing chairs and lampshades, the mishmash of cultural artefacts as well as the creative incorporation of geometric lines inspired by the traditional Balinese weaving textile Tenun Songket, the resort’s expansive lobby space sets the tone on a suitably eclectic and playful note. The sprawling resort premises includes a stretch of verdant foliage and manicured lawns with game stations offering giant Jenga and other fun family activities as well as three different swimming pools offering different vibes – one is set in a lush environment and is decidedly more private, while the main pool is closer to the buzzy Mesari Beach, a destination frequented by those who seek to observe Bali’s iconic purple-tinged sunsets.
In terms of wellness, the resort has a 24hr Health Club fitted with power stretching, weight-lifting, martial arts and TRX equipment, while Sava Spa offers treatments and traditional Balinese massages. I opted for a Traditional Seminyak Massage, which was a more relaxing affair involving long firm strokes rather than the more high-pressure and stretch-based Sava Balinese Signature, and ended my treatment sipping rice tea at the gorgeous outdoor Relaxation Lounge, undoubtedly one of the resort’s most zen and beautiful spaces.
Complimentary and paid activities are available for resort guests, from various types of Yoga (pranayama, vinyasa etc), beachside morning runs, electric scooter rides and boot camp classes at the Health Club to coffee art, mask painting, tarot reading, Balinese dress-up and DIY cocktail sessions.
ONE BEDROOM VILLA
Playing it all safari lodge stylings with flashes of Balinese design, the 300sqm One-Bedroom Villa delivers the quintessential luxury villa experience. The king-sized bed sits smack in the middle of the main living space which has distinct sofa seating and work station areas. The pantry provides pod coffee and tea-making facilities along with a snack and beverage minibar (think chips, nuts, soft drinks and bottled beers). Quirky objets d’art, wall photographs and warm accent lighting give the room an appealing residential cosiness.
The spa-inspired bathroom area has a deep bathtub and separate boudoirs, each with its own vanity and walk-in closet, while the corner rainshower room – fitted with glass windows for your sunlit shower pleasure and stocked with Sava Spa-branded bathroom amenities – offers direct access to the outdoor area.
The villa boasts its own jacuzzi and private pool so sizeable that you can actually swim laps instead of merely plunge, while the outdoor dining pavilion with daybed is connected to a fully equipped kitchen with microwave, induction stove and refrigerator. During my stay, I attempted my first ever floating breakfast experience, and can officially confirm that slurping mee soto and wolfing down mouthfuls of nasi goreng whilst half naked in a swimming pool is a novelty experience one needs to attempt at least once to truly understand the ludicruousness of the whole floating breakfast phenomenon.
DINING
Breakfast is served at Makase, the all-day casual neighbourhood cafe located on the ground level. The buffet spread comprises the usual fruits, cold cuts and pastries along with a selection of regional cuisine such as Beef Semur, Chicken Biryani; a fried rice and noodle station where you customise your desired ingredients; and international fare by way of pizza, dimsum and sushi stations. In addition, guests have access to an extensive a la minute menu featuring your choice of Toast (Mushroom, Banana, Salmon, Egg, Hummus or Avocado); hot plates (Cawanmushi, Shakshuka Egg, Egg Burjhi and Masala Omelette); and sweets (Pancake, Waffles, French Toast, Indonesian Sweet Sticky Rice and Pisang Goreng Madu). Portions are generous, with the Beef and Egg (beef short plate with Korean marination, mushroom and BBQ sauce) and Ayam Bakar (grilled marinated boneless chicken leg served with sambal matah) being meaty lunch-sized servings. Guests can choose to be seated indoors within the Makase premises or outdoors at Tree Bar.
During my stay, I had a 3-course lunch at Makase, which comes with a choice of appetiser (think Hummus, Croffle & Cheese or Chicken Wing), main course (Pan Roasted Barramundi, Smoked Free Range Baby Chicken) and dessert (options include Green Tea Tiramisu, the smoothie-esque Bubur Sumsum or the granita-based Es Teler). I had the hearty Rendang Sapi (wagyu beef shin, Sumatran coconut curry sauce, green chilli), which made me scoff down way more rice than initially intended.
Ground floor space Pottery Cafe serves pastries, desserts as well as a variety of hot and iced beverages, including a range of locally sourced teas and manual brew single origin coffees. The cafe is also the resort’s venue for afternoon tea, with their current Sereni-Tea menu comprising Indonesian-inspired treats such as the Lapis Legit (Indonesian layered cake), Ayam Betutu Croissant (marinated Balinese chicken with pickled cucumber and aioli) and Pisang Ijo Mousse (pandan coconut mousse, banana confit, palm sugar jelly).
Set within a verdant alfresco space overlooking manicured lawns and the swimming pool in the distance, Tree Bar is a speakeasy cocktail bar specialising in herb-infused concoctions and the space which serves the resort’s stiffest tipples. Being a IHG Diamond Ambassador, I was given a drink voucher for two drinks and redeemed my beverages at Tree Bar, one of which being was the complex Run To Manhattan.
The poolside Cave Pool Lounge keeps pool users suitably hydrated with tropical cocktails, beers, healthy drinks and champagne. Elsewhere, serving a variety of refreshing tipples and light bites, popular beachfront destination SugarSand – it even has its own pool and shower facilities – offers front row seats to Seminyak’s iconic purple-hued sunset views.
During my visit, the resort’s signature dining restaurant Salon Bali was closed.
CONCLUSION
With its great location, its array of dining options (it is not even entirely necessary to leave the resort) and the lovely villas with impressive swimming pools, Hotel Indigo Bali Seminyak Beach does stand out as a worthy option amidst the competitive resort situation along the popular Seminyak beach stretch.
Hotel Indigo Bali Seminyak Beach
JI.Camplung Tanduk No. 10,
Seminyak, Bali – 80361
Indonesia
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