In March 2024, I checked into the Ocean Pool Villa at Raffles Bali. Perched on Bukit Peninsula overlooking Jimbaran Bay, the 32-key resort is spread across 23 hectares of land, making it the largest Raffles property in the world. Jimbaran Beach and its famed seafood restaurants are nearby, while Ngurah Rai International Airport is just 20 minutes away.
Nearby resorts include Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay; InterContinental Bali Resort and Le Meridien Bali Jimbaran. Other Accor properties in Bali include Buahan, a Banyan Tree Escape and Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua Beach Resort.
The UTW (“Under Ten Words”): All-villa dreamy luxury in Jimbaran.
The must-dos (if any): Enjoy breakfast and dinner at Rumari, take a dip in the infinity pool, go for a cocktail-making class.
RAFFLES BALI
Designed by Grounds Kent Arsitek Indonesia (who also shaped The St. Regis Bali Resort and Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay) and Hirsch Bedner Associates (behind Capella Bangkok, Four Seasons Hotel Singapore, Fairmont Singapore, Marina Bay Sands and The Fullerton Hotel Singapore) along with landscaping by James Hyatt Studio, the resort is set on hilly land with lush tropical gardens, waterfall features and bridges as well as a river which cuts through the sprawling premises. All the villas face the ocean, with the airport runway – and flight take-offs and landings – visible in the distance. (Pro tip: the Hilltop Pool Villas next to the lushly vegetated valley enjoy the most privacy, whilst the Panoramic Ocean Pool Villas boast the most intimate vistas).
Upon arrival at the resort lobby, guests are welcomed with live Balinese music and greeted by their individual Raffles Wellbeing Butler, to whom they would have been introduced via email prior to their stay. You will then be invited to undergo the metirta cleansing ritual, during which water is sprinkled on you and rice grains are gently pressed onto your forehead as part of offering thanks to the gods. While your check-in is being processed, you are whisked to The Writer’s Bar – a Raffles brand staple – for a refreshing welcome cocktail. (Those who need some respite from the tropical heat can choose to rest inside the adjoining library, which also serves as a lounge and private space.) My butler, Julian, will go on to serve as my contact point throughout my stay via WhatsApp for buggy requests, dining/programme reservations as well as other forms of miscellaneous assistance.
In terms of wellness, the resort offers a spa, two tennis courts, a fitness centre as well as a 25m beachfront infinity pool with an abundance of sunbeds next to Loloan Beach Bar and Grill. The Secret Cave, a natural limestone cave located near the arrival area, has been repurposed as a destination for meditation sessions and private dinners. There is also a retail boutique. While there is a schedule of daily complimentary guest activities such as yoga, botanical tours, canang sari (religious offering) making, cycling and Balinese dance classes, guests can also consider visits to Uluwatu Temple and Bali Zoo, rafting, Tibetan singing bowl therapy, reiki sessions, 7-chakra balacing, soul blessing as well as fire cleaning rituals, all of which are offered as payable guest experiences.
During my stay, I went for a complimentary cocktail-making class at Loloan, and had a stab at shaking, stirring and making my very own Bali Sling.
OCEAN POOL VILLA
Boasting its own 35sqm private pool with an outdoor garden and plush-cushioned gazebo, the 470sqm Ocean Pool Villa offers soothing views of the Indian Ocean in the distance. The villa is decked in earthy tones, Indonesian hardwood floors and furniture made using locally-sourced materials such batik fabrics, rattan and wood. The bed faces the ocean for that dreamy island feel when you first wake up, while the work desk (which you really shouldn’t be spending too much time at during your stay) offers soothing garden views. A copy of Soirees, Sojourns & Stories by Raffles (which I also found in my suites at Raffles Hotel Singapore and Raffles Hotel Le Royal Phnom Penh) is on hand for your deep-dive into the luxury brand’s illustrious history.
The minibar is stocked with JWU Botanicals health tonics and a range of wines and spirits (including Citadelle No Mistake Old Tom Gin, Monkey Shoulder whisky, ready-to-pour Campari Negroni and even a baby bottle of Krug champagne), while the pantry offers an Illy coffee machine & Dammann Frères Tea selections.
The spacious bathroom offers double vanities, a Japanese bidet toilet, indoor and outdoor showers as well as a window-side bathtub facing the outdoor garden with pool. The drawers are stocked with collectible grey and white Raffles Bali-branded amenity bags along with a variety of beauty products such as eye contour creams, sun body creams, face-body mists and lip balms. Bathroom amenities are house-branded and stored in ceramic containers.
After we returned to the villa from dinner at Rumari, we were greeted by pots of soothing herbal teas and snacks as well as Raffles Bali fabric bracelets as part of turn-down service.
DINING
Breakfast is an ala carte affair at Rumari, the resort’s signature restaurant which specialises in progressive Indonesian cuisine. Helmed by Chef Gaetan Biesuz, the restaurant (whose name means “the house of the sun and the full moon“) is set on a terrace – the resort’s highest point – together with The Writer’s Bar. The restaurant is also the first ever restaurant in Indonesia to be appointed as a Krug Ambassade, although regrettably I did not get to savour any drops of liquid gold during my stay.
From the breakfast menu (you get unlimited orders!), the Indonesian dishes such as Bubuh Bali (Sunria Farm organic pandan rice porridge, tuna sambal matah, Balinese spicy vegetables salad and crispy red beans), Soto Ayam Kudus (Java style fragrant organic chicken soup, quail egg, cabbage, sprout, potato and turmeric) and Nasi Uduk (coconut flavored Jogja steamed pandan rice, dried fish, peanut and Indonesian omelette) were punchy in flavour, while those seeking more traditional and eat-pray-love-esque selections can go for the scrumptiously-riced Tuna Poke (Sunria Farm organic rainforest rice poke, yellow fin tuna, Jimbaran bay seaweed, edamame, jicama and sesame seed), Raffles Egg Benedict (grilled asparagus, coconut husk Tasmanian smoked salmon, lemongrass and kaffir lime hollandaise) or 60° Celsius Organic Tabanan Duck Egg (mnultigrain toast, avocado, our Farm Terrace gotukola and watercress). The Jimbaran Bay Lobster Omelette (rock lobster bisque, tomato, scallion and Asian herbs) was a highlight with its robust oceanic persuasions, while elsewhere the Banana Pancakes (caramelized banana and maple syrup) were fluffy, sensational pieces of heaven.
For its dinner offerings, Rumari offers both seven and nine course menus (with wine, mocktail and cocktail pairings if desired) as well as a la carte selections. The innovative dishes are inspired by different parts of Indonesia such as the luscious West Sumatra (mud crab, pomelo, padang sauce), the juicy and tender North Sumatra (heritage pig, chayote, gulai), Java (pineapple, clove honey, sable) and the eclectic and fun East Java (coconut, pandan, jackfruit, fermentred cassava). While the Balinese Pork (homemade heritage pork belly, Balinese sausage, purple potatoes, seraya corn) may have been a tad too rich for my taste, the Sate Gurita (char grilled octopus, sambal matah) was smoky, tender perfection. Their cashew nut butter (prepared in-house) was sensational.
The Writer’s Bar is the resort’s destination for afternoon tea and sunset cocktails. Regardless of your feelings about the ubiquitous Singapore Sling, the Bali Sling (Sipsmith gin, Arak Bali, Dom Benedictine, mixed spies’ syrup, lemon juice, bitters, jackfruit puree, soursop, grenadine syrup, soda) is a must-order, just because. There are signature cocktails such as The Roots of Aynam (vodka, galangal liqueur, carrot, lemon, stingless bee honey, ginger beer) as well as classic cocktails such as Boulevardier (Bulleit bourbon whiskey, Campari, Martini Rosso) and Martini (Bombay Sapphire, Martini Dry).
During my evening visit, I experimented with local spirits such as East Indies Bali Pomelo Pink Gin and Kaja Gin in my cocktails and also managed to sample Lawrenny 1818 Settlers Australian Gin, one of the highest ABV gins I ever tried (52.5%).
Located next to the infinity pool, beachfront restaurant Loloan Beach Bar and Grill serves up casual nosh in a relaxed, open-air setting. Fans of pasta can choose from spaghetti and snail shell, with flavours such as Bali Seafood (seasonal seafood, fresh herbs from our Farm Terrace, lemon, Santagata Portofino extra virgin olive oil) and Braised Beef Short Rib (ragout of ribbed tomato, garlic, shallots, fresh basil), while pizza lovers can go for selections such as Ayam Sambal Matah (shredded chicken, Balinese raw vinaigrette, kaffir lime leaf), Organic Pork Bacon (button mushrooms, organic pork bacon, green bell pepper, emmental cheese, oregano) and Tropical Jimbaran (tomato sauce, mozzarella, Indian Ocean baby prawns, local pineapple, basil). The restaurant also serves grilled seafood and meats – think Calamari, Catch of The Day, Local Bamboo Lobster, Lambarrgini Farm Lamb Chop and Sher Farm Beef Striploin MB 9.
In comparison to The Writer’s Bar, the tipples here are more of the refreshing, easy-drinking variety, with highlights such as Banana Killer (Arak Bali, banana, strawberry syrup, lemon, lime, cream, fomee, rose water spray) and Forbidden Fruit (Havana club 7 anos, passion fruit, passion fruit syrup, lemon juice, guava juice, orange bitters).
CONCLUSION
I was initially surprised by Raffles Bali’s choice of location – Jimbaran seems more closely associated with fresh seafood than romance and intimate luxury, and I expected the resort’s location to be somewhere along the lines of the cliffside Uluwatu or the beach-tastic Nusa Dua. Further, the Krug element at Rumari may have added a spritz of exclusivity and glamour to the proceedings, but I wish the champagne had featured more meaningfully in the overall Rumari experience. That being said, Rumari still provided memorable dining experiences, and touches such as the elaborate bathroom amenity selection as well as the attentiveness and thoughtfulness of service evidenced the resort’s commitment to excellence.
Maybe I’d try some of the payable guest experiences next time for that final taste of what Raffles Bali has to offer.
Raffles Bali
Jalan Karang Mas Sejahtera 1A
Jimbaran, South Kuta
Badung Regency, 80361 Bali
Indonesia
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