There’s a reason Bali is one of the world’s most iconic islands to visit in Asia. It’s known worldwide for its welcoming Hindu culture, distinct rituals held within its ornate temples, and its scent: a delightful blend of frangipani, jasmine, and sandalwood that is unlike any other aroma on earth. That’s without mentioning the best hotels in Bali, which emphasize its natural bounty—forested waterfalls, top-notch surf breaks, and hidden volcanic beaches are accessible at every turn.
’s Guide to the Best Hotels in Bali: Whether you opt to stay in Bali’s southern bounds, where hip hotels in densely-populated areas like Seminyak and Canggu await, or you prefer to to the island’s northeast or southeast, where clifftop properties and deserted black-sand beaches are an ode to serenity, there’s a little something for every type of traveler. Below, our guide to the best hotels in Bali. About an hour outside of Ubud, this boutique property operates under a unique principle: no doors, no walls.
Framed by the Ayung River and two waterfalls on each side, is isolated from the outside world and feels like stepping back into the Bali of yesteryear. When guests first arrive, they access the central lounge, bar, restaurant, and pool by walking down a pebbled pathway. Unobstructed vistas of terraced rice paddies with sweeping views of seven mountain peaks await.
Each of the 16 villas features a panoramic, open-air lens into nature—from the bed or the copper soaking tub. When not enjoying the rooms, guests will delight in meals at the property’s open kitchen, which features a zero-waste menu and a botanical bar with clean drinks using ingredients from the property’s farm. Entering this luxury retreat in Nusa Dua feels like a blissful exhale.
The entire property is built with a minimal aesthetic, yet it’s perfect in its complexity—frangipani trees dot nearly every corner, and bougainvillea is draped down the 22 suites and villas, all with their own sunken bathtubs and some with private pools. It’s just the type of environment guests crave when they arrive for one of the hotel’s signature wellness retreats, multi-day experiences focusing on emotional balance and mindfulness, resetting and healthy sleep patterns, and more. While on retreat, guests can book appointments with a Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner, participate in yoga classes, and enjoy meals at the outdoor restaurant helmed by chef Joshua Purwo Caroko, known for his vegetable-forward plates.
By the end of the year, the property is will open Bali’s first longevity clinic with advanced diagnostics, aesthetic treatments, and theta float therapy. Located in lively Seminyak and set on the shores of the popular Petitenget Beach, the Desa Potato Head complex is many things—the Potato Head Beach Club, a 226-room hotel, a hub of six restaurants and bars, and a wellness facility with robust classes and spa offerings. In a way, it feels more like its own universe.
You can start your day by joining a sunrise meditation, have breakfast on the beach, then spend your time participating in the hotel’s educational workshops, which include everything from the on-site Waste Lab where you can join art classes that gives new life to trash. After hours, you can the night away at Clymax, the property’s wood-floor nightclub known for its acoustics. Located on the outskirts of Ubud, this resort makes quite the first impression: guests can enjoy a jaunt over an outdoor bridge suspended above the sacred Ayung River Valley.
This verdant landscape is speckled with tropical flowers and towering trees, with views of tiered rice paddies in the distance. The rooms are split between hotel suites in the main building and 42 free-standing villas, most with private plunge pools, luxurious bathtubs, and views of the jungle canopy. Breakfasts are robust and health-forward, with a daily rotation of fresh juices, while dinner can be enjoyed the Ayung Terrace.
The restaurant overlooks the Ayung River, and its flowing stream is like the soundtrack to stay at this serene oasis. Calling all cool kids—this is the latest hangout to open on the island. Away from the hectic streets of too-crowded , Further is located in Pererenan, a still sleepy village—for now.
The brick façade of this hotel is impossible to miss. The complex is anchored by two buildings that connect to form the hotel’s singular concept: a place where guests can enjoy the intimacy of their private suites and mix and mingle with like-minded travelers in the convivial common spaces. Each of the 12 rooms is minimalist in style and features Balinese woodwork and plaster techniques and natural materials like ochre, brick, and travertine.
The property has taken great care in selecting its partner concepts. Guests can expect skincare and grooming rituals provided by Oaken Lab, specialty coffee and small plates by Melbourne-based St. Ali, and an ethical way to hit the waves with boards by Thomas Surfboards.
Brutalist architecture meets the tropics at The Slow, a 12-room boutique hotel that oozes laidback charm. While it’s true that Canggu is nearly overflowing with tourists thanks to its growing popularity (the property is also located along one of the busiest streets in town), The Slow taps into Canggu’s essence—a relaxed yet somehow incredibly hip energy. The hotel was opened by former Australian fashion designer George Gorrow and his wife, the model Cisco Tschurtschenthaler, and evokes an art-world feel with installations at every turn.
Within each of the rooms, guests will find framed black-and-white images and minimalist interiors like bamboo chairs and exposed concrete walls. For dining, guests won’t have to leave the premises to dine at one of the best restaurants in Canggu. Expect Indonesian small plates and inventive cocktails.
When it seems as if some areas of Bali are on the brink of over-tourism, it’s places like Pekutatan that bring the soul of the island back to its center. Located on a blissfully empty black-sand volcanic beach, this environmentally-conscious property has the vibe of an Ace Hotel and the serenity of an Aman: solar-powered treehouse-style rooms are built on stilts to minimize environmental impact and are spread throughout a jungle canopy rife with vegetation like bodhi, baobab, and banana trees. During a stay, guests can enjoy dining on vegan, zero-waste meals at the on-site restaurant—communal style with an elegant 22-foot black wood table at its center— with all ingredients sourced from local organic farms.
For the ultimate adventure, the property offers surf lessons, river tours, diving, and snorkeling trips, as well as electric bicycles and scooters for guests to explore the island’s west coast. Like a little slice of Venice landed in Ubud, this property’s 30 expansive villas are connected by three canal-like pools. Lazy river, anyone? Jokes aside, this resort is nothing like the storied Italian city.
Designed by the Japanese architect Rie Azuma, the property is soothing and meditative with its blend of Japanese aesthetics and Balinese artistic principles. It’s spread over seven forested acres and feels more like a village than a hotel thanks to its elevated gazebos and room interiors that provide a sense of place and instant calm: intricate wooden carvings line the walls, and locally-made batik lamps are bedside. It also has quite a prime location—it’s positioned above the sacred Pakerisan River.
Off the typical tourist path—about four hours northeast of Denpasar International Airport–Mathis Lodge Amed is a gateway to the Bali travelers dream about. The 20 freestanding guest lodges, some with outdoor Jacuzzi or infinity pools, are suspended on a verdant volcanic slope in the Lean Valley and built with thatched roofs to match the local aesthetic. Located over 1,300 feet above sea level, views of the Lombok Strait linger ahead while the volcanic Mount Seraya looms behind and gives the nearby beaches their silky black sand.
Be sure to pack your tennis shoes for a stay here, as there are quite a few stone steps to access the hotel’s many amenities, including its cliffside dining area, where classic Indonesian dishes are served. Guests will likely spend plenty of quality time at the central infinity pool, a clifftop perch with plush sun loungers and stunning ocean views. It’s all about the dramatic cliffside views at Six Senses Uluwatu, a wellness resort perched along the edges of the Bukit Peninsula along Bali’s southern coast.
The property makes a huge sustainability effort, as seen in the over 100 rooms: each is made with sustainably farmed timber, and at each of the three restaurants, guests can enjoy organic fare sourced from its organic garden and beehive. The property even offers garden tours where guests can learn more about the hotel’s composting efforts. For a dose of relaxation, go to the spa early to enjoy the sauna and steam rooms before disappearing into one of eight treatment rooms for holistic massages and reflexology treatments.
There’s also a daily rotation of fitness classes: Pilates, yoga, meditation, and more. Guests will be pleased to arrive at this bohemian escape overlooking the Sayan Ridge, a far departure from the often over-the-top resorts that rim Bali’s coast. Set outside of Ubud in a luscious jungle landscape blanketed with fragrant tamarind and cinnamon trees, Bambu Indah is home to ethereal bamboo suites nestled within the verdant canopy, each proving sustainability and high design don’t need to be disparate.
It all began when owners John and Cynthia Hardy transported eleven antique Javanese bridal homes to Ubud in 2005, creating a property with one of the most sustainability-minded hotels in the region. The hotel has since expanded from the original teakwood structures to include bamboo treehouses and two iconic open-air rooms with a moon-shaped roof made of copper. During a stay, guests can enjoy wellness activities and the anti-inflammatory menu at Tembaga, where dishes are made from ingredients sourced from the hotel’s permaculture farm.
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