When it comes to nourishing both body and soul, Bali is a destination that tops many discerning travelers’ lists.
A tranquil isle of temples and waterfalls, white-powder beaches, and jungle greenery, Bali is where peace, beauty, and an air of restorative spirituality prevail. Thankfully, its long dry season, from April through October, creates a wide window of opportunity for visitors to indulge in its many pleasures: sunset strolls on warm white sands, yoga retreats, Indonesian feasts, and invigorating surf spots famed for the quality of their waves.
At a luxury resort beside the historic fishing village and renowned seafood destination of Jimbaran on the island’s south-west coast, a landscape rich in native vegetation merges with elegant Balinese design and seamless living. What Raffles Bali offers resort guests is a combination of space, seclusion, and personalized service across each of the 32 private villas on its 56-acre estate. The pace of life here is slow.
Harmony and balance are fundamental to Bali’s culture and aesthetic. The interior design of Raffles Bali’s villas, each with its own terrace, gazebo, and pool, incorporates traditional wood and rattan, while batik and heritage art adorn the walls of rooms filled with natural light. The floor-to-ceiling windows also frame panoramic views of Jimbaran Bay, the hills, valleys, and Indian Ocean coastline.
Personal tastes
Raffles is well known for its butler service, an intuitive approach that elevates guests’ sense of comfort and privacy: here, it is an assurance that the villa is their personal sanctuary for the duration. That intimacy can be enhanced by taking advantage of the resort’s distinct private dining options. The Farm Terrace is located next to the resort’s garden; the Purnama Honeymoon Bale sits above the shore; and The Secret Cave is an extraordinary space, turned into an atmospheric restaurant lit by candles. Discretion defines the style of Raffles’ service, and the restaurant menus can be tailored to guests’ tastes.
For a more social yet equally impeccable fine-dining experience there is Rumari, perched at the highest point of the resort, with ocean views. Here, the resort’s culinary team delivers a contemporary take on traditional regional dishes, 80 percent of whose ingredients come from selected producers across the Indonesian archipelago. The degustation menu can be paired with fine wines from an extensive list, as well as champagnes by Krug, thanks to its exclusive partnership with Rumari, Indonesia’s first and only ‘Krug Ambassade’.
At the resort’s shoreline, Loloan is the place to enjoy coastal Peruvian flavors after energetic days of surfing or exploring Bali on guided walks or botanical tours. It’s worth planning a pre-dinner cocktail at the Writers Bar, to catch the resort’s unrivalled sunset view every evening.
With such a variety of superior food and drink options, from breakfast time to after-dinner nightcaps, it’s good to know that Raffles Bali takes wellness seriously, too: the resort’s Fitness Center is open 24 hours for workouts, and guests can also play tennis or pickleball, and swim in a resort pool – or the clear, shallow waters of Jimbaran Bay – among other sporting activities.
An escape that feels like home
People occasionally experience such elevated levels of bliss on holiday that they fantasize about making the destination their home. Raffles Bali is a place where that dream can be realized, because on a private estate alongside the resort is an exclusive collection of 28 ultra-luxury cliff- and ocean-view houses, known as Raffles Residences Bali.
Each residence is designed to respond to its setting, offering harmony with nature and a sophisticated, indoor-outdoor lifestyle that includes a private swimming pool. The materials from which residences are built include Indonesian Palimanan limestone and Sukabumi hard green slate, as well as hardwoods such as teak and ironwood. These are sourced locally and with respect for sustainable practices, ensuring harmony and longevity.
And one of the 28 residences can now be booked by hotel guests seeking the ultimate sanctuary at Raffles Bali, offering optimal luxury, space and privacy. With just under 9,000 sq ft of indoor space, Residence K is a place to feel truly at home, whether retreating there with family or inviting friends to enjoy the indoor and outdoor living and dining areas – each with its own kitchen – that make hosting dinner parties a flawless operation. It also has a small entertainment room, a private gym, and a calming spa room. Two master bedrooms and two guest bedrooms make it ideal for a relaxing holiday where family and/or friends can spend time together.
Outside on the deck, the 66-ft-long swimming pool sits alongside ample outdoor entertaining space and is accompanied by a hot tub with heated water jets. Set into the hillside, this layout creates a sociable setting where the hosts and their guests can relax in the sun and enjoy breathtaking ocean views.
Rest assured that arrival at the residence will always be a discreet affair too, thanks to private helicopter access and a porte-cochère for cars at the house entrance. No one need know you’re here – unless you want them to share in this incomparable and truly luxurious Balinese experience.
Find out more about Raffles Residences Bali here.
