Alila Villas Uluwatu – Hotel Review

Set atop limestone cliffs and overlooking the Indian Ocean, Alila Villas Uluwatu is open-plan design at its best. A maze of wide and airy corridors lead to restaurants, cabanas and the spa reach from the off-white lobby, the sleek surrounds have a soothing effect, especially when the stunning cliff-top infinity pool and a view of the ocean that seems to go on for miles unfurls. Read on for the full review.

Each of the hotel's villas feature off-white and recycled wood interiors that seamlessly merge with the unruly jungle outside, while simultaneously offering arresting views of the vast ocean through the floor to ceiling windows. The grounds have plenty to entertain guests – serene landscaping, three excellent restaurants and the show stopping Sunset Cabana, where you can watch the sun dip below the horizon with a cocktail in hand. 

Where is Alila Villas Uluwatu?

From the Ngurah Rai International Airport through the noise and chaos of downtown Denpasar to the idyllic stillness of the Bukit Peninsula is just 45 minutes by car.

What’s near Alila Villas Uluwatu?

Most come to this part of Bali for the ocean, which you have abundant views of at Alila. The striking (and excessively popular) Pura Luhur, a sea temple perched 70 metres above the ocean, dedicated to the Supreme God of Indonesian Hinduism is 15 minutes away by car. The set-in-sadn seafood restaurants of Jimbaran Bay are also about half an hour away by car.

Room types

There are one-, two- and three-bedroom villas on offer. ‘Entry level’ for Alila is the one-bedroom villa, a spacious, minimalistic stone room which offers glimpses of the ocean from the plush king bed. Other features include a merged living and dining area, a huge bathroom with an outdoor shower, deep bathtub and dual sinks. Sliding glass doors open onto a private pool, complete with its own cabana. 

Restaurants and bar

The hotel boasts three options: East-meets-West fusion at CIRE, classic Indonesian dishes at The Warung and show-stopping, gastronomical delights at Quila, which is limited to just 10 diners per night. Here, the menu changes depending on available produce: past highlights include “beef” carpaccio made from watermelon and the Uluwatu Mushroom, a dessert of hazelnut ice-cream, meringue and white chocolate. Don’t feel like leaving the villa? You can always rely on speedy in-room dining ordered via the room’s tablet and delivered by your personal butler. 

Travel for work

Talk about a meeting room with a view – with the weather practically perfect year-round, why not have your business conversations in The Warung’s open-air dining room? For more official events, CIRE’s private room, tiled with classic Indonesian printing stamps, has a full suite of AV equipment. 

Spa, gym and pool

How’s the serenity? Spa Alila’s wide-ranging treatment menu combines the best of Asian and Western therapies. Enjoy your BABOR facial, Balinese traditional creambath or four hand massage in one of the spa’s private villas or your own. Sweat it out in the exercise centre, which is open 24/7, or opt for a private yoga, pilates or meditation class. 

What you need to know

Sign up for a morning aerial yoga class in the Sunset Cabana for a different view of the sunrise.

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