Top 10: 5 star Hotels and Resorts in Ubud, Bali

Disclaimer: Top 10 Lists are created keeping in mind only my opinion. Rest assured that IH Aviation and Travel is not biased whatsoever.

Ubud is a major centre of Balinese culture and spirituality that has attracted artists and travellers for nearly a century. In the past years, Ubud’s popularity has increased drastically meaning that it is now as busy as South Bali. However, the development of Ubud has been more focused on maintaining traditional culture. It is still one of the best places to visit temples, see Balinese art, watch dancesand performances, meditate, practice yoga, take advantage of spiritual healersand traditional medicine, or buy local handicrafts. Ubud’s cooler climate and lush vegetation also make it ideal for an escape from the heat of Bali’s beaches. The surrounding Ubud District’s rainforest and terraced rice paddies, dotted with Hindu temples and shrines, are among Bali’s most famous landscapes. Ubud has attracted many ultra-luxurious hotels from global hospitality chains over the past years. Let’s take a look at the Top 10 5 star Hotels and Resorts in Ubud, Bali.

10. Hanging Gardens of Bali

Hanging Gardens of Bali is located between Ayung River and ancient Dalem Segara Temple. The resort stands on the end of a stunning valley. Hanging Gardens of Bali consists of 44 guest rooms and suites that come with private plunge pools. Each villa is designed with traditional Alang Alang thatched roofs in complete harmony with nature. Three Elements offers an à la carte selection of appetizers, entrées and desserts as well as two unique tasting menus with optional wine pairing. Beduur Restaurant serves Asian and French food and is open for lunch and dinner while.guests can enjoy lighter fare at the Diatas Pohon Café. Bukit Becik Bar serves snacks. The resort is home to the famous two-level infinity pool. The on-site spa has massage/treatment rooms, couples treatment room(s) and outdoor treatment areas. Services include deep-tissue massages, facials, body wraps and body scrubs. The spa is equipped with a spa tub. A variety of treatment therapies are provided, including reflexology.

Website: Hanging Gardens of Bali

9. The Westin Resort and Spa Ubud

The Westin Resort and Spa Ubud is located in Ubud. The resort offers 120 guest rooms and suites, with some rooms coming with an outdoor balcony. Tabia boasts innovative all-day dining and serves authentic dishes that are local to Ubud, Bali while Tall Trees offers Mediterranean cuisine prepared using wood firing and slow roasting methods. Guests can sip crafted cocktails and enjoy light bites at Lobby Bar, which offers views of the infinity pool and surrounding landscape. The area is popular for cycling, and bike hire is available at the hotel. 2 outdoor swimming pools are on site along with a children’s pool. Other recreational amenities include a spa tub, a sauna, and a 24-hour fitness center. Heavenly Spa by Westin has 4 treatment rooms including rooms for couples and outdoor treatment areas. Services include deep-tissue massages, hot stone massages, Swedish massages, and facials. A variety of treatment therapies are provided, including aromatherapy and reflexology. The spa is equipped with a steam room.

Website: The Westin Resort and Spa Ubud

8. Alila Ubud, Bali

Alila Ubud, Bali, sits along the cooling banks of Ayung River in Bali, just 3.1 miles from popular Ubud. Blending traditional Balinese architecture and modern furnishings, the hotel offers 74 villas with fireplaces and spacious balconies overlooking the surrounding volcanoes and river. Plantation Dining Restaurant serves both authentic Balinese and modern French cuisine. The on-site bar, which overlooks the outdoor pool, offers Asian dishes and drinks. Guests can also enjoy refreshing beverages at Cabana Lounge. Recreational amenities at the hotel include an outdoor pool and daily activities such as tai chi session, yoga session, walking and cycling around the property’s area. There’s a business centre and guests can also admire local artwork at the on-site art gallery. Spa Alila has 3 treatment rooms. Services include facials, body wraps, body scrubs and body treatments. A variety of treatment therapies are provided, including aromatherapy and Ayurvedic.

Website: Alila Ubud, Bali

7. Viceroy, Bali

Located in the highlands of Ubud, Viceroy Bali offers great views of Petanu river and is just 5 minutes away from central Ubud. The property has 30 luxurious rooms that open to furnished balconies or patios and come with private pools. The en suite marble bathroom has a bathtub. The award-winning Cascades Restaurant serves French specialties with Asian influences. On-site Aperitif Restaurant & Bar offers a wide range of dishes and drinks. The hotel’s main infinity pool enjoys uninterrupted jungle views. Other recreational amenities include a steam room and a 24-hour fitness centre. The gym offers private yoga classes and free energy drinks. The library is stocked with books and DVDs. Lembah Spa has 6 treatment rooms, including rooms for couples. Services include facials, body wraps, body scrubs and body treatments. The spa is equipped with a sauna and a spa tub.

Website: Viceroy, Bali

6. Capella Ubud, Bali

Located in Tegallalang, Capella Ubud, Bali is in the mountains and on a river. The property is 4.3 miles from the city center and enjoys large terraces and outdoor decks overlooking rice fields or the surrounding rainforest. Finding a harmony between unspoiled nature and luxury comforts, Capella Ubud, Bali, showcases 23 tented accommodations with salt water pools amid Ubud’s lush greenery. The rooms also offer modern comforts with eclectic Balinese-style design with arts and antiques and private pools. For dining options, guests can head over to Mads Lange or Api Jiwa for delectable Asian fare. Alternatively, guests can enjoy camp snacks and nostalgic movies at the Camp Fire. The restaurants provides vegan and gluten-free options. Daily à la carte breakfast is served at Capella Ubud, Bali. Cycling is among the activities that guests can enjoy near Capella Ubud, Bali. Free bikes are provided for the resort’s guests. Other amenities include an outdoor pool, indoor pool, a fitness centre and a bar/lounge. Guests can indulge in a pampering treatment at the lodge’s full-service spa, Auriga. Services include massages and manicures and pedicures.

Website: Capella Ubud, Bali

5. COMO Uma Ubud, Bali

COMO Uma Ubud overlooks the Tjampuhan Valley and is a 5-minute drive from town center’s many tourist attractions & a 40-minutes drive from Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport. All of the 46 guest rooms, suites and villas come with marble flooring and four-poster beds. COMO Uma Ubud features 3 restaurants and bars. Kemiri’s menu revives traditional Indonesian dishes while also offering contemporary interpretations of the cuisines of neighbouring countries. Uma Cucina is an Italian-inspired restaurant and lounge bar with outdoor terraces and a large communal dining table at the heart of the space. Menus at Uma Cucina are strong on fresh, locally-sourced produce and the flavours of Italy. The poolside Uma Bar serves Wines, Champagnes and the resorts’ signature Martinis as well as light meals. Guests can enjoy activities such as white water rafting and volcano climbing. An outdoor swimming pool and a fitness centre are present at the resort. Como Shambhala Spa has 4 treatment rooms, including rooms for couples. Services include deep-tissue massages, facials, body scrubs and body treatments. The spa is equipped with a sauna. A variety of treatment therapies are provided, including reflexology.

Website: COMO Uma Ubud, Bali

4. COMO Shambhala Estate, Bali

COMO Shambhala Estate offers a private location in Begawan Village, a 15-minute drive from Ubud city center. Surrounded by tropical greenery, the resort is a 1.5-hour drive from Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport. Spread across 23 acres, the resort features 30 suites and villas that are spread out across the estate and nudge up to the dense jungle. There are two restaurants present at the resort, Glow and Kudus House. Glow is open all day long and features vibrant, health-conscious eats. Kudus House, located in a 150 year-old residence, is open for breakfast and dinner and serves a wide variety of authentic Indonesian dishes. Offering individually designed programs for guests to benefit mind, body and spirit, COMO Shambhala Estate provides Yoga and Pilates instructors, an Ayurvedic doctor, a Dietitian. Outdoor activities that can be arranged from the resort include trekking, cycling, and rafting, canyoning and cultural tours. Guests can enjoy complimentary daily 1-time shuttle service (drop off or pick up) to/from Museum Puri Lukisan in Ubud Center. The Ojas Spa offers therapies running from the gamut from Ayurveda and anti-ageing to Thai massage and stress management. An outdoor swimming pool, outdoor jungle gyms and a Tennis Court are present at the resort.

Website:COMO Shambhala Estate, Bali

3. Amandari

Perched on a hillside surrounded by rice paddies and coconut palms, Amandari is only a 15-minute drive from the town centre. Presided over by a sacred stone tiger, Amandari is designed after a traditional Balinese village on the verdant lip of the Ayung River Gorge. The resort consists of just 30 villas featuring slick marble floors and thatched roof ceilings. All the villas offer outdoor baths, and flower-strewn decks with sunloungers. The Restuarant, overlooking the swimming pool with all-embracing views of the Ayung River Valley, serves Indonesian and Western cuisines for breakfast, lunch and dinner while The Bar, adjacent to the pool, is the ideal place for a refreshing drink or light meal throughout the day. Every day at 4 pm, Ibu Made and Ibu Wayan from a village called Kedewatan arrive with an array of traditional Balinese sweets and home brewed tea and coffee for the hotel guests’ enjoyment. The Afternoon Tea is served at the Golden Pavilion, by the main resort swimming pool. Facilities include Amandari’s famous infinity swimming pool with views of the valley, a fitness centre and a tennis court. The spa features two open-air treatment bales surrounded by lotus ponds, a beauty treatment room and a sauna and steam room,

Website: Amandari

2. Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan

Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan is set amidst lush tropical valleys by Ayung River. The resort is located at a 90 minutes drive from Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport. Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan features 60 guest suites and villas with each featuring a dining area, seating area with sofas, and a private terrace with views of the greenery. Ayung Terrace specialises in Indonesian cuisines, while Jati Bar serves cocktails and light meals. At Riverside Café, guests can enjoy western delicacies for lunch and dinner. Facilities include an outdoor swimming pool, a children’s pool and a 24-hour fitness centre. Staff at the tour desk can assist with sightseeing arrangements, hiking or cycling trips. A library and a kid’s club are also available in the resort. Guests can indulge in a pampering treatment at the hotel’s The Scared River Spa. Services include facials, body wraps, body scrubs and body treatments. The spa is equipped with a spa tub. A variety of treatment therapies are provided, including aromatherapy and Ayurvedic.

Website: Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan

Photo: Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan

1. Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Bali

Located just a 10-minute drive from Downtown Ubud, Mandapa, A Ritz- Carlton Reserve offers a retreat among the greenery in Ubud. The property offers 60 villas which are accessible via exterior corridors and feature private hot tubs. Most of the villas and suites offer views of the surrounding rainforest, rice paddies and even views of the Ayung River. This hotel also offers several on-site dining and lounging options like Kubu Restaurant serving
Mediterranean-European dishes, Sawah Terrace with their Balinese and Asian cuisine, and The Pool Bar and The Library, where guests can spend an afternoon enjoying the beverages. Recreational amenities at the resort include an outdoor pool, a sauna and a 24-hour fitness centre. There are also a kid’s club, meeting/banquet facilities, and an on-site shop where guests can conveniently shop for souvenirs. Mandapa Spa has 5 treatment rooms, including rooms for couples and outdoor treatment areas. Services include deep-tissue massages, hot stone massages, sports massages and Thai massages. A variety of treatment therapies are provided, including aromatherapy, Ayurvedic and reflexology. The spa is equipped with a sauna, a spa tub and a steam room.

Website: Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Bali

Photo: Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Bali

Featured image by Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan

If you think that I have missed any of the hotels present in Ubud, Bali that you think should be included in the list, let me know in the comments section below.