Boutique hotels in Bali

Visit in the summer months for sun-kissed beaches and cool evenings. Don’t let winter’s heavy rains put you off: fewer crowds provide an excellent excuse to temple-hop.

From spit-roasted pork to steamed poultry; meat dominates most Balinese menus. Sample slow-cooked on-the-bone betutu, tuck into nutty satay skewers, or try succulent pepes in its banana-leaf wrappings. Aside from meats, Bali’s cuisine favours fiery spices and cooling coconut dishes. For authentic and hearty dishes, eat the The Warung, where contemporary decor blends seamlessly with an informal ambience.

Rent a moped and whiz between local villages, intricate shrines and glittering beaches.

Dance until the early hours in Bali’s nightlife hotspot, Kuta, where you’ll find pulsing music venues, stylish haunts and local hangouts. Kuta’s lively evening scene isn’t confined to the city alone: Bali boasts many intriguing watering holes and sleepy beachside bars. Escape the tourist throng in Puri Santrian, where you can sip on exotic cocktails while gazing over eye-widening ocean views.

Try your hand at surfing along Seminyak’s windswept coast, before retreating to beachside spas and luxury suites. Further inland, temple-specked Ubud holds a clutch of boutique hotels and rustic hideaways amidst its forested landscape.

Ngurah Rai Airport, only a short drive from Denpasar, serves flights to international hubs year-round.