AYANA Bali Review: Bali’s heart and history in a 5-star, luxury village

In an age of performative sustainability, it can be difficult to find businesses that genuinely invest in both the local people and the natural world. Then there’s AYANA Bali. A sprawling 90-hectare, 5-star, luxury resort complex, or more accurately, ‘village’, that doesn’t simply celebrate Balinese culture and landscape, it actively invests in them.  

Owned and operated entirely by Indonesians, AYANA Bali has woven the island’s heart, history and hospitality into the fabric of the guest experience. From room décor inspired by surrounding nature, to traditional dinners, local holistic experiences, and staff from various parts of Asia, some of whom have dedicated over 15 years to the ‘village’, everything feels thoughtfully connected to the island it calls home.   

Booking a stay at AYANA Bali is giving back to the local community, and in return, guests experience Balinese hospitality at its warmest. The ‘village’ is almost entirely self-contained (short of catching its own fish), with 31 restaurants, 14 pools, a spa, cultural experiences, a herb garden, a museum, and activities that make it easy to pass the time without ever leaving the grounds.   

And the ‘village’ doesn’t skimp on luxury either.  

I was recently fortunate enough to experience three nights at AYANA Bali, after a fantastic stay at AYANA Komodo Waecicu Beach, and quickly discovered that what’s on offer is far more than a place to sleep between sightseeing and other Balinese adventures. 

Oh, what a Villa!

AYANA Bali is divided into four distinct precincts. AYANA Segara Bali and RIMBA by AYANA are standalone hotels well-suited to families, while the AYANA Resort Bali is perfect for honeymooners and travellers seeking a classic luxury escape.  

Then there’s the crème de la crème: AYANA Villas Bali. Think private pools, walk-in wardrobes, floor-to-ceiling windows, two showers (including one outdoors), and flower-filled soaking baths.  

I was booked in… you guessed it… AYANA Villas Bali. For three nights, a One-Bedroom Ocean View Villa was home.

The 5-star experience begins behind the soft blue of a traditional Balinese gate. Beyond it, low hedges and stepping stones lead me to the entrance of my private Villa.  

Earthy tones and natural textures create an immediate sense of calm, while floor-to-ceiling windows flood the spacious living area with natural light. Thoughtful Balinese touches appear throughout, from the bowl of local fruit waiting on the dining table to traditional textile patterns woven into the carpet.  

The well-stocked minibar balances familiar favourites with local discoveries including a healing Jamu tea blend.  

Through the connecting doors awaits the largest and most comfortable King size bed I’ve ever slept in. It’s so generously-sized it could probably solve any argument over who stole the doona during the night.  

The bedroom also has its own flat-screen TV, bedside tables, a bedend reading lounge, and a study table.  

Sliding doors open onto the Villa’s showpiece: a completely private swimming pool framed by sun loungers, a shaded cabana and an ocean view. It’s the sort of space that makes leaving the Villa feel entirely optional.  

On the other side of the bedroom is a walk-in wardrobe that comes stocked with thoughtful extras, from robes and slippers to mosquito repellent, a Dyson hairdryer and woven beach bag for exploring the village.  

The biggest ‘wow’ moment, however, came in the bathroom. A two-person soaking bath was already filled and covered in flower petals, providing the most romantic welcome I’ve ever received. There were also two separate vanity sections so couples never need to argue over the sink, a Japanese toilet that heats up the moment you sit down, and two showers including one outdoors for a post-swim clean.  

By the end of my stay, the Villa was more than just a place to sleep. It was a sanctuary that I looked forward to returning to after every adventure across the village.  

Perks of the Villa

For three nights, I was chauffeured to, from and around the ‘village’ by a personal butler. You read that right. Every Villa guest is paired with a butler who, with a simple text, will collect you in a buggy and whisk you anywhere across the 90-hectre property at any time of the day.  

Emphasis on any time! Thanks to jet lag, my poor butler received 5.30am texts asking for a lift to the gym.  

It’s just one of the many perks that comes with the exclusive Villa experience.  

Villa guests get the royal treatment from the moment they arrive, checking in at a quiet reception area entirely separate from the rest of the village. The two check-in desks, each dedicated to a single arriving guest, are surrounded by tranquil reflecting pools, pink blooms, native greenery and ocean views. It’s a peaceful welcome that gently signals you’re about to experience something special.  

Villa guests also receive priority access to the iconic Rock Bar, where cocktails are served against one of Bali’s best sunset backdrops, along with a complimentary Balinese massage, unlimited access to the ‘village’s’ 18-hole putting golf course, and exclusive use of a villa-only pool. Not that you’ll necessarily need it, given every villa comes with its own private pool.  

If that still isn’t enough, there’s a floating breakfast! Simply text your butler the day before, and the following morning a generous breakfast will be served on a floating tray in your villa’s private pool.  

Dining across the globe

AYANA Bali’s culinary offering is as expansive as the ‘village’ itself with 31 restaurants to choose from, and three days hardly felt like enough time to experience them all. From refined international cuisine to authentic Balinese flavours, each venue offers a thoughtful experience shaped by its destination.

For each of the three days I was on site, I chose to enjoy breakfast at DAVA restaurant. Exclusive to Villa guests, the venue offers an à la carte menu made up of Western favourites such as avocado on toast and chia seed bowls, along with Eastern flavours in miso and kimchi soup. I opted for a mix of Western classics and traditional Indonesian including the chilli scrambled eggs topped with goat cheese and bacon on a palm-sized slice of multigrain bread, the perfect size for a resort holiday breakfast, and the Indonesian soto ayam, a hearty local-style chicken soup with glass noodles and bean sprouts in a turmeric chicken broth.  

For my lunches and dinners, I travelled around the world and back. One evening, I found myself at Scusa, where Mediterranean dishes inspired by the coasts of Spain and Greece are served to the soundtrack of The Godfather. It was an unexpected pairing that somehow worked, adding a little theatre to an already memorable meal.  

Another evening was spent having my fill at a traditional Balinese buffet, known as Kampoeng Bali. Local dishes took centre stage along with local entertainers who performed dances to mesmerising drum rhythms. It was the perfect reminder that while AYANA Bali embraces cuisines from across the globe, it remains firmly grounded in the island it calls home.  

Other restaurants that I can highly recommend are Sami Sami, an Italian fusion, as well as Karang which served one of the tastiest sate campurnusantara dishes I sampled during my stay, a mix of chicken and beef satay sticks served with the classic peanut sauce and picked vegetables.  

Activities, skincare and, of course… the spa

There’s every chance you’ll arrive at AYANA Bali with plans to explore the island, only to realise you never actually need, or want, to leave the ‘village’.  

Beyond its collection of pools, restaurants, golf course and ocean viewpoints, AYANA Bali offers a packed calendar of experiences. Guests can browse boutique stores selling everything from skincare and resort wear to handmade sweets. Or like me, you can join a workshop at Jamu & Spice, where I learned to make traditional herbal remedies, skincare products and Jamu, Indonesia’s centuries-old healing drink.  

When the sun begins to set, the ‘village’ comes alive in a different way. Three rooftop bars and the iconic Rock Bar provide front-row seats to Bali’s spectacular sunsets. Rock Bar was the first place I visited after arriving, and I’m so glad I didn’t risk missing out by leaving it until the final evening. Perched above the ocean, Rock Bar pairs one of Bali’s most spectacular sunsets with an extensive cocktail menu expertly crafted by its bartenders.  

And if the 31 restaurants somehow leave you wanting more, the bar also has a delicious range of bar bites from chicken curry croquetts to popcorn chicken and mini beef sliders.  

For those looking to stay active, there’s a fully equipped gym, one I became well acquainted with each morning. Guests can also escape to the secluded white sands of Kuku Beach, reached via a private cliffside elevator that thankfully spares visitors from the climb of 900 steps.  

AYANA Bali’s connection to Balinese culture extends to the on-site museum, recognised by TIME as one of the World’s Greatest Places. The museum explores the traditions surrounding Bali’s Nyepi (Day of Silence) celebrations and offers another reminder that the ‘villag’e isn’t simply inspired by the island, it’s deeply connected to it.  

But if there was one experience I’d recommend above all others, it would be the spa.  

I signed up for a sound healing session expecting little more than an hour of relaxation. Instead, it became one of the most memorable experiences of my stay. Lying beneath a blanket with an eye mask in place, I drifted into a space somewhere between wakefulness and sleep as the therapist used singing bowls, chimes and gentle vibrations to encourage deep relaxation. At different moments I felt tingling through my throat, small muscle spasms and even an unexpected ache in one of my teeth. Strange? Perhaps. Relaxing? Absolutely. Hours later, I still felt calmer than when I’d walked in. 

With so much to do, it would be easy to spend an entire holiday without ever venturing beyond the ‘village’ gates. But if you do decide to explore the grounds, keep an eye on the trees overhead. AYANA Bali’s resident monkeys are never too far away. They’re adorable, undeniably cheeky and best admired with a respectful amount of personal space. 

For more information and bookings visit https://www.ayana.com/bali/hotels/