Southern Comforts
The south of Bali is the latest hotspot on the island for hip and happening travelers.
Up until recently, southern Bali was known mostly for its resort property enclaves of Nusa Dua and Jimbaran, its superb surf breaks and the holy cliff top temple of Uluwatu. But as the southern coastline (also known as the Bukit Peninsula) heats up with numerous million-dollar super luxury resort developments—including Banyan Tree Ungasan, Raffles Amartha and Alila Uluwatu—the quiet, dusty and relatively less-traveled Bukit is emerging as the playground cum luxury vacation homes of the rich and famous.
Hip Hotels
Bvlgari Resort
Bvlgari’s beautiful coastal resort at Uluwatu is a medieval fortress-like 59 ocean-view villa with dark grey boulders. Designed by architects Antonio Citterio & Partners, each of the resort’s guestrooms feature an outdoor cabana with plunge pool, a glass-encased bedroom and an equally spacious black Terazzo-clad bathroom with a sunken tub. The eight-treatment room spa stands out in the indigenous stone-clad resort as the only structure within an antique Joglo house from Java. Bvlgari is the type of resort where you can spend the entire day flitting from plunge pool to outdoor shower to sunken bath without leaving your villa.
Jalan Goa Lempeh, Banjar Dinas Kangin, Uluwatu; +62-361/847-1000; www.bvlgarihotels.com
St. Regis Bali
Probably the slickest and most starry arrival in Nusa Dua in recent years, St. Regis Bali tips the luxury scale with 79 suites, 42 private villas and two residences in a setting that boasts well-manicured lawns and lush landscape by Bensley Studio. Pick from the selection of spacious villas; we love the 580-square meter one-bedroom Strand Villa for its colonial and dark wood interior, aromatic Laboratoire Remede toiletries and its direct access to the Nusa Dua beach. Foodies will not want to miss Asia’s most decadent breakfast experience at Boneka. There are oysters, foie gras with egg cooked à la minute, sashimi and even tapas style creations served throughout the morning. Breakfast is included in the room rate.
Kawasan Pariwisata, Nusa Dua; +62-361/847-8111; www.stregis.com/bali
Trendy Dining
Bumbu
Swiss chef Heinz von Holzen can be considered Bali’s adopted son, and a trip to the island is not complete without experiencing authentic Balinese cuisine at his highly revered Bumbu Bali restaurant at Tanjung Benoa. For your virgin trip to this open-air eatery with a thatched roof, try the sate lilit (minced seafood sate) and the be celeng base manis (pork in sweet soy sauce). Alternatively, pick the nasi campur (rice served with assorted meats and vegetables) or the rijsttafel (an elaborate meal consisting of many side dishes).
Jl. Pratama, Tanjung Benoa; +62-361-774-502; www.balifoods.com/bumbu
Di Mare
Di Mare is arguably Bali’s most desirable dining destination of the moment. Situated 150 meters above Ungasan’s rocky out crop, it is a semi-circular dining room built to resemble a yacht with a view that defies belief and top-notch Mediterranean cuisine to match. Standouts from Chef Raymond Saja’s well-crafted menu include the trio of Jimbaran bay prawns (grilled, tempura and chilled) and pan-seared Alaskan scallops with strips of prosciutto resting on a bed of truffle and herb risotto. Do not miss the well-made tarragon panna cotta lounging in a pool of passion fruit perfumed jus; absolutely sublime.
Banjar Wijaya Kusuma, Ungasan; +62-361/848-2200; www.karmakandara.com
Il Ristorante
For refined Italian fare minus the stuffiness at the extreme south of Bali, there is Il Ristorante at the amazing Bvlgari Resort. Situated on a u-shaped raised black teak platform overlooking frangipani trees and a reflection pond, the sultry Il Ristorante continues to draw in the affluent crowd long after the Bvlgari hype simmered down. Disappointment is near impossible with Chef Diego Martinelli’s creations; try the flavor-packed cappuccino of pumpkin served in a teacup or the achingly tender pan seared tuna with grilled zucchini. Under the supervision of Martinelli, Il Ristorante appears to have come into its own and adopted an endearing personality in Bali’s food circuit.
Jalan Goa Lempeh, Banjar Dinas Kangin, Uluwatu; +62-361/847-1000; www.Bvlgarihotels.com
Kafe Warisan
You pass a gallery selling local artefacts before you step into the old world alfresco dining room of Kafe Warisan that overlooks an expansive rice paddy field near Seminyak. The moniker Kafe may seem a little displaced considering the restaurant serves up flawlessly executed classic French fare that far surpasses the churns of a bistro. But by September, all this may not matter when owner, Dou Dou, relocates his restaurant to a neighboring unit and renames it Metis. We’re keeping our fingers crossed that Dou Dou will keep his signature “must haves” on the new menu, including the grilled scallops with hot foie gras and roasted Alaskan black cod with white truffle mashed potatoes in a crab bisque emulsion. We assure you that it is worth the 45-minute drive from the Bukit.
Jalan Raya Kerobokan 38; +62-361/731-175; www.kafewarisan.com