24 Bali’s finest 5-star hotels and luxury resorts

Written by Beverley Lennon
Edited by Candice Neo

Playing host to some of the best 5-star luxury hotels and resorts in all Asia, Bali sets the standard when it comes to the variation of places to stay – some are romantic honeymoon havens, others are designed with families in mind, featuring exciting kids’ clubs and spacious suites.

In Ubud, there are world-class rainforest hotels as well as private pool villas with spectacular jungle views. Meanwhile, luxurious beach resorts dot the coastlines of Seminyak, Kuta, Nusa Dua and Sanur. Landmark addresses such as Six Senses and Alila, some of Bali’s most exclusive stays, are saved for the cliff-tops of Uluwatu.

But with so many options to choose from, it can definitely be hard to choose where to stay in Bali.

For a shortlist of our favourites, here we round up the best five-star hotels and luxury resorts in Bali and the Nusa Islands, including options for a remote escape in East and West Bali.

Read more:

21 Luxury resorts and villas in Bali with the most spectacular infinity pool and magical views!

21 Luxury Bali beach resorts in Seminyak, Canggu, Jimbaran, Legian, Sanur and more!

21 Top family beach resorts in South Bali’s top kid-friendly areas (Seminyak/ Kuta/ Legian, Nusa Dua, Sanur and Jimbaran!)

15 Nusa Dua hotels and resorts by the beach: Where to stay to enjoy the luxury vibes

Note: The prices reflected below are the low season rates, and they exclude tax and service charges. Accommodation rates often change with room availability, and low or high seasons. We recommend double checking for the final prices before confirming your booking.

Seminyak / Legian / Kuta

Where you can find trendy shops, cute cafes, sunset at the beach and nightlife

Seminyak is a very popular beach town along the southwest coast of Bali. Well-trodden by those looking for a slice of sandy beach, Seminyak is filled with trendy shops and restaurants, some of Bali’s cutest cafes as well as a good variety of bars and nightclubs. That said, different areas of Seminyak have their own personalities so it can be hard to choose where to stay.

Jalan Kayu Aya or Bali’s Eat Street is a great option for couples, groups of friends and especially if you’re here on an all-girls trip. From here, you can walk right out from your villa to a variety of cafes, restaurants and bars right at your doorstep!

There is also Seminyak Beach and Double Six Beach which are both great for surfing lessons. Explore further and you will find trendy beach clubs at Petitenget and a laid-back atmosphere in dreamy Legian. Dotted with luxury beach resorts, Seminyak makes for an ideal gateway to the other regions of Bali.

Sitting right next is Kuta – one of the best places to visit if you’re here to party and enjoy long nights at the bar or nightclub. There are so many incredible things to do in Kuta including shopping, luxury spas, as well as some amazing local food. For accommodation in Kuta, you will find some great options – many of which have stunning views and some more luxurious than others are located right on the beach.

1. A fabulously fun beachfront hotel – W Bali

Seminyak’s trendiest hotel (according to us) is none other than the extraordinary W Bali. Its location? The ideal setting for those who want to enjoy Bali’s vibrant heart of fashion, nightlife and restaurant scene. As one of Bali’s best party hotels, it’s the perfect place to settle down with your group of friends.

Loyal to the brand’s concept, W Bali features hip interior design with flirty and fun characteristics. There are chic, contemporary bedrooms, some of which face the ocean but it’s really the suites here that are worth the splurge – the three-bedroom EWOW Suite counts a private pool, sprawling sundeck and a 24-hour Whatever/Whenever® valet service. There is also a collection of alluring villas with private pools.

Dining options include Asian-fusion menus at Starfish Bloo while FIRE dishes out some seriously good meat with high quality of beef cuts. Woobar is a delightful refuge to soak up magical sunsets and sip signature cocktails; so is W Lounge – one of Bali’s best afternoon high tea places.

Tried and tested by TripCanvas – read our full review of W Bali!

Spread across a sprawling stretch of sandy beach, Alila is one of Seminyak’s hottest properties. There are ocean view suites, beach suites and an elegant penthouse to choose from. The latter comes with three bedrooms, a spacious infinity pool and in-room dining services.

Their beachfront restaurant Seasalt presents wild-caught and sustainably harvested seafood from the waters around Indonesia and there is also the Beach Bar for cocktails and ice-cold beers by the ocean.

When you’re not at the beach, you can spend your time at the spa and experience age-old beauty recipes and ancient healing practices.

Otherwise, head out to discover the best things to do in Seminyak – don’t miss the trendy shops and hipster cafes!

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3. One of Bali’s best luxury family resorts – Padma Resort Legian

At Padma Resort Legian, families have access to dedicated family-sized rooms, with the availability of interconnecting rooms; but a big majority hole up in the irresistible lagoon access rooms.

Here, children can run wild in the 6.8 hectares manicured grounds and enjoy a variety of activities ranging from foam parties to junior cooking classes and mermaid swimming classes.

For in-house guests aged 4 – 12 years old, their Wolly Kids Club provides supervised indoor and outdoor spaces to play, interact, and relax. Supervised activities like arts and crafts, Fun Yoga, Balinese Dancing, Towel Origami, Duck feeding, Turtle Feeding, Fish Feeding, Canang sari Decoration, Paper origami, and Bingo Games are on the programme.

Meanwhile, parents can sink cocktails by the swimming pool or indulge in a delightful body treatment at The Spa.

When it’s time to get together, guests are invited to discover the resort’s dining venues or join one of their popular Themed Buffet Dinners at DONBIU and explore the wide range of Italian favourites, Indian or Balinese specials on offer. The Themed Buffet Dinner is accompanied by a special Balinese performance or live acoustic as you dine.

Tried and tested by TripCanvas – read our full review of Padma Resort Legian!

4. Splash in the largest free-form pool in all of Bali – Hard Rock Hotel Bali

Occupying a prime position in the centre of Kuta, Hard Rock Hotel is a landmark property for those familiar with the destination. Naturally, every day at Hard Rock is a show-worthy experience with nightly live bands, an on-site boombox recording studio, and in-room IPTV.

As one of Bali’s best family resorts, kids of all ages can expect to find amenities designed to make them the main attraction of the holiday. This is a hotel for the young and the young at heart!

The luxury hotel has 418 rooms and suites with bright and stylish interiors. Each room and suite is equipped with modern amenities, whether you have a garden-facing or pool-facing accommodation. Ideal for families with kids, the Roxity Family Suite sleeps up to 4 persons, featuring a master bedroom for you and a separate room made up with your littles in mind.

The three outdoor swimming areas include a kids waterpark featuring slides, waterfall bucket and lots of water action for the kids to go ecstatic! Other facilities include the Rock Spa, the Body Rock Fitness Center, a kids club and teens club. Starz Diner, the all-day dining restaurant whips up international flavours or settle down for the a la carte menus at the iconic Hard Rock Cafe where food is of superb quality and variety.

Tried and tested by TripCanvas – read our full review of Hard Rock Hotel Bali!

Canggu

That hipster central with trendy beach clubs, cool cafes and surf spots

A hip little coastal village in South Bali, Canggu has long been a surfers’ hideout but is now so very distinct for its unique quirky personality, titling itself as ‘Bali’s hipster central’. Today, Canggu is a popular spot for digital nomads, enjoying the perfect balance of work and play from Bali’s best co-working spaces.

In Canggu, you can find a collection of beach clubs, hipster cafes, sunset beach bars and surf schools. But more than that; Canggu is also home to some incredible luxury hotels and resorts including landmark addresses.

5. California-inspired luxury right in Canggu – COMO Uma Canggu

Canggu might stand out as Bali’s hippest district – it’s whimsical, colourful and above all Instagrammable (especially the cafes!). But if you look closely enough, you might find a different side – one that screams glamour.

For a taste of ultimate luxury, check in at the remarkable COMO Uma Canggu. The 119-room luxury beachfront resort sits in one of Canggu’s trendiest spots. Adding to its rooms and suites, there are 12 luxury penthouses, each with a private pool, unobtrusive butler service, and some of Bali’s most epic ocean views. The food and the service are also impeccable, with a focus on local, carefully-sourced produce from across the archipelago.

But most of all, the resort is home to one of Bali’s best beach clubs! COMO Beach Club blends the buzz of beachfront fun with exceptional, healthy food by day, and cocktails by night. Start your day with a cold-pressed juice or smoothie at their Glow Juice Bar, enjoy an Asian-inspired therapy at the spa or try out surfing with the knowledge of an expert, there’s no short supply of incredible things to do in Canggu.

6. Where luxury meets local – Hotel Tugu Bali

Set in one of Canggu’s coolest areas – Batu Bolong, Hotel Tugu Bali celebrates the art, culture and history of Indonesia.

Interestingly, Tugu Hotels’ founder earns the title of ‘Indonesia’s biggest collector of fine Indonesian art and cultural antiquities’. He designed these beautiful museum hotels to house his antiques and to tell the world the romantic stories and legends of the ancient kingdoms of Indonesia.

For a full immersion in local heritage, guests are invited to try out their one-day workshops. From traditional cooking classes to Balinese dance classes, Hotel Tugu encourages the culturally curious to get under the skin of the destination they’re visiting.

As expected, the rooms and suites here reflect the legends of Indonesia, each of which is individually created by the owner, displaying his immaculate attention to detail reconstructed to provide a perfect marriage of colour, texture and atmosphere.

Hotel Tugu has, of course, some incredible dining as well. JI at the Bale Sutra, their Japanese Fusion restaurant is set within an original Kang Xi period temple dating back from the 1700’s. It’s also one of our favourite luxury dining restaurants in Bali.

Jimbaran/Uluwatu

For lovers of seafood feasts, incredible sunsets, ultra-luxe hotels and resorts

While Jimbaran is known for its seafood and beachfront dining, Uluwatu is known for its stunning oceanfront clifftop setting and ultra-luxurious resorts with gorgeous ocean views. It’s also highly sought after for weddings, with many of its cliff villas allowing couples to exchange vows on the edge of heaven.

While Uluwatu makes for a great option for day trips (especially if it is your first time to Bali), it also offers some of the very best accommodations in all Bali, including ultra-exclusive villas, stylish resorts as well as budget hotels.

7. Bali’s most absolute stunner – Alila Villas Uluwatu

Photos don’t do it justice. Perched atop dramatic cliffs overlooking the Indian Ocean, Alila Villas Uluwatu puts you almost at the edge of the world.

The 5-star all-villa resort features four accommodation options – the most scenic of which is their three-bedroom Hillside Villa overlooking the endless ocean of Bali’s southern coast.

Couples on a romantic escape will want to revel in one of their one-bedroom villas with private pool and oceanview cabana. 24 hour butler service, a spa, fitness centre and infinity swimming pool are among the five-star offerings, with fine dining options including CIRE which serves up anything from Pan-Asian specialties to Mediterranean-inspired dishes.

Guests are also invited to drift away at their Sunset Cabana Bar where bespoke cocktails are served with a side of spectacular ocean views.

Tried and tested by TripCanvas – read our full review of Alila Villas Uluwatu.

8. Sustainability is the new luxury – Six Senses Uluwatu

Joining Uluwatu’s already spoiling choice of luxury hotels and resorts is an impressive Six Senses property. Teetering on a cliff overlooking the ocean from every corner, the resort’s beautifully-appointed suites and specialty villas elegantly draw upon the local culture, embrace nature and offer every creature comfort.

Between poolside sessions, you can hop to the spa for traditional Balinese spa massage treatments or in-depth wellness programmes.

Go for drinks and snacks at Bar at Rocka or pick your favourite comfort food (read: pizza and pasta) at The Cliff Bar as you bask in incredible sunset views.

Come nightfall, head to their Cinema Under The Stars for an immersive movie experience with complimentary popcorn.

And when you start feeling a little too isolated, head out to explore some of the coolest things to do in Uluwatu and Jimbaran – you could go surfing or chill at a beach club, the choice is yours.

9. Italian sophistication right in Bali – Bulgari Resort Bali

Combining the breathtaking beauty of the unspoiled nature of the island with sophisticated contemporary design born from the encounter between traditional Balinese forms and high Italian style, the adored Bulgari Resort is among Bali’s top luxury hotels.

The resort has villas, but it’s the five-bedroom mansions that are the actual show-stopper. The mansions feature five separate bedrooms, a private pool and garden with Indian Ocean View, terrace, open – air living room pavilion and private elevator.

To dine, there is the intimate Italian restaurant Il Ristorante – Luca Fantin or the elegant Sangkar Restaurant which sits on the edge of the cliff and to drink, there is La Spiaggia for the renowned Herbojito cocktail or the Bulgari Bar, a sophisticated terrace venue that overlooks a stretch of the island’s spectacular cliffs, offering enchanting views of the ocean and the Balinese sunset. Bulgari Bar also doubles as one of Bali’s best places for afternoon high tea.

10. A luxury golf resort with one of Bali’s most popular cocktail bars – AYANA Resort Bali

With sweeping views across lush tropical gardens toward the Indian Ocean, it’s easy to see why many choose to stay at AYANA Resort.

Playing host to the iconic Rock Bar, one of Bali’s best restaurants for sunset views, the resort is quite possibly among the most photogenic on the island. Inside, rooms and suites display artisanal Balinese-inspired design with rich, deep toned materials and intricate traditional wood carvings.

When it’s time to dine, discover AYANA’s finest restaurants and bars, with multiple options including an upscale steak and seafood option as well as a rooftop bar, the best place to be for a sundowner with drinks and tapas.

Whenever you want, the resort’s wellness concierges are here to curate special wellbeing retreats guided by Bali’s best healers, practitioners and fitness instructors.

As is to be expected, service is impeccable with every staff member determined to make this your best holiday yet. Experiences range from nature walks, organic farm tours to sunset picnics on the beach, golf and yoga sessions.

Tried and tested by TripCanvas – read our full review of AYANA Resort!

Ubud

For rainforest lovers, outdoor activities, culture, nature, yoga and wellness

Ubud, Bali’s jungletown is one that’s ideal for seekers of culture and nature. Its varied landscapes consist of waterfalls, hiking trails, rainforests, rice paddy fields and so much more!

As evident in the popular movie – ‘Eat, Pray, Love’, Ubud has a way to soothe your soul. Today there are a variety of wellness retreats taking place in the area – from yoga to meditation as well as traditional healing programmes.

When it comes to places to stay in Ubud, prepare to be mind blown – luxury hotels, resorts and villas offer jaw dropping views of the jungles, often with rivers streaming right through the properties’ grounds.

And whenever you’re ready to step out of your room, enjoy some of the best things to do in Ubud – visit local artists at work in galleries tucked away in windy lanes, attend cultural rituals performed by the locals (not for tourists but as an integral part of their local culture) or go on river rafting and ATV adventures in the rainforest.

11. A tropical luxury experience in the forest – Four Seasons Bali at Sayan

Rising from the lush jungles of Ubud, Four Seasons Bali at Sayan tops the list as one of the best luxury rainforest hotels in Bali. And for good reason: set against the Ayung River Valley, this jungle hideout invites guests to float above treetops, promising an experience unlike any other.