PERSONAL SPACE
While there are now hundreds of
hotels and resorts across the island
that can cater for any taste, there is a
certain appeal to enjoying a holiday in
your own private villa — and Bali has
a reputation for ofering them at great
value with plenty of luxury touches. You
could spend hours searching for a place
that has the right number of rooms, in
the right location, with just the right
sized pool for your group, but avoid the
Tripadvisor wormhole and instead log
on to the Elite Haven Villas website.
The hundreds of featured properties
have been personally visited and
vetted by the team to ensure the villa
experience will meet your expectations.
Not only does each listing have to tick
certain boxes to be included, it will also
come fully stafed with a villa manager,
butlers, gardeners, security and your
own private chef. You will never have to
leave your poolside lounger.
For a villa close to the action, check
out Villa Shambala. Within walking
distance of Seminyak’s ‘eat street’ and
the main shopping locations, its position
makes getting around easy, but the lush
tropical gardens and generous pool also
give respite from the chaos of the streets
outside. With five bedrooms on ofer,
it’s the perfect place to book an escape
from reality with friends or family.With an enviable cliftop perch in the Bukit Peninsula, Ulu
Clifhouse is Bali’s newest beach club. Like other bars of its
ilk, there’s an infinity pool and alfresco space for lounging,
cocktail in hand. Nearby, you’ll also find Sundays Beach Club
— a white-sand stretch of relaxation with nightly beats and
bonfires and a food menu by Aussie chef James Viles.
If these spots feel a bit too busy, drop by the Karma Beach
Club. It’s accessible to people staying at Karma Kandara,
a cliftop resort with expansive views over surf beaches.
Relax with a cocktail, and sand between your toes, and while
away a day between the water and lounger.
PAN-ASIAN DINING
Chef Will Meyrick (who earned his stripes at Longrain in
Sydney) began his Bali journey at Sarong, a breezy semi-open
restaurant with lots of space for groups. Start at the bar with
one of the excellent cocktails before ordering from Meyrick’s
pan-Asian menu — think Laotian-style grilled chicken and
slow-braised lamb shanks inspired by northern Indian curries.
Meyrick has gone on to open a number of other busy eateries
across the island, including Som Chai, for Thai with a twist.
There are private dining rooms and live music nightly.
Freshly minted Salazon looks like it’s been plucked from
the pages of a Scandinavian design magazine. The private
dining room is perfect for groups, as is the kitchen counter,
which provides a front-row seat to the restaurant’s chefs,
preparing wood-fired dishes in a Scotch oven.
Bringing a slice of Peru to Seminyak, Aya Street is seriously
fun, from eye-popping street-art murals to colourful velvet
sofas in the lounge, where pisco sours feature on the well-
curated cocktail list. The food is just as bright as the decor,
with highlights including calamari chicharron with leche de tigre
and fish anticucho, with a generous serve of Lombok chilli.
DECEMBER 2017 VIRGIN AUSTRALIA 063CLOCKWISE
FROM TOP Villa
Shambala’s palm-
fringed pool; the lush
tropical gardens;
bringing a slice of
Peru to Bali, Aya
Street serves a
selection of South
American dishes.