Bali’s original resort town is making a comeback and Andaz Bali leads the way with tropical design, cultural flair and a serene yet stylish village vibe
Developed in the late 1960s, the former fishing village of Sanur, about half an hour’s drive from the airport in Denpasar, was the first high-end resort town in Bali, frequented by rock stars and the global jet set. Mick Jagger married Jerry Hall here, while David Bowie, Yoko Ono and Marianne Faithfull were regulars. Over time, as other enclaves rose to prominence, Sanur receded from the spotlight.
Now a medley of sleek resorts and locally run boutique hotels, cafés and excellent eateries (plus a snazzy new shopping mall) has been quietly setting up shop, drawing people keen to escape the hubbub of the heaving lower west coast. Andaz Bali by Hyatt is part of this new wave, offering a striking blend of contemporary design and traditional Balinese village charm, complete with landscaped courtyards, winding pathways flanked by lilies and towering Banyan trees, vast gardens (linked to its impressive sister resort, the Hyatt Regency) and breezy open-air pavilions inspired by local kampungs.
Designed by Tierra Design and Spin Studio, the resort’s aesthetic is a masterclass in understated tropical modernism. Think locally sourced teak, plaited bamboo, lava stone, handwoven ikat fabrics and an earthy palette that lets the lush jungle landscaping do most of the talking. Rooms and suites – there are 149 of them – are spread across low-rise clusters, all generous in size and infused with cultural cues.
Among the resort’s highlights is its dining precinct – a cluster of culinary pavilions arranged around a central square – a nod to Bali’s community-style banjars (local councils). Village Square, the hotel’s main dining hub, brings together Wok Wok (local Indonesian dishes), Fire Fox (a wood-fired grill), Deli & Bakery and Blue Oven (Mediterranean cuisine), each with its own open kitchen and unique design. Unwind at the mellow beachfront Fisherman’s Club and devour wonderfully fresh grilled seafood, melt-in-the-mouth sashimi and moreish cocktails served feet-in-sand and accompanied by dreamy sunset hues.
The property is a great base for families, thanks in part to the Kemu Mai Kids Club – a playful, woven-treehouse space that offers fun and fascinating cultural activities such as kite-making, Balinese dance classes and tie-dye workshops. Nature lovers will also love releasing turtle hatchlings back into the wild at the resort’s impressive Turtle Conservation Centre.
Despite its tranquil setting, Andaz Bali hums with quiet energy and local spirit. There’s a genuine emphasis on cultural immersion, from the complimentary sunrise yoga classes to workshops on traditional crafts such as lontar (palm-leaf manuscript) writing. And with Sanur emerging as a serene but stylish alternative to Bali’s over-touristed hubs, Andaz is setting a new standard for a modern tropical escape.
Malaysia Airlines flies between Kuala Lumpur and Bali 21x weekly.
