The Viceroy Bali: an Ubud Icon

The Viceroy Bali barely needs an introduction (but here’s one anyway). It’s spectacular setting between Ubud's jade-toned rice paddies and the forest-cloaked Valley of the Kings, and that iconic curved infinity pool has resulted in it becoming somewhat of an international cover star. The 40 pool villas that are scattered across the side of the valley have views to write home about, and the dining experiences will stick in the memory long after the tan has faded. We discover why the resort makes it to the top of so many ‘world’s best’ lists.

The iconic views

A resort can’t rest on just its outlook, but boy can it embrace it. From the moment you step foot inside the airy lobby, epic views are your constant companion. Checking in? Absolutely. Idling by one of the world’s most spectacular infinity pools? Yep. Enjoying breakfast? 100%. Relaxing in your villa? Naturally. Some of the best scenes are saved for the early birds – the sun rising over the valley and the light and trees reflecting on either the main pool or your own private pool (and the cone of Mount Agung in the distance) on clear mornings are well worth setting an early alarm.

The villas of dreams

It's all lazy, sun-kissed mornings on the terrace, afternoon sunbed siestas, getting lost in the pages of a good book on the traditional bale and starlit dips in the pool. While all the villas here have a luxe feel and are packed with amenities, it’s the Deluxe Terrace Villas and above that we recommend. Cool, light-filled and with an inviting king-size bed that just calls for lazy mornings, these villas are a sanctuary. The sliding doors bring the outside in and, oh what an outside space this is; the picture-perfect infinity pool seemingly spills down into the valley and the grass-roofed buré provides some welcome shade on toasty afternoons. Further down the hillside are the two-storey Vice Regal Villas with one of the largest bedrooms we’ve ever witnessed. There’s a cosy second bedroom on the top floor and of course a generous pool on the lower terrace – perfect for nighttime dips under the stars.

“For me, the Viceroy Bali is more than just a hotel. The views are everything you had dreamed they would be and more; it feels as if you’ve been completely immersed in the jungle. Then there are those special touches in the villas and the out-of-this world dining; from the chilled-out breakfast at Cascade right through to the fine dining at Aperitif. I loved how close to Ubud we were but how lucky we felt to be able to return to this utterly peaceful oasis; it’s so secluded and private. I would recommend spending at least three nights here but be prepared: you’ll never want to leave.”
Ariana Feroz, Assistant Store Manager at Kuoni Aberdeen.

The exceptional dining

No meal goes uncelebrated at the Viceroy; easy, breezy breakfasts and drawn-out lunches are taken al fresco at CasCades, the open-air valley-side restaurant with an edge-of-the world feel. After sunset, the nocturnal jungle harmony accompanies informal yet still wonderfully romantic dinners.

The undeniable star of the show here is the Bali degustation menu at Aperitif Restaurant (perfectly bookended by pre- and post-dinner drinks at the speakeasy-style Pinstripe Bar). This meal takes you on an epicurean journey around the island by way of artistic dishes that are created in the open kitchen by executive chef Nik Vanderbeeken and his team. Every dish is accompanied by wines handpicked by the sommelier.

Ubud on the doorstep

Less than a couple of miles away is the beating heart of spiritual Ubud, a town where authentic artisan shops and more commercial markets mingle, ancient temples sit at busy cross-sections and dining is on a scale between high-end restaurants and full-of-flavour street food. This is proper Eat, Pray, Love territory: there are beautiful temples at almost every turn including Mengening Water Temple, the carved-out-of-the-cliffside Pura Gunung Kawi, and Pura Taman Kemuda Saraswati a simply beautiful temple surrounded by lotus-covered pools. Keep a firm hold of your valuables in the Ubud Monkey Forest, a sacred sanctuary that’s home to more than 1260 mischievous long-tailed macaques, or enjoy the views of the UNESCO-listed Tegalalang Rice Terrace where centuries-old human innovation is in perfect harmony with nature.

Going the extra mile

Family-run hotels tend to excel at going that extra mile when it comes to service, and this is certainly the case at the Viceroy; the staff here are the extension of the family and that’s how they make you feel too. Authentic, warm and engaging are just a trio of adjectives we could use when attempting to capture the vibe here; when the simplest things are taken care of (ice-waters by the pool anticipated in an instant were a balm as the mercury was rising) you know that nothing will be too much trouble.

This feature was created on 26th April 2024. The information within this feature is correct to the best of our knowledge.