Anantara Ubud Bali Resort: First Guest
Daily price line
Upcoming nightly rates
Review
Character and identity
Set high in the Payangan forest, a 2.5-hour drive from the airport and 20 minutes above central Ubud, this 85-key resort cascades down a jungle mountainside far from the island's coastal crowds. Architecture and interiors lean into Hindu-Balinese craft, with Javanese wood carvings and local art layered through suites and villas. Two restaurants under chef James Willis (the formal Amerta and the all-day Kirana) anchor the food programme, while the spa wing pairs Balinese therapies like the Mepijet with off-property spiritual experiences. Service is warmly local, led by Balinese staff who genuinely shape the stay.
Who's it for
Best for:
Couples and culturally curious travellers who want the spiritual, jungle-bound side of Bali rather than beach clubs and Seminyak buzz. Particularly rewarding for guests willing to lean into the off-property programme: fire rituals with the High Priest at Bukain, water temple visits to Pura Mengening, guided walks through Taro village. Food-led travellers will linger happily.
Should look elsewhere:
Anyone wanting beachfront, easy walkability, or a quick airport hop should skip this. The 2.5-hour transfer is real, the property sprawls vertically with many stairs (the cable car is still under construction), and families needing constant entertainment may find the remoteness limiting despite the kids' club.
Bottom line
The reason to come is access: through head of experiences Made Warnata, the resort opens doors to temples, priests and villages most visitors never see, and the cooking at Kirana genuinely competes with that draw. Book a one-bedroom villa with a private infinity pool (over 1,000 square feet), request a level near the main building if stairs are an issue, and budget time for at least one off-property ritual.