Alila Villas Uluwatu

Alila Villas Uluwatu sits on a dry limestone plateau high above the Indian Ocean on the western edge of the Bukit Peninsula. Designed by the Singapore firm WOHA, the resort is known for its low, horizontal architecture: terraced roofs planted with local grasses, walls of volcanic stone and open pavilions that frame the sea. It was the first resort in Indonesia to earn EarthCheck’s top-level certification for sustainable building planning and design.

The result is calm, spacious and very contemporary, with long views in every direction. Its best-known feature is the Sunset Cabana, a timber pod cantilevered off the cliff edge that has become one of Bali’s signature images.

Rooms & villas

All accommodation is in private pool villas. Options include the One-Bedroom Pool Villa, the One-Bedroom Uluwatu Pool Villa, the Two-Bedroom and Three-Bedroom Cliff Edge Villas right on the cliff, and the Three- and Four-Bedroom Hillside Villas. Each has an outdoor cabana, plenty of shaded living space and a private pool looking over the plateau or the ocean.

Dining

• CIRE – the main restaurant, with panoramic ocean views and coastal dishes built around seasonal, organic produce
• The Warung – Indonesian and Balinese flavours inspired by traditional food stalls, served at communal tables with sea views
• Sunset Cabana Bar – cliff-edge cocktails with house-made ingredients, ideal for sunset
• Batique – a cocktail lounge showcasing Indonesian craftsmanship, house infusions and a curated whisky and spirits list

Facilities & experiences

Spa Alila includes the Cliff Edge Spa Cabana, where treatments take place above the waves, plus a yoga pavilion and fitness centre. The main infinity pool stretches to the edge of the cliff. Experiences include aerial yoga at the Sunset Cabana, cultural outings and cooking sessions. Uluwatu Temple and its sunset Kecak dance are a short drive, as are beaches such as Padang Padang and Bingin.

Who it suits

Alila Villas Uluwatu is a strong choice for design enthusiasts, couples and honeymooners who want peace, space and ocean views. The larger hillside villas work well for families or friends. The resort is secluded, so it is best for travellers who plan to spend most of their time on site or hire a driver. There is no sandy beach directly at the resort; the drama here is the cliff itself.

Practical tip: the Sunset Cabana is in high demand in the late afternoon, so ask the team how best to secure time there, especially during peak season. Uluwatu’s world-famous surf breaks are nearby and best in the dry season from about April to October, when the south-west swell arrives. The plateau can be hot and breezy, so bring sun protection and a light layer for evenings on the cliff.

For quieter moments, the villa cabanas and the spa’s cliff-edge setting are ideal for watching whales or dolphins that sometimes pass offshore, and for simply listening to the ocean far below.