Is this seaside hotel the beating heart of Bali?

Hotel Indigo Bali Seminyak Beach looks to the ’hood to create Bali’s best version of itself. A five-star sleepover here celebrates all that’s local and luxurious

Perfect holiday pitstops are all about The Vibe. And the properties in the seductive Hotel Indigo portfolio dig deep into local neighborhoods to find it.

Each Hotel Indigo tells the stories of its people, places and traditions through art, design, and service. They celebrate the tastes and traditions of the communities they are part of.

Hotel Indigo Bali Seminyak Beach – fronting a beautiful 3km sandy beach on the west coast of Indonesia’s most celebrated island – draws on its Balinese ’hood for food, ceramics, cocktails, and art.

Look for patterns unique to Balinese textiles. Cocktails infused with local flavours. Lighting reminiscent of those floating lanterns that illuminate the night skies. Wood-carved everything, but particularly ceilings. Guest bathrooms with golden sinks that pay homage to ancient temples.

The architecture reflects the proportions of a traditional Balinese pavilion. The dramatic, spacious arrival space heralds the blend of old and new, tradition and cool to come. Striking geometric patterns carved in wood are picked up throughout the property, inspired by the Balinese songket weavings (luxurious fabric woven with gold leaves and gold threads) that decorate elegant living spaces.

Design-focused resorts, hatted restaurants and high-end shops have moved Bali beyond Bintangs and beach bars. Bali’s year-round appeal makes it a bucket list perennial.

The villa vibe

Set on 4.7 hectares of prime beachfront in Seminyak, Hotel Indigo Bali Seminyak Beach is a 30-minute drive from Ngurah Rai International Airport (Denpasar).

The resort has 270 spacious rooms and suites, every guestroom equipped with daybeds, plush bedding, spa-inspired bathrooms, and sophisticated features. For those seeking an extra serve of serenity, there are 19 villas. Each has a whirlpool, a private outdoor pool, and a luxurious marble bathroom (with tub), as well as a walk-in closet.

All accommodations have Punch & Munch (the mini bar) which features a coffeemaker, juicer (phone down for fresh citrus fruits), cocktail recipes and ingredients to bring them to life.

For business and convention guests, Hotel Indigo Bali Seminyak Beach offers four modern, airy meeting rooms, state-of-the-art audio and video systems, a dedicated pantry and a variety of places to meet and greet. The property’s Me Space offers cosy co-working lounge, library and massage chairs.

Don’t forget the other “me” time! The award-winning Sava Spa has 10 treatment rooms (six for couples, four for singles) and a raft of indulgent scrubs, massages and facials. Body care collections incorporate local herbs, rice and fresh sea salt.

The 24-hour Health Club has the latest wellness equipment and offers classes in boxing, yoga and a guided morning stretch and run.

Swimming pools? Where to start! There’s a cascading main pool, a children’s pool, the Secret Garden pool which has six whirlpools, and a pool besides the SugarSand beach club.

Food for foodies

Foodies have it made. There are six picturesque places to refuel. Enjoy all-day dining South East Asian favorites at Makase or specialty coffees and freshly made pastries at Pottery Café. Tree Bar sets the bar high with creative cocktails in a casual setting. The Cave Pool Lounge by the resort’s main pool serves cool drinks and light bites. For in-room dining, Home Delivery is available 24 hours.

Makase had an overhaul last year, with executive chef Heri Riskiawan Efendi eyeing off Asian street food for inspiration. The refreshed menu offers comforting, refined, and authentic dishes from Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia. What’s it to be? A bowl of pho bo or tom yam, a spicy beef rendang, or an unctuous Peranakan-style seafood laksa? Other hits are the Java-style braised lamb shank with sweet soy sauce, shallot, chilli and tomato, and ayam bakar, a boneless baby chicken with pumpkin shoots and chilli jam. There will be guest chefs in 2024.

Next to the beach, Kiosk and SugarSand offer a relaxing ambience, Instagram sunsets, and signature cocktails.

SugarSand has also introduced new menus, the restaurant now looking to contemporary Japanese cuisine in the famous Izakaya style. Chef Syamsul Rizal, who heads up the kitchen, honed his talents at Nobu in Miami.

Artists in residence

Hotel Indigo Bali Seminyak Beach has many ways of saluting its neighbourhood. Recently, Balinese artist and master weaver Nano Uhero was invited to apply his unique “radical weaving” technique to create a sculptural installation for the Neighbourhood Gallery lobby. It was a commemoration of the Balinese sacred holiday, Galungan, a celebration of good over evil.

Called Gentle Monster – a fictional creature that represents the conversation between industrialisation and technology – it was made of hundreds of recycled plastics belts, rattan, and bamboo. Uhero’s innovative installations and environmental projects can be seen all over Bali.

Out and about in Seminyak

Seminyak – a lively beachside town between Kuta and Canggu – is home to some of the world’s most renowned bars and restaurants and a vibrant retail scene. It has inspired numerous artists and creatives and has long been the playground of bohemians, jetsetters and fashionistas. Surfers love it, too, for its usually robust waves.

Seminyak is a town that will take you on a spiritual and cultural journey. With wellbeing on the side.

Hindu temples are dotted throughout the village. The majority of Bali’s population belong to a religious community called a “Banjar”. Neighbourhood establishments are daily blessed with small offerings to local spirits.

Seek out art galleries, music and nightlife. There’s a waterpark for the kids just 6km away. Adventurous types can go rafting, jet-skiing, and horseback riding.

Retail is legendary here. No-one comes home from Bali without souvenirs. Allow room in your suitcase for silk batik and rare textiles, woodcarvings, gold and silver, coffee, ceramics and homewares that will remind you every day of your Bali stay.