Part of Hyatt’s luxury hotel range on the island of Bali’s southwest coast, Alila Seminyak is an oasis of tranquillity in an area that’s vibrant and comes alive at night. I spent a couple of days unwinding in one of the most beautiful places on earth.
How big is the resort?
The resort itself is tucked away from the busy streets full of bars, beach clubs and local restaurants, so it’s like stepping into a completely different place once you pull up the long drive to the entrance. The vast lobby is sleek and modern but vertical greens are woven throughout the contemporary architecture with wall-hugging plants and verdant terraces giving a nod to Bali’s natural landscape.
With 175 rooms it is an exclusive luxury hotel in the quieter end of the beach where you’re sure to enjoy a peaceful night’s rest and a relaxing day in the sun.
Rooms at Alila Seminyak
There are several room options such as beach suites, ocean-view terraces and even a penthouse, but you can guarantee that any room you pick will be a sanctuary of refinement and comfort. My deluxe suite room overlooked the pool and beach bar, with the ocean stretching into the distance in the background.
With the convenience of double sinks, a wet room shower, a huge bath to enjoy, and a generous array of amenities such as sun cream and insect repellent, getting ready for an evening’s entertainment was a doddle.
The best place to enjoy sunsets in Bali
My companion and I spent our first evening enjoying cocktails and live music at the beach bar. It was a very relaxed environment in which to enjoy the sunset. Families in their swimwear mixed with ladies in their finery to enjoy the incredible colours of the sun disappearing into the horizon while sipping on everything from fresh coconuts to Mojitos.
Much a do about nothing
There is plenty to do at Alila Seminyak however there are plenty of options if you want to do absolutely nothing as well, which is what our day would consist of! My kind of holiday is deciding whether to enjoy a cold glass of rosé by the beach, the main pool or the infinity pool and at the Alila I often had that difficult decision to make.
Each pool and beach area is kitted out with plenty of large, comfy sun loungers with staff waiting to lay out a towel or pop up an umbrella before taking your order. We immensely enjoyed our day lazing by the pools, people-watching and soaking up the sun, sometimes you really need a day like that after days of exploring such an interesting place.
Explore Bali with help from Alila
If exploring your surroundings is more your cup of tea then the hotel is more than happy to arrange sightseeing tours and activities for you during your stay. We enjoyed a trip to nearby Tanah Lot, a Balinese temple perched high on a rock out to sea, accessed during the low tide, a must-see while in the area as well as the traditional Balinese dance performed by locals.
Our lovely air-conditioned vehicle with a local guide was there to greet us and return us back to our hotel in time to get ready for dinner. The whole process from meeting us from the lobby to being directed where to go once we were there was so helpful and certainly the best way to sightsee if you’re not so confident on your own.
What a way to start the day
That evening we were to dine at Alila’s fine dining restaurant Sea Salt, inspired by its spectacular oceanfront setting and the locally harvested sea salt. This is also the location for the buffet breakfast, one which I have to say was the most impressive of all the hotels I visited in Bali.
There was almost no end to the colourful options to enjoy as well as chefs on hand to make whatever you fancied. The pastries were so crunchy yet soft and fluffy, the fruit was so fresh and flavorful and I particularly enjoyed balls of granola and honey dipped in yoghurt to resemble a lollipop with a fresh strawberry. I popped one in my mouth on every buffet visit.
Sea Salt Restaurant
That evening at Sea Salt however we enjoyed a plethora of fresh seafood dishes whilst accompanied by the sound of ocean waves. Dishes here are seasoned with traditional organic Kusamba, sea salt from East Bali, where a small community of salt farmers continues a centuries-old tradition of producing 100% natural salt by sun and wind evaporation. The open kitchen is in keeping with the open-air aspect of the restaurant, where the waterfront is steps away from the edge of your table and the breeze wafts through the vast, modern space.
The menu at Sea Salt
We began with a refreshing Lima Corn Ceviche with Passion fruit, quinoa and shallot velvet followed by the restaurant’s signature butter, warmed inside a block of sea salt which is presented to you at your table to enjoy with warm, crusty bread.
Next was the grilled seabream with pomegranate salsa, lemon and micro herbs which was beautifully cooked along with citrus-glazed baby carrots. To finish off we shared a white chocolate yuzu crémeux with brandy snaps, citrus marmalade, and pistachio ice cream. The perfect meal to end a lovely day.
Is there a spa at Alila Seminyak?
If a day by the pool isn’t enough to relax you then a trip to Alila Spa is definitely needed. Tucked away below the lobby, Spa Alila complements contemporary wellness products and services with age-old beauty recipes and ancient healing practices, such as 5,000-year-old Shirodhara, to leave you with a renewed sense of well-being.
Spa Alila fervently believes in using only natural products for spa therapies, and all products are handmade using pure, natural ingredients. Additionally, the spa offers a range of modern, energetic exercises, yoga, meditation, and recovery classes for guests seeking to invigorate their senses (but I’m not about that life!).
A signature Balinese massage
I was booked in for the Alila Seminyak Massage, much like a traditional Balinese massage it was a full-body deep muscle massage designed to combat tiredness, back pain, and jet lag. This fusion of rejuvenating massage techniques, such as Lomi-Lomi and skin rolling, works to relieve muscle tension and aches, while palm and thumb pressure unravels the deepest stress.
It’s the little touches such as the washing of the feet ceremony before the massage, and the sound bath to balance your chakra at the end which make this experience truly unmissable. This was such a lovely massage and one of my favourites during my 2-week visit.
It all sounds very relaxing, doesn’t it? If I wasn’t getting my toes massaged in the spa or being served freshly made butter in Sea Salt you’d find me by the pool with a cocktail in hand. Such a hard life! But isn’t that what holidays are all about? Doing exactly what you want, treating yourself to the finer things in life and enjoying the beautiful surroundings of an incredible resort. If this sounds like your kind of holiday then book a stay at Alila Seminyak now.
Alila Seminyak
Jalan Taman Ganesha No. 9
Petitenget
Kerobokan
Bali
Indonesia
