Designed by architect Peter Muller, an authority on Balinese architecture, this design genius created a masterpiece by taking elements of traditional Balinese architecture and design and incorporating them into the 30 suites and villas of the Amandari is the most elegant way possible.
Glancing around my Village Suite, I admire the polished teak, bamboo, rattan and coconut furniture and fittings and the intricately woven alang-alang ceilings reminiscent of a Balinese home. A winding pebble pathway leads down to Suite No. 27; my villa is accessed via a stone doorway and enclosed by a paras-stone wall which ensures complete privacy.
Inside my suite, I am ensconced in a cocoon of complete luxury, a bowl of fresh fruits and a delicious Rosella Iced Tea making me feel right at home. Sliding wood and glass doors lead to an 8.9-metre private pool outside my suite with a Balinese bale or pavilion for al fresco meals. A King-size bed with optimum thread count sheets ensure a good night’s sleep while the outdoor sunken marble tub makes bathing a pleasure, especially if it is out in the open-air and done beneath the moon and stars.
Dining at the Amandari is another pleasurable experience to be savoured. Executive Chef Renaldo de Luna II likes to keep his creations simple yet flavourful and incorporates as many local ingredients as possible.
“We have our own organic herb and vegetable garden on the property which we harvest to use in our dishes,” he says, adding that the signature dish at The Restaurant is the Ayam Panggang – a mouth-watering dish made from organic free-range chicken and marinated in a Balinese spice paste made from over 23 Balinese herbs and spices and slow-roasted and smoked over coconut husks.
Boasting a menu which features both Indonesia and Western dishes, the open-air restaurant overlooking the iconic Amandari infinity pool and the verdant Ayung valley beyond. With a different menu for both lunch and dinner, dishes are conveniently labelled gluten-free, vegan, dairy-free, vegetarian and balanced energy.
Nearby, The Bar lures guests who enjoy an apéritif before dinner or a digestif after to make a stopover. Located adjacent to the pool, it’s the ideal spot to have a sundowner with the seductive sounds of gamelan music wafting in from an ensemble of musicians from the local village seated in the bale located by the green-tiled pool.
Apart from waking up to one of the most beautiful sunrises you can hope to witness, breakfast is another strong reason to get out of your comfy bed. Healthy and nutritious without sacrificing taste and flavour, the first meal of the day for me kick-started with a Probiotic Lemon Enzyme drink made with fermented lemon, coconut water and basil seeds, no doubt freshly plucked from Amandari’s organic garden.
A Green Detox Smoothie made sure I had all my phytonutrients in a couple of gulps as the coconut water, avocado, kale, spinach, dates, chia and Hemp seeds were blended into one delicious drink. Opting for an Indonesian breakfast, the Mie Goreng or fried noodles (with a vegan option available) filled me up till lunchtime.
And if chilling in your villa or relaxing by the pool isn’t something on your agenda, the Amandari has you covered as their activity list is extensive. From temple visits and cooking classes to mountain trekking and spiritual healing, every aspect of Bali’s enchanting essence, from nature and culture to the spiritual and adventurous is encompassed, ensuring that you will never feel bored.