With a conceal-and-reveal design ethos inspired by the mysticism of Bali, this distinctive beachfront hotel offers delicious food, friendly service and luxurious living, all against a backdrop of contemporary cool.
Passing through a side street lined with overhanging bamboo trees forming an arch leading up to the uber-trendy W Bali Seminyak is akin to participating in a forest bath or what the Japanese call shinrin-yoku.
Engaging all five senses, the soft movement of the bamboo shoots against the breeze, and the cast of light tinting the entire passage somehow unlocks your sense of joy and wonder, almost preparing you to enter another dimension.
By the time you reach the driveway of the W Bali Seminyak, you could be forgiven for thinking you’d landed on another planet. The spaceship-looking entrance lobby looks modern even by today’s standards.
With artwork – both two and three-dimensional – littered around the lobby, be prepared to be wowed by specially commissioned pieces from world-renowned artists.
Bang in the centre of the lobby sits a bar where its columns of opaque resin change colours come night time.
Oversized day beds and comfy chairs beckon you just to kick back and order a refreshing cocktail, and the nearby W Store sells a well-selected array of local handicrafts, beachwear and jewellery exclusive to the resort.
Walking into my ocean-facing room in the main building, I spy a welcome card with a photo of myself taken from my Instagram account, welcoming me to the W Bali- Seminyak.
With a message asking me to “Live it Up and Own the Moment” my attention was quickly diverted to the Welcome Scrabble amenity consisting of a plate of chocolate truffles placed on the coffee table.
With a spacious balcony, overlooking the pool area and the Indian Ocean everything in my room reeked of comfort and style, even the music pouring out of the Bose surround sound system had a cool beat to it.
Dinner at the W’s casual grill restaurant Fire was something to look forward to. The dramatic décor is inspired by the Balinese Kecak Dance, where male dancers clad in checked sarongs form a ring around a fire to act out a traditional scene from the Hindu Ramayana.
Elements from this ancient epic Sanskrit story can be seen throughout the restaurant – from the eye-catching fireball chandelier taking pride of place in the centre of the restaurant to the black and white checked marble buffet countertop.
Settling on the outside patio, I am guided through the menu by Winnie, a helpful and friendly waitress who recommended Confit Pork Belly served with Barley risotto, tomatoes and wilted butter lettuce mustard jus as a starter and Stockyard Silver label Wagyu 8+ Top Sirloin as the main course.
It was obviously the house speciality because the pork belly was juicy and tasty at the first bite, while the sirloin was succulent and satiating, accompanied by a side of creamed spinach.
At the end of this delicious meal, I was still able to demolish a Pod 64% Chocolate Melting Sphere, a white chocolate mousse served with passion fruit jelly, lemon popping candy and almond streusel.
Walking back to my room, I pass the concierge desk with the eye-catching and colour-popping mural of Jack Nicholson painted by renowned graffiti artist Alec Monopoly.
A surfboard designed by London-based designer KTZ with a barong head (a panther-like creature in Balinese mythology) and the W logo hangs on a conspicuous spot in the W Lounge lobby, while a collection of 45 small prints by art collective K8 Wanitas features on another wall.
Waking up to the sounds of waves is something most urbanites dream of, and this was my reality the next morning.
After a few yoga stretches on my balcony overlooking the ocean, I wander down to the ocean-fronted Starfish Bloo restaurant. Known for their Champagne Sunday brunches featuring a fresh seafood buffet, I settle on a table on the outdoor terrace with the best view of the beach and ocean.
I opt for a probiotic mango, passion fruit, honey and yoghurt smoothie followed by an Acai Berry Smoothie Bowl with banana, dragon fruit, coconut, yoghurt and sesame dukkah to fuel my shopping expedition later on.
A Mediterranean Egg White Omelette filled with feta cheese, grilled veggies and quinoa provides the necessary protein to fill me up till lunchtime.
Catching the last rays of the sun has become the in thing to do in Bali.
With a plethora of beach clubs and rooftop bars scattered around the Seminyak area, a seeker of sundowners is certainly spoilt for choice when it comes to watching the sun go down.
But if you want to be around the beau monde, then the Woobar in the W Bali – Seminyak is the place to hang as it’s the hippest, hottest and most happening scene to be seen at.
Located on the oceanfront beside the W pool, you could do worse than saunter in wearing your trendiest outfit and ordering a Balinese Ritual cocktail from their specially curated cocktail menu.
Served with an incense stick and covered in a transparent glass jar, sipping this gin and dry vermouth concoction sweetened with homemade tangerine and elderflower liquor with a sprinkling of holy essence for blessings.
All while chilling out to the eclectic beats spun by Damian Saint, the resident DJ and watching the orange ball slowly disappear beneath the horizon must be one of the best ways to end a day in paradise.
W Bali Seminyak – Where and how?
For further information about the W Bali – Seminyak, please visit www.wbaliseminyak.com.
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