Just 20-30 minutes by car from Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport, Sanur was historically a fishing village. In the 1960s, it was also one of the first locations on the island to be developed for tourism thanks to its beautiful coastline and easy access to reefs for snorkelling and diving. Fast forward to now and, like a lot of the island, regeneration has seen numerous great cafes and restaurants pop up in the area, and new hotels too. One of the recent openings is Andaz Bali, a stylish stay with design nods to a traditional Balinese village and, as we soon discovered, the perfect place to relax in.

While this stay was complimentary, all thoughts and opinions are our own.

Andaz Bali review

Opening in 2021, this was the first ever Andaz property to launch in Asia. A brand from the renowned Hyatt family, Andaz is all about smaller, more boutique properties that feature unique design styles and a real connection to the community that they’re based in.

From the moment you arrive at Andaz Bali, you’ll be wowed by both the design and layout. If you check-in in the evening, a beautiful flaming structure will herald your arrival. By day, you’ll enter directly into the courtyard that sits around a huge koi pond.

lobby area at Andaz Bali
The check-in experience sets the scene with it’s relaxed and open vibe

This is not your typical hotel. With interiors by Yasuhiro Koichi of Spin Design Studio, guests experience local materials including teak wood, bamboo, and bricks. The ‘lobby’ area (though I’m loath to call it that) is more like an island meeting place, with intricately designed wooden details and walls that open so that you can feel the sea breeze.

Sitting at the communal table, we enjoyed a welcome drink as the team arranged everything for us, explaining the layout of the resort and where to access different amenities.

The room

King Size Pool View Room
Spanning three floors, the King Size Pool View rooms are expansive and comfortable

We were soon shown to our Kind Bed Pool View room and I’ve got to say, I was impressed. The room was really generous in size (50 sq-m) and designed in a way that you could open and shut off different parts as you needed them.

The bed was exceptionally comfortable and extremely big, plus it had a lovely headboard crafted with different batik fabrics. We made good use of the balcony which had a comfy reading nook and views of one of the property’s pools, the designated quiet one (more on that later).

I dived straight into the oversized bathtub after my flight and appreciated the addition of a bath bomb. The shower was the perfect blend of good temperature and strength (something that can be hit and miss on the island, even in high end properties) and I was impressed by the luxe feel and size of the bath sheets. The only thing letting the bathroom amenities down, in my opinion, was the use of single-ply toilet paper in the toilet (bougie much?!) On the up-side, the Toto toilet had all the bells, whistles, and sprays a girl could ask for.

Home to just 149 rooms and suites, the smart way that the property is designed means that you often forget that other people are staying there too. The fact that the snacks were included in the room rate was a nice touch. 

The food

Village Square Andaz Bali
Guests can enjoy breakfast at any one of the four restaurants that surround the village square

The food in Bali is notoriously good and Andaz Bali will have you wanting for nothing. Four different restaurants, Blue Oven, Wok Wok, Fire Fox, and Deli & Bakery are on offer in the main village square.

They said we could order as much as we wanted from the a-la-carte menu for breakfast, and we didn’t hold back. There are loads of options, both local and international and we particularly enjoyed some of their unique specialties, like the Cro Nigiri which was a triangle croissant stuffed with tuna and mayo, and the Cold Soba Bowl with avocado, kale, and buckwheat.

For lunch one day, I had a refreshing pomelo and prawn salad along with an Under the Sun mocktail made from soursop, mango, and passion fruit. I finished it all off with an Onde Onde ball. Made to order, these were like a giant mochi but with a hard sesame shell covered in sesame seeds and filled with warm coconut and pandan in the middle – it was so delicious!

Fisherman’s Club sits on the waterfront and has a fresh catch of seafood daily. You can peruse the prawns, fish, and shellfish and choose exactly which ones you want to eat. Choose the cooking method and basting sauce and get ready to indulge. I enjoyed some delicious grilled squid in a spicy Balinese sauce, and I’ve got to say that my pandan infused soda was divine.

Also, the property’s sister resort Hyatt Regency Bali offers a range of eateries should guests want to mix things up. I tried the famed Pizzaria over there and can attest to wonderful sunset views, delicious meals (I ditched the pizza and went for local seafood), and very mellow live music that had lots of the kids up and dancing.

Things to do

Shanti Pool at Andaz Bali
The quiet Shanti Pool was my favourite hang out spot during my stay

If, like me, the first thing you want to do when you arrive in Bali is hit the spa, then you won’t be disappointed. Located next door at the Hyatt Regency Bali, Shankha Spa is the epitome of tranquillity and the winding entrance walkway will set the scene with its fragrant garden and occasional flying squirrels.

I opted for a signature massage, and following my welcome drink was able to choose from four different oils for my treatment. My therapist Wulan was extremely professional and checked in to make sure the pressure was good for me throughout. The music was perfect for relaxing and accompanied by bird song from the surrounding gardens, this was an amazing way to start my trip and one of the best massages I had on the island.

Afterwards, I sat in the recovery area for a while, drinking my tea and watching the birds dart into the lotus-filled fish pond as the evening closed in. Before you leave, be sure to head to the changing room where an outdoor Jacuzzi and a cold plunge pool await alongside drinks and lounging areas – a total slice of heaven.

Having walked into the spa from the beachfront of the Hyatt Regency, I followed the signs back to Andaz through a gorgeous garden that separates the two properties. Filled with sculptures, stunning trees and plantings, and even benches and nooks for hanging out with a book or just contemplating, be sure to make time to visit this secret oasis. I also managed to spot a few more of the cute, but very quick-moving flying squirrels overhead.

A range of activities happen daily on the village green. One day, guests could learn about traditional Balinese calligraphy and on a different day, a wood carver was crafting beautiful souvenirs. For families, a huge range of events are on offer for the little ones, including an evening parade where they can dress in traditional costume and learn more about local culture.

yoga by the beach at Andaz Bali
Free sunrise yoga happens daily at the beach resort

And who doesn’t want to lounge by a pool on holiday? Thankfully, there are three areas to choose from. A smaller pool is available for the little ones, while a larger swimming pool with loungers is located near the beach. Shaded by mature trees, Shanti Pool was my favourite spot. This adults-only space is designated as a quiet zone, so there’s nobody chatting on the phone to disturb your book or water time. This is a really smart addition from Andaz Bali, especially for singles and couples who want a little privacy.

Sanur has a wonderful paved beach path that takes you all along the coast, past hotels and restaurants and runs for about 5km. Walking the entire distance takes about an hour either way, but Andaz Bali offers some groovy turquoise bikes for those who would prefer to do the journey on two wheels.

If you’re looking for more of a workout, I was really impressed with the gym. Located in the spa at Hyatt Regency Bali, the equipment was all modern and there was a large selection of both cardio machines and weights. The addition of sanitising spray was very welcome, and I was shocked at how many other gyms in hotels in Bali didn’t offer this basic hygiene – top marks to Hyatt for this.

If you’re staying in Sanur, it’s all about the sunrise views, and Andaz Bali lets you experience this through a free sunrise yoga class. Though I did have good intentions to attend this, the 5:30am wakeup was a little much for me after my long flight, but I wish I’d had the energy.

Final thoughts

I was super impressed with my stay at Andaz Bali. It feels like a modern, elevated designer resort with all the learnings that an established brand like Hyatt has to offer. The food was exceptional as were the team who were truly working to ensure every guest had a great experience. Don’t sleep on this Sanur beauty.

Learn more about Andaz Bali or Book through Booking.com

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