These are the very best hotel swimming pools in Bali – from jungle lagoons to clifftop plunges

When it comes to selecting the very best hotel for your holiday, it’s often the size of the suites, the selection of resort restaurants, or even the fluffiness of the bathrobes that sway the final decision. But in Bali, it’s the hotels with the most magnificent swimming pools that reign supreme: bonus points if they come with sublime views and swim-up cocktail bars too. So, to help you on your hunt for the very best hotel swimming pools in Bali, we’ve rounded up the island’s finest watering holes for your next getaway. From glistening lagoons hidden deep in the jungle, to spectacular infinity pools perched on the cliff’s edge – you’ll want to pack your favourite swimmers STAT!

P.S. You may also want to take a look at the best eco-friendly hotels in Bali.

THE BEST HOTEL POOLS IN BALI

1. Hanging Gardens of Bali | Ubud

Arguably Bali’s most iconic hotel pool (just look at that image above!), the multi-tiered jungle watering hole at Hanging Gardens of Bali is an architectural showpiece. Fronting a lush forest valley on the outskirts of Ubud, this jungle-hugged infinity pool feels like the edge of the earth, towering high above the treetop canopy. While this pool is reserved for hotel guests only, day passes are available for a once-in-a-lifetime dip.

Find out more about Hanging Gardens of Bali

2. Alila Villas Uluwatu | Uluwatu

Architecturally spectacular, the chic and contemporary cliffhanger at Alila Villas Uluwatu was one of the very first hotel pools in Bali to set the design bar sky-high – 70 metres high to be exact. Its dramatic perch, unparalleled clifftop setting and the adjoining, gravity-defying cabana adds to its splendour – as does its recognition in almost every international design magazine. And the kicker? The 50-metre-long pool is reserved exclusively for the resort’s lucky guests, with special daily experiences like stand-up paddle-board yoga and poolside sundowners…

Find out why this property also makes our list of best boutique hotels in Bali.

Find out more about Alila Villas Uluwatu

3. The Mulia, Mulia Resort & Villas | Nusa Dua

With not one but seven hotel pools within the elite grounds of The Mulia, Mulia Resort & Villas, pool aficionados have plenty to choose from here. And while we love the elegance and sophistication of the Ocean Pool, it’s the Oasis Pool that gets our vote. Reserved exclusively for hotel and villa guests, this infinity pool is mere footsteps from the Indian Ocean, fringed by glamorous private cabanas and Balinese-inspired statues of ladies harvesting rice. It’s one of the island’s most photographed pools for good reason.

Find out more about The Mulia, Mulia Resort & Villas

4. The Edge | Uluwatu

The name really says it all for the jaw-dropping pool at The Edge in Uluwatu. Home to two spectacular pools, it’s the gravity-defying, glass-bottom infinity pool at the villa resort’s very own cliff-club that takes things to another level – literally. Teetering 530 feet above the rumbling Indian Ocean and extending 6 metres over the cliff’s edge, those who dare to swim to the lip of this sky pool are blessed with panoramic sea views all around – and directly down.

Find out more about The Edge

5. Viceroy Bali | Ubud

While this ultra-romantic villa resort is renowned for its award-winning Ubud abodes and world-class luxuries, it’s the spectacular infinity pool overlooking the tropical jungle ravine that first caught our attention. Elegant and curvy, this intimate pool is peppered with sun loungers and a few cosy cabanas, with the award-winning CasCades restaurant just inches away.

Find out more about Viceroy Bali

6. AYANA Resort & Spa | Jimbaran

As Bali’s largest resort, set across 90 hectares of lush oceanfront gardens, it may come as no surprise that AYANA Resort & Spa not only boasts one magnificent hotel pool, but rather 12. Our favourite has to be the dazzling Ocean Beach Pool because, well, just look at those sea views. Nudging the white sands of Kisik Beach with a pool deck, sun loungers and a natural sand terrace (not to mention a seafood bar & grill for daytime grazing) this sun-soaked saltwater lagoon is a true slice of paradise.

Find out more about AYANA Resort & Spa

7. Padma Ubud | Ubud

If your idea of an idyllic Bali vacay involves luxe poolside hangs in the heart of nature, then you’ll want to check out Padma Ubud. The pools here (yes, there’s more than one) cascade down the verdant valley like Bali’s iconic rice paddies, with a curvaceous and heated infinity pool on the upper level, a hidden cave pool on the lower level (you can graze on a floating Afternoon Tea here, FYI) and a separate kid’s pool complete with a trickling waterfall. Sumptuous sun loungers, parasols and a sunken pool bar serving suave cocktails tops it all off.

Find out more about Padma Ubud

8. Hotel Komune | Keramas

Sitting absolute beachfront on the untouched coastline of East Bali, Hotel Komune is a surfer’s paradise, with world-class waves right out front of the resort, and a dazzling aquamarine infinity pool overlooking it all. This sparkling oasis is part of the hotel’s very own beach club, surrounded by oversized daybeds and strewn with colourful floaties. You’ll want to spend an entire day here, made easy thanks to a menu of delish bites and jugs of tropical cocktails.

Find out more about Hotel Komune

9. Potato Head Studios | Seminyak

We can’t get enough of the buzzing oceanfront pool at Potato Head Beach Club, but it’s the brand new infinity pool fronting the Potato Head Studios that tops our list for must-dips. Teetering on the edge of the Seminyak beachfront, this endless oasis is dripping in eco-friendly designs from internationally-acclaimed architects, mirroring the innovative interiors of the studios themselves. While this pool is open to the public, those staying in the Potato Head Studios get the perk of peaceful breakfasts by the pool before the daytime crowds roll in.

Read our full review of Potato Head Studios.

Find out more about Potato Head Studios

10. Uluwatu Surf Villas | Uluwatu

Eco-minimalism meets vintage surf vibes at Uluwatu Surf Villas’ serene infinity pool. Sitting directly next to the iconic Mana Uluwatu restaurant (and therefore open to in-the-know visitors), just a few cosy lounges and wooden birdcage-inspired cabanas fringe this rippling infinity pool. Stretching out toward Uluwatu’s legendary horizon of world-class surf breaks, cocktail sunsets on the oversized sofas here are particularly special.

Find out more about Uluwatu Surf Villas

11. Buahan, a Banyan Tree Escape | Ubud

Set off the beaten track in northern Ubud amid abundant nature, newly-opened Buahan, a Banyan Tree Escape has swimming pools to sing about. The main pool has 280-degree views of the surrounds and plenty of space to catch some rays, while private pools offer an intimate space to revive after a day of exploring.

Read our full review of Buahan, A Banyan Tree Escape.

Learn more about Buahan, a Banyan Tree Escape

12. Chapung Sebali | Ubud

Take in the Wos river valley views as you luxuriate in the pool at Chapung Sebali, Ubud. Home to the Jungle Fish Pool Bar, this hot-spot is open to both guests and non-guests and includes a swim-up bar along with a menu of local and international delights.

Staying at the hotel? Be sure to book one of the villas that include a private pool, so that you can enjoy a little me- or we-time.

Find our more about Chapung Sebali

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