As a seasoned traveller who has explored Southeast Asia extensively for over a decade, I have a confession: I’ve never been a great fan of Bali. Having visited twice before, the overall vibe simply wasn’t my cup of tea. That was, until I returned for a third visit. It turns out that the third time truly is the charm, and I must admit, it was almost entirely thanks to my unique stay at the newly opened Oshom Bali.

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

Oshom Bali review

Nuanu Creative City: where art meets innovation

Oshom Bali exterior of hotel by beach
The property has an exquisite location, perched on a cliff above a beach

On Bali’s untouched west coast, overlooking the black sand shores of Pantai Nyanyi, a bold experiment in community, art, and sustainability is currently taking shape. Nuanu Creative City is a 44-hectare ecosystem that brings together creative industries, education, wellness, and hospitality in one visionary destination. Even after searching online, I hadn’t fully grasped the concept or sheer magnitude of the project.

Its ethos is one of innovation and regeneration, designed to inspire collaboration between local and global creatives through galleries, workshops, and performance spaces. The result is indeed a mini-city within Bali itself, complete with schools, luxury apartments, and even a forthcoming mall. Once I entered this self-contained ecosystem, I never felt the need to leave.

The hotel: a boutique sanctuary

Oshom Bali review bathroom Ocean Suite
The bathroom in the Ocean Suite lets the view doing the talking

Within Nuanu, Oshom Bali stands out as a beachfront boutique hotel that perfectly captures the community’s spirit – playful yet refined, design-driven, and deeply connected to its setting.

Originally the private residence of Nuanu’s founder, Sergey Solonin, the property has been reimagined by creative director Daisy Angus into an 18-key boutique hotel. It features moody treehouses, ocean-facing suites, and a design philosophy crafted to stir the soul. You feel this careful balance between soul and style the moment you enter your room, greeted by large open spaces, day beds, and a creative desk thoughtfully stocked with notepads, an iPad and even coloured pencils to bring out your inner child. Interestingly enough, I noticed the rooms didn’t have televisions, which is undoubtedly deliberate.

Instead, the interiors focus on both art and the island’s natural landscapes. But Oshom is far from just another stylish stay. It feels more like a cross between a charming boutique villa and an avant-garde art gallery. Almost like a home, but with just the right dose of eccentricity. Case in point: a stunning art piece of a nude silhouette bearing the words “Fuck It” was the first thing to greet me in my entrance hall.

In my Ocean Suite, I was greeted by a lamp shaped like a curled-up nude figure and even a disco ball dangling in the dressing room. The minibar was filled with a variety of complimentary tea leaves and healthy nibbles. With floor-to-ceiling windows, I opted to forgo the blackout curtains and instead wake up to the sound of the waves below.

The restaurant: a sensory journey

Oshom Bali review breakfast
Breakfasts here are what Bali dreams are made of

While there are plenty of dining options across Nuanu City, I stuck to Oshom’s charming in-house restaurant, which is a total sensory experience. The menu features fresh, locally inspired dishes that blend innovative flavours and culinary techniques, all served with breathtaking ocean views. It’s a celebration of locally sourced, globally inspired cuisine, with an emphasis on modern Southern and Northern European techniques and a subtle African influence.

Breakfast is a highlight, even for people like me who often prefer to sleep in instead. The fusion menu spans from Moroccan shakshuka with harissa to traditional Indonesian nasi goreng, alongside nourishing options like a vivid fruit smoothie bowl and healthy green juices.

Dinner is an equally multicultural affair. I opted for the menu’s Middle Eastern flavours, with the Moroccan chicken tagine served with couscous and pomegranate, an undeniable highlight.

Sound healing and beyond

Oshom Bali review welcome area
The hotel feels enveloped by nature

Oshom doesn’t just dabble in the creative-wellness space – it fully commits. The hotel offers a rotating calendar of ecstatic dance, poolside wellness lectures, human garage workshops, sound healing, yoga, and sunset DJ sets. Most are ticketed for the public, but hotel guests join for free.

If workshops aren’t your style, follow the sound of the waves to The Nest – a bamboo pavilion draped in billowy white fabric where massages and sound healing sessions are held. During my stay, I attended a two-hour breathwork session led by the couple Sabine and Attila of Couple of Breaths https://www.coupleofbreaths.com/. Initially worried I wasn’t “hippy” enough for a two-hour breathing marathon, I was completely overwhelmed by the life-changing experience. My entire body and soul felt different, my vision even clearer, and I enjoyed one of the best nights of sleep afterwards. It was honestly worth the trip to Bali in itself.

Beyond the hotel

Oshom may serve as your base, but it’s just one thread in a much larger, intricate creative experiment. I hopped into the hotel’s buggy to explore the rest of Nuanu Creative City, which can only be described as a dynamic space inspired by movements like Burning Man. Loosely translating to “in the process,” Nuanu is a living, evolving experiment in creativity.

Oshom Bali review Earth Sentinels
Earth Sentinels

On arrival, we drove through the awe-inspiring Earth Sentinels sculpture by South African artist Daniel Popper. During the day, they are already breathtaking, but at night, these magnificent statue heads come alive, illuminating and communicating with one another through different AI programs, creating a truly mind-blowing experience that left my jaw on the floor.

I was also completely captivated by Aurora Media Park, a 5,000-square-metre immersive, AI-powered art park that bursts into life after dark with mesmerising projection mapping. The property also features a quirky restaurant with llamas, a mini dome reminiscent of Las Vegas’ Sphere, a walk-in butterfly dome, and even a beach club. Though I must admit, I was feeling far too zen to dive into the party scene.

Final thoughts

Oshom Bali isn’t the kind of place you book to explore the island. Tucked far from Bali’s bustling tourist havens like Canggu or Ubud, this boutique stay is best reserved for a creative reset or a wellness-fuelled wind-down at the end of your trip. With full access to the wider Nuanu Creative City, complete with its immersive art parks, beach clubs, and wellness rituals, you’ll find yourself in a space designed to spark inspiration.

It’s the type of place where, when the sun goes down, you can sit in silence on your balcony and absorb the pure sound of crashing waves, feeling a world away from the Bali you thought you knew.

Learn more about Oshom Bali or Book through Booking.com Book through Expedia

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