The Oberoi, Bali is the Grande Dame of Bali’s luxury resorts, setting the benchmark for classic understated luxury in Seminyak. The hotel is such a landmark that the street outside the hotel is now known as Oberoi Street.
The hotel is handily situated in the heart of trendy Seminyak but exudes a sense of calm with its traditional Balinese village-style buildings set in 15 acres of tropical gardens directly behind the sweeping ocean beach. A large swimming pool sits underneath swaying palm trees.

The hotel has 60 lanais and 14 villas built out of pinkish coralline rock with traditional steeply-pitched thatched roofs. Renowned Australian architect Peter Mueller designed the buildings to evoke a strong Balinese cultural presence. The whole property exudes a real sense of authenticity – the Balinese believe that the Oberoi beachfront is one of the holiest on the western coast.

The marble-floored villas are delightful with a teak four-poster Balinese bed. While not exceedingly large, they are more than adequate given the huge private outdoor courtyard. An umbrella shades day beds while an outdoor dining area in the raised pavilion is the perfect place for a private dinner. Nine of the villas have large private pools.
The meals at the Oberoi Bali are fabulous. The superb breakfasts are served a la carte on the outdoor palm-tree-dotted terrace of the Frangipani Café, which overlooks the beach. The classy Kura Kura Restaurant in a breezy thatched pavilion bordered by lotus ponds serves up stunning modern European cuisine as well as elegant Asian dishes.

The Oberoi is in the heart of Seminyak’s fabulous shopping district and the concierge has a list of their recommended shops for clothes and homewares. The Hotel also offers guests a selection of terrific tours to see temples, volcanoes, rice paddies, craft villages, the monkey forest and the cultural centre of Ubud.

Be sure to book a treatment at the serene Oberoi Spa, which offers whole range of massages, scrubs, facials and as well as excellent Ayurvedic treatments that befit the hotel’s Indian roots.