WE GO DEEP IN THE JUNGLE AT BALI'S ALILA, UBUD

Warm Bali weather, tranquil poolside dining and endless jungle views – it doesn’t get much better than this. Sitting up in the treetops of Ubud on the edge of the Ayung River valley is the beautiful, secluded Alila Hotel.

The hotel itself is deliberately designed to mimic a Balinese hillside village; the resorts tree house-like rooms and villas stand on stilts upon the banks of the river valley. The aesthetic is a blend of traditional Balinese and contemporary geometric design, featuring concrete and thatched roofs, terrazzo tiles and crushed rock, wood and glass. The coming together of these binary materials makes for a unique visual appeal that we absolutely loved being surrounded by.

Alila’s on-site dining option, Plantation Restaurant, offers an experience like no other. Passionately prepared by the super talented culinary team, the menu features authentic cuisine grounded in farm-to-table practices that are elemental to Balinese cooking. Inspired by seasonal ingredients that are locally sourced (sometimes harvested from Alila’s own organic garden!), to dine here is to embark on a culinary journey that showcases a true taste of Ubud. With the TLSE team treated to the chef's banquet, we tasted our way through the best that Plantation had to offer. And offer, it did! So much so, we almost rolled our way back to Seminyak...

Pair your meal with a glass of vino (or two!) from the well-selected wine list or treat yourself to a delicious signature cocktail. The venue itself is open, al-fresco and classically Balinese, with its central bar, towering coconut pillars and traditional alang-alang roof. The design features paired with the stunning views of hilly Ubud results in a serene experience that feels authentically exotic.

Alila is the ultimate treat, whether to stay or to dine at, and should not go un-missed; immerse yourself in a cultural taste of the best Ubud has to offer.

Whatever you do you on your visit to Bali, you must put Alila on your hit list. Alila means “Surprise” in Sanskrit, which suitably describes the refreshing character of the properties and impressions on guests. To stay at any of Alila's hotels and resorts is to embark on a destination experience. This and the other Alila venues throughout Bali are some of the top locations you will visit and the hospitality of the staff are second to none. You drop in as a guest and leave as part of the Alila family.

The TLSE team were lucky enough to visit Alila Ubud on our recent trip to Bali whilst shooting content and working with amazing brands. If you would like to work with us on our next Bali Content shoots please be in touch with our team via styleteam@thelifestyleedit.com.au

WORDS | Lucy Francis, TLSE

IMAGERY | Bec Hannaford

On location at Alila Ubud, 2019