I have seen
my share of wonderful hotels, but Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, just outside
of Bali’s cultural and spiritual center of Ubud, left me in awe at its sheer
beauty! After stepping into the breathtaking open-walled common area,
An array of
gracious buildings unfolds before your eyes, 35 suites nestled into the
hillside and 25 pool villas down by the river. Amidst of them, there are three
acres of rice paddies and a century-old Hindu Temple. That is all what remained
of the 24 acres property that consisted previously of rainforest and rice
fields farmed by a neighboring village. By the way, one to two villagers still
work the ground of the rice terraces, now employed by the hotel.
Hotel at a glance
Following
features/amenites can be found on site. In terms of restaurants, you can choose
between four eateries. Sawah Terrace serves breakfast as well as local cuisine
for lunch and dinner. The setting high above the river is idyllic
and the
food is great, be it for breakfast
or dinner.
Kubu is the
signature restaurant with exquisite, elaborate fare
and its
location by the river is scenic indeed, be it because of the intimate bamboo cocoons
There is also The Pool Bar and The Library offering small bites during daytime.
The resort’s
pool with views of the rice paddies is a great place to relax
and a spa/fitness
center completes the offer.
Apart from
the state of the art infrastructure, Mandapa has also the most dedicated staff
I have ever experienced. From the first to the last minute, the employees
spared no efforts to make the stay memorable.
Just in case, my husband and I visited Bali twice in two years and explored large parts of the island. If you are interested, here are the posts of our Bali adventures.
Just in case, my husband and I visited Bali twice in two years and explored large parts of the island. If you are interested, here are the posts of our Bali adventures.
Mandapa Suite in detail
After this overview
on the hotel, I will have a closer look at our suite, the Mandapa Suite. Before,
a few words to the Ritz-Carlton Reserve and the architect of the place.
Ritz-Carlton
Reserve is the high-end brand of the well-known hotel chain and puts emphasis
on design and sensitivity towards the surroundings when building a new hotel.
New resorts must fit in with local culture and landscapes. As most local people
are Hindu in Bali, this was chosen as theme for the resort’s construction. A
Mandapa is in Indian architecture a pillared outdoor hall leading to a Hindu
temple. Jeffrey Wilkes, the architect of Mandapa by Ritz-Carlton Reserve, let
himself be inspired by this ancient architecture and did an amazing job
showcasing traditional Balinese decor. At the same time, modern architectural
elements were used. Mandapa resulted in being the perfect blend of old and new.
Our Mandapa
Suite (145 spm) had a layout similar to a penthouse apartment minus the
facilities you do not need when staying at a hotel. When you enter the foyer
and turn
left you get into the bedroom
with an
adjoining walk-in closet. From the bedroom you can either step out to the
oversized terrace with 270 degree views of the rolling hills of the Ayung River
valley
Here, the
eye-catching element is certainly the center tub with view, but also the sinks, which
are opposite each other, are a feast for the eyes. Rain-shower and toilet are behind
two large glass doors. When you leave the bathroom at the other side
You come to
a spacious living/dining room,
from which
you can go to the terrace once again
or reach
the foyer after pacing through the magnificent room with a baylike
seating area.
When it
comes to the decor of the suite, it is – as the whole property – a mix of
traditional Balinese and modern elements. The predominant color is a dark brown
– chocolaty, color of the earth, as the architect calls it. He brought it into
the wood paneling, which gives the suite warmth. On the paneled walls, you find
colorful artworks featuring local themes. Pillows and seat cushions in shades
of lilac, soft blue and green bright up the rooms. Modern lamps give the suite
a contemporary touch. On balance, our Mandapa Suite is an extremely well
designed room with a strong sense of place but also an accommodation where you
feel instantly at home as a guest.
Overall
The
heavenly high country of Ubud, no stranger to high-end tourism, is home to a
resort that is second to none. The lush rolling hills of the Ayung River valley
are the backdrop for Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, an unique secluded
paradise with extremely luxury accommodations but first and foremost a place
where the magic of Bali has been captured in a exemplary manner.
Date
of stay: September 2016
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