The Best Of Every World

At Alila Seminyak, you can have your cake and eat it too!

Bali has always been a favourite holiday spot of mine – perfect weather and beach just a stone’s throw away, and the recent mushrooming of healthy organic cafes, has had me yearning to return. The recent opening of Alila Seminyak sealed the deal for me and I immediately booked my getaway there to celebrate my birthday.

Our stunning Ocean Suite with a view of the Indian Ocean.

Alila Seminyak could not have chosen a more ideal spot. With the pristine Indian Ocean lapping languidly at its doorstep, this stunning sight greeted me when I arrived at the lobby and immediately uplifted my spirits. Comprising of 240 well-appointed and luxurious rooms, those of you familiar with the Alila brand will know that no expense is spared to ensure that the rooms are uber comfy – expect luxe Grohe rain showers, illy coffee machines, spacious bathrooms and soft-as-cloud pillows which made me sleep like a baby every night!

Catch stunning sunsets at the Beach Bar.

Located in the heart of Seminyak, you can choose to sequester yourself in the spa or beach bar all day, or cafe hop and shop in fashionable Seminyak town. I thoroughly enjoyed the convenience of its location which allowed me to hit my favourite shops, then freshen up back in hotel before a nice dinner. I could never get tired of the unobstructed view of the majestic Indian Ocean from my balcony…or from my bathtub. Listening to the soothing sounds of the waves crashing against the shore and catching the spectacular sunsets at The Beach Bar quickly became a part of my daily routine.

Enjoy a cocktail (or coconut water for me!) at the Beach Bar pool.

For a totally unusual and meaningful time, I booked an “Inspirational Bali” experience where I was educated on the tradition of Balinese praying ritual and ceremony and even learnt to make the Canang Sari offering that is usually placed on the ground in front of houses, shops and temples as well as the beautifully decorated “Gebogan” fruit towers that are a symbol of gratitude to the Gods. Alila Seminyak offers seven different Alila Experiences, from cycling to the villages to personalised concierge shopping, definitely something to cater to your every whim and fancy.

Sustainability is one of the values at Alila so instead of breakfast buffets which usually result in a lot of food wastage, its breakfast is a-la-carte with a small selection of breads, cereals and fruits. The egg white omelette and quinoa porridge I ordered from the healthy selection kept me satiated and feeling good about myself. I also satisfied my craving for seafood at dinner at the resort’s restaurant where I enjoyed a whole barramundi grilled in spicy Balinese sauce with sides of vegetables.

Sunrise yoga at Alila Seminyak.

It is so easy to over-indulge when the food is this good, so I woke up early the next day for a morning yoga class at the Alila Gym with in-house yoga instructor, Santi. The invigorating class stretched all my stiff muscles and made me feel slightly better about my gluttony.

Get an amazing massage at Alila Seminyak’s award-winning Spa.

You cannot leave Alila Seminyak without trying out their award-winning Spa Alila and its Signature Massage, a 90-minute rejuvenation therapy with an infusion of body-melting techniques including lomi-lomi, acupressure, deep tissue muscle movement and gentle stretching. After this pampering treatment, my partner and I ambled groggily to The Restaurant for their Sunday Graze featuring brunch favourites with a complimentary mimosa and live band entertainment. Now, isn’t this a perfect Sunday?