Rumah Luwih: A Luxurious Beachfront Hotel In Gianyar, Bali

A new hotel with traditional architecture

Located in a less touristy area between Ubud and Sanur, in the Gianyar district, Rumah Luwih is close to Lebih Beach, a popular spot for surfing, and also close to the Bali Safari and Marine Park. This relatively new hotel has been built in a historical Dutch architectural style, and has white walls on the exterior of the hotel. The ambiance created by the windows and ceilings will make you transport you back in time, when Bali was part of the Dutch colony of the East Indies.

The artsy lobby

As you enter the lobby area, you will be instantly fascinated with the details of old European-style architecture. The sparkling marble tiles are decorated with floral motifs, and the furniture is all constructed from dark wood. The winding stairs, the rattan chairs, and the thin metal pillars are all characteristics of a typical Dutch colonial building. These details continue throughout the hotel, and in fact, it reminded me of the Dutch house I grew up in.

The pool, lake, and ocean

The architecture is truly impressive, and you will fall deeper in love with this hotel due to the stunning natural views you will see all around you. There is the ocean, a man-made lagoon, a swimming pool, and an open chapel, which are visible from most parts of the hotel including the lobby, restaurant, and the rooms.

Lavish rooms

Just like the lobby, everything in the room has very classic European touches, making it very homey. Apart from this classic feel, it’s a clean, spacious (40 sqm / 430.56 square feet for a Prabanggana room) and comfortable room with amenities like an LED TV. There’s a comfortable king-sized bed and a low table with 2 wooden chairs (with soft cushions, to ensure your comfort).

Additionally, the Prabanggana room has a veranda. There is nothing better than waking up in the morning and going out to the veranda to enjoy nature’s work of art, especially if you book a room with an ocean view. Moreover, since the Wi-Fi signal is fast from most parts of the hotel, it’s also nice to browse the internet or catch up on work from your veranda!

The bathroom has a sliding door with slats, which is airy yet provides enough privacy. The floor and the wash basin are marble and I loved the round mirror with floral carving along the mirror’s frame. The mirror’s frame also has 2 candle-like electric lights, which continues the historical feel from the time of the East Indies!

Delicious food in and around the hotel

When you eat at the hotel’s stylish restaurant (I love the checkered floor), make sure you order the crispy duck, cooked and served in Balinese way (deep fried and with sprinkles of breadcrumbs). This dish comes with spicy soy sauce, chili sauce, minced red onion, and a side dish of sautéed vegetables.

Additionally, there are some eateries around the hotel. I would recommend you go to Warung Legong, which serves Balinese and continental foods (try their nasi campur, rice that comes with assorted Balinese side dishes like the skewered teriyaki chicken (satay), sauted mixed vegetables (lawar), and dried and sweetened grated coconut (srundeng)).

The great outdoors

The hotel offers additional amenities outdoors. First, you’ll find a big swimming pool with warm water (thanks to the tropical weather), which has views of the ocean! Kids will also enjoy their time in the kid’s pool, located right next to the adult’s pool and besides swimming, you can also relax and cool off on one of the sun loungers by the pool.

Next, you’ll see a man-made lake, which is crystal clear and provides a beautiful reflection of the trees around the lake. You can spend your evening by the lake in the sitting area to watch the sunset.

Between the lake and the private beach is an open-air chapel, normally used for weddings, but, if it isn’t in use, guests can go into the chapel to have a look around. It is a great place to take photos!

The private beach at Rumah Luwih is unique, because unlike the white sand found on most of Bali’s beaches, the sand here is black. This is due to volcanic activity on the island.