UBUD, BALI: WHERE STILLNESS BECOMES A WAY OF LIFE
Ubud Bali | Getty Images
There are places that whisper to you from the moment you arrive. Ubud is one of them.
Set in the emerald heart of Bali, it is a village suspended between jungle valleys, misty rice terraces, and a rhythm all its own. There is no urgency here—only the slow unfolding of days shaped by ritual, texture, and connection.
Ubud has long been known as Bali’s creative and spiritual core. For decades, it has drawn in artists, healers, and seekers—those looking not for escape, but for a different kind of presence. Life here moves to the pulse of the land. Sound healing at dawn. A barefoot walk through the paddies. Long, fragrant meals made with what the earth offers that day.
Wellness is not a trend here—it’s embedded in the culture. A morning massage is not indulgence, but ceremony. Meditation happens not just on cushions, but in the way incense curls through the air. Even wandering becomes a kind of grounding: through open-air markets, down temple paths, past children laughing in the fields.
Ubud Bali | Getty Images
There is beauty, too, in the built environment. Contemporary Balinese design has evolved into something deeply considered—an aesthetic shaped not by ornament, but by alignment. Here, Japanese influences meet Balinese sensibility in a shared language of calm: raw materials, earthy palettes, open-plan spaces, water, and green. These are not spaces that impress—they soothe.
This is Ubud: a place where architecture breathes, time bends, and everything—every meal, every object, every exchange—asks only for your attention.
STAY
Two places that embody the essence of Ubud’s quiet sophistication.
BISMA EIGHT
A modern sanctuary tucked amidst bamboo groves, Bisma Eight balances warmth with restraint. With its handmade Japanese-style soaking tubs, pressed concrete walls, and jungle-facing suites, it is a celebration of mindful design. The onsite library, gardens, and rooftop bar encourage lingering, and the energy feels more home than hotel.
ALILA UBUD
Perched on the edge of the Ayung River Valley, Alila Ubud is a seamless blend of architecture and environment. Its award-winning infinity pool floats above the forest, and its suites and villas are woven gently into the landscape. Expect clean lines, local materials, and a reverence for silence.
EAT
Food here is ritual. It nourishes body, spirit, and story.
LOCAVORE NXT
A new chapter from the acclaimed Locavore team, NXT is a culinary exploration of Indonesia’s edible biodiversity. Every dish is rooted in seasonality, sustainability, and surprise. There is no script—only a tasting journey that feels intimate, deliberate, and impossibly fresh.
NUSANTARA
The more grounded sibling to Locavore, Nusantara is an ode to traditional Indonesian flavors and cooking techniques. It’s the kind of place where ingredients speak in their own language—and where each bite tells a story from one of the archipelago’s many islands.
HUJAN LOCALE
Part neighborhood gem, part culinary archive, Hujan Locale is chef Will Meyrick’s love letter to the heritage of Indonesian cuisine. Come for the spice-laced dishes, stay for the atmosphere—warm, layered, and full of life.
ROOM4DESSERT
The world’s best pastry chef, Will Goldfarb, has made his mark here—with a dessert tasting menu that borders on performance art. Set in a tropical garden with glowing lights and just a handful of seats, Room4Dessert is as much a memory as a meal.
SHOP
Craft is not commodified here. It is sacred, slow, and skillfully made.
JOHN HARDY UBUD
More than a boutique, this is a living studio. Visit the bamboo workshop to see master artisans handcrafting the brand’s signature jewelry, rooted in Balinese techniques and global design language. John Hardy is a must for lovers of detail and discipline.
GAYA CERAMICS
A sanctuary for ceramic lovers. Every object is hand-thrown, and no two pieces are alike. There is poetry in the process—earth shaped by hand, fire, and patience.
THREADS OF LIFE
This is where textiles become legacy. A gallery and foundation supporting Indonesia’s indigenous weaving traditions, Threads of Life offers garments and home pieces made with natural dyes and ancient wisdom.
RUSTERS UBUD
Part cafe, part roastery, part concept store—Rusters is a multifaceted space that invites you to dwell. Browse the ceramics studio, enjoy a slow coffee, and discover furniture pieces that blend function and philosophy.
NAMU
Though not in Ubud proper, NAMU’s kaftans—also available at Istorja—deserve a mention. Minimal, elegant, and made with conscience, they echo the spirit of island ease.
AND THEN, A BALIAN.
No trip to Bali is complete without a visit to a Balian—a traditional Balinese healer or shaman. These encounters are personal and unpredictable, rooted in spiritual diagnostics passed down through generations. Whether you believe or simply remain open, something always shifts.
Ubud is not a checklist destination. It is a place to arrive softly, to stay a little longer, to let the noise fall away. Come with openness. Leave with something intangible: a slower pulse, a fuller breath, a deeper sense of what matters.
Let the journey linger. Let it change you.
THROUGH OUR LENS
