If travel videos on social media are to be believed, the beaches worth visiting in Bali lie between the expat-inhabited stretch of Seminyak down to Canggu. This is a decoy. True Balinese insiders—the ones who have been visiting the island since The Gu was just rice paddy fields—know that Bali’s best beach lies south of the island in Nusa Dua.
There, seven kilometres of pearly white sand lay the foundation for sparkling, crystal clear water that lightly lap ashore, waves gentle enough to go swimming in. It’s here that you’ll find the tranquil Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua Beach Resort, a five-star luxury beachfront resort fresh from a multi-million dollar refurbishment. A sprawling 413-room property with a grandiose labyrinth of pools—some accessible directly from guest rooms—and an expansive garden setting, it is blissfully free from the beeps of speeding scooters and groups of Bintang-buzzed visitors.
Designed by WATG, the resort’s general manager Sylvain Pasdeloup describes The Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua Beach Resort as “a five-star resort where time stops and your magnificent experience begins”. This descriptor proves to be spellbindingly true. From the moment you enter the hotel, all five senses are instantly engaged through details orchestrated to transport you to a Balinese sanctuary hidden away from the daily humdrum.
Start in the foyer—distinctive Balinese chiming bells announce the majestic rotunda lobby where towering timber columns are sculpted to symbolise a banyan tree (the center of social life in Balinese villages). Look closer and intricate wood panels sport a trimurti sculpture carved by Yogyakarta artist Agus Suharyanto. Outside, the property’s cascading rice field-like setting designed by Belt Collins is as much a nod to Bali’s agricultural roots as it is a tool to evoke an ambience of zen, inviting guests to sit back, relax and just be.
The idyllic aura continues indoors, where all 413 rooms—including the 22 suites and 17 villas with private pools—are masterclasses in minimalist French design. Anchored by glossy timber furnishings and accented by artfully-placed Balinese ikat patterns for texture, the rooms are appointed with thoughtfully luxe touches and discreet mood lighting. Whether you are sinking into the sumptuous bed that cocoons your body or languidly soaking in a deep bathtub, it may be tempting to keep your doors closed till it’s time to check out, but the resort’s ample amenities are impossible to ignore.
Guests in villas or rooms and suites with plunge pool or pool access can choose to set the indulgent tone of their stay with a floating breakfast—served to be enjoyed while taking a luxuriant dip in the cool water. As for the resort’s main culinary offerings, take your pick between the breezy Toya Beach Bar & Grill, Pan-Asian Kwee Zeen, Mediterranean-style Cucina—with servers clad in “kain perca” designer uniforms—before traipsing over to the two bars for a tropical cocktail or two (the footwear-free sundowner at the L’Oh Pool Bar is not to be missed). Whenever the mood should strike, embark on a soul-reviving stroll along the powder soft beachfront. Early risers may be treated to a gorgeous sunrise—a reminder why Bali ranks high on so many travelers’ lists.
If the main focus of your getaway is to renew, relax, and re-energise, the Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua Beach Resort more than delivers. Perhaps it is the tranquil energy emanating from the beach each morning, the blissful feeling of being kneaded and stroked in sync with the sound of lapping waves at Gazebo by SoSPA, the delicious smoke-kissed flavours of a babi guling cooked perfectly, or the harmonious trifecta of designer French flair, warm Balinese hospitality, and authentic personal touches. Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua Beach Resort is proof that sometimes the best-kept secrets are hidden in plain sight.
In celebration of the resort’s ninth anniversary, Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua presents ‘Celebrating Life’. Throughout December 2022, an afternoon tea in collaboration with L’Occitane will be available at Cucina daily, and signature cocktails created in partnership with Grey Goose will be available during Cucina Brunch every Sunday.
Book your stay here.
