There are few hotel names that carry the same sense of romance and recognition as Raffles.
For well over a century, the brand has been associated with writers, artists and explorers. Like Lightfoot, Raffles has its roots in Singapore, and that shared heritage is part of why it has always resonated with us. There is a familiarity to the way Raffles hotels feel: attentive and refined, with hospitality that is genuine and warm.
At Raffles Bali, that spirit feels particularly well-suited to its surroundings.
Arrival begins with a traditional Balinese blessing at the open-air lobby overlooking Jimbaran Bay, before you make your way down through the resort towards the sea. Despite being only around 20 minutes from the airport, it feels far quieter and more spacious than much of southern Bali.
This is not the Bali of busy beach clubs or packed schedules. Most days here revolve around your villa: slow breakfasts overlooking the bay, afternoons by the pool, sunset cocktails at The Writers Bar and dinners that stretch easily into the evening.
- 01. The Lightfoot perspective: Why we love Raffles Bali
- 02. A discreet and private villa resort
- 03. The Raffles spirit, reimagined in Bali
- 04. Long lunches and romantic dinners
- 05. Relaxed wellness at Raffles Bali
- 06. Why Raffles Bali works so well within a wider Indonesia journey
- 07. Exclusive Lightfoot benefits at Raffles Bali
- 08. When is the best time to visit Raffles Bali?
- 9. Frequently Asked Questions
There are many beautiful resorts in Bali. What makes Raffles Bali stand apart is that unmistakable Raffles quality: exceptional service, elegant design, a strong sense of calm and the sort of attention to detail that discerning guests notice immediately.
For couples, honeymooners or anyone looking for a calmer start or finish to a wider Indonesia journey, it is one of the Bali resorts we recommend again and again.
As Lightfoot Founder and Director Simon Cameron put it after his stay:
“Raffles Bali is a very high-end product. The villas are incredibly spacious, with lovely pools and big open-air pavilions overlooking the sea. It’s the sort of place where you could happily disappear for a few days without really needing to leave your villa at all. But then the beachside pool, bar and restaurants are beautiful too. It feels like an oasis. The service is excellent, the butlers are always available on WhatsApp, and even the small details are done really well, like the incredible sound system in the villas, so you can sit by the pool listening to your own music. I liked it a lot.”
Sophie, our Head of Singapore, came away equally impressed:
“It’s at the very top end of what’s available on the island – and there are a lot of top tier hotels here. You feel completely removed, but it’s only a short drive from the airport. The villas are huge, the service is flawless and it’s one of those places that works beautifully when you want to slow down and feel pampered. It’s incredibly romantic and private, with spectacular views across the bay. I absolutely loved my stay there.”
The Lightfoot perspective: Why we love Raffles Bali
A discreet and private villa resort
The resort has just 32 private pool villas spread across 23 hectares of tropical hillside, so even when the hotel is busy, it doesn’t feel crowded. Each villa sits within its own generous garden, with wide ocean views, large infinity pools and enough space that many guests spend much of their stay without feeling the need to leave.
The design feels unmistakably Raffles, while remaining rooted in Bali. Dark timber tones, Indonesian artwork, rattan textures and open-air living spaces give the villas warmth and character.
The Panoramic One Bedroom Pool Villas are especially popular with couples and honeymooners thanks to their elevated positioning and uninterrupted views across Jimbaran Bay.
One detail our team consistently mentions after staying here is how easy the resort feels. Butler service is included with every villa. Most things are arranged simply over WhatsApp, whether that means booking dinner, organising a buggy across the grounds or coordinating helicopter transfers inland to Ubud using the resort’s heliport.
Every villa stay also includes a complimentary professional photography session, allowing guests to preserve moments from their time at the resort, whether travelling as a couple, family or group of friends.
Raffles Bali retains the character people associate with the brand while still feeling unmistakably Balinese.
The Writers Bar nods to the literary heritage of the original Raffles Singapore, while introducing its own Bali Sling in homage to the Singapore Sling. At sunset, it becomes one of the loveliest spots in the resort.
The resort leans naturally into Balinese culture and spirituality. Guests can take part in Melukat purification rituals at the temple, Canang making workshops, botanical walks through the preserved grounds and spiritual wellbeing experiences inspired by local healing traditions.
The setting itself plays a big role in the atmosphere. Around 60 per cent of the estate has been preserved as natural landscape, with more than 100 plant species spread across the hillside gardens. It gives the resort a greener, softer feel than many of Bali’s other large luxury resorts.
The Raffles spirit, reimagined in Bali
Long lunches and romantic dinners
Rumari, set at the highest point of the resort overlooking the bay, serves contemporary Southeast Asian cuisine with a strong focus on Indonesian ingredients and regional flavours. It is also Indonesia’s first Krug Ambassade, reflecting the strength of the restaurant’s wine and Champagne programme.
Set beside the beachfront infinity pool, Loloan offers a relaxed oceanfront setting for coastal Peruvian cuisine, refreshing cocktails and leisurely lunches and dinners by the water. Elsewhere, guests may gather at The Farm Terrace for private dining experiences surrounded by the resort’s lush landscape.
One of the resort’s most memorable experiences is dinner inside the Secret Cave – a naturally formed cave lit by candles and torches that hosts just one table each evening. Elsewhere, private dinners can be arranged beside the beach, at the romantic Purnama Honeymoon Bale, or in the privacy of your villa overlooking the ocean.
For honeymooners, anniversaries or couples celebrating something special, it’s easy to see why the resort has developed a loyal following.
The wellness offering here never feels overly rigid or programme-driven. Guests can dip in and out of as much or as little as they like.
Morning movement and meditation sessions take place on the open-air terrace overlooking the bay, alongside sound healing, Reiki, chakra balancing and holistic therapies inspired by Southeast Asian traditions. Treatments are offered both at the main spa and at The Sanctuary, a more secluded hillside treatment space surrounded by tropical greenery and the sound of the ocean below.
Many guests come here simply to rest properly for a few days, while others make full use of the resort’s wellness offering, with daily sessions ranging from breathwork and Tai Chi to guided rituals and holistic therapies.
Some spend their mornings taking part in a soul blessing ceremony with a local spiritual guide. Others cycle through the resort’s gardens, swim at the beachfront infinity pool or disappear into their villa with a book for most of the afternoon.
One of the more unusual experiences is the resort’s fire cleansing ritual, held beside the beach at sunset and centred around symbolic release and renewal.
Relaxed wellness at Raffles Bali
Why Raffles Bali works so well within a wider Indonesia journey
Although Raffles Bali works brilliantly as a weekend escape from Singapore or Hong Kong, one of the reasons we recommend it so often is because it fits very well into a wider Indonesia itinerary.
The resort’s heliport makes onward travel across Bali far easier, particularly for guests wanting to avoid the island’s increasingly heavy traffic. Helicopter transfers can be arranged to Ubud, Bali’s volcanic interior and other parts of the island.
For many travellers, Bali works best as either the beginning or ending to a more adventurous journey elsewhere in Indonesia.
Increasingly, we are combining Raffles Bali with places such as NIHI Sumba, or the new NIHI Rote, Cap Karoso, Lombok, Labuan Bajo and Komodo National Park.
One of our favourite combinations at the moment is our Bali & Komodo Yacht Voyage with Rascal itinerary, which pairs several nights at Raffles Bali with a voyage aboard Rascal, a beautifully crafted traditional phinisi yacht exploring Komodo National Park and beyond.
After unwinding above Jimbaran Bay, guests continue east to Flores before boarding Rascal for a five-night sailing journey through Komodo’s islands and reefs. Days are spent swimming with manta rays, hiking in search of Komodo dragons, snorkelling coral gardens and anchoring beside remote beaches far from the busier parts of Indonesia.
As part of our partnership with Raffles Bali, Lightfoot clients can enjoy a number of additional benefits and experiences.
These currently include:
- → Complimentary Rumari Counter dining experiences on selected villa categories for longer stays
- →. In-villa barbecue experiences for guests staying in larger villas
- → Upgrades to the Raffles Presidential Villa, subject to availability
- → Excellent value on longer stays, including current stay offers available through 2026
Alongside securing additional benefits, our team can suggest the best activities to suit your interests and tailor a multi-stop Indonesia itinerary around your stay.
Exclusive Lightfoot benefits at Raffles Bali
When is the best time to visit Raffles Bali?
Raffles Bali works well year-round, but the driest and sunniest months generally fall between May and October, when days are warm, clear and ideal for spending time outdoors or combining Bali with other parts of Indonesia.
November to April is generally quieter and more tropical, with short bursts of rain usually passing quickly. This can be an especially good period for attractive special offers and quieter beaches.
Because the resort is only around 20 minutes from the airport, it also works well for shorter luxury escapes from Singapore, Hong Kong and Australia throughout the year.
Which villa categories are best at Raffles Bali?
The Panoramic One Bedroom Pool Villas are usually the most popular choice for couples and honeymooners, thanks to their elevated positioning and uninterrupted views across Jimbaran Bay.
Hilltop Pool Villas feel especially secluded and romantic, while the Ocean Pool Villas sit slightly closer to the resort facilities and beach.
For families or groups, the Oceanfront Two Bedroom Pool Villas offer generous indoor and outdoor living space. The new four-bedroom Residence is the resort’s most exclusive accommodation, designed more like a private estate for multi-generational stays or celebrations.
Is Raffles Bali good for families?
Yes, although it suits families looking for a quieter, more spacious Bali stay rather than a resort centred around children’s facilities.
There is no traditional kids’ club, but children can take part in cultural and nature-based activities, including Balinese dressing, Canang making, cooking sessions, painting, cycling and botanical experiences. Babysitting can also be arranged.
What is there to do at the resort?
Most guests spend a large part of their stay enjoying the privacy of their villa, the beachfront infinity pool and the wider grounds, but there is plenty to explore beyond simply slowing down.
The resort offers a thoughtful mix of cultural, wellness and outdoor experiences, including Melukat purification rituals, botanical walks, Balinese cooking and jamu-making classes, yoga, meditation, cycling and sound healing.
Guests can also arrange sunset cruises, helicopter flights over Bali, and private dining experiences ranging from beach barbecues to candlelit dinners in the Secret Cave.
One of the loveliest experiences is Wings of the Wild, a guided nature walk that introduces guests to the resort’s birdlife, butterflies, and tropical planting across the estate.
What are the standout experiences at the resort?
Some of the experiences we particularly recommend include:
- → Dinner inside the Secret Cave
- → Sunset cocktails at The Writers Bar
- → The Melukat purification ceremony at the resort temple
- → Botanical and birdlife walks across the preserved hillside grounds
- → Wellness treatments at The Sanctuary
- → Helicopter journeys across Bali to Ubud and the volcanic interior
- → Combining Bali with Komodo, Sumba or a private yacht journey aboard Rascal
Is there a beach at Raffles Bali?
Raffles Bali has direct access to a quiet stretch of beach below the resort.
The beach is lovely for walks, sunsets, and spending time by the water, although swimming directly in front of the resort can be limited in some areas due to coral near the shore. Guests wanting calmer swimming conditions can walk slightly further along Jimbaran Beach.
Is Raffles Bali good for honeymooners?
Very much so. The combination of privacy, personalised service and the resort’s more grown-up atmosphere makes it one of our favourite Bali resorts for couples.
Large private villas, oversized pools and destination dining experiences all add to the appeal, particularly for couples wanting extra seclusion.
Can Raffles Bali be combined with other parts of Indonesia?
Yes, easily, and this is one of the reasons we love recommending it.
Raffles Bali works particularly well combined with Sumba, Lombok, Labuan Bajo and Komodo National Park.
Our Raffles Bali + Rascal yacht journey through Komodo is popular with clients looking to combine Bali with something more adventurous.
How far is Raffles Bali from the airport?
Raffles Bali is approximately 20 minutes from Ngurah Rai International Airport, making it one of the easiest luxury resorts in Bali to reach after an international flight.
The resort also has its own heliport for guests wanting quicker onward access to other parts of Bali and Indonesia.
Frequently Asked Questions
Speak to our Indonesia specialists to start planning your stay at Raffles Bali, which can be woven into a tailormade Indonesia holiday.
Photography credits: Raffles Bali
Let us plan your
bespoke adventure
Lightfoot Travel creates tailormade itineraries throughout Bali. Get in touch to plan you bespoke adventure.
Enquire Now
