Bali, this magical island, has so many wonderful hotels and resorts to chose from. In fact, it offers so many beautiful options that can be quite overwhelming! One of the best ways to narrow down where to stay is to find out the desirable location you like. Head over to my post about Bali and read about the different towns within the island. Once you have identified the suitable town, you can look for the hotel or resort that best suits your needs.

For us, it was Jimbaran because of its proximity to the airport and Seminyak, where restaurants, bars and clubs are plentiful; but most of all because it houses The Villas at the Ayana. The beautiful resort may very well be the largest on the island as it contains 3 affiliated hotels within the property, The Villas, Ayana and Rimba. You get the picture, right?

The massive property has a total of 19 restaurants and bars, 12 swimming pools and offers every amenity your heart desire to the point that you only need to leave the resort to explore the rich history on the island! We weren’t able to visit all the restaurants and swimming pools during our extended stay.

What is the difference between The Villas vs Ayana or Rimba?

All 3 properties are laid out beautifully and you get to enjoy most of the bars, restaurants and pools within the property. The major difference between The Villas and the other two hotels is the size and the layout of the rooms. The Villas offer their own private bungalow-like units along with butler and driver service. The other two have more a traditional hotel set-up with elevators and adjoining walls for neighboring rooms. This is the main reason for a higher price-tag.

While the size of the room or having a butler may not be interesting to you, having transportation in the resort is is a real peak in the large estate. The property is around 90 hectares (223 acres) near cliff-tops; thus, walking around can be exhausting and time-consuming. Also, The Villas will give you access to some of the most popular areas within the resort that do not accept reservations such as the ever popular Rock Bar.

Another feature of The Villas are the private in-unit pools with accompanying huts to get a break from the sun. More on this below. Guests also gain access to exclusive pools with elaborate designs and a quieter environment.

Restaurants and bars at Ayana resort:

• Rock Bar

One of the most sought-after bars in Bali is the Rock Bar. The bar is perched 14 meters above the Indian Ocean over natural rocks, a perfect place to take in the glorious Bali sunset. The DJ booth is set in the middle of the cliff and plays wonderful music throughout the night. Villas guests can access the bar without a wait leveraging the butler service; but be forewarned that guests of the other resorts are likely to encounter lengthy lines during peak hours due to the popularity.

• Dava Steak Bar and Grill

The dramatic backdrop of the mountains and ocean make for an amazing and romantic dining experience at the Dava. The menu has a focus on steak and seafood, so we ordered the Wagyu, naturally. We accompanied that with truffle potatoes and pork chop and ate to our heart’s content!

• Unique Rooftop Bar and Restaurant:

This beautiful pool-club by day and vibrant restaurant by night offers delightful Mexican food along with wonderful cocktails. It also has a beautiful view of the sunset with a 25 meter infinity pool and (most importantly?) floaties! Despite measured expectations since we were ordering Mexican cuisine in Indonesia, we were pleasantly surprised by he quality of the food and flavors. The food and experience was so wonderful it may be our most favorite restaurant within the property. (And we are accustomed to great Mexican food since we live in California!)

• Kisik bar and grill

This lovely restaurant also boast some of the most amazing views of the ocean. Kisik is located on cliffs near the Rock Bar. Thus, it’s another romantic location to take in the wonderful sunset. It is known for its wonderful selection of fresh fish, rock lobster, crab, squid and other local seafood. The fresh seafood will be lined up before your eyes and you’ll get to select and have it cooked your way.

We ordered the rock lobster and crab and never looked back!

• Padi

Padi happens to be where the breakfast buffet is hosted each morning, which offers separate food stations for Asian, American and European cuisine. However, by night it is an Asian themed restaurant with a chic Balinese setting. It’s a great place for a quick bite (well, quick on resort time) and late night drink to finish off the night!

• Floating champagne brunch :

How could I visit Bali and not order a floating breakfast? While this is not a “restaurant” per se, it is a food service option in The Villas which is fun and unique! We got to enjoy our brunch by the pool while taking in the view and the sun. If you are staying in The Villas, the floating breakfast will be a luxury you will never forget! Who needs a breakfast by the pool when you can have it in the pool?