Bali is a destination on most peopleβs bucket list. The picturesque landscapes are breathtaking, the culture is diverse and the history interesting but itβs the lush forests of Ubud with its waterfalls and abundance of incredible food that keep people flocking to the Indonesian island. I spent some time reconnecting with nature at the most wonderful boutique hotel Bisma Eight HotelΒ and Bisma Eight Villas, just down the road.
Whatβs Ubud like?
If you have never been to Ubud I would sum it up like this: on the drive in expect to be constantly surrounded by hundreds of mopeds darting about the narrow streets. The streets of the main town are so busy there is always a hum of traffic and bikes speeding by along with local people selling their wares and offering you a massage or taxi ride. Itβs busy, thereβs a smell of spices and grilled meats and fish in the air and the odd monkey crosses your path. As you travel through the chaos you wonder how on earth people call this place βpeacefulβ.
How to get to Bisma Eight Hotel
Bisma Eight Hotel is a few minutes walk from the centre of Ubud, a stone’s throw from Ubud Palace and all the restaurants and bars. Slightly off the beaten path you wonder if your car will make it up the road itself but on turning into the property the level of luxury is immediately apparent and itβs as if youβve stepped into another world.
As you enter the reception youβre greeted first with a warm smile and a cold drink and the smell of fruits, incense and burning oils fills your lungs. The air conditioning is most welcome relief from the heat of the day and my companion and I sit and relax as we are checked in for the next few days. A beautiful pool dominates the centre of the hotel where there is also a coffee shop and reading room, a very relaxed area for young explorers and business travellers alike.
Rooms at Bisma Eight
As we are escorted to our room we pass through the central courtyard which is filled with plantlife, with gardeners tending to the flowers and trimming the leaves with such care. We are taken up the lift to the third floor to our Forest Suite. Named not just because of the nearby forest, but because you can overlook the vast forests from your bed.
The forests suites are located on the west end of the hotel meaning that every night you get a view of the sun setting from your very own balcony. The room has a sofa and living area on a higher level along with the bathroom complete with rainfall shower and a traditional Japanese soaking tub. It also has a separate shower and vanity unit along with many amenities for a comfortable stay.
The king-sized bed is positioned to look out over the floor-to-ceiling windows at the incredible view of the ancient forests. The furniture is all made from Balinese teak wood with warm tones of orange and cream making the space feel luxurious and yet homely. It is a very high standard of luxury in what looks like the most remote locations, just wonderful.
Rooms at Bisma Eight Villas
A short stroll down quaint Jalan Bisma brings you from the hotel to Bisma Villas, where you will find 12 villas set around a peaceful courtyard with an organic garden, which is served in the on site restaurant. Tucked behind the walls of your private villa, we found a private pool, an open-air living space, a kitchenette, and a lush secluded garden. We thought that Bisma Eight hotel room was beautiful but this villa was true luxury in the heart of Ubud.
The villa is on two floors with the bedroom and bathroom on the upper floor with its own balcony looking over the pool. The bathroom has an even bigger Japanese bathtub which can easily fit 2 people and a huge shower room, double vanity units with plenty of light and lovely amenities. It was absolutely wonderful having our own private pool, and this was the coldest pool we had experienced in Bali, as a British person used to the cold, the 35-degree days were stifling and most swimming pools and the sea tend to be quite warm. The feeling of stripping off at the end of an excursion and getting straight into our own cold pool was nothing short of euphoria!
The infinity pool overlooking Ubud
After a hot afternoon exploring the sacred Monkey Forest, my companion and I were in much need of liquid refreshment and relaxation. The infinity pool at Bisma Eight Hotel is simply gorgeous, a long rectangular pool surrounded by smooth wooden decking and luxury day beds. The pool overlooks the jungle so whilst submerged in the cool water you can gaze across miles of untouched jungle and hear all the sounds of the wildlife within it.
We timed our trip to the pool very nicely as it was 2-4-1 cocktails at their sunset happy hour. Tell me is there anything better than drinking cocktails with your best friend while watching cranes fly through the sky as the sun sets? Because at that moment it didnβt feel like it. Pure bliss.
Restaurant at Bisma Eight Hotel
There is a choice of 3 dining areas at Bisma Eight Hotel; Mori, a Teppanyaki restaurant in an intimate setting, the pool pavilion serving specialty cocktails and high tea overlooking the pool and forests below and finally Copper where we enjoyed a wonderful meal. Situated on the roof of Bisma Eight Hotel, Copper enjoys a panoramic view of the forest and hubbub of the city.
The restaurant serves locally grown and ethically sourced produce, created in the culinary heart of Ubud to bring the legacy of Balinese cooking into a modern setting. The dinner menu is varied with everything from vegan options, fresh salads and chilled gazpacho to sticky pork ribs and truffle mushroom risotto. I opted for a Wagyu Striploin with baked potatoes and mushrooms. A perfectly searched chunk of medium rare beef that melted in the mouth and was full of flavour. My companion went for the Ikan Bakar, crispy fried fillet of fish with garlic rice and a juicy salad on the side.
We also loved that the staff brought out small dishes in between the courses such as mango sorbet and melon balls, refreshing little palette cleaners that really added to the experience. The food was fantastic and the atmosphere was so relaxed, a couple had just got engaged in a more private area at the end of the restaurant and some Balinese dancers and musicians were at the other end to offer entertainment whilst we dined under the full moon.
The Mandala Spa at Bisma Eight
You canβt walk 10 feet in Bali without seeing or hearing about massages and spas and itβs lovely to see such a luxury being offered at affordable prices for travellers. But if you prefer your massages to be within the full luxury experience then read onβ¦
The Mandala Spa is located at Bisma Eight Villas and free transportation is offered if you are staying at Bisma Eight Hotel. We simply put on our robes and headed from our beautiful villa to the spa on site. We were welcomed with a cold shot of tumeric and orange whilst relaxing with the sounds of flowing water into the pool area.
We are then shown to our own private rooms with showers and vanity areas to prepare ourselves for ultimate relaxation. I had opted for the Signature Balinese Massage using Bismaβs own essential oils blend of Doga Blue, Opium Flower, Orchidea and Vetiver. My therapist was so thorough in my massage that no muscle was left untouched, the technique was perfect and I felt so much better afterwards. After my treatment, I sat with a peppermint tea and thought about what I fancied for my evening meal.
Dining at Bisma Eight Villas
The restaurant at Bisma Eight Villas, Embers, is open for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner serving rustic flavours of the Mediterranean in an outdoor setting. Freshly harvested ingredients and produce are grown Earth-to-table on the organic garden and paired with locally sourced meat and seafood. I have to say that this restaurant is just absolutely gorgeous, as you walk in just when itβs getting dark the soft glow of the lighting is so chic and inviting. The pops of green coming from the garden match the wood of the thick tables and bamboo panels, it really is a lovely setting to enjoy food and drinks.
We started with some freshly baked bread with hummus and an aubergine and garlic dip along with another amuse-bouche of baked spinach and feta. My companion had the Wagyu Tenderloin Carpaccio with lemon peel sour cream and a basil pesto and I was very jealous. Thankfully she let me have a few bites but I regretted choosing a dessert over a starter at that moment. I went straight for the main of Baked Halloumi with Baby Tomato, Artichoke, Olives, Basil Oil, Pomegranate and Roasted Sunflower Seeds which was the quintessential taste of the Mediterranean that I had been craving amidst the many meals of spicy meats and flavoured rice and noodles.
What makes Bisma Eight special
Of course the rooms are fabulous, the villa is pure luxury, the infinity pool is all over my Tiktok profile and the food is delicious but what I have failed to mention so far in this review is the attentiveness of the staff. Every single person we encountered was so friendly, from passing the gardener at the entrance, the cleaners in the corridors to the couple on reception every time to come and go, we never passed without a friendly smile and a hello.
But the staff here really went above and beyond for us when I became struck down with the dreaded Bali belly. They took my companionβs number and checked in periodically over WhatsApp to see if we needed anything, fresh water, ginger tea, toilet roll etc and were on hand should I have needed a doctor. It was incredibly reassuring to know that the staff cared and they were even able to rearrange the full dayβs sightseeing we had booked for the following day and changed all our meal bookings to accommodate us. Simply put it was 5-star service and I just couldnβt fault a single member of staff.
Should you book Bisma Eight Hotel or Villas?
Spending time at both the hotel and the villas was wonderful and when asked which one I preferred I really couldnβt say. I love a bit of human interaction and people-watching so I loved the relaxed atmosphere of the pool bar and the view from the panoramic rooftop at Bisma Eight Hotel. But there is nothing more luxurious than your own private space and pool in the jungle and having that freedom and luxury in such a busy central location was a real 5-star experience. I would simply advise you to book the first part of your trip in the hotel and end with a relaxing couple of days in the villas with a visit to the spa at the end of your stay.
Book your unforgettable stay in Ubud, Bali at Bisma Eight here.
Bisma Eight Hotel
Jl. Bisma No.68,
Ubud
Kecamatan Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar
Bali 80571
Indonesia
