The Credentials:
It has been around for 17 years but The Legian is still the go-to hotel for those seeking understated luxury in vibrant Seminyak. The five-star resort is ranked number one in Bali and number 10 in Asia by Traveller’s Choice while staff are too discreet to name-drop any of their celebrity guests.
With interiors by much-feted Indonesian designer Jaya Ibrahim, the 67 seafront suites plus The Beach House each come with little extras, including a complimentary selection from the mini bar, afternoon tea and use of the gym, bicycles and participation of the daily yoga classes (even the boyf, who usually prefers a lie-in, was persuaded to join the 8am sea-facing class, which took place beneath coconut trees on a shaded lawn).
There’s also a three-tiered infinity pool (overlooking the Indian Ocean), two low-key bars, plus French-trained chef Luke MacLeod had arrived to oversee the restaurant a couple of weeks before our arrival.
Dine:
MacLeod’s Michelin-starred kitchen and five-star hotel experience (he’d come from InterContinental Koh Samui) showed in his unfussy, perfectly executed classics (staff were asked to road-test 12 burger recipes by him during my stay).
We enjoyed refreshingly light starters of grilled watermelon with feta cheese and rucola (IDR90,000) and feta and olive salad (IDR95,000) followed by a sweet tomato tart (IDR125,000) and a lobster sandwich (IDR250,000), which came with moreish crispy fries.
Breakfast combined the best of buffet (Asian delicacies, fruit, cheese, meats, yoghurt and cereals) with the best of a la carte (such as my choice of poached eggs with a side of spinach).
Sleep:
Our corner studio suite certainly had the wow factor. It wasn’t just its space – a substantial 99 square metres – and the two outdoor decks with sunset-over-the-sea and jungle views, but its beautiful interiors featured local materials such as atta, and mother of pearl-inlaid furniture, artworks and artefacts from around the archipelago, plus plenty of high spec amenities, including a Samsung Smart LED TV, iPod, Bose sound system and a Nespresso coffee machine. The bathroom, with its two sinks, deep soak bath and rain shower, was generously stocked with Aqua di Parma goodies.
We were welcomed with canapés, a bowl of fruit, bottles of water and inclusive wi-fi – the things that make you feel like you’re really at a (albeit super luxurious) home from home and we slept like babies to the sound of the sea.
Who Goes There?
Mainly health-conscious Australian couples.
Out & About:
From exclusive boutiques to wholesale workshops, international restaurants and simple cafes, there’s something for everyone in Seminyak.
We enjoyed excellent cocktails (my fave gin, Martin Miller’s, was on the extensive drink list) and pan Asian dishes – think tuna and lobster tartare (IDR150,000) to start, followed by sweet black ‘miso’ cod (IDR300,000) which came with pickled daikon, asparagus, shiitake mushrooms, shiso dressing, yuzu gel, tobiko – in our fave beach club in the area, elegant Ku De Ta; lunch at vintage-inspired restaurant Bistrot; and stuck to our hotel for a Balinese massage. Our bespoke couples’ massage (using Ila products and pure essential oils) from therapists Budi and Ariati, who each had 11 years’ experience, was one of the best we had on the island.
The Worst Thing:
Red flags meant we had to stick to our pool – no hard task – rather than take a dip in the sea.
The Best Thing:
Attention to detail.
