The Istana, Bali, Indonesia

The 22 kilometre drive from Bali’s international airport takes you through Jimbaran and across the centre of the Bukit to the revered Uluwatu Temple. On route there are glimpses of the beautiful, if slightly arid, scenery but nothing can prepare for the dramatic views from The Istana. Imax style panoramas from 60m up on the cliff. Surfers catch waves in the turquoise waters below, fishing boats trawl offshore and the evening sun slides over the uninterrupted horizon. Absolutely magical.
Everything about The Istana verges on palatial from the grand entrance to the commercial kitchens complete with walk-in chillers; from the movie room with 92” projection screen to the secluded master suite with sunken bath and private 5m x 8m swimming pool. It is however difficult to focus on anything but the spectacular 180 degree views fronted by a magnificent 30m swimming pool set in lawns and spotted with coconut palms. For the best views though try the cliff-top balé (gazebo) where blinds glide down at the touch of a button if the glare (or breeze) gets too much.

The contemporary styled low rise main building houses an additional 4 generous ensuite bedrooms, a formal dining room for 12, a casual media room and an open lounge which flows seamlessly onto the lawns. Off the back is the kitchen, home to 3 of the 27 staff (yes, twenty seven!). A recent addition is a kids’ area which comprises a large games room and two simple bedrooms for up to 5 children and a spa complete with massage rooms. Interiors throughout Villa Istana are well proportioned and tastefully finished - good understated design with a strong emphasis on local woods and stone. The workmanship, materials and finish from the recent 2007 renovation are generally excellent. Soft furnishings are stylish but practical and comfortable.

The chefs will undertake the provisioning either based on a restaurant priced menu or on your account plus a handling fee. Butlers are available 24/7, maids clean discreetly and drivers ferry around. Gardeners and engineers keep the place ticking whilst 24 hour security ensures total privacy. There is even an in-house masseur although a local spa company comes for more sophisticated treatments – the villa manager is there to facilitate. How little or much the staff are seen is very much down to the guest.

The Istana is splendid in its almost total isolation on Bali’s recently trendy Bukit. It shares its magnificent views with a spattering of villas and Uluwatu’s famous temple 2 kilometres along the cliff face. A few hundred metres down the road and down a series of steep steps is a small hidden away collection of shacks, hostels and cafes – base for the surfers whose mecca is the waves off Suluban Point. These world class breaks can be watched from the quiet comfort of the Istana’s balé (gazebo). The Blue Point Villa complex is hidden round to the north as is Padang Padang Beach and the nearest noticeable village is Pecatu, turn off to the glitzy Bulgari Resort some 7 kilometres back.  Read More/Google Map

The Istana buildings are some 50m from the cliff edge and fronted with lawns and a 30m swimming pool. Spectacularly positioned on the cliff top with breathtaking views of the ocean and Suluban Beach, a large balé (gazebo) incorporates a lounging area, bar, sunken dining table (for 12) and BBQ.

The master suite is located within a self-contained, single-storey guesthouse. Set back for complete privacy but with stunning ocean views, it comes with separate entrance and parking. The king-sized bedroom, featuring a ‘disappearing’ TV, vaulted ceiling, timber-clad walls and a recycled teakwood floor, opens out through folding doors onto a private pool terrace and ‘L’ shaped swimming pool. A sunken bathtub is the focal point of the expansive ensuite cream terrazzo bathroom which also features walk-in showers (inside and out), marble washbasins and floor to ceiling wardrobes and storage.

In the main house the two ocean suites’, both king bedded, doors fold back to reveal the dramatic ocean views, while the garden suites, also king-bedded, open up to small gardens complemented by a private walled sun-lounging area with a raised wooden deck and daybeds for relaxing. Each suite has a capacious walk-in closet, and indoor and outdoor Bali-style bathrooms with sunken bathtubs and separate showers; walls are faced with timber panelling and high cathedral timber-lined ceilings come with fans and air-conditioning. Garden suites come with 42” plasma screens with DVDs and stereos.

The four main house suites connect back to the common areas – an expansive open-air living room with well stocked bar; an air-conditioned dining room for 12 complete with solid teak table and doors than can be folded right back; and a media room with 92” projection screen and stereo system - via colonnaded walkways edged with bubbling ponds. All are designed to maximise the stunning views The Istana offers.

Out the back is one wing is devoted entirely to children. It features a lounge/living space complete with sofas, a pool table, Playstation, TV/DVD and Bose sound system. A bedroom with fitted bunks provides sleeping space for four kids, and there is also a twin nanny’s room. Behind is a dedicated spa with a salon and massage room. A large semi-commercial kitchen hidden in the rear of the villa provides the catering.