Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Ubud, Bali

Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Ubud promises a refined luxury in the heart of Bali and wows with sophisticated interior design and a beautiful location in a river enclosure among the lush tropical jungle.

When planning our latest trip to Ubud we had a hard time picking resorts to stay at. There are dozens of high-end hotels in this cultural center of Bali, and over the years we’ve checked out quite a few of them.

Eventually, we booked stays at Amandari and Four Seasons Sayan, but we had one more slot in our itinerary, and it seemed only fair to spruce it up with a resort from Ritz-Carlton and discover if the brand known for city hotels can pull it off with its Reserve offering.

Amazing views

Arriving via a small road and entering the elegant, but entering the somewhat nondescript lobby did not prepare us for the spectacular views from the top of the Mandapa.

Set on the cusp of the Ayung river valley, the terraces behind the lobby are designed to maximize the vantage point, ensuring some truly beautiful vistas over the rest of the resort and beyond. The villas and restaurants are far down, spread by the river which cuts through Bali’s lush jungle and outlines the resort.

The stunning setting is just one side of the holistic luxury offered by Mandapa. There are restaurants, spa and over sixty suites (the smallest of which is almost 100 square meters)—as well as the spacious, private pool villas.

A Beautiful Creation

Arriving via a small road and entering the elegant, but somewhat nondescript lobby does not prepare for spectacular views.

Set on the cusp of the Ayung river valley, the terraces behind the lobby are designed to maximize the vantage point, ensuring some truly beautiful vistas over the rest of the resort and beyond. The villas and restaurants are far down, spread by the river which cuts through Bali’s lush jungle and outlines the Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve.

The stunning setting is just one side of the holistic luxury offered by this tropical resort. There are restaurants, spa and over sixty suites (the smallest of which is almost 100 square meters)—as well as spacious and beautiful private pool villas.

Check availability for Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve: Booking.com | Hotels.com | Agoda or see what others think on TripAdvisor.

Our Riverside Villa

We were led from the lobby for a seamless and speedy in-villa check-in. Once our all-smiles butler left we could begin to take in and appreciate just how beautiful our guest accommodation was.

Our villa was set right on the riverbank, enclosed within a walled space with a separate living room, veranda, and, of course, the swimming pool.

The bedroom prompted various oohs and aahs from both of us, thanks to its understated luxury style. The swanky bathroom also had a serious wow factor. White and dark-brown, it delights with a classy, glamorous look.

Beyond Guest Accommodation

Spaciousness is the feature here not only in the suites and villas but throughout the hotel grounds. They include a sizeable chunk of paddy fields as an integral part of the property.

The spa invites to its treatment rooms opened up to the river, to try the individually tailored wellness and health programs, which include the “Heat Experiences” consisting of Sauna, Steam Room, and Ice Fountain.

The next-door Kubu restaurant is a lovely surprise—and it became our favorite spot, especially for the evening drinks.

Set against the clean, elegant luxury of the resort, the Kubu’s private cocoon pods look like organic creations from a fairytale. Stylistically, they almost feel at odds with the rest of the resort—but then, when creating a swish property like Mandapa, it is a good idea to have at least one of its elements veering into the magical realm.

in our opinion

What we love

• Stunning location, with the lobby at the top, and the rest of the resort at the bottom of the valley, hugging the Ayung River. The views are out of this world—especially just before sunset when sun rays pierce the silhouettes of trees on the opposite side of the valley, penetrating into the patios of the lobby, and the rest of the resort, far, far down below
• Pretty much everything about our riverside villa (# 16)! Gorgeous design in and out, perfectly blending Balinese vibe with contemporary aesthetics. It was one of the most elegantly designed villas we stayed in Bali. Our accommodation also came with a massive private swimming pool, surrounded by frangipani trees and overlooking the river. It was perfect!
• Service was great overall, and the butler in particular: dedicated, professional, very well trained. (Thank you for being so good to us, Megan!)
• Kubu Restaurant. It's one of those places that inspire genuine “wow” exclamations. Created entirely from bamboo and wicker, its design is out of this world. The atmosphere at night is magical, with moody lights and soothing sounds of the river

What you should know

• The riverside villas are very private and enveloped in the quiet sounds of the river, but this tranquility is occasionally pierced by the voices of the tourists doing the "white-water" rafting. These villas are also cast in a deep shadow at least two hours before sunset, as they stand close to the carved-by-the-river cliff
• Some pool villas placed alongside the paddy fields and benefit from a nice view, but they are way less private than the riverside villas
• The restaurant serving breakfast and lunch felt a bit cramped—which felt odd at a hotel that offers a vast amount of space overall
• We weren't entirely sure all elements of the resort's design work equally well. For example, the main building supporting the clifftop lobby has a very imposing, monumental appearance. The spa also has an unappealing, almost brutalist style
• One thing was missing: at sunset, the main resort areas get shadowed, but the beautiful lobby benefits from a fantastic position on top of the valley. It's a perfect spot for a bar (and sundowners!)
• Among the more unique experiences offered, the resort has a classic VW 181 convertible, in which guests can be taken on a ride over the beautiful countryside, visiting places like the Tirta Emphul water temple or Ceking village, Mount Kawi and more
• The resort is located a mere 20 minutes by car from Ubud and there is a free shuttle service every two hours (from 9 am to 5:25 pm). Depending on traffic, it takes some 90 minutes by car to get to the international airport
• Getting there: The flight-comparison sites such as Skyscanner (www.skyscanner.com) or Kayak (www.kayak.com) will help you find the best flights and deals.