Reviewed : Asia has decided to unpack and stay for a few nights at the Sofitel Nusa Dua Beach Resort located on the beautiful Indonesian island of Bali. Below is our detailed report of this “absolutely splendid” stay…
The setting
Situated in the upscale beach resort enclave of Nusa Dua on Bali’s renowned southern peninsula, the Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua Beach Resort is a luxurious retreat easily accessible within a 30-minute drive from Ngurah Rai Airport. Just a short distance away from Nusa Dua Beach, Tanjung Benoa Beach is also close by and is known for its water sports activities such as jet skiing, banana boating, parasailing, and more.
The resort is the sole 5-star property with a French heritage in Nusa Dua’s luxury beach resort area, which features several other high-end resorts along the coastline. Spanning 8 hectares of lush tropical gardens, the Sofitel boasts modern and intricate architecture down to the smallest details. It includes a lagoon that connects to multiple pools within the complex, providing guests with a tranquil seaside oasis.
Upon arrival, the hotel’s reception area impresses with its grand wooden dome. Drawing inspiration from Bali’s sacred banyan tree, the lobby is a masterpiece that seamlessly blends French elegance with Balinese cultural elements, offering a warm welcome to Sofitel’s guests.
"One of the standout features that keeps us coming back to Sofitel properties is their exceptional bedding quality, and the Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua is no exception. ”
THE ROOMS
The hotel offers a total of 415 well-appointed rooms, including 22 suites and 17 villas. Each room is equipped with Wi-Fi, and complimentary Wi-Fi access is available throughout the entire resort. The Luxury Room category, where we stayed, exudes a delightful fusion of French elegance and Balinese charm.
The room spans 48 square meters and features a sleeping area, a lounge space with a corner sofa, a balcony overlooking the resort’s pools and the Indian Ocean, and a spacious bathroom with a separate bathtub and Italian shower.
One of the standout features that keeps us coming back to Sofitel properties is their exceptional bedding quality, and the Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua is no exception. Their “My Bed” concept guarantees a restful night’s sleep. Additionally, the rooms are equipped with high-end LCD screens, independent audio systems, and Illy coffee machines.
Leisure & Well-being
The So Spa at Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua Beach Resort operates daily from 9 am to 10 pm, offering a comprehensive range of body and mind wellness treatments. Housed in the main building of the hotel, So Spa promises a personalized experience that includes unique music, exclusive signature treatments, massage tables inspired by Sofitel’s renowned MyBed concept, and a partnership with Clarins, a renowned French beauty and skincare brand.
The So FIT gym provides not only cardio and strength training equipment but also relaxation spaces and training zones with personal trainers to support guests’ fitness goals. Gender-segregated saunas are available for complimentary use by hotel guests.
For aesthetic care, the hotel offers Vietura Bali, a center providing various skin care, weight management, and laser hair removal treatments.
The highlight of leisure at Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua Beach Resort is undoubtedly its collection of pools scattered throughout the property. The main pool, open daily from 7 am to 7 pm, features an indoor jacuzzi area and a submerged bar at its center. Another pool, designed for children and equipped with a sandy area and slides, offers family-friendly fun. Lastly, the lagoon that stretches through the resort and can be accessed directly from ground-floor rooms adds to the extensive aquatic offerings.
At the resort’s private beach, guests can partake in daily beach activities such as sunrise beach walks, beach soccer, beach volleyball, and guided bike tours around Nusa Dua.
The array of recreational activities at Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua Beach Resort is so comprehensive that guests may find it challenging to fit everything into their stay. A daily program features diverse sports and cultural activities. Mornings offer opportunities to learn traditional Balinese dance, engage in yoga sessions, or participate in fun aqua gym classes in the pool. The beach is also a hub of activity, hosting beach volleyball and soccer matches. Tennis enthusiasts can enjoy the on-site tennis courts for their gaming pleasure.
Younger guests have access to the Kids Club, which offers a wide range of activities throughout the day. Children can learn to create traditional Balinese offerings, engage in painting, enjoy face masks, and even learn some Balinese dance steps. The Kids Club operates from 8 am to 6 pm daily.
CULINARY EXPERIENCES
Kwee Zeen
Taking inspiration from market concepts, Kwee Zeen serves pan-Asian cuisine in a relaxed ambiance, offering both indoor and shaded outdoor seating. The restaurant boasts a spacious layout with “live cooking stations” as its central theme. We had the opportunity to dine at Kwee Zeen for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
The breakfast spread presented an extensive array of fresh offerings, including French-style pastries baked in-house. The breakfast menu takes you on a global journey, but the standout feature is the fresh fruit bar. Using woven baskets, you can select your desired fruits and have them freshly squeezed at the counter – a truly refreshing experience.
For lunch, Kwee Zeen offers a diverse international buffet featuring local dishes, international favorites, and, of course, French cuisine. Noteworthy stations include the bakery-pastry counter for bread and desserts, a rotisserie available for self-service, a noodle station offering a variety of noodles and accompaniments, and stations for Indian cuisine, sushi, and sashimi made to order.
Cut Catch Cuccina
Abbreviated as CCC, Cut Catch Cuccina invites guests to savor a refined dining experience. CUT specializes in premium meat cuts such as Wagyu, Angus, Kurobuta, and organic poultry. CATCH offers a variety of seafood and grilled or “a la plancha” fish options. Cucina Italian Osteria completes the trio with Mediterranean cuisine featuring modern Italian dishes made from fresh and flavorful ingredients.
During our stay, we dined at Cut Catch Cuccina for one of our dinners and were impressed by the diverse culinary offerings from these three cuisines. Choosing between them was a delightful challenge, as all the dishes were so enticing. CCC is an ideal venue for group dining or families with varying tastes. The menu, while not overly extensive, provides enough variety to satisfy those inclined towards grilled meats, seafood, or Italian fare.
In addition to Kwee Zeen and Cut Catch Cuccina, Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua Beach Resort also houses a beach club, Toya Beach Bar & Grill, offering light meals, and the renowned Nikki Beach, which serves cocktails, champagne, and an extensive wine selection.
FINAL VERDICT
With a sumptuous interior, rooms up to the standard of the French luxury brand, restaurants offering a wide choice of world cuisines, lush tropical gardens, and a magnificent beach, the Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua Beach Resort is the ideal place to spend a few quiet vacation days during a stay on the island.
Explorers can also take advantage of their stay to discover one of Bali’s most picturesque temples, the Uluwatu Temple, located at the top of a 70-meter limestone cliff overlooking the Indian Ocean, at the western tip of the Bukit Peninsula of Bali, and also situated near the Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua Beach Resort.
CONTACT INFO
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