Nick Walton checks into Bali’s coolest new hotel-cum-beach club, The Clubhouse at Ulu Cliffhouse, a sophisticated hideaway in Uluwatu by the M. Group.
There’s the Bali of tank top-wearing crowds, cheap souvenirs, spilt beer and endless traffic, and then there’s the Bali that put the Indonesian Island of the Gods on the global map, a serene locale where the sea breeze cools the skin, the locals are always ready with a smile, and there’s not a tramp stamp in sight. The new Clubhouse at Ulu is the latter in all its glory.
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Firstly, let’s lay things out. Ulu Cliffhouse has been a place of pilgrimage for lovers of sunshine, spun tunes and great drinks since it opened its clifftop location in 2017. The beach club consists of an intimate restaurant, a tiki-tastic cocktail bar set on the cliff’s edge, an expansive pool deck wreathed by day beds and sun loungers and, for those not adverse to a few stairs, a dramatic bar and deck perched just above the waves at the base of the towering 200ft precipice.
Sleep Where You Dance
The new addition, The Clubhouse at Ulu, adds a new element to the beach club format, with the arrival of just seven stunning, individually appointed suites. Each refined space is inspired and named for one of Indonesia’s most iconic surf breaks, including Padang Padang, Impossibles and Racetrack, and features four-poster beds, nomad-inspired artwork, furnishings that smack of California in the golden 1950s, and mesmerising cocktail hutches (a private bartender is just a call away) in beaten copper and gleaming timber.
Lasting First Impressions
Forget the grand hotel entrances that welcome guests at many of Bali’s chain hotels; Ulu Cliffhouse, the creation of the M. Group, who recently opened another island haven just off Bali, has hidden down the meandering lanes of Uluwatu, long a mecca for surfers and peace seekers. When guests do arrive, it’s to an intimate reception that perfectly frames the resort’s expansive pool, manicured gardens, and the waters of the Indian Ocean. The southern coastline of Bali is a lingering haze in the distance, and the island’s brooding volcanic peaks loom beyond.
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There are elegant tropical-chic furnishings, timber-lined reception desks, surfboards bolted to the walls and a team of beaming ‘hosts’ that are ready to help new Clubhouse arrivals check-in within the confines of their suite.
A Haven or a Party Hangout
My room, the Dreamlands Suite, is accessed from a patio-wreathed door just steps from the pool and is reached via a staircase that ascends to a master bedroom to one side and a cavernous bathroom with outdoor shower on the other.
French windows open up to the action of the beach club’s main deck and its 25-meter pool. There’s a huge bed, a day bed, vaulted ceilings and a fully stocked bar, complete with local drops, mixology accoutrement, and artisanal snacks. Other in-suite amenities include organic products, massage candles and bamboo razors.
Across the seven guest rooms, the Clubhouse at Ulu’s suites feature broad balconies, timber patios, Miami-esque curved sofas, inspired local art, and freestanding bathtubs – each enclave is completely different from the next, but all exude an infinitely cool persona of days spent lingering under the sun and nights embracing the warmth of the tropics.
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The idea behind the Clubhouse is simple; if you don’t want the party to end – and at Ulu Cliffhouse there’s always another party just around the corner thanks to a roster of visiting international DJs – then you can shake your moneymaker into the early hours without having to then navigate your way home toa distant resort. If you’re like me and are simply after a little respite, opt to visit when the Cliffhouse is more sedate, and when resident spinners set a distinctly chilled mood with great music, perfectly balanced cocktails and views to die for.
A Few Additional Perks
The rooms aren’t the only new addition. Guests at The Clubhouse at Ulu also have access to a cosy Member’s Lounge, where they can while away the noonday heat over tomes discussing the creation of Bali’s surf industry and the island’s modern art movement. Alternatively, book an in-suite or poolside spa treatment or make a beeline for the pint-sized cocktail bar, discretely located off the lobby and home to the best espresso martini I’ve ever had. There’s even an onsite thatch-roofed recording studio – that’s how seriously they take good music.
Of course, you’ll also have preferential access to the Cliffhouse’s facilities, including the beautiful semi-outdoor restaurant with its clifftop tables and Chef at large Tim Smith-designed menu, which is laced with locally-sourced produce – think Spanish mackerel ceviche with coconut husk-aged red wine vinegar, shallots and horseradish; and Ubud black pork skewers with pickled daikon. This is complemented by cocktails from the award-winning Cliff Bar that run the gamut from the Jeruk Purut Caipirinha with Cachaça, kaffir lime, and palm sugar, to smoked pineapple margaritas (a personal favourite) with turmeric and paprika salt.
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