Bintang Sir! Welcome to the Stones Hotel Bali

The service at the Stones Hotel Bali is best described as sensational. And so are the private poolside cabanas that skirt one end of the oversized 3000sq m lagoon pool.

I’D JUST sipped the last mouthful of my Bintang and placed the glass on the bench when the waiter appeared and asked if I needed a refill.

The Stones, part of the Marriott’s Autograph Collection, is the new style of hotel popping up in Bali.
The island paradise is changing rapidly, especially in Legian. Here real designer labels are replacing the knock-off versions that have been part of Bali’s fabric forever.
This is no more evident than when you are perched under the shade of a thatched cabana devouring a long lunch, prepared by a world-class Australian chef, and supping some tasty bubbles.
The Stones is a hotel you could pick up and plonk in the middle of Hollywood Boulevard and it wouldn’t be out of place.

A new style for Bali

Apart from the friendly local staff it detours dramatically from the historically typical Balinese style.
Its beach-chic style allows the outside in through its open-plan design, especially in the main public areas.
It is modern, extremely clean and winning a lot of praise from internet-posting guests sharing their reviews. Perhaps that’s because there is free Wi-Fi, which for me is always a major plus.

There’s also a well-equipped gym (OK. I didn’t use it but at least I went and had a look) and the hotel’s Celestine Spa, with Ritual Alami products, is a “must visit” for those of us who avoid the plethora of street-side spas in Bali.
The Stones Hotel has 308 guest rooms, 21 suites and a Presidential Suite. This suite spreads out over three levels and is quite possibly the biggest in Indonesia.
While my room was nowhere near as big as the Presidential Suite, it did have a private plunge pool, king bed, rain shower and big-screen television.

A touch of Australia

There is an Australian ingredient to the food that’s the chef Christopher Smith. Even though he’s been working in Asia for many years his Aussie accent can still be heard in the open-air kitchen area.

“My aim is to create original crafted food with a big emphasis on texture, harmony of flavours and a sense of overall balance,” Smith says. “The local produce in Bali is amazing. Our organic fruit and vegetables from Bedugul and Kintamani are among the best products I have ever worked with. That’s throughout my career in Asia and Australia. The fresh seafood we source from Jimbaran and Lombok are sustainable fresh caught and delivered to the hotel daily.
“The biggest surprise to me was the sheer level of the dining experiences and vast variation in cuisines. I had only been to Bali once before, many years earlier, and had no idea of the huge food culture in Bali. Coming from my past two postings in Singapore and Hong Kong I was expecting Bali to be a behind in trends. I was mistaken. The diversity in the food and beverage industry across Bali is up there with the best in the world.”

Go2
Getting there: Virgin Australia has daily flights to Denpasar in Bali with lounge access for Business Class travellers. Business Class fares are fully inclusive including great food from the Luke Mangan designed menu. See virginaustralia.com.au
Staying there: The Stones Hotel Legian. See StonesHotelBali.com