Alila Manggis

One of Bali’s best kept secrets, Alila Manggis is a secluded, stylish resort located seaside in Manggis, East Bali. Set amidst a coconut grove, the resort is nestled between the sea and the majestic Mount Agung, Bali’s most sacred mountain.

All rooms and suites face the ocean with clear views across the straits to Nusa Penida. A contemporary interpretation of traditional Balinese architecture is artfully combined with modern amenities to create a relaxed environment in harmony with its natural surroundings.

The large swimming pool is set amidst the lovely gardens, and offers a direct access to the beach. The resort has a restaurant and a bar, a spa facility, and a car rental and tour desk. Watersports here include wave skis and snorkeling. Explore the peaceful countryside, the rolling hills with rice terraces and traditional villages by hiking or biking. Tours to many interesting local spots are arranged daily.

The 54 rooms and two corner suites of Alila Manggis are housed in traditional two-storey thatched Balinese pavilions reminiscent of the village wantilan or meeting hall. The Superior Rooms, located on the lower floor of each block, boast a private terrace while the Deluxe Rooms on the upper level have a balcony with day bed. All rooms are designed to maximize the views across the coconut grove, the swimming pool and the sea.

The two spacious suites are situated on the upper level of the building closest to the beach. Large balconies surround the suites suitable for use as an outdoor dining area or sundeck. The spacious rooms include a living and dining area. All interiors are designed with fabrics and finishings to reflect the local environment.

Inspired by a neighbouring organic salt farm, Seasalt Restaurant is set in a traditional Balinese pavilion on a lotus pond. Serving both a contemporary menu and a range of Indonesian and Balinese favorites, Seasalt is also an integral part of Alila Manggis’ Cooking School. Elegant and relaxed, the restaurant looks out on to the ocean and the resort’s beautifully landscaped grounds.

Alila Manggis offers poolside and garden dining. Set beneath the tranquil coconut grove, the pool and extensive lawns are just a step away from the beach.

At Alila Manggis you can immerse yourself in Bali from both a culinary and a cultural points of view. A choice of five, two, or half-day cooking school programs offer participants a varied program of cooking and tasting, along with forays into rice terraces, gardens, traditional markets and villages. Learn about the different spices in a hands-on experience that takes you right to the heart of Balinese life.

Cooking courses run from April to October, and include topics such as combining local spice mixtures for fiery sambals, preparing authentic satays and curries, and variations of leaf-wrapping techniques for fish and seafood.

Alila Manggis` swimming pool is a central feature of the resort and is designed as an unusual inverted pyramid. This creates shallow waters around the edges and deep water in the middle. Set in landscaped gardens under swaying coconut palms, it provides the perfect place to lay back and enjoy the resort`s peaceful, sunny environment.

The Mandara Spa offers a uniquely relaxing experience featuring traditional Indonesian and Balinese treatments from facials to aromatherapy massage.

Wave skis and snorkel masks and fins are available for hire. The resort also has its own Balinese outrigger that can take guests from the beach in front of the hotel to the Blue Lagoon, a beautiful and colourful reef teeming with marine life. East Bali has the most spectacular dive sites on the island, and all are located close to Alila Manggis. Diving and fishing trips can be arranged through the hotel.

Two to six-hour treks are available at Alila Manggis in the company of knowledgeable local hotel guides. Trips include a trek to Gumang Hill for stunning views of verdant rice terraces and Mount Agung; Kastala to Tenganan, a trek off the beaten track through rice terraces and small farms to the Bali Aga village of Tenganan, famous for its double ikat weaving and unique basket-making; and the Mount Agung trek for the truly adventurous, a four-hour climb reaching the top in time for sunrise.

Mountain bikes are available for hire at the hotel along with maps of suggested routes through the spectacular scenery and villages.