Hanging Gardens of Bali

The Setting Let’s start with the obvious. You are in the jungle. Not jungle-adjacent. Not “lush landscaping.” Actual jungle. The property cascades down a mountainside in terraces. Reception sits at the top, the main pool and restaurant in the middle, and the spa all the way down by the river. Villas are scattered in between, tucked into the greenery. Getting around involves two funiculars, which sounds dramatic but quickly becomes normal. The higher you stay, the better the panoramic views. Lower down, you’re closer to the river and fully immersed in the sounds of nature. Either way, it’s quiet in the best way. No chaos, no background noise, just birds, water, and the occasional reminder that you should probably stop scrolling and enjoy where you are. Also worth noting. You are in the jungle, but the jungle is not in your room. No surprise guests, no bugs ruining the vibe. A small miracle. The whole place leans heavily into romance. If you’re not here with someone, you might start questioning your life choices. The hotel also offers a long list of experiences, from temple visits to cooking classes to very committed romantic setups like floating breakfasts and candlelit dinners. The Rooms The villas are the main event. Spacious, private, and designed so you never really have to leave. Mine was near the top, with wide open views of the valley. Each villa comes with a private infinity pool that might ruin all future hotel pools for you. Inside, you get all the expected luxury touches. Robes, slippers, espresso machine, minibar, plenty of bottled water, and daily fruit service with things you probably won’t recognize but should definitely try. Turndown service includes small treats, which is always appreciated. The outdoor space is just as good as the inside. Lounge beds, shaded seating, and in my case, an outdoor tub with a waterfall shower. It’s the kind of setup where you say you’ll go explore and then immediately change your mind. Minor notes. The AC could have been a bit stronger if you like your room ice cold, and there’s no easy way to stream your own content to the TV. Neither felt like a deal breaker given everything else. The Service The staff here are exceptional. Warm, attentive, and genuinely kind. By day two, everyone knows your name, which somehow never feels forced. Communication through WhatsApp made everything easy, whether it was booking a massage or arranging transport. It’s the kind of service that feels effortless on their end and very convenient on yours. Food & Drinks There’s one main restaurant that handles everything. Breakfast was included and easily one of the better hotel breakfasts out there. A mix of pastries, fruit, mezze-style spreads, plus made-to-order options ranging from Western staples to Indonesian dishes. Fresh juices, good coffee, and you’re only paying extra if you want alcohol. Dinner was solid. Not the main reason you come here, but more than good enough that you don’t feel the need to leave. The Spa The spa deserves its own section. It sits at the bottom of the property by the river, which already sets the tone. I had two Balinese massages and a reflexology session. The massages were some of the best I’ve had. Credit to Dewy, who clearly knows what she’s doing, but also to the setting. It’s hard to separate the two when you’re getting a massage with the sound of a river in the background. Reflexology was intense in a “this is probably good for me” kind of way. Location This is where you need to be honest with yourself. The hotel is remote. Very remote. About 45 minutes to Ubud center and up to two hours to the airport depending on traffic, which in Bali is always a factor. If your plan is to explore constantly, this might not be the best base. If your plan is to unplug and stay put, it’s perfect. The hotel does offer a shuttle to Ubud, and rides are easy enough to arrange, but this is a place designed for staying in. Overall Hanging Gardens of Bali is the kind of hotel you plan a trip around, not the other way around. The setting is unreal, the villas are hard to leave, the service is excellent, and the whole experience leans heavily into relaxation and romance. If your goal is to slow down and disappear into the jungle for a few days, this place delivers in a big way.

Our stay at Hanging Gardens of Bali was nothing short of magical. From the moment we arrived, the staff made us feel genuinely welcome, warm, attentive and incredibly professional without ever being intrusive. The hotel itself is simply breathtaking. It feels like stepping into a postcard, surrounded by lush jungle, stunning views and that iconic infinity pool that looks like it is floating above the forest. Every corner is beautifully designed, blending luxury with nature in such a peaceful and authentic way. What truly made the experience exceptional was the level of service. Every detail was handled with care and every request met with a smile. You can really feel that the team takes pride in what they do and it makes all the difference. If you are looking for a place that combines beauty, tranquility and truly top level service, this is it. An unforgettable experience from start to finish.

Our family had such a fun stay at the Hanging Gardens of Bali! The staff were super friendly and made everything easy and welcoming. The kids loved seeing monkeys right outside our villa and it felt like a real jungle adventure. The food was delicious, and the whole place had such a peaceful, relaxing vibe. We’d definitely come back.

Hanging Gardens was an overall bad experience, especially given the overwhelmingly positive reviews online. At this price point, you expect luxury. Maybe not at the level of a truly elite property, but still a premium experience. For anyone coming from the US, I would compare it to a Hilton Home2Suites or Homewood Suites dropped into the middle of the Bali jungle. To be fair, there were a couple of highlights. The massages were excellent, and Yuni will absolutely get you right. The gym is also basically brand new and looked barely used. They set the room up for our honeymoon which was cool. Unfortunately, the rest did not live up to the price. There were A LOT of bugs in the room, to the point that pesticide is part of the room tour. The food was mediocre, clearly aimed at a Western audience, and priced accordingly, without the quality or flavor to justify it. Which leads me to the bigger issue here. Pricing. Bali has true luxury properties, including places like Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, which is consistently recognized among the top stays in the world (Forbes Top 50 properties). Hanging Gardens is not in that category, but tries to price its products like it is. Overall, I would not recommend this place for a first trip to Bali, or frankly any trip to Bali, especially if you are used to city life. I think it would be a pretty jarring introduction. I would recommend spending a bit more for the Four Seasons or another genuinely upper tier property. Trust me, if you’re spending the money to come out here for a special occasion, like we did, then ball out on the property. It’ll be worth it.

When I arrived there were monkeys in the trees outside my villa, it was incredible! Like having my own personal free-range zoo. The villa and private pool were incredibly luxurious and relaxing, and the views of the jungle spectacular. The breakfast outstanding. Service from all staff was impeccable. I cannot fault this property in any way.