12 Iconic Things to Do at AYANA Bali

With a sweeping 90 hectare footprint, AYANA Bali is a clifftop resort that actually encompasses four 5 star hotels and is a self contained destination in itself. From the 31 restaurants and eateries there is no reason to leave the sprawling sanctuary of AYANA. Here are 12 iconic things to do at AYANA Bali that you can't do anywhere else.

The last time I was at the AYANA Bali was in 2011. I wasn't there to stay, it was to visit the famed Rock Bar and Dava restaurant. Ever since AYANA Bali first opened (then as the Ritz Carlton, later rebrandd to AYANA Bali) it has been a very popular resort. The clifftop resort in Jimbaran has a staggering 98 hectares of land, 30 restaurants and bars and 14 swimming pools. The four resorts are the clifftop AYANA Resort Bali and AYANA Villas Bali, the lush rainforest RIMBA by AYANA Bali and then the contemporary hilltop AYANA SEGARA Bali.

Everything is run with precision. When you enter through security they alert the hotel that you are on your way. Then when they open the car door they greet us by name and with a frangipane lei. And while there are lots of guests checking in, there is no need to queue up at reception. Instead they take you to a comfortable seating area and bring a chilled fruit drink. When the front desk is ready to check you in a few minutes later then you get up and sign in. It's a simple thing but when guests are coming from a flight, every little gesture counts.

They also escort us to our room and show us the features of each room. Our room is 1241 and while it is an entry level room it is well appointed with a beautiful ocean view outside. Spanning 52 square metres it has a comfortable bed and is decorated in traditional Balinese wood carvings. The day bed is comfortable and there is also dining table and chairs and a work desk.

The bathroom has a separate bathtub next to the bed as well as a shower with excellent amenities.The balcony is spacious and looks out onto the well maintained gardens and ocean. To get around you can catch a tram or you can easily walk to some places.

12 Iconic Things To Do At AYANA Bali

Number 1: Visit the River Pool

Did you even go to AYANA Bali if you didn't visit the River Pool? A picture of the River Pool is what everyone tries to get when they stay at AYANA Bali. It is actually located at AYANA Villas so it is reserved for the villa guests. But don't worry even if you're not a villa guest; if you're staying at another AYANA Bali resort you can use the pool before 10:30am to capture that amazing shot.

Number 2: Visit AYANA Bali's Secluded Kubu Beach & Eat At Kubu Beach Club

Kubu Beach is a secluded white sand beach located at the bottom of the limestone cliffs at AYANA Resort Bali. Because access to the beach is limited, it isn't crowded and offers views and opportunities for snorkelling in the pristine, clear waters. The adjoining Kubu Beach Club is also reserved for AYANA Bali guests. From the moment you step onto the scenic elevator from the top of the cliffs down to the Beach Club you can watch the waves crashing on shore and on the rocks.

Kubu Beach Club's commitment to the theme of 1960s surf clubs is impressive although thankfully the food is more contemporary Indonesian with a few Western offerings. Service is top notch, a common theme at AYANA Bali establishments. Sometimes tropical mocktails taste like an overly sweet mixed fruit juice but the Kubu Mariska and Tropical Breeze are fresh and not cloyingly sweet.

Caesar Salad 120IDR/$9.50AUD/$6.70USD, Ayam Goreng Lengkuas 160IDR/$12.60AUD/$9USD, Iga Sapi Bakar 210IDR/$17AUD/$12USD and Sate Babi 120IDR/$9.50AUD/$6.70USD

You don't need a screen if you're at Kubu Beach Club. During lunch we watched dolphins in the distance as well as a turtle and fish in the clear water while we enjoyed the food. We order dishes like the Ayam Goreng Lengkuas or chicken drumsticks with galangal and house made sambal. For mains the Iga Sapi Bakar or Indonesian style slow cooked beef ribs paired with grilled corn and a longbean salad are incredibly moreish, even on a hot day. Or if you're looking for something lighter, there's a tasty Caesar salad or a pork or chicken satay sticks.

And while there are fried bananas and a fruit platter for dessert, we both adored the fruit paletas which also cooled us down immeasurably.

Lorraine's Tips: Kubu Beach is located is at the westernmost side of AYANA. While it is possible to walk from the main AYANA Resort Bali lobby it is better to take a tram especially on a hot day. You can also order food and drink and lounge on the cabanas on the level below or get a massage.

Number 3: Go to Rock Bar and its Newest Sister Bar After Rock

Rock Bar is a bucket list item for many Bali visitors especially if there is a nice sunset. AYANA Resort Bali guests do not have a minimum spend and AYANA Villa guests get their own queue and access to the coveted Round Deck area.

But did you know that the latest addition to the Rock Bar family is After Rock bar, open from 8pm-2am and designed for people who want to carry on the party a bit longer? Open since June 2024 the bar is located just near SAKA museum with an outdoor rooftop area and an indoor air conditioned bar with live music, great cocktails and snacks. I have a separate story coming up.

Number 4: Eat at Kisik Restaurant

Kisik Restaurant is located just next to Rock Bar so you get similar views. The focus here is on freshly grilled seafood and the chefs know what they're doing. Diners can choose the seafood from the display and have it expertly grilled and served alongside vegetables, rice and condiments.

We start with cocktails. Our waiter is outstanding and nothing is ever an issue. All meals start with gado gado and an Asian style bouillabaisse seafood soup. Then they bring the seafood.

The squid is so tender and the prawns juicy and the whole snapper comes mostly deboned so there are just a few bones to contend with. The seafood is simply dressed with salt and pepper and when they ask us which sauce we want of three (BBQ, garlic butter or lemon butter) and we ask to try all three. They're all very good but the barbecue is our favourite.

Lorraine's Tip: Kisik opens at 5:30pm and I recommend heading there as soon as it opens for sunset views.

Number 5: Go on a Farm Tour

Every day at 9am, hotel guests can embark on a free 1 hour farm tour at AYANA Farm located on their 2.1 hectare farm where they grow 130 different types of fruit, vegetables and herbs. This produce is then used in the kitchens across the hotel's different restaurants and bars and any waste is brought back and used as compost.

Our guide Hendra is one of the 12 staff at the farm and he shows us a range of plants like rosella, vanilla, local lemon basil, long beans and gooseberry. He then chops down a length of supercane, handing it to us to chew on which releases the sweet syrup.

After this he then climbs up a tree to retrieve a cacao pod. He cuts it open and we help ourselves to the sweet white membrane that surrounds the cacao beans. We pass trees laden with soursop, sapodilla, custard apples, coffee trees and holy basil and okra before arriving at the Medicinal Garden where we try stevia plant and Mexican mint as well as a plant called the King of Bitters or Sambiloto or Green Chittera.

This is used to treat colds and to bring down fevers. One tiny taste is enough as it is incredibly bitter. Then Hendra shows us a hibiscus plant where traditionally the leaves are used as a hair shampoo.

Lorraine's Tips: Wear closed toed shoes. They will provide mosquito repellent and hats because it is sunny and the mozzies are very pesky!

Number 6: Make Cocktails at the Farm to Bar Workshop

Gio is AYANA Bali's roaming bartender and at AYANA farm, he holds a farm to bar cocktail making class at 4:30pm each day. The class starts with a mocktail juice before heading out to the farm to pick herbs and flowers to add to the cocktails like pandan leaves, lemongrass, marigolds, rosella and butterfly pea flowers.

We are making a blue gin using butterfly pea flowers in the siphon. The dried flowers are actually better to use than the fresh as they are more concentrated in colour and less bitter in flavour.

After pouring a locally made Balinese gin into the Siphon's bowl and filling the top with flowers and citrus peel and lighting it, the gin turns a dark blue. We make a cocktail made with 2 parts blue gin, 1 part of elderflower, 1 part of lemon juice and 5 parts of tonic with a large ice cube in it. The drink is delicious and pretty with the Balinese mint and flowers on top. Mr NQN makes a cocktail that starts with muddling lemongrass and passion fruit and then adds some passion fruit syrup.

Lorraine's Tip: You can make a couple of cocktails each. Also load up on their organic mozzie spray!

Number 7: Eat at Italian Restaurant Scusa

Scusa is the Italian restaurant on the lower ground floor of AYANA SEGARA Bali Hotel. Its hidden away location makes the reveal even more surprising and the decor reminds me of an upmarket Italian restaurant. There is an outdoor terrace but we're eating inside this evening at one of the semi-circular booths.

We start with pillowy, soft individual focaccia breads with tomato and a pistachio butter with tomato powder on top, as well as extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

Tonight we are trying their set menu. One of the restaurant's signatures is the tuna tartare with strawberry gazpacho. Whilst that may sound a little at odds, the strawberries just give a slight echo of sweetness and flavour. With the tuna as the predominant flavour, it is supported by capers and basil.

Mr NQN loves the Cretan salad with tomato, cucumber, avocado, pickled sea fennel and finely crumbled feta cheese.

The marinated baby chicken is served on a bed of softly cooked onions that are so sweet and melting, as well as roasted red peppers and potatoes and crispy fried sage leaves. This hunter style chicken is such a generous serve as well, we can't even finish it, try as we might.

The tagliolini marinara has perfectly textured pasta with baby calamari, clams, mussels, prawns, tomato sauce, garlic and chilli. Mr NQN devours this and it is his favourite main.

And for dessert the tiramisu is as pretty as it is delicious and sizeable. It's actually big enough to share and filled with soft sponge, creamy mascarpone and a thick blanket of cocoa powder as well as fruit on top.

We also try the cheese tart, a fluffy light cheesecake style tart with fresh strawberries on top. Both desserts are great as the third course after all of that food as they are light. Scusa is Mr NQN's favourite meal of our entire stay.

Number 8: Have a Spa Treatment at AYANA Spa or Spa on the Rocks

AYANA has two spas: AYANA spa, a 24 treatment room spa that spans across 2.2 hectares of stunning with well maintained manicured gardens and a Thalassotherapy pool.

The second is Spa on the Rocks located towards the western side of the resort with just two treatment villas located on the limestone rocks below. Spa on the Rocks treatments start at 8,500,000IDR or $607AU/$476USD for a 60 minute massage.

There are many spa treatments available at AYANA Spa but I decide to try a treatment that I had never heard of before: the Nakatsuji face massage devised by Japanese osteopathic physician and anti-aging expert Tadashi Nakatsuji and is exclusive to AYANA Bali.

It starts with an upper back and shoulder massage and then around halfway I turn over and she starts massaging my face with beautifully fragranced spa products. The idea is that this massage will encourage lymphatic draining, reshape the shape and correct imbalances. It's so good that at one point I fall asleep. And when I look in the mirror afterwards, my jawline is actually a bit sharper and my skin is glowing.

Number 9: Try South America Food at Dava

In October 2025 Dava steak and seafood house changed their offering to become an Argentiana inspired grill with their new Peruvian chef. The restaurant is a stunning space located through the serene lobby of AYANA Villas. We take a seat at one of the outdoor tables to feel the breeze on our skin and start with a delicious pumpkin bread with chimichurri and cocktails.

An array of infused salts are brought out in place of regular salt and pepper. These house made salts range from herb salt, fleur de sel to our favourite, the chili salt. There is a 3 course set menu for 865,000IDR/$68AUD/$47USD that we are trying tonight

The tiradito with glazed sweet potato cubes with onion salsa and housemade chilli sauce is so fresh and hits all of the flavour points. I actually wish we had ordered one each for us as it is so good.

The other entree are the dainty empanadas filled with soft wagyu beef, capsicum peppers and raisins that comes out crispy and piping hot. it's delicious and a tasty to start.

My choice for the main is aji de Gallina which is a chicken breast with a creamy Peruvian yellow chilli sauce with pecans and black olive slices. On the side is a fabulous Cajun potato pave. Normally I wouldn't order chicken breast but this is succulent and the sauce is delicious, reminding me of my time in Peru. I even add a little more of the chilli salt on top.

Mr NQN loves the picanha steak which is grilled coffee dry-aged Wagyu rump cap cooked medium with baby leeks wrapped in a rasher of pork bacon with a smoked barbecue sauce that has really interesting spices mix that almost reminds me of hoi sin sauce. The steak is wonderful and well cooked so that the fat is rendered to make each bite of steak juicy.

Mr NQN loves flan so he gets to have most of this caramelised custard pudding served with dulce de leche and vanilla ice cream.

He also really enjoys tres leches more than me. I do like that the flavouring is cinnamon and it is paired with a berry compote and coffee ice cream.

Number 10: Eat Breakfast Anywhere in the Four AYANA Bali Hotels from a Floating Breakfast, Buffet Breakfast or A La Carte Breakfast

Guests of any of the AYANA Bali resorts can choose from breakast at any other of the resorts so you will never be bored (although AYANA Villas attracts a surcharge). Breakfast at Padi is AYANA Resort Bali's buffet breakfast with separate sections for Indian, Indonesian, Japanese and Korean food.

I particuarly enjoy the Jamu station, an Indonesian tonic drink that is as tasty as it is good for you. The Indian Thali station is also excellent and there are also noodles and egg dishes but we didn't have enough room to try everything. For sweet tooths, there are yogurts, fruit, pastries and cakes and items are refilled quickly so there is always plenty to help yourself to.

Breakfast at RIMBA by AYANA Bali is all about Asian food with plenty of Indonesian, Korean and Japanese options at To'Ge restaurant. There is also an option to try a floating breakfast too. A separate review on RIMBA by AYANA Bali is coming too.

Breakfast at Dava at AYANA Villas is not usually included in the standard AYANA Bali Resort package as it is only available to villa guests but it should be tried at least once. This menu is entirely à la carte and you can order as much as you like from it. In fact staff encourage you to try everything as they are small plates designed for maximum tasting. When you first sit down they bring you water, coffee, and juices as well as a bakery basket with everything from pistachio and banana croissants, egg custard croissants, Indonesian sticky rice cake and tiny baked cakes.

The steak with egg is incredibly buttery soft and tender while the chili scrambled is delicious. I also love the Dak Kkochi Korean chicken skewer and the crispy pulled brisket tortilla with coleslaw and aji verde sauce. Or opt for the wonton soup for a comforting start.

The cost for breakfast for non villa guests is 200,000IDR/$16AUD/$11USD if you are staying at AYANA Bali with a breakfast package or 480,000IDR/$38AUD/$27USD if breakfast is not included in your package.

Lorraine's Tip: If you're not staying at AYANA Villas, head to the River Pool before or after breakfast (before 10:30am).

Number 11: Learn How To Make Jamu, Balinese Boreh and Body Oil

Jamu is a daily ritual and a part of life for most Balinese. This traditional Indonesian herbal medicine and wellness tonic has been practised for thousands of years and is made with natural ingredients like turmeric, tamarind and ginger to treat mild ailments.

A kabaya wearing Jamu lady or "Jamu Gendong" carrying a basket of bottles on her back walks through a village mixing these to order based on the customer's ailment whether it be anti ageing, sleeplessness or digestive issues. And at Jamu and Spice we are making one of our own. Jamu and Spice is one of the stores at AYANA Resort Bali's shopping village. Here you can buy a range of jamus, teas, incense and drink powders either ready to drink.

Today we are making jamu, Balinese Boreh or a medicinal powder and a body oil. We start with choosing our base, middle and top notes for our body oil before adding it to coconut or jojoba oil carrier oils. Mr NQN goes for the strong, fresh notes of ginger, lemongrass and rosemary with a Cedarwood Himalayan base while I choose the same base with rose geranium as my middle note and a pink grapefruit top note. We add 8 drops of the base, 20 of the middle 12 of the top note to each one. We stick our labels on each body oil.

Then it is time to make the Balinese Boreh powder. This was originally developed as a village remedy for rice farmers but is now a popular spa treatment. The powder is applied as a mask or scrub to the skin to treat sore muscles, improve blood circulation and help with cold symptoms. The base is actually rice flour to which we add a range of spices from ginger to clove.

And lastly we make the jamu. Mr NQN makes a butterfly pea blue flower lulul with ingredients like gooseberry leaves, moringa leaves, hog plum leaves and dried butterfly blue pea flower while my jamu mine uses turmeric, tamarind and sweetener. Classes cost 275,000IDR/$22AUD/$15USD for body oil or 137,500IDR/$11AUD/$8USD for jamu making.

Number 12: Enjoy The Wellness Menu at Sami Sami

So you've had a great time eating your way around the whole resort but there always comes to point during a holiday where you just want something light. Head to Sami Sami, the ocean front open bure restaurant right next to the check in for Rock Bar by the main pool. Four separate bures sit with the ocean with a breeze streaming in. The menu at Sami Sami is casual trattoria Italian and pizzas but there is also a separate wellness menu with many gluten free and low sugar dishes.

It's a hot day so we start with our soursop juice with ice – squeeze a little lime into it for a delicious naturally sweet fruity drink. Mr NQN has a refreshing cocktail and we contemplate our next step back to real life.

Our amazing waitress Wulan gives us her recommendations and they are spot on. The tuna sashimi salad is fantastic with quinoa tabbouleh, lacto-fermented cucumbers, flaxseed crackers, avocado buttermilk puree at the base and a generous amount of sashimi tuna. I am only sad that I discovered this menu on my last full day.

We also try the roasted pumpkin with Thai red curry sauce on top as well as seeds for crunch that is so full of flavour and texture. And while it's vegetarian you don't miss the meat as it is so flavoursome.

And for dessert, don't skip the raw, vegan dark chocolate cake. It's made with no added refined sugar and is sweetened with dates and raisins with a base made with almonds, hazelnuts, cashews, coconut, and dark chocolate with a sprinkling of flaked salt on top. It's one of the best raw vegan cakes I've tried and perfectly sweet. And next...back to real life.

So tell me Dear Reader, what do you think of a hotel like this where you can access lots of restaurants and facilities? Which activities stood out to you?

NQN and Mr NQN were guests of AYANA Bali but all opinions remain her own.

AYANA Bali

Jl. Karang Mas Sejahtera, Jimbaran, Kec. Kuta Sel., Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80364, Indonesia

Phone: +62 361 702222

https://www.ayana.com/