Tented jungle camp with plunge pools, luxe dining & spa
Jl. RY Dalem, Keliki, Kec. Tegallalang, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80561, Indonesia Get directions
"A luxurious sanctuary nestled in the lush rainforests of Bali, Capella Ubud immerses guests in the island's natural beauty and cultural heritage. It features tented villas with modern amenities and offers a variety of activities that engage guests with Balinese culture." - Travel + Leisure Editors
"Anyone familiar with the work of eccentric hotel designer Bill Bensley knows that a stay at one of his projects is never a straight-line affair. But with Capella Ubud, a luxe tented camp 20 minutes north of Ubud, he takes his kookiness up a notch. Inspired by tales of European explorers poking around the Indonesian archipelago in the 19th century, he designed a whimsical base camp on a sloping patch of jungle where the 22 one-bedroom suites (with sprawling outdoor decks and private plunge pools), reception desk, and fitness center each take over their own tents. All are furnished with Bensley's signature mix of clashing patterns—ikat-pillows, vintage trunks, and sofas upholstered in cowhide—and design quirks ranging from peek-a-boo windows in the showers to brass monkeys dotting the roofs. Dining options include Indonesian omakase-style menus at Api Jiwa, while breakfast-to-dinner Mads Lange dishes out comforting lobster wontons and crab tacos. Come nightfall, head to the campfire for marshmallows, hot cocoa, and vintage Indonesian flicks." - Chris Schalkx, Juliet Kinsman
"Set north of Ubud in the village of Keliki and designed by Bill Bensley to minimize footprint with stilted tents, the property blends floral Indonesian textiles and Southeast Asian antiques with eco-sensitive design. Its saltwater Cistern pool is a 62-by-21-foot marine-grade steel behemoth with a striking zigzag motif, while each of the 23 accommodations also offers a private pool; a rainforest-facing wooden deck hosts the Mortar and Pestle Bar, which crafts Bali-inspired cocktails using a manual ice crusher." - Kathryn Romeyn, Nicholas DeRenzo
"A high-design, low-footprint rainforest camp north of Ubud composed of tented teak-floored accommodations that were built without felling trees and feature Balinese-carved doors, private stone-clad plunge pools, and locally made furnishings. The dramatic public spaces include an above-ground saltwater 'Cistern' pool and an exceptional fitness pavilion; dining ranges from a spice-trade–inspired restaurant to an Asian barbecue omakase, and curated programming introduces guests to nearby villages, traditional arts, on-site organic gardening and family-friendly activities like planting baby coconut trees." - Kathryn Romeyn
"Set the scene.Deep in the higgledy-piggledy Keliki Valley, Capella Ubud is easily missed—only the eagle-eyed might spot the dark pitched roofs of tents beside a river in this steep patch of Balinese jungle. Brass monkey statues among the foliage are the first clue that imaginative designer Bill Bensley has been at play here. Step inside the front portico and the immersive, theatrical experience begins, transporting guests back to the early 19th century and the era of spice-trade explorers. What's the story?It’s the first hotel from Suwito Gunawan, a Jakarta steel magnate, who wisely asked Bensley (the designer behind Shinta Mani Wild, The Siam, and the InterContinental Danang) to take over the creative reins—the two met while antique-hunting in the Netherlands. Bensley took inspiration from Marco Polo's expedition from China to Indonesia, as well as 19th-century Danish explorer Mads Johansen Lange (the restaurant is named after him), who was nicknamed The White Rajah of Bali and became a successful trader in coffee, rice, and spices. What can we expect in our room?Each tent has an individual personality with curios that match; the Cartographer’s Tent has parchment, compasses, and telescopes; the Carpenter’s Tent has all sorts of artisan tools; the Princess Tent has a dramatic four-poster bed, fabric cascading down from the roof. Balinese culture is in evidence in the handmade batiks and ikat textiles; and there are treasures from Dutch auctions and Balinese antique stores. How about the food and drink?There are two restaurants. Api Jiwa is a Japanese robatayaki restaurant with eight- to 10-course tasting menus, with cuts of seafood and meat seared on the grill then customized with spices. In the Mads Lange bistro, plates include crab tacos, Wagyu brisket, duck in coconut bark, and red snapper. Aussie chef Matthew McCool’s methods are local and sustainable—and cocktails are often house brewed and barrel aged. Try The Cistern, made with vodka-infused yogurt, almond syrup, cardamom, and rose water. The Sunday jazz brunch is pretty special. Anything to say about the service?The friendly and well-trained staff seem genuinely delighted to work here—and around 60 percent of them come from the immediate area. Anything else we should know?There’s also a gym, a tented spa, and a pool—in what looks like a giant cistern. Is it worth it?It’s expensive but truly one of a kind—and a successful modernization of a colonial style that’s rare for Bali." - Juliet Kinsman
