Beachfront luxury hotel with surf lessons, fine dining, wellness spa
Echo Beach, Jl. Pantai Batu Mejan, Canggu, Kec. Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia Get directions
"This modern, steel-and-glass hotel skews more South Beach than Bali, but it offers a sanctuary from scruffy Canggu, a magnet for the global bohemian set. At the COMO Beach Club, in a haute surf-shack setting, the music’s always playing, the palms are swaying, and people are chilling in batik-cushioned banquettes and swinging white chaises. The Beach Club’s surf school, run by Tropicsurf, offers guided surf lessons for beginners to veteran shredders on Echo Beach’s famous left break. Overall the hotel’s wellness focus comes through in its delicious Balinese “clean cuisine” and its outposts of COMO Shambhala’s Spa and Glow cafe. —Alex Postman" - Chris Schalkx, Juliet Kinsman
"Start at the top, and tell us all about this place.The entrance to the COMO Uma Canggu immediately creates the impression of a sanctuary apart from scruffy Canggu—a surfer haven turned expat village that’s been exploding with laid-back cafés and chic boutiques that are magnets for the global gypset. The modern, all-white lobby skews more South Beach than (nearby) Batu Bolong Beach, and the hotel’s gleaming stone-and-glass buildings, though dripping with potted greenery, are an unlikely bit of flash against the surrounding rice paddies and dusty beach roads. The hotel becomes more environmentally integrated when you walk down to the beach. The COMO Beach Club, with an aqua-tiled restaurant and poolside bar under a lovely surf-shack style bamboo roof, is where you’ll be spending most of your time, anyway. Here, the music’s playing, the palms are swaying, and people are chilling in colorful modern furniture with batik cushions and in swinging white chaises. Sounds lovely. What's the backstory on the hotel? Is it part of a chain or independent?COMO Hotels are a global, Singapore-based chain that center on wellness, be they on the beach (Turks & Caicos) or in the city (Bangkok). There are two others on Bali, COMO Uma Canggu and the immersive COMO Shambhala Estate, the latter of which is the model for Shambhala Spas found in all COMO Hotels, including this one. Got it. Alright, now tell us about your room. What type was it? How did it look, and what was it like to be there?The hotel is the biggest and most luxurious in Canggu, with 52 rooms and suites, 55 one- and two-bedroom residences, and 12 three-bedroom duplex penthouses, each with rooftop pools. My room seemed typical of the one-bedroom residences: light and airy if generically modern décor combining simple white bedding against natural textures like a woven grass headboard, light marble floors, a contemporary low-slung sofa, and rugs and pillows in marine hues. Baths are large with a glassed-in shower and walls coated in shiny brown tiles, more urban than beachy. The residence’s spacious and well-appointed kitchenettes, which contain full-size fridges and infrared cooktops, seems like overkill given the number of amazing and affordable restaurants just down the road; the features are apparently left over from the buildings’ intended design as condominiums. Each room has a large flat-screen TV on the wall. I did get in to see a penthouse, typically rented out by families or hen-party type getaways. The duplex, filled with contemporary style furnishings (low-slung sectionals, glass coffee tables) and large kitchens felt a little outré, but the much-Instagrammed private terrace pool with fantastic sunset views overrides any quibbles. I highly recommend the entry-level rooms in the building off the beach—they’re less expensive than the beach-view rooms, and in their simpler, wood-and-white décor is very cute. Noted—thanks for the tip. Let's talk F&B: What's on offer here?Breakfast at the Beach Club was an outstanding example of expat-inspired Balinese “clean cuisine,” including red quinoa bowls with avo and a soft-boiled egg, coconut French toast, nine-grain zucchini waffles, and Laksa (coconut broth with chicken, prawns and noodles). There’s also a gorgeous array of homemade yogurts with a rainbow of fresh fruit in a jar. Dinner here is haute surf shack, with Indonesian-meets-Western cooked over a wood-fired grill. (The mocktails are especially tasty here—I recommend the Tropical Julep, made from coconut water, cucumber, mint, and lime.) Glow, the hotel’s lobby-level café in a white, cement-floored space, is an offshoot of the restaurant at Shambahala Estate, serving teas, juices, smoothies, acai bowls, salads, and healthy baked goods, like Shambhala’s famous power cookies (aka “medicine cookies”) made from raw nuts, seeds, dried fruits, and honey. Yum. How about the other guests—what are they like? Who does this hotel attract?This is a great hotel for families, given the size of the main pool; there were also plenty of young honeymooners here: Canggu has become a requisite stop on the Bali circuit and the level of luxury and privacy you’ll have here beats anywhere else in town. Got it. What about the neighborhood? Does the hotel fit in, make itself part of the scene?The hotel is a little isolated from Canggu’s main drag of Batu Bolong, but that’s not a bad thing, given how crowded town can get. Because the beach roads are separated from each other like bicycle spokes radiating out from the center, it’s almost easier to get to town by walking down the beach than along the road that brings you to the hotel. Is there anything you'd change?There’s a raised lip on the transom of the suite’s doors, perhaps to keep out water during monsoon season, but I tripped on it nearly every time I came or went. Also, it’s sort of amazing that a new hotel doesn’t have USB ports next to the beds. Yeah, that is sort of odd. Anything we missed? Something cool about turndown service, or features that are especially wellness-friendly?There’s one very large pool between the beach and the main buildings that’s great for kids and just floating around with a cocktail, then a smaller pool down at the Beach Club. One of the highlights of the hotel is the COMO Beach Club’s Surf Shack. Run by the pros at Tropicsurf, the school offers guided surf lessons to everyone from beginners to veteran shredders on Echo Beach’s famous left break. There are other ways to stay active at the hotel, too, including a large gym with more than its fair share free weights and Life Fitness machines, plus a yoga studio and Pilates studio stocked with reformers. You can also book Indonesian-inspired treatments at the hotel’s small but excellent Shambhala Spa off the main lobby. Bottom line: Worth it? Why?This is the most luxurious hotel option in Canggu, so if you need a certain level of creature comforts, this is the place to stay." - Alex Postman
"Set in Canggu, COMO Uma Canggu offers free WiFi. The property is close to several noted attractions, around a few steps from Echo Beach and around 500 metres from Batu Bolong Beach. Guests can chill out in the outdoor swimming pool. At the resort, all rooms have a desk, a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom. Every room comes with air conditioning, and selected rooms also offer a balcony. All guest rooms include a wardrobe. A buffet breakfast is available daily at the property. At COMO Uma Canggu you will find a restaurant serving Asian, European and Australian cuisine. Gluten-free and Vegetarian options can also be requested. At the accommodation guests are welcome to take advantage of a fitness room. The area is popular for cycling, and bike hire is available at this 5-star resort. Staff at the reception can provide guidance on what to do in the area. Vue Beach Club is 2.4 km from COMO Uma Canggu, while Berawa Beach is 1.5 km away. Ngurah Rai International Airport is 11 km from the property." - My Boutique Hotel (en)
"It’s fair to say it’s been a while since Bali was truly uncharted territory, but while parts of the island are indeed feeling the strain of development, you can trust COMO to deliver that all-important seclusion. The location, in Canggu, is where the busy south coast begins to give way to greener pastures, and the immediate setting of COMO Uma Canggu leaves you perched right above a beautiful black-sand beach, with nothing at all to distract you from the views of the surf. (Speaking of which, this stretch of beach also happens to have breaks for both novice and experienced surfers, and COMO has Tropicsurf instructors on hand to provide an introduction or a little brush-up.)" - Tablet Hotels
"A five-star beachfront resort perched on the Echo Beach surf break in Canggu, offering panoramic ocean views from a sheltered spot that feels removed from the neighborhood’s livelier areas. Styled by Koichiro Ikebuchi and Paola Navone, the property channels a sophisticated boutique–Miami aesthetic with an all-white marble lobby and upscale, modern-coastal interiors. Its 119 guestrooms and suites—from snug one-bedroom rooms to spacious two-bedroom residences with living lounges and kitchenettes—line an expansive aqua-tiled lagoon pool overlooking a palm-fringed lido and the shore; interiors are bright and airy, featuring light bamboo furnishings, neutral marble floors, and ocean-blue accents. Dining at the on-site beach club emphasizes expat-inspired breakfast options (notably creamy scrambled Eggs Your Way, chicken sausage, smoked salmon, and a standout dairy-free coconut yogurt topped with fresh fruit), alongside pizzas, seafood pastas, a celebrated beachside ribeye steak dinner, and indulgent brunch items such as a caviar tartlet and ricotta hotcakes. Cocktail hour leans chic surf-shack with hanging swing chairs and signature drinks like the Jalapiña (reposado tequila, pineapple, mint, jalapeño shrub, and lemon with a spicy-sweet-salt rim). Wellness is a core focus via the Shambhala Spa—offering Asian-inspired therapies including a Traditional Balinese Body Wrap and Taksu massage—plus one of the area’s largest fitness centers with daily yoga and Pilates classes. Amenities include beachfront access, two outdoor pools, spa and wellness facilities, extensive fitness offerings, and room service; rates start around $216/night."
