Review: Andaz Bali

Andaz Bali has been on my radar since its opening in 2021. I thought a hotel focusing on traditional Balinese design would be the perfect introduction to the “Island of the Gods” for my brother and me. With just 150 rooms, I’ve come to appreciate the more intimate, boutique feel of smaller resorts over larger, more crowded mega-resorts commonly found on popular island destinations. I also chose Andaz Bali due to its location in the quiet beachside village of Sanur, far from the party scene of Seminyak, which no longer suits our preference.

Moreover, I wanted to avoid spending too much time stuck in Bali’s notorious traffic after two long flights. Andaz Bali’s proximity to Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) makes it one of the most convenient options on the island.

This property offers exceptional value, with nightly rates—whether in cash or points—that are surprisingly reasonable for the quality of this resort. The lush landscaping and design elements reflect the island’s beauty, and the friendly staff, dressed in colorful Balinese attire, were always quick to greet us with a warm smile.

Here’s everything you can expect during a stay at Andaz Bali.

Booking & Check-in

A while back, I highlighted Andaz Bali on my list of the best Hyatt properties where you could redeem a Category 1–4 Free Night Award. In that article, I predicted that Andaz Bali wouldn’t stay as a Category 4 hotel within the World of Hyatt award chart for much longer. Unfortunately, my prediction came true. In spring 2024, Hyatt announced its annual award category adjustments, moving Andaz Bali up from  Category 4 to Category 5. 

World of Hyatt does provide advance notice of award category changes, allowing members to secure stays at the lower category rate before the adjustment comes into effect. I took full advantage of this by booking Andaz Bali prior to the category changes and redeemed 15,000 points per night, which I believe is an outstanding value for such a high-quality property as Andaz Bali.

Although the shift to Category 5 means it now requires 20,000 points per night and can no longer be booked with a Category 1–4 Free Night Award, I still consider 20,000 points per night a reasonable value for what Andaz Bali offers. While it’s a slightly diminished value proposition, the property remains a fantastic redemption option.

To enhance our stay, I applied a World of Hyatt Guest of Honor Award to our booking, which granted us Globalist benefits for the duration of our stay. Globalist benefits include perks such as free breakfast, suite upgrades, late check-out, and more. Guest of Honor Awards can be earned via World of Hyatt’s Milestone Awards program, or gifted from other World of Hyatt members. 

Related: Definitive Guide: World of Hyatt Milestone Rewards

Nightly rates at Andaz Bali start at approximately $300 CAD per night, placing it on the higher end of Bali’s accommodation spectrum, a destination renowned for its affordability. This rate is nearly double that of the adjacent Hyatt Regency Bali, with which Andaz Bali shares several amenities.

For those with access to U.S.-issued credit cards, the best way to earn World of Hyatt points is through the co-branded Chase World of Hyatt Credit Card or by transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards points to World of Hyatt at a 1:1 ratio.

If you’re interested in learning more about U.S. credit cards, our comprehensive guide covers everything you need to get started. This includes steps on obtaining a U.S. mailing address, opening a bank account, and using the Frugal Flyer ITIN service. After a few years of building your credit history in the U.S., you’ll be eligible for credit cards from several U.S.-based issuers, including personal and business credit cards from Chase.

Andaz Bali breaks away from the concept of a traditional lobby, and instead features public spaces designed to evoke the charm of a traditional Balinese village. Most of the public areas are centered around the Village Square, creating a warm and communal atmosphere.

Upon arrival, guests are escorted to the welcome pavilion to complete the check-in process. A member of the staff handed each of us a cold towel and a refreshing hibiscus drink while another member took care of the check-in formalities.

While we were sipping on our welcome drinks, we were thanked for using a Guest of Honor award and informed that we had been upgraded from the base-level 2 Twin Bed Room to an Andaz Suite. This upgrade was provided proactively without any request on my part and was simply an acknowledgment of the Guest of Honor Award I had used. 

The agent informed us that, as part of the Globalist benefits, we would receive complimentary breakfast throughout our stay. They also went over the in-room minibar policy, explaining that at all Andaz locations worldwide, non-alcoholic beverages and snacks are provided free of charge.

As we made our way to the room, a member of the staff provided us with a brief overview and tour of the property. Most of the property is enshrouded in lush, dense vegetation, creating a canopy that provides abundant shade throughout. The buildings themselves blend seamlessly into the surroundings, giving the impression that they had emerged from the jungle. The impeccably manicured grounds beautifully capture the essence of a hidden, long-lost jungle retreat.

Location

As a first-time visitor to Bali, I had often heard about the notoriously bad traffic that plagues the island. Having now experienced it firsthand, I can confirm that the traffic truly lives up to its reputation — it’s consistently awful at nearly every hour of the day. This was one of the reasons I chose to spend our first few nights at Andaz Bali.

After nearly 20 hours of travel to reach Bali, the beachside town of Sanur, where Andaz Bali is located, offered a convenient prime location for our first stop on the island. Being one of the closer resort areas to the airport, Sanur provided a quieter, more laid-back atmosphere compared to the bustling beach club vibe of Seminyak on the island’s west coast.

Although Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) is only about 15 km away, the car ride can still take upwards of one hour. Fortunately, rideshares via the Grab app are widely available and affordable across the island.

Sanur is often regarded as the more laid-back side of the island, but it still offers plenty to do. Within a short distance of the resort, you’ll find numerous cafes, restaurants, shops, and more. The Sanur Beachwalk, a paved pathway that stretches along the coastline, runs the full length of the town, passing by several resorts along Sanur Beach, as well as numerous beachfront cafes and restaurants.

Andaz Bali is conveniently located next to its sister property, Hyatt Regency Bali, with the two connected by a footpath. Guests at Andaz Bali enjoy full access to all of the amenities at Hyatt Regency Bali, including its pools and restaurants. Dining at any of Hyatt Regency Bali’s restaurants is seamless, as charges can be billed directly to your room at Andaz Bali.

Since Andaz Bali doesn’t have its own spa or fitness center, guests are welcome to use the excellent facilities at Hyatt Regency Bali during their stay. Although Hyatt Regency Bali is one of the island’s older properties, it has been recently renovated, and its beautifully maintained grounds and lush greenery were a highlight of our stay at Andaz Bali.

Parking

It takes a brave soul to drive a rental car in Bali, but fortunately, Andaz Bali offers complimentary valet and self-parking for all guests.

Room – Andaz Suite

We were assigned room 1110 in the Daja A building, a ground-floor unit near the quiet pool.

The Andaz Suite was a fantastic upgrade from the standard 2 Twin Room I had originally reserved. It provided each of us with our own private space and individual bathrooms, which is always nice to have when traveling with a companion.

Upon entering, a short hallway led to the main living area. To the right of the entrance was the first of two bathrooms. The sofa in the living room isn’t a pullout but can be converted into a bed. The housekeeping staff was quick to respond to our request to set it up as an extra bed.

A wall-mounted flatscreen TV is installed on the partition separating the main living room from the bedroom. The living room and bedroom can be fully enclosed and separated by two pocket sliding doors.

A plate of fresh fruit and a handwritten welcome note awaited us on the coffee table upon our arrival. Shortly after we settled into our room, a staff member delivered two bottles of pale ale chilled in a bucket of ice.

A Nespresso machine along with a selection of coffee pods were provided.

The minibar was fully stocked with a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, along with an assortment of Balinese snacks. As a reminder, all non-alcoholic drinks and snacks are complimentary and replenished daily.

The compact bathroom just off the main living room is a full bath, featuring a sink, toilet, and a walk-in rain shower. Both bathrooms in the suite are equipped with Toto toilets, complete with all the high-end bells and whistles we know and love. 

A spacious walk-in closet connects the two spacious rooms and can be enclosed with sliding doors.

The primary bedroom was fitted with a king-sized bed, complemented by two nightstands on either side. I especially appreciated the thoughtful details surrounding the bed, such as the textured headboard and the reading lights hanging from above. 

On either side of the bed, there was a set of master controls for adjusting the suite’s lighting and operating the motorized curtains. Additionally, a universal power outlet and two USB-A ports were conveniently positioned within easy reach.

There was also another wall-mounted TV in the bedroom. I particularly loved the Balinese-inspiried details surrounding it, such as the intricate carved wood patterns and the blend of different materials.

The massive ensuite bathroom is finished floor-to-ceiling in a stunning dark stone, and combined with the contrasting LED lights creates a visually striking effect throughout the bathroom.

The counter and double vanity, seemingly carved from a single piece of marble, exuded a sleek and modern elegance. This is contemporary luxury at its finest, with the ensuite bathroom’s design particularly highlighting the property’s modern aesthetic.

Andaz properties don’t use a standardized toiletries brand across its locations. While most properties feature local brands, I’m not certain which specific brand Andaz Bali provides.

The remainder of the ensuite bathroom featured an enclosed walk-in shower area, complete with a wall-mounted showerhead and an overhead rainfall fixture.

Also, in here is a massive free-standing soaker tub.

Lastly, there’s another private toilet chamber, also equipped with a Toto toilet.

Stepping outside, you’ll find an expansive deck accessible through sliding glass doors from both the living room and bedroom. Just one of the many sustainability measures taken by the hotel, there was an automatic air conditioning shutoff when the sliding doors were open.

The patio is elegantly furnished with a large sectional sofa and a dining table, perfect for relaxing or enjoying a room service meal. 

The rooms at Andaz Bali are beautifully designed and exude luxury. Redeeming a Guest of Honor Award at Andaz Bali, which secured us an upgrade to a suite, is an excellent use of these kinds of awards. Being a relatively new property—less than five years old—the modern amenities and high-end fixtures enhanced the experience, making our stay exceptionally comfortable and indulgent.

Restaurants

Andaz Bali features four dining outlets, three of which are situated in the central Village Square area: Blue Oven, offering Mediterranean cuisine; Fire Fox, a steakhouse; and Wok Wok, specializing in Indonesian dishes. The fourth, Fisherman’s Club, is located along the oceanfront and focuses on seafood fare.

As I mentioned earlier, Andaz Bali guests also have access to all of the dining outlets at the neighboring Hyatt Regency Bali.

We enjoyed breakfast at the hotel each morning of our stay and had dinner at Blue Oven one evening. All three of the village square restaurants share the same menu for breakfast and lunch.

Village Market – World of Hyatt Globalist Complimentary Breakfast

Guests can choose to dine at any of the three village square restaurants for breakfast, with all three offering the same menu. As I had redeemed a Guest of Honor Award for our stay, we were entitled to a free daily breakfast for the duration of our stay. 

Breakfast at Andaz Bali is hands down my favorite hotel breakfast experience. Instead of the typical expansive buffet often seen at luxury properties, Andaz Bali offers a completely à la carte breakfast. This initiative is part of the hotel’s effort to minimize waste.

Once seated we were simply handed a menu and told we could order anything we wanted in unlimited quantities. 

The breakfast dishes are served in very small portions. For instance, when you order French toast, you’ll get just one piece. If you’d like more after finishing, you can just order another. I absolutely loved this approach because I feel it does help minimize waste—only the items ordered are prepared. Plus, the small portions gave us the chance to sample many different dishes, and we certainly made the most of it, ordering nearly everything on the menu!

The menu featured a selection of cold options such as cereal, chia bowls, meats, cheeses, and a variety of baked goods and pastries. For warm dishes, there was a wide array of egg options, complemented by a selection of locally inspired specialties.

Unlimited non-alcoholic drinks like coffee, tea, smoothies, and juices are also included.

One of the advantages of breakfast at Andaz Bali is that every dish is made fresh to order, unlike buffet items that can sit out for hours. Everything we tried was truly delicious, but the standout was the warm banana bread served with espresso butter—it was absolutely divine, and we found ourselves ordering it every single day of our stay.

While an exceptional breakfast might not typically be a reason to book a specific property, the breakfast at Andaz Bali was so outstanding and unique that it almost deserves to be the sole reason for a visit. The service during breakfast was equally impressive; staff frequently checked in to see if we wanted to order more, and dishes were usually served within five minutes of placing our order.

Blue Oven

On our first night we ate dinner at Blue Oven. Feeling quite jet lagged and not particularly hungry, we just decided to share a couple of dishes. 

Blue Oven serves Mediterranean-inspired cuisine. I found the prices to be quite reasonable for a resort such as this, especially considering the superb quality and portion sizes of everything we had. 

We ordered the Blue Oven Meze and the tagliatelle pasta to share, thinking it would be the perfect amount. However, it turned out to be far more food than we expected—but it was delicious nonetheless.

Fire Fox & Wok Wok

We didn’t get the chance to dine at the other two Village Square restaurants. All three of the restaurants share the same lunch menu, featuring a variety of typical resort offerings such as salads, soups, pizzas, burgers, sandwiches, and more.

The lunch menu featured an extensive bar selection, offering cocktails, beer, mocktails, milkshakes, juices, coffee, and tea.

You can make dinner reservations and view the menus for Fire Fox, Wok Wok, and all other dining options at Andaz Bali here. 

Fisherman’s Club

Fisherman’s Club restaurant is situated right on the beachfront, next to the main swimming pool. It’s the quintessential “barefoot bar” often found at beachfront properties, offering a laid-back, casual atmosphere with tropical vibes. It’s the perfect spot to unwind with your feet in the sand and enjoy drinks in a relaxed setting.

As the name implies, Fisherman’s Club specializes in dishes made with almost exclusively locally sourced seafood.

Fisherman’s Club is also open for lunch and features a separate menu that includes many items beyond just seafood.

Lastly, due to its close proximity to the main swimming pool, attendants frequently circulate the area, offering poolside service from Fisherman’s Club. While Andaz Bali features several private pools, the main beachfront pool is the only one that provides food and drink service.

Hyatt Regency Bali

As I mentioned earlier, guests staying at Andaz Bali have access to all the facilities and restaurants at the nearby Hyatt Regency. My brother and I, craving some pizza, decided to have lunch one afternoon at the beachfront Pizzeria at Hyatt Regency Bali.

I appreciate the convenience of having access to a wide variety of restaurants at both resorts and the ability to charge any dining directly to our room at both properties.

Guests at Andaz Bali have access to three dining outlets at Hyatt Regency Bali. You can view the full dining menus for Hyatt Regency Bali here. 

Facilities

The facilities at Andaz Bali are one of its strongest attributes. The resort offers three pools for guests to enjoy, while the fitness center and spa are shared with the nearby Hyatt Regency. Although not having its own dedicated spa and fitness center could be seen as a drawback, Hyatt Regency has just recently been updated, and its spa and fitness center facilities are some of the best I’ve ever seen.  

Andaz Lounge

The Andaz Lounge is open to all guests daily from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM, offering complimentary snacks and drinks throughout the day. 

This space should not be confused for a typical hotel executive lounge. The beverage options were limited to lemonade, iced tea, and coffee, while the snacks consisted mainly of nuts, pretzels, cookies, and similar items.

Fitness Center

The fitness center at Hyatt Regency Bali is located in a large pavilion within the spa facility and is open 24 hours a day.

It features all the essential equipment you’d expect from a resort gym, including treadmills, weight machines, and free weights. The equipment is modern, well maintained, and in excellent condition.

My only complaint about this fitness center is that, since it has to accommodate guests from two hotels, it can get quite crowded in the mornings. To beat the morning rush, I recommend arriving before 7:00 AM.

Pool

Andaz Bali offers three swimming pools for guests to enjoy. There’s a main pool situated along the beachfront, a designated adults-only quiet pool, and a dedicated kids-only pool. All the pools are temperature-controlled, providing the perfect escape from Bali’s often intense humidity and heat.

There is also a Lagoon Pool on the property, but this pool is only accessible to guests staying in a Lagoon Access Guest Room.

Liang (Main) Pool

The main pool at Andaz Bali is a large infinity-edge swimming pool overlooking Sanur Beach. The pool deck is lined with numerous loungers, along with a few cabanas for added privacy.

Right in front of the pool, there were dozens of loungers on the beach as well.

Santhi (Quiet) Pool

This is the designated adults-only quiet pool, located just steps from our patio, making it our go-to spot during our stay. The pool courtyard is nearly fully shaded by a thick canopy of trees, providing a refreshing retreat from the intense sun.

The quiet pool has only around ten loungers, but I rarely saw more than one or two other people there. I imagine some guests were unaware of this pool, as it’s tucked away from the main public areas of the resort.

Alit (Kids) Pool

The kids’ pool is located just adjacent to the main pool.

Sanur Beach

There are no private beaches on Bali; however, there are many loungers and daybeds available exclusively for hotel guests. The waters on the eastern side of Bali are quite calm, making it an ideal spot for enjoying the ocean view or taking a relaxing swim. 

Shankha Spa

Shankha Spa at Hyatt Regency Bali is a breathtaking outdoor space, with multiple pavilions intertwined around a large lily pond teeming with koi fish. It’s an entirely tranquil atmosphere, and undoubtedly one of the most impressive spa facilities I’ve ever experienced. 

Depending on the location of your room at Andaz, it’s a roughly 3–5 minute walk to the Shankha Spa at the Hyatt Regency.

The spa facilities include a fitness center, an adults-only spa pool, and separate male and female saunas, steam rooms, and hydrotherapy pools. All of these amenities are free to use for all hotel guests.

The grounds at the Hyatt Regency are incredibly lush and tropical, creating a serene and vibrant atmosphere. The two properties complement each other perfectly. While the adults-only pool at the Shankha Spa is on the smaller side, it offers a peaceful retreat from the main pools, which tend to be popular with families. Having another adults-only pool available can be a real advantage for those seeking a quieter space.

Two hydrotherapy pools were available, which included a cold plunge tub and a jacuzzi.

A steam room and dry sauna complete the list of amenities available for guests.

I didn’t partake in any spa treatments during our stay, but I did peek into one of the treatment rooms to snap a few pictures.

You can view the services available and prices at Shankha Spa here. 

Activities

There are a wide range of daily activities available for both adults and kids. Many of the activities are offered for free, with a select few requiring an additional charge.

Daily activities for children are offered at the Kemu Mai Kids Club pavilion. Similar to the adult activities, many of the kids’ activities are provided complimentary to guests, and some may require an additional fee.

Conclusion

The Andaz brand strikes the perfect balance between luxury and lifestyle, with Andaz Bali offering an extraordinary experience of warm Balinese hospitality. Andaz Bali excels at creating a resort that is deeply rooted in local culture while still maintaining a vibrant and youthful atmosphere, with a focus on art, design, and wonderful service.

Andaz Bali’s à la carte breakfast, with its “order until you explode” concept, is second to none. A tip of the hat to the entire resort team for crafting such an interesting menu, giving guests the opportunity to experiment with their choices and indulge in as many dishes as they like.

Access to the Hyatt Regency’s facilities, including the fitness center and spa, was a major highlight and truly enhanced our stay. It felt like enjoying the benefits of two hotels for the price of one. Hyatt Regency Bali is a perfect complement to the boutique atmosphere at Andaz Bali. If you’re able to pair Globalist benefits or a Guest of Honor award with a stay at Andaz Bali, it’s one of the best value-for-money resorts on the island.