An Island Villa and Buzzing Beach Club Hotel in Bali

One on Nusa Lembongan, the other in one of Bali’s coolest areas, Mandala.The Bay and The Clubhouse at Ulu are both idyllic outposts for the discerning traveller

Bali has long been a haven for the aesthetically inclined traveller, attracted to its thriving local design scene, eco-chic beach clubs and picturesque sunsets. New additions to the roster of accommodations available to such travellers are Mandala.The Bay. and The Clubhouse at Ulu, by real estate and hospitality project developer M.Group, and though they offer vastly different experiences, there’s no doubt that both add something to Bali’s allure. ‘They’re distinctly different in many ways,’ notes M.Group’s CEO Ben Jones, ‘but the common thread with these two properties, and all our properties really, is the modernist approach to the architectural envelop. Simple geometric masses composed of unpretentious, industrial materials are softened by the wild, encroaching tropical landscape, warm and playful interiors, and a collection of curiosities in the form of art and design objects.’

The Clubhouse at Ulu is a new boutique hotel with laid-back luxury at its heart. Attached to the popular Ulu Cliffhouse beach club, the hotel embraces a 1950s Palm Springs vibe, its colours and shapes inspired largely by the work of pop artist David Hockney, with what Jones refers to as a ‘layer cake of material decadence’ in the form of Italian marble, brass and plush velvet throughout. Uluwatu is famed for its surf culture, and each of the seven unique suites are named after one of Bali’s famous surf breaks, like Yoyos, Lakeys and Dreamlands. The Clubhouse also offers a speakeasy-style cocktail bar with a distinctly tropical flair, and its F&B offering centres on wood-fire cooking and fresh local produce.

‘Uluwatu has always been my favourite part of Bali, with its huge cliffs, white sand, big waves and blue sea — and nothing has changed. The area’s still relatively quiet and its dramatic beauty is what people imagine when they think of Bali,’ Jones says. He and M.Group’s in-house team worked closely with Bali-based studio The Good Firm to produce a range of bespoke furniture for the hotel, most notably the cocktail bar in each suite — an oversized version of the standard mini-bar that offers everything you need to make the perfect cocktail.

But those seeking seclusion and tropical tranquillity should make the trip — via car and then speedboat — to Mandala.The Bay. on the southeast island of Nusa Lembongan. Jones and his team transformed an existing beach house to become a five-bedroom villa complex with infinity pool that overlooks the pristine blue waters of Sandy Bay and the powerful waves and famous blowhole of Devil’s Tears surf spot. Jones saw artwork as a critical driver for the villa’s design, and called on James Brown of Adelaide-based multidisciplinary firm UFO Agencies (also behind the art curation at The Clubhouse at Ulu) to curate the art throughout and create two large murals of his own in the living spaces. Wood, rough textured marble and woven surfaces are offset by polished brass, coloured terrazzo and high-gloss mural surfaces that introduce a more playful feel.

With two more locations in the pipeline, Mandala seems to be at the forefront of Bali’s design-led hospitality scene. ‘Bali has always attracted freethinkers and more spiritually-minded tourists. Naturally, this has now evolved and the island attracts creative minds working in fields such as art, graphics, interiors and architecture,’ Jones explains. ‘The Balinese have always been superior artisans, from woodwork, weaving and textiles to carving and masonry, and this combination has pretty much made Bali what it is. From sustainability and egalitarian hospitality to “disconnected” luxury, the landscape is changing. People are looking for luxury with a bit of an edge delivered in an egalitarian atmosphere.’

Text / Babette Radclyffe-Thomas
Images / Bali Interiors and Hennessytrill Photography