LUXURY

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
ST. REGIS, BALI
OUR RATING: 9.5/10
Opened: September 2008.
Location: Prime plot of Nusa Dua beachfront and adjacent to
the Bali Golf and Country Club.
Ambience/style: The classic understated elegance of
St. Regis cleverly infused with a modern take on the best of
Balinese architecture.
Clientele: Mix of mainly wealthy European and Americans on
my visit.
Kayuputi Restaurant
Of course, no luxe villa would be complete without a butler’s
quarters and kitchen area with separate entrance. Following
in the tradition of their iconic New York hotel, The St. Regis
Bali features the legendary St. Regis butler service. Trained
in the English tradition, the butlers provide ever-present, yet
unobtrusive service and customise each guest’s stay according
to his or her tastes.
Quality dining options are integral to a resort of this nature,
and this one offered some of the best I have experienced.
The resort’s signature beachfront restaurant, Kayuputi, is
a new favourite for the island’s well-heeled elite. Created
by Executive Chef Oscar Perez, the menu integrates Asian
flavours and classic Western influences. We’re talking about
Wagyu beef from Australia and Japan, seafood from local
waters and a selection of Sturia and Prunier caviar and oysters
that vary according to the season. But be warned, the oysters
do not come cheap here.
In the local language, Kayuputi means ‘white wood’, and the
restaurant is certainly a vision of white. Its decor provides a
perfectly modern, elegant backdrop for the tranquil Indian
Ocean view. Al fresco seating comes with a soft ocean breeze
and an unobstructed view of the ocean. Guests may reserve
private cabanas for dining, or settle into a soft white cushion
inside the high-ceilinged restaurant, where the two-storey
wine cellar and open kitchen add to the ambience. Within
the restaurant, an intimate bar area beckons with a sofa deck
and day beds, offering the perfect spot for the transition
from day to evening cocktails before dinner.
Not to be outdone, the hotel’s other restaurant, Boneka,
offers authentic Asian-style dishes in a relaxing setting. It
also, in my opinion, offers the world’s best breakfast. First let
me say that I am nearly always disappointed with this aspect
of many luxe hotels – but this was truly sublime. The offering
was enough to tempt the most jaded palate, with steak and
eggs St Regis style, Wagyu beef, oven-roasted tomatoes and
eggs any style served on a petite iron skillet. Or perhaps a
lobster omelette, made-to-order steamed prawn dumplings,
and some of the best sushi I have ever had. If none of the
above meets your culinary requirements, you could be
tempted by the continual table service offerings of tapa-sized
dishes. This was an unbelievable breakfast experience, and
one to which I looked forward to each day.
In the evening, The King Cole Bar honours the legacy of the
Astors and the brand’s flagship property in New York, the
birthplace of the iconic Bloody Mary. It was a great place
to watch the nightly torch-lighting ceremony and enjoy
a cocktail or three. Home-made delicacies and imported
culinary treats are available at the Gourmand Deli downstairs,
or you can take advantage of the Butler Service to enjoy a
private, in-room barbeque accompanied by your personal
chef and sommelier.
No stay would be complete without sampling the rejuvenation
on offer at the resort’s Remède Spa, set in a serene corner
of the property surrounded by a koi carp pond. Featuring 12
treatment rooms, the spa offers both traditional treatments
and modern Remède therapies. Other facilities include an
Aqua Vitale Pool, for a full body underwater massage, two
phenomenal spa suites, and a yoga centre. Believe it or not,
I also spent some time in the well-equipped, if rather small,
gym located next to the Spa.
Bali has no shortage of excellent resorts, but the St. Regis set
the bar higher still. If you are visiting the island and looking for
the ultimate in luxury surroundings, polished service and fine
cuisine, then you must include The St. Regis in your itinerary. It
exceeded all expectations and is certainly a class above many
of its competitors. In my humble opinion, it’s far and away the
best option in Nusa Dua. I can’t wait to go back.
Room cost:
Suites from NZ$1015 per night
Lagoon 2-Bedroom Villa from
NZ$2700 per night
Rates exclude service charge and local tax
Reservations: For bookings or enquiries please call
Mondo Travel on 0800 955 655.
Awards: Already on the Condé Nast 2009 Hot List for the
world’s best new hotels, sure to win many more accolades.
Interesting facts: In 1934, Fernand Petiot, bartender at The
St Regis New York’s legendary King Cole Bar, perfected the
recipe for an unusual vodka and tomato juice cocktail he
christened the Red Snapper, now commonly known as a
Bloody Mary.
Room number: An all suite property with 123 suites and villas
in total. Even the entry level St. Regis Suite measures in at a
generous 92m 2 !
Room type reviewed: Two bedroom Lagoon Villa.
Room info: A very respectable 157m 2 , Balinese art is displayed
throughout and the indoor lighting has been designed to
be easily adjusted to complement any mood. A bar and
casual dining table is ideal for a touch of entertaining. Mod
touches include three (yes, three!) 42-inch LCD TV’s with
DVD player and Bose surround sound music system. The
bedrooms feature 300-thread count linens and automated
blackout curtains.
Bathroom: Two spacious marble bathrooms with additional
guest toilet. Both feature dual vanities, large stand-alone
bathtub, separate rain shower and the convenience of a
14-inch LCD TV. The bathrooms are stocked with Remède
bath products.
Business needs: A dedicated business centre and library with
latest International papers. WIFI and high speed Internet
access also available in the Villa, as is a large writing desk off
the master bedroom if work is a must.
Spa facilities: Located next to the gym, the Remède Spa is a
stand-alone facility with a menu that marries several exotic
therapies with Balinese philosophies.
Lobby
Two bedroom Lagoon Villa
Pool: Each villa comes with a good-sized private pool
and raised Bale Bengong (Indonesian style gazebo). Also
direct access to the incredible 3668m 2 lagoon pool, a real
feature of the resort and the best-designed lagoon pool I
have ever seen.
Gym: The Athletic Club features a full complement of state-ofthe
art equipment. Qualified instructors, yoga and personal
training programmes are also on offer.
Restaurants and bar info: Two stand out restaurants and bars
and deli. Kayuputi Fine Dining Restaurant is undoubtedly
one, if not the finest restaurant on the Island. I also loved the
deli offering imported artisan foods, wines and surprisingly
good coffee.
Stuff for kids: Great babysitting service and the pool will
keep them occupied for hours.
Rewards programme: Starwood Rewards.
‘X’-Factor: The quality and level of detail in the resort’s
overall design and layout - different from the norm and
very impressive.
What’s great: Hard to single out one particular thing as I was
impressed by the big three… service level, the overall resort
quality and the cuisine - its worth going to the resort for the
breakfast alone.
What’s not so great: Not a lot. The view from some
of the St. Regis Suites located in the main hotel block
are partially obscured by the large white domes of the
outdoor dining and bar areas. May pay to request a suite
away from these domes.
Overall: An absolutely stunning property and a must if you’re
visiting Bali. It is by far the best option in the Nusa Dua
region and a fine addition to the St. Regis stable of deluxe
properties.
Editor’s tip: For a great evening out, start with a Bloody Mary
at the King Cole Bar and then spoil yourself with a leisurely
dinner at Kayuputi… Bali at it’s best.
Website: www.stregis.com/bali
Reservations: for information or enquiries please phone
Mondo Travel on 0800 955 655.
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