48 Hours at Viceroy Bali, Ubud's Most Celebrated Hillside Retreat
PEWARTA.CO.ID — If you are looking for a luxury retreat in Ubud, Bali that delivers on every count, Viceroy Bali is a name that comes up time and again. Perched on a secluded ridge above the Valley of the Kings, just 15 minutes north of central Ubud, this five-star hillside retreat and boutique hotel in Ubud holds a One MICHELIN Key for 2025, was named number one property in the world by Condé Nast Traveller Readers' Choice Awards in 2018, and achieved GSTC certification in June 2026 as one of the first properties in Ubud to do so. Here is how to make the most of 48 hours here.
Day One
Arrival and First Impressions
The drive up to Viceroy Bali sets the tone before the property comes into view. As the road narrows and the jungle closes in, the noise of Ubud below fades entirely. A welcome sorbet on arrival signals the pace of the next two days.
All 40 private pool villas at this luxury retreat in Ubud, Bali come with a heated pool and face the valley, a view kept uninterrupted by frontage land the family has privately leased. The Deluxe Terrace Villa is a natural starting point, with a 3.5 by 4.5 metre heated infinity pool, a freestanding bath, and a traditional Balinese bale that rewards slow mornings. Guests seeking a more inclusive stay will find it in the Premium Club Pool Villa, which offers all-inclusive benefits and bespoke daily experiences. Breakfast is made to order and served à la carte in the villa or at the bale, which makes the first morning an easy argument against overplanning.
The Infinity Pool and Akoya Spa
After lunch at CasCades Restaurant, which opens at 11 am, the 200-square-metre main infinity pool is the obvious next stop. Mid-afternoon, when the mist has lifted and the gorge stretches out below the deck, is the hour the valley is at its clearest.
From there, Akoya Spa. Treatments blend the age-old wisdom of Balinese healing traditions with modern Western science, offered across three private single treatment rooms and three dedicated double suites, with many treatments also available in the villa. A cold plunge and sauna make for a restorative finish before the evening begins.
Evening: Pinstripe Bar and Dinner at Apéritif
No first evening at this Ubud retreat is complete without a stop at Pinstripe Bar, Viceroy Bali's hidden speakeasy perched above the Valley of the Kings and dressed in marble, dark wood, and bronze. The bar receives the sunset, so arriving before dusk is worth the small effort. The cocktail menu, The Clairvoyant, is inspired by artist Miguel Covarrubias and is organised into sections including Harlem Renaissance, Bali Sojourn, Pinstripe Signatures, and The Sober Guide. Live jazz and a wide selection of cigars round out the room.
Dinner at Apéritif Restaurant is the centrepiece of any stay. Under the culinary artistry of the Apéritif team, the kitchen presents Guided by the Moon, a 5 or 7 course degustation shaped by a Global Gastronomy with Indonesian Produce philosophy. Vegetarian and vegan degustations are regular standing menus rather than adaptations on request, and the sommelier team pours from a meticulously curated wine cellar. The dress code is smart-to-formal; advance booking is required; and dinner deserves the two to three hours it takes. Apéritif was named among Tatler Indonesia's Best 20 Restaurants in both 2025 and 2026.
Day Two
A Slow Morning Then Ubud
The second morning belongs to the villa. Breakfast by the pool, a swim while the valley is still cool, and no schedule to speak of. Later, central Ubud is 10 to 15 minutes away by car, and the guest services team can arrange activities in and around Ubud for guests who want to go further. The Valley of the Kings itself rewards curiosity, with the 11th-century Gunung Kawi temple complex and the 9th-century Goa Gajah among the sites within easy reach.
A Final Dinner and a Long Goodbye
The complimentary cocktail hour, held three times a week, is a gentle way to ease back into the retreat before dinner. CasCades Restaurant is worth a second visit for the Balinese Rijsttafel, a nine-course traditional Indonesian tasting menu, and every Monday at 7.30 pm, the restaurant hosts a Balinese dance performance. The night can end where the first one did, at Pinstripe Bar, with a signature cocktail and the last of the jazz.
A Retreat That Keeps Earning Its Place
What sets this luxury retreat in Ubud, Bali apart is consistency. Viceroy Bali holds One MICHELIN Key for 2025 and is one of the first boutique hotels in Ubud to achieve GSTC Certification, an independent verification of sustainability practised daily since 2005 rather than adopted for a season. With a staff-to-guest ratio of 5:1, the property has been designed for returning guests.
Forty-eight hours at this luxury retreat in Ubud, Bali is enough to understand why.
Arrange Your Stay.
Viceroy Bali
Br. Nagi, Jl. Lanyahan, Petulu, Ubud, Gianyar, Bali 80571
viceroybali.com
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