The Ayana Resort in Jimbaran
This place is huge. Enormous. Covering 190 acres of land, and stretching along 1.2 km of rocky Jimbaran shoreline, it feature 78 private villas and 290 rooms built over two wings. Wide open spaces abound everywhere, making the upkeep and landscaping of the properly require an army to mow grass, rake away leaves, etc. Three large pools plus a smaller kiddies pool provide lots of tanning opportunity.
There is a spa, an 18 hole putt putt course, and several restaurants featuring cuisine from native Indonesian to fine French Cuisine.
The Rock Bar
Finally, there is the focal point of the property, the island famous Rock Bar, located at the base of the cliffs, surrounded by rocks, reachable either by a long staircase or an inclinator that takes guests down eight at a time. When we arrived at the hotel, the GM met with us and gave us a reservation for the Rock Bar that evening (apparently, seating is first come first serve). As we rounded the corner to the inclinator, there was an entirely too long of a line full of non Ayana guests waiting to gain entrance. Fortunately, guests use the 'cut to the front' right side of the rope for an immediate entrance.
Once below, the vibe is cool and smooth, light electronica pumping out of the speakers, dozens of hostesses and servers coordinated like an small army to move the guests around. We were expected, and led to the very top level - reserved only for hotel guests - where the primary bar is located and the best views of sunset is to be had.
Unfortunately, in the hour before sunset, the sun is baking hot, reflecting off the sea. Solution? Parasols - hundreds of them passed out to guests to block the hot sun.
Drinks were varied - everything from rum and coke to more exotic fruit and spice concoctions. My signature drink was the Caipiroska (Vodka, Lime, Brown Sugar and ice), and I had many of them, Yummy! As the sun fell, Liam saw several large crabs crawling around the sand and rocks three stories below.
As the sun set, the magical golden light bathed then entire bar and cliff side. Cameras and videos were snapping and whirling away. Once the sun dropped below the horizon, twilight quickly followed suit (in the tropics, the sun drops like a rock). Once the dusk faded, the light of hundreds of table top candles and lights shining up on the face of the cliffs. Yet another beautiful setting.
We ended up visiting twice. The people watching is fun, and everyone has their cameras popping away to capture the sunset. A warning - the drinks aren't cheap. My cocktails ran $14 a pop, in fact, everything at this resort runs at poppingly high prices. But being way out on the cliffs, on a huge resort, with no tourist center near without making a strong effort to get a cab and head towards Nusa Dua or Kuta (as opposed to Ubud, where shopping and dining is just a walk away). We expected this, but was still shocked by it.
The Rock Bar was worth visiting as a guest of the hotel. Given the long, long lines of people lined up just to get to the bottom and the bar - where they then have to wait for a table to open up - I wouldn't go out of my way to visit.
This place is huge. Enormous. Covering 190 acres of land, and stretching along 1.2 km of rocky Jimbaran shoreline, it feature 78 private villas and 290 rooms built over two wings. Wide open spaces abound everywhere, making the upkeep and landscaping of the properly require an army to mow grass, rake away leaves, etc. Three large pools plus a smaller kiddies pool provide lots of tanning opportunity.
There is a spa, an 18 hole putt putt course, and several restaurants featuring cuisine from native Indonesian to fine French Cuisine.
The Rock Bar
Finally, there is the focal point of the property, the island famous Rock Bar, located at the base of the cliffs, surrounded by rocks, reachable either by a long staircase or an inclinator that takes guests down eight at a time. When we arrived at the hotel, the GM met with us and gave us a reservation for the Rock Bar that evening (apparently, seating is first come first serve). As we rounded the corner to the inclinator, there was an entirely too long of a line full of non Ayana guests waiting to gain entrance. Fortunately, guests use the 'cut to the front' right side of the rope for an immediate entrance.
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| Rock Bar from atop the inclinator |
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| Shot of inclinator from above |
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| Inclinator at top position |
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| Inclinator in action |
Once below, the vibe is cool and smooth, light electronica pumping out of the speakers, dozens of hostesses and servers coordinated like an small army to move the guests around. We were expected, and led to the very top level - reserved only for hotel guests - where the primary bar is located and the best views of sunset is to be had.
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| Bartenders hard at work |
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| View of the cliffs with the Bali airport in the far distance on the right |
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| Other parts of the Rock Bar |
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| DJ spinning the smooth electronica |
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| Where everyone lines up to gain entrance and catch the inclinator up |
Unfortunately, in the hour before sunset, the sun is baking hot, reflecting off the sea. Solution? Parasols - hundreds of them passed out to guests to block the hot sun.
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| Leslie in the setting sun |
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| Lily and Leslie |
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| Leslie earlier in the afternoon with her parasol to keep the heat away |
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| Lily sitting in a great cliff side location |
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| Leslie relaxing |
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| One of Liam masterpiece photos...:) |
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| Liam and Mommy |
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| Liam |
Drinks were varied - everything from rum and coke to more exotic fruit and spice concoctions. My signature drink was the Caipiroska (Vodka, Lime, Brown Sugar and ice), and I had many of them, Yummy! As the sun fell, Liam saw several large crabs crawling around the sand and rocks three stories below.
As the sun set, the magical golden light bathed then entire bar and cliff side. Cameras and videos were snapping and whirling away. Once the sun dropped below the horizon, twilight quickly followed suit (in the tropics, the sun drops like a rock). Once the dusk faded, the light of hundreds of table top candles and lights shining up on the face of the cliffs. Yet another beautiful setting.
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| Lily's photo designed specifically for Instagram |
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| Sun approaching the horizon |
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| Sun about to kiss the horizon |
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| Clouds and cliffs absorbing the final rays of the day |
We ended up visiting twice. The people watching is fun, and everyone has their cameras popping away to capture the sunset. A warning - the drinks aren't cheap. My cocktails ran $14 a pop, in fact, everything at this resort runs at poppingly high prices. But being way out on the cliffs, on a huge resort, with no tourist center near without making a strong effort to get a cab and head towards Nusa Dua or Kuta (as opposed to Ubud, where shopping and dining is just a walk away). We expected this, but was still shocked by it.
The Rock Bar was worth visiting as a guest of the hotel. Given the long, long lines of people lined up just to get to the bottom and the bar - where they then have to wait for a table to open up - I wouldn't go out of my way to visit.
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