This '80s Bali resort blends nostalgia with bargain-priced luxury
Food + drink
Head to Azul Beach Club for tiki-inspired cocktails and casual eats, such as grilled prawns and a mammoth charcoal-baked lobster with garlic and parsley aioli (ask for the sauce on the side) for the bargain price of IDR545,000 ($53). The venue hosts live gigs four nights a week, including reggae and salsa. Indonesian options such as sop buntut (oxtail soup) can be found at all-day Celagi restaurant. The themed nights held on the lawn every week are a nice touch, and include a Balinese cultural dinner with babi guling buffet, and a circus iteration that will likely have you in stitches.
Out + about
The hotel's central location on Jalan Padma is enviable, with Legian Beach directly opposite. Turn right and walk down Jalan Padma and you'll find Bali's ubiquitous sports bars, tattoo shops and typical tourist shopping. The bright lights of Seminyak are a 25-minute walk along the beach.
The verdict
The premise that a hotel can't be everything to everyone is a myth: this laid-back stay strikes a balance between being family-friendly and a fun hangout for couples.
Essentials
Mandira Club Suites from IDR5,887,500 ($577) a night. There are 48 accessible rooms. Jalan Padma No.2, Legian, Bali, Indonesia. See balimandira.com
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Rating out of five
★★★★
Highlight
I had the best Balinese massage of my life at the hotel's unassuming Glow Spa, and that's saying something, given I lived on the island for five years.
Lowlight
The hotel still uses plastic straws and early on my first morning, the gym was overrun by a group of kids under 10 who were using the space as a playground. A cruel awakening.
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