The southern tip of Bali is a beautiful mix of white sand beaches, dramatic clifftop temples and laidback surf culture. Nestled amidst this tropical beauty sits The Longhouse, perched on a majestic hilltop. The location alone makes this a five-star villa. But The Longhouse offers so much more than just a tropical view to die for.
The Longhouse is a sprawling six-bedroom villa filled with intricate details, each one chosen with a genuine love for Bali and the Indonesian archipelago. The owners have the backstory behind every textile, tapestry and artefact you see in the villa.
The team at The Longhouse truly wants guests to experience Bali to the fullest and each room includes a curated list of activities ranging from village walks to learning to weave traditional Balinese offerings.
Introducing The Longhouse
The Longhouse is located on a scenic hilltop in Jimbaran. The villa’s entrance brings you to a private elevator (all but two bedrooms are wheelchair accessible) which whisks you up to the top floor. From here, you are greeted by The View.
The Longhouse was designed Popo Danes, one of the most prominent architects in Indonesia. To give an idea of just how stunning The Longhouse is, Danes is the maestro behind the iconic Hanging Gardens resort in Ubud.
From its elevated position in the Jimbaran hills, The Longhouse offers some of the most unique and breathtakingly stunning views you’ll find anywhere on the island. The villa’s top-floor infinity pool offers panoramic views of the island and out into the ocean. From this exclusive vantage point you can see past and present intertwine, with nearby villages framed by views of planes landing and departing in the distance. Come nightfall, the pool is lit up by tea lights and you can watch the nocturnal lights of Bali twinkle down below.
A Journey Across Indonesia
And now from the view to the villa itself. The Longhouse has six bedrooms, which makes this villa absolutely perfect for extended family holidays or for hosting weddings and retreats – there’s even a scenic yoga deck for those so inclined.
Each bedroom at The Longhouse draws inspiration from a different Indonesian island. The Bali master suite features bamboo furnishings and a private plunge pool, while the Lombok room includes authentic Sasak pottery.
The East and West Java suites are located opposite each other and feature rich batik textiles indigenous to the most populous island in the archipelago. These two rooms are connected by Java Hall which can easily be set up as an alfresco playroom for the kids.
The Sumba bedroom includes intricately woven ikat fabrics and pays subtle homage to the horsemanship of the Sumbanese. Finally, the Sumatra suite echoes the lush nature of Indonesia’s largest island with jungle green tones and touches of natural wood. The piece de resistance is the natural stone bathtub set outside on the jungle-like balcony.
There really is no need to fight over top billing at The Longhouse, as each bedroom is designed with equal care and passion. One really can’t help but feel inspired surrounded by all the vibrant textiles and art sourced from across Indonesia.
Dining at The Longhouse
Besides the jaw-dropping views and highly curated design, one of the undeniable highlights of staying at The Longhouse is the food. Without exaggeration, dining at this villa rivals a visit to any fine dining restaurant (of which there are plenty within a 10-minute radius of the villa).
The dining room is located on the top floor and after sunset, the huge windows offer magical views of nocturnal Bali. The views are easily matched by the food and the gorgeous presentation.
During our visit to The Longhouse, the chef prepared gado-gado (an Indonesian salad served with peanut sauce) from scratch – literally. As we sat gathered around the dining table, the chef prepared the peanut sauce in a huge mortar, bringing a whole new dimension to the dining experience. Everything was served fresh as can be. The gado-gado was followed by exquisite nasi campur (mixed rice) and finished off with a delicate mango mousse.
Staying in Jimbaran
The Bukit Peninsula is easily one of the most stunning parts of Bali and that’s saying something on an island revered for its beauty. The Longhouse sits on a majestic hilltop in Jimbaran and offers sweeping views overlooking the Island of the Gods. A few minutes’ drive from the villa will bring you to stunning white sand beaches and gorgeous clifftop venues, including the iconic Uluwatu Temple.
When it comes to dining, Jimbaran is known first and foremost for its seafood restaurants where you can enjoy the catch of the day in a romantic toes-in-the-sand setting. This is definitely a Bali bucket list experience, but there is so much more to Jimbaran’s dining scene than just seafood.
A 15-minute drive from The Longhouse brings you to Jimbaran’s very own culinary hub (yes, there are great restaurants beyond Seminyak’s Eat Street!) where you’ll find top-rated restaurants like Cuca, La Brasserie and Balique.
Besides the great dining options, the Bukit Peninsula is also home to some of the most epic beach clubs and clifftop pools on the island. El Kabron’s epic sunsets, the jaw-dropping glass-bottom pool of oneeighty, Sundays Beach Club and Karma Beach… It’s all here right at your fingertips.
From the hilltop position to the rich design and from the culinary highlights to the five-star service, every part of The Longhouse feels very special. There are few properties which pay such beautiful homage to the rich heritage of Indonesia and equally few villas offer such a high level of service.
Read more about The Longhouse or contact our villa specialists for personalised assistance.
