Anantara Uluwatu Bali Resort Review: A Clifftop Ocean Escape in Uluwatu
/Some hotels are made for sightseeing. Others are made for staying still.
Anantara Uluwatu Bali Resort definitely falls into the second category.
Set along the cliffs of Uluwatu, this is the kind of Bali stay where the ocean is always part of the experience. You see it from the pool, from the pathways, from the restaurant, and if you’re lucky enough to have an ocean-facing suite, from the moment you wake up in the morning.
We stayed in an Ocean Front Suite, and it completely shaped the stay. The suite opened up to uninterrupted ocean views, golden sunsets, and that peaceful feeling of being tucked away on the edge of Bali’s southern coastline.
This was not a stay where we felt the need to rush around. Between the infinity pool, the suite, dinner at Botol Biru Bar & Grill, and a spa treatment during the stay, Anantara Uluwatu gave us exactly what we came to Uluwatu for: space, sea views, and proper relaxation.
Location in Uluwatu
Anantara Uluwatu Bali Resort is located in Uluwatu, one of Bali’s most dramatic coastal areas. This part of the island feels very different to Seminyak, Canggu, or Ubud. Instead of rice fields or beach clubs lined along the sand, Uluwatu is all about cliffs, surf breaks, sunsets, beach coves, and sweeping ocean views.
The resort sits along the coastline, overlooking the Indian Ocean. It feels removed enough to be peaceful, but still close enough to some of Uluwatu’s key spots if you want to explore.
Nearby, you have beaches like Padang Padang, Bingin, and Suluban, along with Uluwatu Temple, which is one of Bali’s most famous sunset locations. That said, the best part of this stay was honestly not feeling like we had to leave.
Anantara Uluwatu has that resort-style quality where the setting does a lot of the work. You can spend the day moving slowly between your room, the pool, the spa, and dinner with a view, and it still feels like you’ve had a complete Bali experience.
First Impressions
The first thing you notice at Anantara Uluwatu is the view.
The resort is built into the cliffside, so there’s a layered feeling to the property. As you move through the resort, you get different angles of the ocean, the pool, the gardens, and the coastline below.
It has a very calming energy. The design uses natural textures, warm tones, stone, timber, greenery, and open spaces that let the ocean remain the main focus. It doesn’t feel overly polished in a stiff way. It feels relaxed, tropical, and very much connected to its clifftop setting.
For us, the magic really came through in the late afternoon. The light became softer, the water turned silver and gold, and the whole resort started to feel even more cinematic.
If you love a hotel where the photos almost take themselves, this is definitely one of those places.
Ocean Front Suite
Our Ocean Front Suite was easily one of the highlights of the stay.
The suite was spacious, warm, and designed in a way that made the ocean view the star. The room opened out to a private outdoor area, giving us a front-row seat to the coastline and sunset.
Inside, the room had a relaxed coastal feel, with timber details, natural textures, and warm lighting. It felt comfortable rather than overly formal, which suited the Uluwatu setting perfectly.
There was plenty of space to settle in properly, with a large bed, seating area, bathroom, and outdoor terrace. It’s the kind of suite where you don’t just sleep there - you actually want to spend time there.
The outdoor bath was a beautiful touch. Having that open-air setting with the ocean in the distance made the room feel even more special, especially around sunset when the whole sky started to change colour.
What I loved most was how connected the room felt to the landscape. You could sit inside with the doors open, step out to the terrace, or simply look out across the water without needing to go anywhere. It gave the stay such a peaceful rhythm.
The Infinity Pool
The infinity pool is probably the most memorable part of Anantara Uluwatu.
It looks directly out over the ocean, with the pool edge blending into the horizon. The view is especially beautiful in the late afternoon, when the sun starts to drop and the light becomes softer.
This is the kind of pool that makes you want to pause for a while. Not just for a quick swim, but to actually sit there, watch the waves roll in, and let the whole Uluwatu setting sink in.
The sunset here was stunning. As the sky turned orange and the ocean reflected the light, the pool became one of the best spots in the resort to take it all in.
There’s something about an infinity pool on a cliff that instantly makes a hotel feel more dramatic, but at Anantara Uluwatu it still felt calm and intimate. It wasn’t just about the view - it was the feeling of being suspended above the ocean.
For me, this was the image of the stay: standing in the pool, looking out over the waves, with the sun slowly disappearing into the horizon.
Dinner at Botol Biru Bar & Grill
During our stay, we had dinner at Botol Biru Bar & Grill, the resort’s oceanfront restaurant.
This was such a lovely setting for dinner. The restaurant has a relaxed coastal feel, with open views, warm lighting, and a menu that suits the clifftop location really well.
Dinner here felt easy and atmospheric. It wasn’t overly formal, but it still felt polished enough to make the evening feel special. There’s a nice balance between resort dining and relaxed Bali energy.
The food leaned into grilled dishes, seafood, and comforting favourites, which worked perfectly for the setting. After a day by the pool and around the resort, it was exactly the kind of dinner we wanted.
The best part was the atmosphere. Dining with the ocean nearby, the warm evening air, and the sound of the coast in the background made the whole experience feel very Uluwatu.
Botol Biru is one of those restaurants where the location really adds to the meal. You’re not just going for the food - you’re going for the view, the mood, and that slow Bali evening feeling.
Spa Experience
We also had a spa treatment during the stay, which added another layer of relaxation to the experience.
Anantara is known for its resort-style wellness offering, and the spa fit perfectly into the overall mood of the hotel. After spending time in the sun, by the pool, and around the cliffs, it was such a good way to slow down.
The treatment felt calming and restorative without being too fussy. It was exactly what we needed during a Bali stay: quiet, relaxing, and easy to sink into.
What I appreciated was how naturally the spa experience fit into the day. You could have breakfast, spend time by the pool, enjoy the suite, head to the spa, then finish with sunset and dinner. Everything felt very effortless.
The Overall Resort Experience
Anantara Uluwatu is best suited to travellers who want a peaceful, scenic resort stay.
This isn’t the kind of hotel I’d choose if I wanted to be in the middle of Bali’s busiest restaurant and nightlife scene. It’s more for people who want views, space, sunsets, and a slower pace.
The property has a strong sense of place. The cliffs, the ocean, the infinity pool, and the open-air spaces all make it feel distinctly Uluwatu.
It’s also very photogenic without feeling like it’s trying too hard. The best moments came naturally: morning light in the suite, golden hour by the pool, flowers around the pathways, and the ocean stretching out in every direction.
For couples, honeymooners, or anyone planning a more relaxed Bali escape, this would be a beautiful option. It has that romantic, clifftop resort feeling without needing to be overly showy.
Final Verdict
Anantara Uluwatu Bali Resort was one of those stays where the setting did most of the talking.
The Ocean Front Suite gave us incredible views, plenty of space, and a beautiful place to slow down. The infinity pool was the standout, especially at sunset, and dinner at Botol Biru Bar & Grill added a relaxed but memorable dining experience to the stay.
What made the stay special was how easy it felt. We didn’t feel like we had to over-plan or rush around. The resort gave us everything we needed for a peaceful Uluwatu escape: ocean views, warm light, good food, spa time, and a pool that looked straight out to the horizon.
If you’re looking for a clifftop Bali stay with dramatic views, spacious suites, and one of the most beautiful sunset pool settings in Uluwatu, Anantara Uluwatu Bali Resort is a gorgeous choice.
👉 To book your stay at Anantara Uluwatu Bali Resort, click here.