Vivara Bali Private Pool Villas & Spa Retreat — Hotel in Kuta Selatan

This place is absolutely stunning. It’s sad that it was spoilt by terrible management. The waitresses and restaurant staff etc were also very lovely and kind but that’s where the good ends.||We had quite a peaceful first day and a half… loving it until a large group of people arrived and overtook the place. You were “not allowed” to eat in restaurant and were forced to eat outside where their guests were smoking non stop. They were also loud and obnoxious. ||They had special Indian food prepared for them in the morning but still came inside the restaurant and handled the breakfast buffet by hand and went around the back and handled the food in the kitchen and made their own omelettes and licked their hands as they were cooking. Just disgusting.||This went on the whole time we were there. ||One day we left our key at breakfast as we went to go out for the day. No one contacted us to tell us. When we came back and realised we were without key we were told to go to the front of our villa and wait. House keeping had the key but were “not allowed” to open till management approved. We continued to search our bags… then when we were let in searched our room for 1 hour. Finally we conceded we must have lost it and went to reception where they told us we would need to pay etc… then finally as we were ordering dinner from restaurant, the girls there told us they handed in our key at breakfast!!!!!||We had a conversation with front desk and they didn’t understand why we were upset. We asked to speak to the manager and we were told after they called him he was gone for day. We went back to restaurant to collect our food only to find he was there and asked to speak to him. He refused and said he was finished for day. The following day nothing. No call no follow up. Finally after two days we get offered a meal. ||Finally on the day we were leaving we ask to speak to manager… he tells us that he we have caused problems even though he has given us a gift.. or a meal. He doesn’t want to listen to us so we get up to leave as there is no point. He then accuses us of being western people who don’t respect Indonesians (I am of Indonesian decent) and starts to push my partner around in the reception area. It’s absolutely unbelievable.||Finally we escalate to the owner who sends the senior manager to talk to us. They offer plenty of massages and food etc but they have no desire to hear of our terrible experience or to fix things. He promises to call us and then as soon as we leave he blocks us on WhatsApp||This is a terrible place. Wouldn’t bother staying here given how many beautiful places there are in Bali for...

The best place on the island!

We spent a month here, and this is more than enough for an objective assessment.

Very nice staff - from the reception to the restaurant and housekeeping. Everyone is very attentive and caring, will help on any issue. Great team of professionals!

The hotel is very comfortable and quiet. There are no buildings around here, you will have your own yard, palm trees, a swimming pool and blue sky above your head.

New villas, no spiders, snakes, cockroaches, etc. Sometimes you can see ants that will come to the open food forgotten in the kitchen. But this is normal and natural, and not a problem at all.

The kitchen is surprisingly pleasant to cook. They were afraid that she was on the street and would have to fight off all sorts of bugs - but this turned out not to be the case. Enjoy cooking outdoors. Everything you need is there, and full cooking is possible.

Delicious breakfasts. They don’t get bored in a month if you don’t recruit everything in a row.

Great location. From here it is convenient to explore the island on a bike, there is access to the best beaches. And within walking distance next door is a hotel-city with many top view restaurants. Here you are quiet and calm, but if you want to eat with a beautiful view, you can visit the restaurants in the neighborhood in a more crowded hotel.

Nice spa, loved the massage.

What can be improved.

Install a coffee machine at breakfast so guests can make latte or cappuccino. It is not expensive and is always available in hotels of this class.

Do something with the water to make possible to take a bath. In the bathroom you will see a large bathtub, but since the hot water apparently comes from the boiler, it is enough for a quarter of this bathtub. Then you need to wait until the water in the system warms up in order to continue filling the bath, but the water that was there will already cool down. In general, going to the shower is more than enough, but the bath is a decoration)

Summarizing.

This is not a cheap accommodation, but for this money there is nothing better in Bali. We looked at the options for 3 weeks, after arriving on the island we saw a lot with our own eyes, but this is the verdict. That is, if you have the amount that the hotel offers - check in without hesitation, the other...

My stay at vivara Hotel Bali was absolutely wonderful from start to finish. The overall service at the hotel was excellent—every staff member I interacted with was warm, professional, and genuinely attentive. They were always responsive and ready to help with anything I needed, big or small, and that really made me feel valued as a guest. It’s rare these days to find a hotel where you can sense that the staff truly care about your experience, but that’s exactly how it felt here.

One person who stood out in particular was Ika. I first met her at the Royal Restaurant, and from that moment she made a lasting impression. She greeted me with such a friendly smile and immediately made me feel at ease. What I really appreciated was how natural and genuine she was—nothing felt forced or scripted. She was kind, approachable, and always willing to go the extra mile to make sure I was comfortable and happy.

Throughout my time at the hotel, Ika was consistently helpful. She gave thoughtful recommendations, answered questions patiently, and even anticipated what I might need before I had to ask. It’s clear she has not only great hospitality skills but also a real passion for making guests feel at home. Her warmth and attentiveness elevated the entire experience for me.

The combination of the hotel’s high standards of service and Ika’s personal touch made my stay truly memorable. When I think back to my trip, it’s not just the beautiful setting or the facilities that stand out—it’s the people, especially Ika, who made me feel welcome and cared for.

I would highly recommend Vivara Hotel Bali to anyone visiting the area, and I would especially like to thank Ika for making my stay so special. She’s an absolute credit to the hotel and a big reason why I would happily return...