Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve — Hotel in Pulau Bali

What can I say but only the best words & compliments on our fantastic stay at Mandapa Reserve. The decision to stay in the two-bedroom pool villa at Mandapa was to become the key highlight of our Balinese vacation. As a family of 4 adults, I could not have made a better decision to celebrate my 50th birthday but at Mandapa. ||Firstly, huge compliments to the online reservation & personal explorer teams (notably, Ms Wulan) who handled our pre-arrival queries & requests so promptly & efficiently. Nothing was too much or too difficult for them to arrange as per our requirements. As the first frontline prior to our check-in, they had done such a great job.||1. Arrival at Mandapa Reserve||Upon arrival at Mandapa, we were warmly received at the main entrance by the frontline staff. Special mention to Dewa (Asst Director of Rooms) who took such great effort to brief us on the resort, what we could expect from our stay & within minutes of his briefing, we felt so at home & settled, ready for a lovely stay. We were also introduced to our wonderful butler, Kewin, who took over the reins thereafter to ferry us to our villa in a buggy, whilst explaining the key landmarks within the resort village. Kick starting our stay with such a warm reception upon our arrival, we knew we were in for a treat!||2. Two-Bedroom Pool Villa||Upon stepping into our villa, all expectations from the website photos we had seen previously were far exceeded as the villa looked even more spectacular in real life. As it was my 50th birthday, the resort had graciously decorated the living room with a 50th & party balloons, as well as a delish mango mousse cake on the side. After a speedy in-villa check-in & orientation process by Kewin, we comfortably settled in to enjoy our villa facilities. Set beautifully right by the Ayung River, this villa would become my all-time favourite location that I have ever stayed in Bali. From two gargantuan sized rooms & a gorgeous private pool wrapped around the villa by the riverfront, this clearly was the setting for a perfect holiday.||3. Dinner at Sawah Terrace||During our stay, we had a most enjoyable Indonesian dinner at Sawah Terrace. As with all other service staff, the staff at Sawah Terrace were all smiles & eager to be of service. The main service staff who attended to our table, Era (I hope I got her name right), was so affable & attentive throughout the evening. The menu selection at Sawah Terrace was extensive & every dish was ample & tasty. Coupled with traditional Balinese dance performances as we dined amidst the enchanting ambiance of Sawah Terrace in the evening, it was indeed a memorable dining experience. ||To end the evening on a sweet note, I was served with a special birthday cake, much to my surprise. That was a such a thoughtful gesture!||4. Breakfast at Sawah Terrace||Our breakfast experience dining at Sawah Terrace was equally good, with every service staff ever ready to greet us with the brightest smiles, and service that was second to none. Our orders were taken promptly & food were served fresh & piping hot. Food presentation was executed brilliantly & the buffet table spread each morning was sufficient. On one of the mornings when we were approaching Sawah Terrace for breakfast, we were greeted by our names by a front office personnel (Eddy/Ede was his name, or I may be wrong). Such personalised reception to address us personally by our names was a great touch to make us feel so at home!||As if I was not pampered enough, the service staff came by our table & sang me ‘Happy Birthday’, while being presented a specially curated plate of ‘nasi campur’. ||5. In-villa BBQ Dinner ||On my birthday evening, to celebrate the occasion, we had requested for a private in-villa BBQ experience. A BBQ station was promptly set up by the pool ready for a pleasant dining experience. Our private chef for the evening, Chairul, efficiently & skilfully prepared our BBQ dishes & every dish was explained to us & cooked beautifully. The private service staff assigned to us for the evening, Krishna, was so attentive, personable & friendly, making the whole experience felt like dining at a best friend’s dinner party. The food portions from the starters to the mains, right up to desserts were so generous that made for such a spectacular dining experience to usher in my 50th birthday.||6. In-house Photographer||As part of our villa reservation, we were entitled to a one-hour photo shoot with a private photographer. Our family had so much fun roaming the resort grounds to have our photos taken. The photographer was fun & animated, and clearly enjoyed his job as he carefully orchestrated our poses to ensure the best photos. Our photos turned out beautifully & we ended up with many sweet memories at the resort. ||7. Kewin, Our Private Butler||Saving the best for last, our wonderful stay at Mandapa Reserve could not have been possible without the warm & attentive service of our private butler, Kewin. Eloquent & well presented, Kewin was always on call to ensure all our needs & requests were promptly met. Nothing was too insurmountable or challenging for her, as her speedy response to our requests was most commendable. ||Every call for a buggy from our villa to the restaurants & lobby was responded to within minutes. Always greeting us with the sweetest smile & with her enthusiastic demenour, nothing was impossible for Kewin. One perfect example was when my mother was looking to buy some local ‘gula merah’ from the local supermarkets (but to no avail), Kewin through her own resourcefulness, had sourced for a bag of ‘gula merah’ & within the hour, returned to our villa to deliver the ‘gula merah’ for my mother. That was testament to what was personalised & efficient service! ||On another occasion, my sister & I (who are avid padel players), had booked ourselves a padel session at a nearby padel complex, just down the road from Mandapa. Ever so willingly, Kewin booked us a car to send us to & fro so that we could go for our padel session. ||Knowing that our butler, Kewin, was always just a call away, we felt ever so spoilt and pampered, and were always assured of a most comfortable stay at Mandapa. ||Kudos to the team at Mandapa who exemplified the best-in-class service all around, in ensuring our family had the best time ever on this holiday! From first impressions at check-in, till our departure from the resort, there was nothing we could fault. With a heavy heart we checked out, but we assured ourselves that a future stay at Mandapa is very likely & high on our list while holidaying in Bali. ||Thank you all at Mandapa for a fabulously memorable stay & for taking such...

As this is going to be long, I will simply start off by saying that we are well-traveled and have stayed in countless luxury properties across the world, but nothing could have prepared us for the level of service, and our overall experience at Mandapa. |Every single staff member went above and beyond for every member of our family. It was as though our every need was anticipated before we even had the thought ourselves, all with a level of sincerity and kindness that was both touching and humbling.||We stayed here in April with our two small children and Mother as a little family vacation. We booked the two-bedroom villa and were upgraded to the three-bedroom villa which was a lovely surprise for which we were very grateful. |We arrived late at night to buggies ready to take us to our villa, which was very much appreciated given the two sleepy cranky kids we had with us. ||Our patih Made was a star. He accommodated every crazy request we had, anticipated any needs we'd have, always with a smile and always extremely fast to respond and get things done, without Made this trip would have been amazing, but with Made, the trip was perfect.||We did the VW Tour and our tour guide Boy was also amazing, he was enthusiastic, and understanding of our situation of traveling with two small kids, adapting the tour to their pace and physical abilities, he even carried our 3 year old son for us when the treks got a bit long, and as parents there's not much that can mean more than simple acts like this. ||I went to the spa with my mother and it was so nice that I immediately booked a time to return with my husband the next evening, I would say the vibe in the evening was even nicer since there aren't rafters then and you can just relax to the sounds of the Ayung while receiving a treatment. The staff here was also extremely kind, and the massages were tailored to each of our preferences, spoiling each and every one of us.||We had an in-villa barbecue with a traditional Balinese dance, and we were completely awestruck by how much effort was put in, the table was beautifully set, only for it to rain shortly after, which was a shame, but it didn't affect the vibe or the music and lovely dances and the food still tasted fantastic!||The Kids Club was also above and beyond our expectations. We came here a few times, but never left our kids alone. The kids club had various organised activities available that our children really enjoyed. Our two children have not stopped talking about the Kid's Club and Mandapa since returning home!|The staff also did a great job balancing when there were many kids, making sure each was being attended to and kept busy. Even when some children were behaving in not-so-flattering ways (kicking the staff from behind repeatedly, for one) they were always extremely patient and pedagogical in their approach and responses. |We definitely wouldn't have an issue dropping off our kids here for supervision while we went off for an activity, since the staff is fantastic, but our hesitation would be the behaviour of other children, though this is not within the control of the resort, so we would probably opt for a babysitting option on future visits.||We also signed up for a cooking lesson which was a lot of fun and we learned a lot! The sous-chef who led the lesson, was very lively, and we had great banter but he was also a great teacher, explaining to us all the uses of every mixture and answering all of our questions thoroughly. He was also extremely kind and understanding when our two children decided they got bored, he quickly set up a pizza making station for them to keep them happy. ||This leads me to the food on the property, we dined at Kubu, which was a great iteration of modern local cuisine. We love the concept of maximising the use of nearby ingredients, and there is so much potential here with an incredibly passionate Chef that is constantly looking for new ways to showcase local agriculture, they even have a test kitchen! The dishes were innovative and highlighted the flavours of seasonal produce. We can't wait to see their progress when we return.||Sawah Terrace was amazing. We ordered way too much food, but do not regret it one bit. Every single dish was bursting with flavour and freshness. The mie and nasi goreng were both bursting with wok hei, however, one would be remiss to not try to duck on the menu which was simply divine.||So to sum it all up, we came to Mandapa expecting it to be another stop on a list of places around the world, another destination off the bucket list, instead, what we have found here is quite simply a little paradise that we will be constantly returning to. |Surrounded by the sounds of the river, the local flora and fauna, being pampered by meticulous, kind and caring staff, gorging on delicious, fresh food, it's hard to think of a better place...

For this trip to Bali, it was imperative for us to stay at Mandapa to truly experience Ubud—and it turned out to be the best decision we’ve ever made! This is, without a doubt, the best place we have ever stayed on our family vacations across 40+ countries.||From the moment we arrived, the Mandapa team made us feel special - in a quintessential Balinese way! We were greeted with warm smiles, refreshing drinks, and a traditional tridatu bracelet symbolizing balance and harmony. Then we met Made, our amazing Patih (Personal Host), who went above and beyond to make our entire stay extraordinary.||Even before check-in, we were blown away by the first glimpse of the Reserve from the airy, open “pavilion” lobby perched on top the cliff. The views were jaw-dropping! Mandapa is serene, surreal, and spectacular—designed like a classic Balinese village with its own rice paddies, a temple, lush jungle surroundings, and the beautiful Ayung River running through it. The resort is so expansive and peaceful that we didn’t leave for the first two days of our week-long stay!||Thanks to the amazing team (and Marriott loyalty perks), we were upgraded to a private lux villa. What a dream! It was the perfect mix of classic and modern Balinese design—a spacious one-bedroom villa with its own infinity pool, a dreamy outdoor shower, a standalone living room (which become my sons den!), and lush gardens. Waking up here felt like living in a postcard. It was perfect for our family of three.||The food and drinks were absolutely delish! The highlight was the eclectic Balinese breakfast everyday at the gorgeous Sawah Terrace , overlooking Ayung River and the evening hike/walk up to the to the enchanting cliff top Ambar Bar for cocktails and Japanese fusion food. This was our daily routine. No need to go anywhere else to eat and drink!||We also took full advantage of the resort’s “Disconnect to Reconnect” program. From Balinese cooking classes by the Ayung River to morning and evening yoga sessions, heavenly spa treatments (especially during Bali’s rainy December days), a fun VW 181 convertible tour through Ceking rice field terraces and Ubud temples, and a curated family dinner at Kubu Restaurant by the river (complete with local Balinese wine), every experience made us so deeply connected to our surroundings. We were literally “disconnected” :)||What truly set Mandapa apart wasn’t just the breathtaking surroundings or luxurious amenities—it was the incredible staff. Their attention to detail, warm smiles, and thoughtful gestures made every moment unforgettable. From floral arrangements and anniversary surprises to chocolate pralines at turn-down and personalized gifts like Balinese coffee and recipes, they made us feel so cared for.||So here’s a big shoutout to the amazing team members who made our stay extraordinary:||* Made (Patih): Incredible! He made us feel at home and thought of everything. Always always on whatsapp even on his day off! |* Ambar Bar Team: Indha (our favorite server), Adi (tailored cocktails)—thank you for the amazing evenings!|* Spa & Recreation: Deva (cooking classes), Nanki (Spa Reception, always welcoming with great recommendations), Ratni (yoga), Ayu and Yanni (therapists), and Ketut (VW tour)—you all made every activity memorable.|* Pool Bar Team: Anik made our poolside cabana experience extra special with fresh coconuts, and Julie from the Library Bar created a beautiful frangipani bouquet for us to take home—such thoughtful touches!|* Dining Team: Ari, Diah, Nila, and Mia (Sawah Terrace) started our mornings with smiles and delicious food, while Chef Ketut prepared an unforgettable personalized dinner. And thanks for the Balinese coffee!|* Kubu Restaurant Team: Savitri and Narcy ensured our riverside dinner was magical, even making it happen on a rainy evening without a reservation!|* Front Desk: Arisma - Always there with water and towels after my mountain biking rides, even in the rain and Thom - great job in filling in for Made during his day off and Ubud exploration tips.|* Management - special thanks to Desy (Hotel Manager), Jaron (F&B Manager) and Jaya (Front Office Manager) for your amazing hospitality and kudos for running this enchanting resort so beautifully! It was great meeting with you all.||Mandapa isn’t just a resort—it’s an experience that stays with you. Whether you are seeking a wellness getaway, adventure or a deeper connection with Balinese culture, this is the place to be. Highly recommend!||We’ll be back for sure. Thank you, Mandapa team, for giving us memories to...