Nau Ubud Villa: Resort Living at its Finest

Famous for its ancient temples, rice terraces, and a treasure trove of cultural landmarks, Ubud have been on the top of my list ever since I started planning for our romantic getaway. We stayed in a private villa in Seminyak during our first trip to Bali but we wanted a more local feel, away from the busy streets of Seminyak, so we chose Ubud this time. Besides, we were on our first leg of our honeymoon so privacy + luxury were the main factors we took into consideration.

Open-air lobby for guests to better appreciate the beauty of nature.

The BEST welcome drink ever! This refreshing cucumber-based drink is my staple order in every meal. We even asked for its recipe but shame that we forgot it in our villa when we left Ubud.

Nau Fresh

The entire place is truly beautiful and every corner is as picture perfect as it is shown on their website. As plants and trees are abundant, applying mosquito-repellent lotion is a must. Appreciate that the resort thought of placing complimentary bottles per villa so guests can protect themselves especially that booking a candlelit dinner is a must-try here in Nau.

 

There are only 2 types of villa available for booking - one bedroom and one bedroom luxury, both with private pools but with the latter having an infinity pool and outdoor bath tub overlooking the rice terraces. So if you have the budget, booking the luxury villa is no-brainer decision to make.

Other room amenities and services are as follow: 

 

• 160sqm floor area with king size bed
• Welcome fruit basket and snacks
• Butler and tour services
  
• Complimentary high speed WiFi
• LCD television with international cable channels
• In-room coffee and tea making facility

To be frank, I actually had a love/hate relationship with this outdoor toilet and bath set mostly in natural stone sourced locally. While it was the perfect setting for a romantic tub experience with the husband, night time frightened me whenever I had to use the toilet with only a few potted plants and a bamboo wall setting me apart from the darkness outside the property.

 The best part of the villa.

 

 

Breakfast in the pool is always a great idea. Unlike in other resorts, Nau does not charge extra if you prefer to have your breakfast in the comfort of your villa, or in this case, in your private pool.

 

 

 

 

Afternoon tea is complimentary for all guests and we always look forward to the local snacks and desserts that they serve. Our top favorites were Pisang Goreng (fried banana with coconut flakes and honey) and Klepon (chewy glutinous rice balls filled with molten palm sugar).

 

 

 

 

Pros: Gorgeous place, comfortable stay, warm service, cheap and delicious food, private pool in each villa, and complimentary shuttle service to downtown area.

Cons: Nothing as we were treated like royalties from the moment we step foot in the resort.

 

~o~o~o~

Nau Ubud Villa

Banjar, Sebatu Village, Ubud

Gianyar, Bali, Indonesia

Tel.: (62) 361-908-3852

Website: https://nauvillaubud.com

Dining with a View at TIS Restaurant, Bali ID

It has been more than a year since we last traveled for leisure. By we, I mean the majority of us because since the pandemic happened, the industry of tourism has been one of the most hard-hit sectors worldwide. But with the vaccine rolling out in the coming months, we are hopeful that travel and tourism will be able to bounce back and we all will get to see the world again. But for now, let's just enjoy to reminisce the great time pre-COVID when we can all travel freely.

TIS Restaurant is considered as one of Bali's best-kept secret with its delicious Asian and Western fusion set in the middle of world-famous Tegalalang Rice Fields.

What we ordered

Young Coconut Juice - IDR25K (Php85.00)

Tuna Salad Bowl - IDR45K (Php153.00)

Fresh vegetables with tuna chunks and delicious dressing, this Tuna Salad Bowl is a steal for its price and a great appetizer to stimulate your appetite while enjoying the view and the cold breeze.

Indonesian Trifle Dishes - IDR69K (Php235.00)

A plateful combination of Indonesia's famous dishes - chicken sate, fish in turmeric sauce, and prawns in sweet chili sauce, served with steam rice and mixed vegetables, this dish is the perfect welcome treat for your ultimate Bali getaway. I swear, the presentation and the breathtaking view of the rice terraces from our table makes everything extra yummy!

Ikan Kakap Bumbu Bali - IDR70K (Php240.00)

CS opted to order another popular Balinese dish - Ikan Kakap Bumbu Bali, which was basically grilled fish fillet with lemongrass shallot salsa served with water spinach and steamed rice.

Verdict: Exemplary service, amazing views, Instagrammable restaurant interiors, delicious food, and affordable menu, TIS Restaurant is a must-try when in Ubud!

 

~o~o~o~

TIS Restaurant

Jalan Raya Ceking

Ubud, Gianyar

Bali, Indonesia

Tel.: (62361) 908-3873

Bali Hits & Misses: Warung Padi

Verdict: Worth the hype as this place is a definite HIT!

A restaurant that specializes in all things salmon? Count me in!

We arrived at the hotel too early for check-in so CS and I decided to look for a nice restaurant nearby. Armed with great reviews from Tripadvisor, we made our way to Warung Padi - a simple and charming place in the quiet side of Seminyak known for its delicious and cheap salmon dishes.

There's no air-conditioning so it can get pretty hot especially at noon time.

What we ordered

Salmon Soup - IDR25K

If you're looking for tasty, affordable, and healthy meals in Bali, look no further and head out to Warung Padi to try their authentic offerings with only the freshest ingredients available. Service may be slow at times but what better way to try the truest Balinese cuisine than by eating alongside locals and paying only IDR95K (around Php350.00) for a complete meal for 2!

Salmon Goreng - IDR45K

Fresh Watermelon Juice - IDR25K

Tip: Fresh salmon is delivered everyday and at limited quantities so come early (around 11AM is the best time to visit per our experience) to enjoy their delicious and cheap food. 

Highly recommended if you're traveling to Bali anytime soon!

~o~o~o~

Warung Padi
Jalan Teuku Umar Barat
Kerobokan Kelod, Kuta Utara
Kota Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia
Tel.: (62813) 5315-0644

Bali Hits & Misses: Pandan Sari Cafe

Verdict: Worth the hype as this place is a definite HIT!

Our guide suggested for us to go to Jimbaran for sunset watching and seafood dinner. Also home to several luxurious accommodations like Four Seasons Resort and Intercontinental Bali, Jimabaran's dramatic sunset backdrop is the perfect venue for an afternoon swim, surfing, photo shoots, or just mere relaxation. There are actually several restaurants lined up along the beach but our guide recommended Pandan Sari Cafe as one of the best in the area.

On the table

Fresh coconut juice is always a good idea!

We ordered 1 kilo of grilled king prawns that took more than an hour to arrive. With just several occupied tables that afternoon, service was really really slow. Unfortunately, we were also seated by the beach so CS had to go back and forth to follow up on our orders as no staff comes our way to give any feedback. But what the restaurant lacked in customer service, it definitely lived up to its delicious offerings as the massive prawns were seasoned and grilled to absolute perfection!

Because rice is life! We had to reorder another cup because one is not enough for the both of us.

A plateful of complimentary and refillable sauteed vegetables were also provided for all diners.

Romantic.

Reasonably priced. 

Deliciously cooked to perfection.

Pandan Sari Cafe is undoubtedly the best seafood restaurant in Jimbaran!

~o~o~o~

Pandan Sari Cafe
Jalan Bukit Permai, Jimbaran
Kuta Sel., Bali, Indonesia
Tel.: (62361) 708698

Bali Hits & Misses: iiGa Warung

Verdict: Worth the hype as this place is a definite HIT!

Highly recommended by our guide/driver, iiGa Warung is where the locals dine for the best barbeque ribs in Bali. Its a no-frills restaurant - just straightforward service and amazing ribs at an affordable price, so manage your expectations in terms of interiors and its limited menu.

Our guide left right after endorsing us to one of the restaurant staff. CS invited him to come join us for lunch but he insisted he brought food his wife cooked for him so we agreed let him go.

What we ordered

Nasi Goreng - Indonesian fried rice accompanied with pork ribs, prawn crackers, and egg

iiGa Warung's signature ribs hits the right spot with its fall off the bone pork ribs and smothered in delicious sauce; I now understand why this place is popular and packed on a weekday afternoon. Most people say that the place is a tourist trap but as long as the meal is good and the price is reasonable, it really doesn't bother me. Besides, we got a kind and passionate guide to tour us around Bali so if he does receive commissions for bringing tourists here, then good for him!

Pork Ribs - Grilled pork ribs in lemonade barbeque sauce

~o~o~o~

iiGa Warung
Jalan Uluwatu, Jimbaran
Bali, Indonesia
Tel.: (6281) 3382-62009