When you are tired from work and need a short escape from the hectic life, go to The Stones Hotel Bali – the first autograph collection hotel in Asia managed by Marriott.

Tucked away at the Legian strip is a simple and unpretentious resort in Bali that has just opened its doors last October; compact yet spacious within, with a pool that is tiled with blue gradients and near rooms overlooking either the pool or the garden.

One of the reasons why we love the hotel is because it is very versatile. In the day, the Stones is a beach resort where families, couples and friends hang out to have a great time At night, it transforms into a party animal with dim and romantic lighting, accompanied by sexy lounge music.

The Stones Hotel has 3 restaurants housed in a big space differentiated by dividers. The Long Rice Table serves rijsttel — the Dutch-Indonesian tradition of sharing side dishes.

We had breakfast everyday in The Stones Kitchen, the hotel’s all-day dining restaurant. Besides a sumptuous breakfast buffet, it also dishes out a selection of western dishes throughout the day. We also enjoyed a seafood feast at Big Fish Bar & Grill, a casual poolside grill which serves a variety of fresh fish, seafood and grilled meat.

The hotel has different daily promotions for guests. On Monday, you can indulge in the Black Angus beef night at Big Fish Bar & Grill. On Tuesday, try the signature Indonesian Rijsstafel at a special rate. Local market seafood barbeque is available on Wednesday, while you can treat yourself to a complimentary dessert on Thursday. From Friday to Sunday, party at the pool bar and enjoy free flow of sangria for 2 hours at 400k.

The Stones is a hotel that combines a super convenient location (3 minutes away from the Kuta beach, and 10 minutes walk from Beachwalk), chic and modern design with a sexy vibe, good F&B establishments to provide a complete experience. It is the perfect place for travellers to retreat after surfing at the beach, or after a night of partying.

The Stones Hotel, Autograph Collection
Jalan Raya Pantai Kuta
Banjar Legian Kelod, Indonesia
Tel: + 62 361 300 5888
Note: This was an invited media stay

For more recommendations, read our guide on Where to eat in Bali

It has often been said that one must stay at W Retreat & Spa when in Bali. We had the immense pleasure of staying there during our recent trip and we wholeheartedly agree. W Bali has that “X-factor” that cannot be replicated and this is why everyone goes to W Hotel when they are in Seminyak.

When I choose a hotel, one of the critical factors is the presence of good F&B establishments. At W Retreat & Spa, the restaurants and bars in the property are effortlessly chic and complete the true W experience.

Starfish Bloo is a gorgeous restaurant and seaside beach club, which delivers Pan-Asian cuisine in a classy and stylish setting. Highlights include Asian signatures with a twist such as the Roast Pork Belly Steamed Buns and Crispy Fried Salt and Pepper Lobster, and Western main courses infused with Asian flavours like Penang Curry of Slow Braised Wagyu Beef and Grilled Baby Chicken Balinese style.

There is also Fire, a stunning casual grill restaurant that is known for its carnivorous menu, and the star is undoubtedly the steaks from the wood-fired grill. We sampled a number of dishes prepared by Director of Cuisine, Richard Miller, including his foie gras chawanmushi and 48 Hour Beef Oyster Blade Steak.

WooBar, widely accepted as Bali’s premier party spot, is where the cool crowd hangs out and parties like that is no tomorrow. Ice and W Lounge are also equally popular for a well-made cocktail and some light bites.

Also, no one leaves W without a pampering session at their iconic and world-famous AWAY Spa. There is a reason why it has continuously been awarded with so many best spa awards. While there are no doubt cheaper options on the island, AWAY Spa is one of the best and definitely worth the splurge.

Of course, W Retreat & Spa is not just about restaurants and bars. What sets them apart is the culture of the workplace and the attitude of the talents. Service is not only attentive and intuitive, but it is also sincere and genuine. All the talents are very fluent and speak good English, and they take pride in everything they do.

The impression that we received is that the talents truly believe in the W brand, and they are there not just to work, but also to deliver the W experience to the guests. As we all know, wages in a country like Indonesia are not exactly the highest. Yet, at W Retreat & Spa, the talents are very motivated in delivering the best customer service and experience.

We found out that W practises a “Hire for attitude and train for skill” mantra. It values each talent’s unique abilities and empowers them to make independent decisions to solve customer issues. As every talent knows his/her work very well, not only can they ensure that everything goes smoothly, but they can also give a hand in any unforeseen situations.

One particular experience that left a huge impression on us was that when we went to the ocean-facing “sofa-tents”, the pool attendant offered to lay a huge towel on the seat for us, but we refused because we did not want to trouble him. However, he told us that it is for our safety in case there were any insects or sand particles on the seat, and that by having the towel, it would make his job easier and smarter as cleaning up after we leave would be more efficient for him.

Everything that we have experienced in the resort sets new benchmarks for us. Once you have stayed at W, your perception of luxury hotel will never be the same again.

W, you are indeed the talk of the town.

W Retreat & Spa Bali
Jalan Petitenget
Kerobokan, Seminyak
Denpasar Bali, Indonesia
Tel: +62 361 4738106
Note: This was an invited media stay.

This post is in conjunction with ladyironchef x the union.