The Apurva Kempinski Bali

Rooms and decor

Picture a resort deliberately designed to feel like an open-air Balinese theatre — a wide stone staircase running through the center, taking you down to the sea level by level. That's the first charm of The Apurva Kempinski Bali, Kempinski's flagship resort, which opened in late 2019 on a clifftop above Sawangan beach. The roughly 475 rooms and suites are terraced down the hillside, so nearly every one opens to a full view of blue ocean. The interiors blend contemporary luxury with Balinese craft — carved woodwork, woven local textiles and warm earth tones. Open the door and you find generous space, a soft bed, and a private balcony with seating to catch the sea breeze. Many rooms and villas have a private plunge pool you can soak in all day. Plenty of reviews agree that just stepping into the open lobby and looking down at the whole resort spilling toward the sea feels like walking onto a film set.

Food and amenities

The heart of a stay here is the roughly 60-yard pool running parallel to the horizon — one of the longest and best-looking pools in Bali, long enough for a real swim and photogenic from every angle. Sun loungers and cabanas surround it, and at the very bottom is the private beach at Sawangan, white sand and clear water, quieter than the public beaches. The food side goes all in with five restaurants. The standout, and the one people talk about most, is Koral, the Japanese restaurant set against a large aquarium so it feels like dining under the sea. The breakfast buffet is another thing reviews praise hard — varied fresh produce, made-to-order stations and a corner of local sweets. There's also the Apurva Spa serving traditional Balinese treatments, a fitness center, a kids club, and a seaside chapel and pavilion for weddings that are popular enough to be a draw on their own.

Location and getting there

The Apurva Kempinski Bali sits at the far southern tip of Nusa Dua, on a clifftop above Sawangan beach, known for its calm and clear water. The surroundings are luxury resorts and golf courses — a world away from the bustle of Kuta or Seminyak. It suits anyone after a quiet, private beachside trip: wake up and walk the beach, swim in the long pool, then spend the whole day inside the resort without a second thought. Getting there is easy — about a 20-25 minute drive from Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS), good for travelers who've just landed and want to settle in fast. If you do want to shop or find restaurants off-resort, the Bali Collection zone is about a 10-minute drive away, and the famous Uluwatu Temple is a short drive too. In short, this location is for people who value calm and a beautiful sea over walking around a lively district.

Things to know before booking

Straight talk to help you decide — the thing that comes up most is how vast the grounds are and how they step down the hillside. Getting from the lobby down to the beach or the lower restaurants means a fair amount of stairs or waiting for a buggy. Some reviews say it isn't ideal for older guests, anyone who struggles to walk, or parents minding small children. Use the resort buggies and ask for a room near the facilities you'll use most. The second point is the location at the far southern tip of Nusa Dua — fairly far from restaurants and shopping outside the resort, so unless you want to drive out often, you'll mostly eat on-site. That leads to the last point: price. Food and drinks inside the resort run high, and some reviews feel the extras are expensive compared with places outside. Budget for it, or choose a package that clearly includes breakfast or other meals when you book.

Our take

After reading through plenty of real reviews, our team sees The Apurva Kempinski Bali as a resort that fully delivers on scale — the amphitheatre-to-the-sea architecture, the 60-yard pool, the private beach, and service praised with one voice. If the trip in your head is waking up to ocean filling the window, walking down stone stairs to swim in the long pool, sunbathing on a private beach, then closing the day with a special dinner at Koral, this is the most complete pick in Nusa Dua. But if you walk with difficulty or want somewhere you can easily stroll out to a range of restaurants, the size and the location out on the point may feel less convenient. Overall we give it 9.3/10 — best for couples, honeymooners and families who want a full-scale beachfront flagship resort and value luxury-level service.