Sanur is where Bali took off its party shoes, slips into linen pants, and orders ginger tea. We chose Andaz Bali because it promised boutique luxury, elegant design, and that Hyatt polish we usually trusted. At least, that was the idea.

Sanur had long been the gentler cousin to Seminyak and Kuta, less nightlife, more morning walks on the beach. It was where families and older travelers traded chaos for calm.

First Impressions: Designer Dreams, Delayed Reality

Walking into the Andaz lobby felt like stepping into a designer dream. Stone, water, light, all whispered, “relax, you have arrived.” Except we had not. Our room was not ready, so instead of sinking into vacation mode, we wandered the lobby pretending to admire stone carvings we had already stared at for twenty minutes, while secretly wondering if we should just roll out our yoga mats and move in.

Mitha: “This lobby is stunning.”

Cary: “Yes, but are we actually checking in… or just moving in here permanently?”

Half an hour later, we still did not have a room. By then, the only thing I had unpacked was my bad mood. Gorgeous lobby? Absolutely. Speedy check-in? Definitely not.

For comparison… Grand Hyatt Jakarta handed me a key before my suitcase had even stopped spinning on the luggage cart. Andaz Bali? Let’s just say if check-in were a sport, they would have been benched.

Room and Facilities: Comfort With a Few Surprises

Andaz Bali was technically walkable, but the resort was spread out enough that you could hit your step count before breakfast without even trying. Pretty stone walkways wound through the gardens, beautiful, yes, but not ideal if you preferred shorter strolls or used a mobility aid. Golf carts could ferry guests around on request, although the service was not always quick. Elevators were available in the main buildings, so we were not stuck scaling stairs with a beach bag and sore knees.

The room struck a good balance, stylish, but not overdone. There were thoughtful Balinese details without it feeling like a stage set. The balcony became our slow travel hangout spot, perfect for tea, reading, or just watching the world wander by.

The bed was comfortable without any morning aches, the linens crisp, and the lighting mercifully soft.

And then, the bathroom. Spacious, clean, and practical, with a freestanding tub and a rainfall shower that actually had pressure. But the real star was the Japanese style toilet. Heated seat, bidet options, buttons you were not entirely sure you should press but pressed anyway just to see what would happen. It was the kind of toilet that made us briefly consider upgrading our bathroom at home.

Mitha: “This toilet has more features than my car.”

Cary: “Don’t push the wrong button or it might take off.”

I rolled my eyes, but to be honest, I still sat there pressing buttons like a kid with a new toy.

The balcony chairs were padded and gloriously sturdy, not the sad wire contraptions that leave waffle marks on your thighs. You could actually sit for hours with a book or tea without needing a chiropractor afterward. For travelers comparing Sanur, Bali’s best resorts for relaxation, this detail mattered more than any brochure promised.

The beach itself is right next door, but not as lovely as the Grand Hyatt in Nusa Dua. The pools look gorgeous, but they can get busy, and if you were not a fan of kids splashing and squealing, the outside ambiance might feel less than relaxing. That was Sanur in a nutshell, quieter than the south, but you still shared the shoreline with families and joggers.

The saving grace? The Andaz Lounge. All guests can use it, and it was stocked with complimentary coffee, tea, soft drinks, and snacks. You can play chess, read, or just sit quietly away from the crowds. For anyone who likes a little peace, it was a gem.

Wellness, apparently, meant handing your credit card to the spa and pretending not to care. Treatments sat firmly in the indulgent camp, though that was expected. Hyatt prices rarely whisper “bargain.” Still, if your version of self-care was having a stranger exfoliate you with imported salts, it was money well wasted.

Noise, the sneaky villain of every hotel stay, was impressively under control. The room’s soundproofing kept pool splashes and hallway shuffles down to a polite whisper. We heard signs of life, sure, but never the kind that ruins sleep or makes you plot the downfall of your neighbor’s karaoke habit. For anyone searching for a quiet beachfront resort or a hotel where you could actually rest, this place nailed it.

Memorable Moment

And just when we were about to write the stay off as all style and no soul, Andaz pulled a very Balinese rabbit out of the hat.

Smiles, greetings, and easy offers of help. The standout moment came when I offhandedly asked about a birthday cake and one appeared later as a gift, no charge, no fuss. A small gesture, but one that made us forget the lobby wait. That cake became the memory of the stay. Simple, thoughtful, and unmistakably Balinese in its warmth.

Breakfast: Not a Buffet, Not for Everyone

At Andaz, breakfast was all you could eat à la carte. You ordered endless little plates off the menu instead of prowling a buffet. Some guests loved the freshness and variety. I did not. Order, wait, repeat. That was the rhythm, and it killed the joy. I wanted to sample, not strategize. By the time my second plate arrived, I had either forgotten what I ordered or reached the kind of fullness usually reserved for Thanksgiving dinners and bad life choices. Our time was worth more than sitting around waiting. Besides, patient is not my virtue.

So by the second morning, we abandoned the hotel breakfast experiment and stepped outside the gates. Best decision yet. Naga Eight, a stylish Chinese restaurant just across the road, instantly made Andaz’s setup feel like amateur hour.

Better flavors, the vibe was relaxed, and a lighter bill.

If you stayed at Andaz Bali, skip the in house breakfast at least once and head to Naga Eight. Both your taste buds and your wallet would have thanked you. When you stayed in Sanur, the place always had a few tricks up its sleeve. The boardwalk pulled in everyone from joggers to retirees power-walking like Olympic hopefuls, all before 7 a.m. Then there was the warung on the corner where the smoke from the grill clung to your clothes for days. And compared to Nusa Dua, Sanur felt like the chill cousin who refused to wear shoes, less polish, more charm, and no one cared if your hair looked like you lost a fight with the humidity.

Verdict

Would we stay here again? Maybe … but with adjusted expectations. Andaz Bali was like that friend who was gorgeous in photos but chronically late. You forgive them, but only after cake. If you came to Sanur looking for slow mornings and gentle hospitality, this resort gave you both, though only after making you wait as if patience was part of the package.

Grand Hyatt Jakarta scored the A+, while Andaz Bali played the sibling who showed up with perfect hair and no homework. Beautiful, but clearly not prepared for class.

Pro Tips: What We Learned the Hard Way

Arrive later in the day. Check-in is not Andaz Bali’s strong point. Save yourself the lobby wait and time your arrival closer to official check-in.

Step outside for Naga Eight Chinese Restaurant. It was literally right outside the gates, and the food is tastier (and cheaper) than the hotel breakfast.
Learn the layout early. The resort is sprawling. Take a short orientation walk so you did not end up circling the same pathway like we had.
Use the Andaz Lounge. All guests can sit here with complimentary coffee, tea, snacks, and soft drinks. Play chess, read, or just enjoy some quiet away from the crowds. The lounge staff kept it running like a calm little oasis.

Slow Rush Travels Hotel Rating

Room & Bathroom Comfort & Cleanliness: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spotless, stylish, and comfortable.. The Japanese toilet alone deserves its own fan club.

Service & Ease: ⭐⭐☆☆☆
Check-in moved slower than Sanur’s sunrise joggers. By the time we got keys, the magic had evaporated faster than a warm Bintang. Friendly staff later salvaged it, but first impressions stuck.

Hotel Facilities & Ambience: ⭐⭐☆☆☆
Beautifully designed grounds, but the beach was underwhelming and the pools were more splash zone than sanctuary. The Andaz Lounge was the redeeming oasis.

Value for Money: ⭐⭐☆☆☆
Luxury pricing with occasional budget-level hiccups.

Overall: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (3/5)
Pretty enough to post, flawed enough to rant about over dinner.

Andaz Bali, by Hyatt

Jl. Danau Tamblingan No.89a, Sanur, Denpasar Selatan, Kota Denpasar, Bali 80228, Indonesia.
Website: https://www.hyatt.com/andaz/dpsaz-andaz-bali

Andaz Bali Honest Review: Stunning Design, Snail-Paced Check-In, and a Cake That Saved the Day

First Impressions: Designer Dreams, Delayed Reality