Mayaloka 1 Bedrooms

The neighbourhood:

The villa is located very near Ubud centre – a must go destination during your Bali vacation. Ubud is located in the hills of Bali and is a mecca for yoga and meditation.

Below are our top picks for an unforgettable Ubud vacation:

What to visit:

• Ubud Royal Palace: The Royal Palace in Ubud is almost a focal point of the town, located right in the heart of Ubud. With its outstanding Balinese architecture and serene gardens, the Royal Palace has a lovely setting, with the front section of the palace open to the public. In the evening, you can see the Balinese dance performance known as Kecak dance. Tickets are best bought in advance, and they go on sale in the afternoon for around 100K IDR.
• Ubud Art Market: The recently renovated art market sells silk scarves, handmade bags, shirts, statues, hats and even kites, most of which are made in the surrounding villages. Prices here are negotiable, so don’t pay the first price asked. Bargaining is part of the culture. If you feel uncomfortable with bargaining, treat it as a game. It’s more fun that way!
• Museum Puri Lukisan: This museum was the first in Ubud, and classes itself as the home of the finest modern Balinese art. Here, you’ll get an insight into the local modern art scene in Bali, with a series of artworks complete with English explanations. The Puri Lukisan museum also offers several courses and workshops, some of which will be of particular interest to families. The 3-4 hour wood-carving classes are particularly interesting.
• Blanco Renaissance Museum: The Blanco Renaissance Museum is something of a Bohemian landmark in Ubud, and was once the home of famed artist Don Antonio Blanco. Often referred to as the Dali of Bali (a lovely poetic rhyme!), the museum houses many of the artist’s works, which include countless Balinese nudes. It’s perhaps the decor and architecture of the house that is most striking though. You walk past parrots and birds at the entrance, and eventually arrive at the roof which offers amazing views. Even if you don’t have time to visit, a photo stop here is almost obligatory when visiting Ubud.

Best for families:

• Monkey Forest: a must visit especially for families. Walking through this natural forest sanctuary may have you feeling a little like Indiana Jones as you pass Banyan trees and temples, but it’s the monkeys that are the main attraction.
• Pondok Pekak or Ubud’s library: This is not just a library but a space where multiple classes and work shops take place. The building itself is worth visiting and if you have kids make sure you join at least one of the classes. We strongly recommend the painting and local instrument workshops.
• Titi Batu Pool Club: This gym and club offers a wide range of kid friendly activities with a great skate park, swimming pool, basketball courts, outdoor children’s playground, table tennis, table football and kids’ art room, plus a spa for the adults. Get a day ticket and hang out for the day. They also host special events such as kids’ classes and Sunday Funday with a bouncy castle, foam party, a movie and more.

Where to eat:

• Mozaic: A must visit restaurant if you are into fine dining. You can just go and have a nice dinner or go grande and choose the interactive dining experience that has a set menu. Whatever you do, you need to book in advance. The menu is French and food comes from locally sourced ingredients. This is a Michelin-starred restaurant so expect nothing but the best foodwise.
• Copper Kitchen Bar & Rooftop: Nice for a date night, combines ambience with gourmet food. Cuisine is earth-to-table and a blend of International and Asian flavours. If you want to impress your other half and sound knowledgeable, this is the place to go. Every evening, there is a two-for-one signature cocktails.
• Melali Ubud: A brunch favourite with Moroccan interiors, healthy eats and laid-back vibes. If you are into healthy eating, the falafel bowls and hearty salads will have you at hello. But the fun does not end here. Stick around during the early evening for some cocktails. This is a feast for vegan foodies.
• The Sayan House: Expect panoramic views of the sacred Sayan valley and fine dining with a fantastic fusion of Latin-Japanese cuisine. The open bar is an exceptional spot for sunset views in the jungle.

Where to party:

• Laughing Buddha: This is your go-to in Ubud for live music and cocktails. Restaurant, Tapas Bar, Cocktail Lounge and Music Venue, Laughing Buddha ticks all the boxes for a fun night out.  There is live music almost every night from 9pm to 11pm and happy hour cocktails from 4pm to 7pm. Keep an eye out for salsa nights and special events!
• K Club Kabana: Laid back pool club by day, jungle based K Club Kabana turns into a crazy jungle club by night, with top DJs, laser shows, parties and special events on the roster on Friday and Saturday nights. Check their socials for the latest details.
• CP Lounge: Get the beach club vibe in the jungle at CP Lounge, a day-to-night club offering poolside relaxation by day, and live music, dancing, DJs and Balinese dance by night. There’s a Latin twist here, with Friday nights being Latin Social Dance nights. There’s DJs every night from 12 – 3am, live bands every night from 9 – 11.45, as well as a karaoke lounge and a billiards room.

Getting around:

The staff can help rent a motorbike. Prices range from $5.5 USD = 80.000 IDR for a standard Vario to $18 US = 250.000 IDR for the more premium Nmax.