Mandarin Oriental is opening a spectacular new cliffside resort in Bali in 2027, bringing 110 luxury suites and villas, destination restaurants, an ambitious wellness sanctuary and tropical landscaping by legendary hotel designer Bill Bensley.
Bali is preparing for one of its most anticipated luxury hotel openings of 2027, and this one has all the ingredients to become something extraordinary.
Mandarin Oriental is bringing its legendary Asian hospitality to the island’s dramatic southern coastline, with 110 luxury suites and villas, an ambitious collection of restaurants, a major wellness destination and landscaping by one of Southeast Asia’s most prolific and imaginative hotel designers, Bill Bensley.
Mandarin Oriental, Bali is scheduled to open in 2027, although an exact opening date has yet to be confirmed. The project brings together international architects, celebrated interior designer Jeffrey Wilkes and Bensley, whose distinctive approach to tropical landscaping has transformed some of Asia’s most remarkable luxury hotels.
For an island already home to The Regent Canggu, Bulgari Resort Bali, Raffles Bali, The Apurva Kempinski Bali and some of the world’s most impressive private-pool villas, Mandarin Oriental’s arrival represents another significant investment in Bali’s increasingly sophisticated luxury tourism market.
But it is the location, the landscaping and the remarkable natural setting that could ultimately distinguish this resort from its competitors.
Where Exactly Is Mandarin Oriental Bali?
The new Mandarin Oriental is being developed at Bukit Pandawa, on the southern coastline of Bali’s Bukit Peninsula, close to Pandawa Beach and the dramatic limestone cliffs of Kutuh.
This is an important distinction for travellers unfamiliar with Bali’s geography. The Bukit Peninsula occupies the southernmost part of the island and encompasses several very different resort districts, including Jimbaran, Uluwatu, Ungasan and the eastern coastline around Pandawa.
Mandarin Oriental’s precise location is in the Bukit Pandawa development, beside Bukit Pandawa Golf Course, on the south-facing coast near Pandawa Beach. It is not in central Uluwatu, Jimbaran Bay or the Nusa Dua resort enclave.
Pandawa is particularly striking for its towering limestone cliffs, turquoise Indian Ocean views and stretches of white sand, which are quite different from the volcanic beaches of Seminyak and Canggu.
The resort will occupy a series of elevated terraces overlooking the ocean, with access to a secluded, protected white-sand beach below. Developer Harmoni Bali has approximately 600 metres of cliff frontage within its wider landholding, giving the project an exceptional coastal setting.
Mandarin Oriental has indicated that Bali’s international airport is approximately 30 minutes away, although journey times will naturally depend on traffic, which can be unpredictable throughout southern Bali.
For travellers planning a multi-stop Bali holiday, this will be a destination best enjoyed for several nights rather than somewhere to visit briefly from Seminyak or Ubud.
Bill Bensley: The Designer Who Has Helped Redefine Asian Luxury
Arguably one of the most exciting aspects of the development is the involvement of Bill Bensley, one of Southeast Asia’s most prolific and influential luxury hotel designers.
The American-born, Harvard-educated designer has spent more than four decades creating extraordinary hospitality environments across Asia and beyond. His Bangkok-based design studio was established in 1989, followed by a Bali office in 1990, and his team has been involved in more than 200 hotels, resorts, residences and palaces across more than 30 countries.
Bensley’s work is instantly recognisable, although no two properties look alike. His designs frequently celebrate theatrical architecture, exuberant tropical gardens, dramatic swimming pools, vibrant colours, antiques, sculptures and a powerful sense of place.
Among his celebrated projects are Capella Ubud in Bali, Shinta Mani Wild in Cambodia, InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort in Vietnam and JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay Resort & Spa.
Capella Ubud is a particularly compelling example of his philosophy. Rather than imposing a conventional luxury resort onto the landscape, the property was conceived as an imaginative tented retreat within the jungle, preserving the relationship between architecture and nature.
At Mandarin Oriental Bali, Bensley is responsible for the landscaping, while Design Lab is overseeing the architecture and Jeffrey Wilkes the interiors.
Although detailed planting plans have not been publicly released, Bensley’s involvement raises expectations of a resort where the gardens are much more than decorative greenery.
His work often transforms landscaping into an immersive experience, using tropical planting, water features, pathways and carefully framed views to create a sense of discovery.
On Bali’s limestone cliffs, this approach has enormous potential. The challenge will be to create an abundant tropical landscape that complements the peninsula’s comparatively dry coastal environment while respecting its natural contours.
For experienced luxury travellers, the possibility of a Bensley-designed landscape combined with Mandarin Oriental’s hospitality is reason enough to follow this opening closely.
Inside the 110 Suites and Villas
Mandarin Oriental Bali will feature 110 generously proportioned suites and villas, each with private terraces or gardens. Most will include their own swimming pools, positioning the property firmly within Bali’s premium private-pool resort market.
The accommodation is being designed around the natural contours of the hillside, with ocean views, privacy and a strong relationship between indoor and outdoor spaces expected to be central to the experience.
Rather than a conventional high-rise hotel, the resort will unfold across terraced levels overlooking the Indian Ocean.
Precise suite categories, individual room sizes and interior specifications have yet to be announced, but the combination of Jeffrey Wilkes’ interior design expertise and Mandarin Oriental’s attention to detail suggests an emphasis on refined materials, Balinese craftsmanship and contemporary Asian luxury.
There will also be 68 Mandarin Oriental branded residential villas, according to the hotel group’s announced plans, with three to six bedrooms. These private homes will occupy an eight-hectare site above the hotel and have access to their own clubhouse, swimming pool, gym and additional facilities.
This residential component reinforces a growing trend across Southeast Asia, where prestigious hotel brands are increasingly combining luxury resorts with privately owned, fully serviced residences.
Four Dining and Drinking Concepts, Including a Cliff-Edge Restaurant
Dining will be a major part of Mandarin Oriental Bali’s offering, with four distinctive restaurant and bar concepts announced.
Perhaps the most exciting is a cliff-edge restaurant and bar, designed to take advantage of the spectacular Indian Ocean panorama. With Bali’s growing reputation for destination dining, this could become a significant attraction for guests staying elsewhere on the island.
A speciality Chinese restaurant will reflect Mandarin Oriental’s Asian heritage and established culinary reputation, while an intimate speakeasy bar promises a contrasting experience for evening drinks.
A beach club will complete the collection, offering a more relaxed atmosphere by the ocean, with Indonesian and international food expected across the resort’s dining venues.
Mandarin Oriental has not yet announced the executive chef, individual restaurant names or whether any international celebrity chefs will be involved.
That appointment will be particularly interesting. Mandarin Oriental operates some of the world’s most celebrated hotel restaurants, and Bali’s increasingly competitive dining scene offers an opportunity to create a culinary destination rather than simply another collection of resort restaurants.
A Major New Wellness Destination for Bali
Wellness will be central to the Mandarin Oriental experience, with an expansive Spa at Mandarin Oriental planned as one of the property’s signature attractions.
The spa will incorporate the group’s established wellness programmes alongside treatments influenced by traditional Balinese healing practices, with a comprehensive selection of beauty, massage and holistic therapies.
Significant heat and water therapy facilities are also planned, reflecting the growing international demand for more sophisticated recovery and wellness experiences.
The resort will offer outdoor swimming pools, private cabanas, an extensive fitness centre and dedicated outdoor spaces for yoga and other wellness activities.
For guests who prefer active holidays, tennis courts, padel courts and water sports are included in the plans. The adjacent Bukit Pandawa Golf Course will be another attraction, particularly for international visitors seeking golf alongside luxury accommodation.
Families have also been considered, with a dedicated children’s club and recreational facilities, while an organic garden and sustainability laboratory are intended to support the resort’s environmental initiatives.
The challenge for Mandarin Oriental will be creating a wellness programme that feels authentically connected to Bali rather than simply replicating the facilities of other high-end resorts.
With the island’s longstanding healing traditions and the brand’s considerable spa expertise, there is an opportunity to deliver something particularly compelling.
What Will Mandarin Oriental Bali Cost?
Official room rates have not yet been released, and reservations for the 2027 opening have not been publicly confirmed.
However, given the resort’s cliffside position, private-pool accommodation, substantial wellness facilities and the involvement of internationally recognised designers, Mandarin Oriental Bali is expected to compete at the upper end of the island’s luxury hotel market.
An indicative starting range of approximately A$1,200 to A$2,000 per night for suites would be plausible, with premium private-pool villas potentially commanding A$2,000 to A$4,000 or considerably more per night, depending on size, season and inclusions.
These figures are editorial estimates rather than published hotel rates, and actual prices could differ substantially when bookings open.
The resort’s position within Bali’s luxury market will become clearer once room categories, dining programmes and the full guest experience are revealed.
Why Mandarin Oriental Bali Matters
Bali has no shortage of extraordinary luxury hotels, but the competition is evolving. Travellers are increasingly looking beyond beautiful rooms and private pools, seeking destinations that combine outstanding design, sophisticated restaurants, meaningful wellness experiences and a genuine connection with their surroundings. Mandarin Oriental Bali has the potential to deliver all four.
Its location on the limestone cliffs of Bukit Pandawa offers a spectacular natural canvas, while the collaboration between Design Lab, Jeffrey Wilkes and Bill Bensley brings an impressive concentration of design talent to the project.
For Renae’s World, which has extensively explored Bali’s finest luxury resorts, restaurants and wellness destinations, this is one of the most interesting openings on the horizon.
The strongest luxury properties in Bali are those that give guests a compelling reason to remain within the resort, while still feeling deeply connected to the island itself.
If Mandarin Oriental can combine the drama of its coastal location with memorable restaurants, genuinely exceptional wellness and Bensley’s extraordinary talent for creating beautiful landscapes, it could become one of the defining luxury hotel openings of 2027.
Mandarin Oriental Bali is currently scheduled to open in 2027, with the precise opening date, restaurant chefs and official accommodation rates still to be announced.
