Hidden in the lush green hills of Tampaksiring, close to Ubud, lies one of Bali’s most beautiful places to stay: Bambootel Sawah View. This adults-only, luxury hotel is built almost entirely from bamboo and surrounded by rice fields and palm trees. We were lucky enough to spend three nights here and completely fell in love with the design, the peace, and the food. Here’s our review of what it’s like to stay at Bambootel, and why it became one of our favorite hotels in Bali.
Arriving at Bambootel
We drove through a local village close to the famous Pura Tirta Empul temple, and suddenly, there was a rattan tunnel we needed to pass through. Yes, a tunnel decorated with rattan. This was the security… so from the moment that happened, we knew, okay, Bambootel is special!
The lobby alone is a work of art—fully built from bamboo — with soft lighting, calming music, and check-in staff who instantly made us feel welcome.
Right after check-in, we were added to the hotel’s WhatsApp service, which turned out to be incredibly handy. We could message for anything—room service, spa bookings, extra pillows—and what surprised us most: we could just type in Dutch. Everything is auto-translated, which made communication super smooth and relaxed.

Our Bamboo Hotel Villa(s)
We stayed in two different villas during our time at Bambootel — the One Bedroom Pool Villa and the One Bedroom Sky Villa — and both were amazing in their own way.
One Bedroom Pool Villa (2 nights)
This villa is around 60 m² and opens directly onto the pool. Inside, everything feels thoughtful and cozy:
- A king-size bed with a pillow menu (yes, you can switch pillows!)
- A stylish bathroom with separate shower and toilet
- A wardrobe with hand-carved wooden doors
- Warm bamboo details and soft lighting throughout
Best of all: it’s completely soundproof. We had the absolute best sleep here — total peace and quiet, cocooned in bamboo. But it’s good to note that Bambootel is located away from the main road, so you barely hear any traffic anyway.
One Bedroom Sky Villa (1 night)
For our last night, we moved into the Sky Villa, and it felt like a luxury treehouse. The entire building is made from bamboo, with a curved staircase looping around the villa. Inside, there’s a circular layout and a king-size bed with a beautifully draped mosquito net — elegant, soft, and totally in place with the jungle vibe.
All villas also include a TV with Netflix and Prime Video, with the option to stream from your phone. We spent our last night relaxing with a movie and late-night room service.
Pricing of Bambootel
Bambootel is a luxury hotel, so nightly rates range from 150 EUR to 800 EUR. This depends on the season and room type. But if you want to treat yourself, Bambootel is the place!
The Pool
The U-shaped pool is one of the hotel’s most iconic features. The U-section is available only to the One Bedroom Pool Villas; however, the pool terraces extend into a separate section accessible to everyone else. This area is lined with sunbeds, these beds have super cosy pullovers, and we can confirm that they slept very well ;-).
Dining at Bambootel
There are two restaurants at Bambootel:
The Nini Restaurant (All Day Dining)
The Nini is for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with views over the rice fields and palm trees. Breakfast is included with your stay. Even if you don’t decide to stay at Bambootel, you can still get a feel of it by eating at their “The Nini” restaurant.
Our days at Bambootel
There was enough to experience at Bambootel to fill our days. Here’s what we did:
- Cooking Class – We made Pepes Ikan, a traditional fish dish wrapped in banana leaf. You chop the veggies, make sambal, grill everything over a fire, and then enjoy it as your lunch.
- Couple Massage – We booked a Balinese couple massage at the spa, and it was a great one! My therapist really felt where the knots were and tailored the massage to me — not just a routine.
- Morning Rice Field Walk – We joined a short walk through the surrounding rice fields – such a stunning area! The local farmers were always in for a chat and a smile, when we greeted them with a simple “Selamat pagi” (Good morning).
- Sunset Cocktail – Daily from 4:00 to 6:00 PM, we enjoyed Sunset Cocktail Hour at the bar below the Nini restaurant.
- Gym – Nick used the gym, which was compact but well-equipped. There were cardio machines, dumbbells, a squat rack, and air conditioning. It had everything you’d need for a solid workout, all tucked into a beautifully styled space.
- Yoga – Nick also tried the daily morning Yoga class at their stunning Yoga Shala.
- Romantic dinner – We enjoyed a private, candle-lit 6-course dinner, set up just for the two of us. The food was absolutely amazing!
Our Bambootel Review Summary
Whether you’re planning a honeymoon, a romantic escape, or just want a peaceful stay with views and soul, Bambootel Sawah View is one of those hotels you’ll keep dreaming about.
We stayed at Bambootel at the end of January, right in the middle of Bali’s rainy season. One of the perks of this time of year is that prices are lower, and mornings are usually sunny and peaceful. In the afternoons or evenings, you might get a (short) downpour or some moody skies. We actually prefer this season and have visited Bali three times during rainy season!
By the time we checked out, we were sad to leave – time had flown by! We left feeling fully recharged, creatively inspired, and already daydreaming about when we can return.
What we think could be improved:
There are two tiny things we noticed. The staff is incredibly kind and attentive, but for us personally, it could sometimes feel a little bit too much. A slightly more relaxed, low-key approach would have suited us better — though we understand that every guest is different, and they’re trying to make everyone feel taken care of.
In the restaurant, for example, we were checked on very frequently, which came from a good place, but we felt it wasn’t communicated among staff whether someone had already checked in with us.
So, just two very tiny improvements — and ones that don’t take away from an incredible experience at all.
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