Villa Batavia, Seminyak, Bali Vacation Rental

Villa Batavia is a fully staffed five-bedroom villa that counts Asia’s grandest heritage hotels as its strongest design influence, whilst including all the hi-tech facilities a twenty-first-century guest demands. A modern-day Somerset Maugham would delight in the generous open living spaces, antiques and artefacts, shaded verandas and breezy 24-hour butler service while relishing the Sonos sound system, iPod docks, home theatre, HD TVs and high-speed Wi-Fi.

Located within the elite Laksmana Villas estate an easy stroll from the beach and Bali’s best restaurants, bars and boutiques, Villa Batavia also accords families and groups of friends a privileged ringside seat for Seminyak’s sophisticated day-into-night scene.

Two words – Raffles Hotel – conjure the romance of luxury travel in the ‘fabled east’ of the 1930s. Eighty years on, two new words – Villa Batavia – enter the lexicon of luxury travel. This stunning twenty-first century Seminyak villa– named after the pre-independence title for Jakarta – pays homage to Asia’s legendary heritage hotels such as Raffles in Singapore, Majapahit in Java, E&O in Penang and the Hotel le Royal in Cambodia.

Villa Batavia - Veranda seating
Villa Batavia - Garden koi pond
Designed by acclaimed Balinese architect Putu Edi Semara to the exacting standards of its Swiss owners, Villa Batavia’s colonial architecture is evident in the whitewashed exteriors, chequerboard marble vestibules, colonnades, shaded verandas, high ceilings and tall shuttered windows. Throughout the villa, art deco furniture and prized antique pieces stand on polished teakwood floors burnished with oriental carpets. Copper bathtubs, brass fans, Tiffany lamps, rattan pieces and bevelled or stained glass panels deepen the heritage feel. And every surface is a canvas for the owner’s eclectic collection of objets trouvés– framed postcards, maps, letters, engravings and ceramics – that celebrate Indonesia’s rich heritage.

There’s an abundance of more contemporary luxuries too: Sonos music system with a comprehensive music library, Bose speakers, home theatre system, iPod docks and HD TVs in every room and Wi-Fi in every corner.

Smartly uniformed staff – unobtrusive yet at-the-ready provide the most refined, round-the-clock butler service: no need to lift a finger (other than perhaps to ring the brass bell provided). An espresso with your morning paper in the balé? Afternoon tea on the veranda served in an heirloom tea service? Sundown cocktails stretched out on an old plantation chair? A gourmet dinner with silver-plated cutlery and the finest white bone china? A post-dinner cognac and cigar at the sea-breeze-cooled bar before retiring to four-poster comfort in your air-conditioned suite?

Day-long, Villa Batavia delivers all the privileges of five-star living yet with the level of attention and privacy you simply can’t experience in a hotel. But while there may be little call to leave, it’s reassuring to know that just beyond the villa walls are Seminyak’s famed surfers beaches and a sublime choice of world-renowned bars, restaurants, boutiques and spas.

Villa Batavia’s generous expanse of living space and elegant bedroom suites are spread over three interconnected pavilions oriented round the pool and garden. Huge teakwood entrance doors open onto the villa’s heart – a large reception room and, above, an open-sided pavilion bar and lounge. A two-level colonnade leads to a guest wing with large living and dining room on the second level and a kitchen and staff service area behind. Downstairs, two guest bedrooms open onto the pool terrace. Across the pool and linked to the reception pavilion by a covered teakwood walkway is the master pavilion with large master bedroom suite on the top level and a second master bedroom and twin guestroom opening onto the garden below.

Villa Batavia offers five large bedrooms – four with handsome four-poster beds and walk-through wardrobes (2 king and 2 queen beds), a fifth with twin beds. They feature oriental carpets scattered on polished teakwood floors, walls lined with fascinating colonial-era prints and artefacts, and shaded verandas looking over the pool and garden. Balancing the heritage-style interiors are more contemporary touches – mini-bar fridge, safe deposit box, cable TV and DVD player, and Bose iPod dock. There’s air-conditioning throughout and among other comfort-inducing features are top-range mattresses, crisp cotton bed linen, kimonos and slippers.

All the ensuite bathrooms are air-conditioned, with teakwood and non-slip acid-etched marble floors, double basins and separate privacy cubicles for shower and toilet.

The master bedroom suite occupies the entire second level of the master wing, and encompasses a large bedroom, adjoining study room, walk-through wardrobe and dressing area, and palatial ensuite bathroom with statement copper bathtub. A teakwood veranda runs the full length of the suite, with relaxation areas.

Downstairs is a second master suite with veranda opening onto the garden, and a twin bedroom with ensuite – perfect for the kids.

Two more guest bedroom suites in the guest wing offer cool, comfortable interiors enriched with handsome furniture and heritage accents (including a hand-crafted stained glass window) and a shared veranda spilling onto the poolside sun terrace

Villa Batavia’s main living areas are on the second level, positioned for Bali’s famed sunsets, cooling sea breeze and peaceful garden vistas – with clear-day glimpses through the treetops of the island’s distant volcanoes. The principal open-plan living and dining room with the option of air-conditioning or ceiling fans, strikes the perfect balance between formal and informal entertaining space. A grand dining table beneath original Javanese chandeliers is the focus for dinner parties of up to ten guests, prepared in the fully equipped, state-of-the-art kitchen close by. Elsewhere, burnished leather sofas and chairs cluster round an antique cabinet hiding a huge flat-screen TV and surround-sound home theatre system.

A favourite area is the colonial-inspired open-sided bar and lounge on the second level of the reception pavilion – the perfect spot to retreat with a good book, enjoy an afternoon siesta or linger over sunset cocktails.

Below is the formal reception hall – an elegant space opening straight onto the swimming pool where guests are greeted with a fresh juice and frangipani garland. From here, the striking chequerboard floor of black granite and white marble tiles sweeps through the grand colonnaded corridors, according additional intimate seating areas.

By the 18-metre river-inspired swimming pool (with soft-on-skin saltwater system) are several sunbathing terraces with loungers and parasols, and a traditional balé well placed for blissful massages and romantic candle-lit dinners.

About the Area

Villa Batavia rests within Seminyak’s ‘Golden Triangle’ in the Laksmana enclave – a prestigious residential boulevard moments from Petitenget Beach. A short stroll away are some of Bali’s most iconic bars and restaurants, including Ku Dé Ta, Potato Head, La Lucciola and Breeze at The Samaya. Also within easy walking distance are designer boutiques, glamorous spas, lifestyle shops and gourmet delis. Nearby places of interest include Pura Petitenget, one of Bali’s most sacred Hindu temples and the site of some spectacular Balinese ceremonies.

Villa Batavia offers easy access to the mountains and rice terraces on Bali’s western slopes; it is one hour from the famous cultural and artistic town of Ubud, and just five minutes from the start of the Sunset Route, gateway to the eastern side of the island. The nearby Nirwana Bali Golf Course’ designed by Greg Norman was voted the number one golf course in Asia and lies beside the dramatic, waved-lashed sea temple of Tanah Lot.

Check-in: 3:00PM

Check-out: 11:00AM

Children are welcomed

Pets require prior approval and non-refundable pet deposit

Non-smoking Villa

Some homes allow events, please ask

Rates vary depending on time of year and number of guests

High season and holiday rates are higher

10% VAT

Service Fees (Vary from 5-10%)

Photo ID Required at check in

Damage Deposit Required and will vary

Ask about Damage Insurance

Ask about private flights

50% down to book

Balance due 60 days prior

Please bring proof of identification

Passport Required for non-resident

Travel insurance recommended

All Bookings are Final

Rates and fees subject to change without notice