The Laguna, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Nusa Dua, Bali has now completed its transformational journey, following over a year of renovations to its rooms, restaurants and other dining spaces. The final addition to the resort, Arwana restaurant, was unveiled this week as a lively Asian grill beachfront restaurant serving elevated coastal cuisine.
This is the first renovation of the property in over thirty years, gracefully blending past, present, and future to create a destination that is timeless and authentic. Last summer saw enhancements made to the resort’s 287 rooms, villas and suites, and the addition of de Balé Lounge & Bar and Banyubiru Restaurant, followed by the opening of a new beachfront Kulkul Beach House this April. Set on the white shores of Nusa Dua beach in the south of the island, The Laguna takes its name from its seven swimmable lagoons. The resort’s new design and ambiance ties in with its surroundings of water, nature and indigenous culture.
The newly designed Arwana restaurant – situated on the white shores of Nusa Dua beach – has been inspired by a modern boathouse and features nautical design elements, and an interactive open kitchen with Basque grills. The menu is a celebration of Asian flavours, from succulent dry-aged grilled steaks and tender lamb chops to an array of Balinese seafood such as fresh Sumberkima oysters, Karangasem Bali Lobster and Basque Fired Barramundi Fillet. . There is an extensive wine list, and the cocktail menu has been inspired by maritime traditions – from ‘Neptune’s Toast’ and ‘Shanty Serenade’ to the ‘Hemisphere Voyager’ – each one accompanied by a description of the sea tale that inspired their concoction. Arwana also presents guests with new and exciting offerings, such as the Sunday Brunch that takes Asian and Western delicacies to a new level.
“These are exciting times and we look forward to showcasing the new look of The Laguna to our guests,” says Lucia Liu, General Manager of The Laguna. “We are thrilled to unveil the new concept of Arwana where we have created an exceptional culinary journey by combining the finest ingredients that celebrate the vibrant flavours of the season. Highlighting our centrepiece open kitchen, the Basque grills flame up the best seafood and premium cuts of meat, Arwana will be a true haven for food enthusiasts in a sophisticated beachfront ambiance.”
Adjacent to Arwana, guests can now also experience the new Kulkul Beach House, a chic yet laid-back beach house by the pool, with Kulkul’s signature cocktails. Kulkul Beach House returned this spring with thoughtfully reimagined interiors and updated food and cocktail menus. Its name is a reference to the traditional Balinese wooden bells that invite locals to gather for special moments and ceremonies, Kulkul is an idyllic social setting tailor-made for languid days by the beach – where lazy days are best spent lounging outdoors in pillowy cabanas by the 12- metre adults-only swimming pool. The Kulkul kitchen returns with a greater emphasis on zero-waste drinking and dining. Still spotlighting as much produce as possible from local partners, the all-day menu features a range of vegetarian and vegan options alongside traditional foods and superb seafood specialities.
With these additions, there are now five F&B destinations within the resort to explore, including de Balé Lounge & Bar and Banyubiru which were completed in the first phase of renovations last year. De Balé Lounge & Bar is the perfect place for sundowners while watching Balinese performances and exploring cocktails inspired by the oceanic spice trade. Meanwhile Banyubiru Restaurant’s redesign includes a show kitchen, as well as the buffet counter, inspired by Bali’s traditional ‘warung’ stalls to recreate authentic a Balinese food culinary experience. The restaurant showcases elements and materials of the surrounding fishing villages such as Balinese batik patterns, such as ‘kawung’ and ‘ceplok’, which are an integrated feature of the buffet and communal area floor tiles, while bamboo and rattan are used as detailing for the furniture, lighting and decorative items.
The new design of the bedrooms has been inspired by the collective stories and traditions of Bali, as well as nautical elements influenced by the resort’s seven lagoons and the travel-based DNA of the Luxury Collection brand. Rooms feature headboards inspired by Balinese ‘sulaman’ embroidery seen in kebaya fabric, meanwhile ‘Saput poleng’, the woven black-and-white chequered textile draped over statues and worn by people in ceremonies within Bali, is interpreted in the colour tone and materials in the room, such as the cushions. References to the lagoons and nautical experiences are found in details such as the bespoke selection of lamps and shiplap walls and leather suitcase detailing in the furniture.
To book, please visit: https://www.marriott.com/default.mi
Summer season rates start from:
Rooms: £182 / USD 280 net
Suite: £376 / USD 576 net
1 Bedroom Villa: £752 / USD 1152 net
2BR Villa: £1182 / USD 1810 net
