The List

40

Desa Potato Head

Bali

Artisan marvel majoring in sustainability, creativity, high design and good times

What makes it special? In the heart of Seminyak’s creative village, just steps from the sand, Desa Potato Head is more than just a boutique hotel. It sits in stark contrast to the classic luxury of heritage beach resorts across the island. Here, an ever-evolving vignette reveals modern rooms that sit aside art installations, a buzzy beach club, sound stages and studios, a library and unique concept stores. It’s a holistic scene that draws globetrotting creatives, hedonists and sun-kissed locals alike.

Design detail:  A design hotel of the highest order, its architecture unfolds the moment of arrival via ‘The Womb’ – a bamboo structure where a Balinese water blessing commences to the sound of gongs. The facade is swathed in more than 1.5million hand-pressed Balinese temple bricks and flows seamlessly to a pool dressed with handmade Batu Sakabumi tiles. Within the bedrooms, exposed walls, abundant natural materials and mid-century furniture bring a sense of tropical modernism. The beach club is found enveloped within a striking curved structure constructed from reclaimed window shutters.  

A word on sustainability: Sustainability forms the bedrock of the Desa Potato Head brand. As much a placemaker as a hotelier, founder Ronald Akili embraces a principal of radical innovation, with the motto ‘Good Times Do Good’ at the core of every creative decision. As the first Asian hospitality brand to go carbon-neutral, a zero-waste ethos bleeds through everything from the design, to the cuisine, to the experiences on offer. The Sweet Potato Lab crafts bins, trays and baskets from recycled plastic and food waste like oyster shells; woven palm leaves, offcuts and coconut husks provide biodegradable room slippers.

Eating and drinking: Think authentic Indonesian mainstays meets global nous. A farm-to-fork mantra leads across the six restaurants – situated across the site from the beach club, to the rooftop – while open-air bar and lab Akademi whips up modern libations using traditional local spirits like arak and jamu plus island fruits.

Worth getting out of bed for: There’s something for everyone. Guests can get to the heart of the island’s vibrant creative culture with a roll call of immersive activities such as ikat weaving and ceramics classes. Myriad modern wellness experiences run the gamut from yoga sessions to hypnotherapy and breathwork and there’s a multi-sensory night club – the hotel even hosts its own digital streaming station for up-and-comers.

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