De Munut Balinese Resort & Spa

De Munut Balinese Resort is a small resort in the quiet Penestanan village area of Ubud, next to scenic rice fields. Guests enter to a cool welcome drink, served in an open-air lobby with wood furniture and leather sofas. The resort's interiors are filled with dark woods and decorative elements such as Balinese wood carvings and art -- the look throughout is a modern take on traditional Balinese decor, though it stops short of utterly contemporary. Once a home stay, the family-run resort was renovated in 2012 and now has 18 spacious rooms arranged in five buildings. The lushly landscaped grounds feature teak and other indigenous trees, hibiscus flowers, gardens, shrubs, a gazebo, and a Hindu shrine with statuary. Surrounded by greenery, the two shimmering blue swimming pools are an inviting spot for guests to cool off from the heat. Each has a shallow section and surrounding deck with lounge chairs and umbrellas. The resort mainly attracts European families and couples, drawn by the laid-back vibe and easy walking distance to central Ubud.

De Munut Balinese Resort is in Penestanan, an artist's village west of central Ubud. Numerous restaurants and cafes are in the area, and the resort is in a good spot for those who like to walk to attractions. The hotel is across the street from the Blanco Renaissance Museum, the house and studio of the famous Balian artist Don Antonio Blanco. The Campuhan Ridge Walk nature trek is a five-minute walk away, and Museum Puri Lukisan, which showcases modern traditional Balinese paintings and wood carvings, is a 10-minute walk away. The home and temple of the local royal family, Ubud Palace -- in central Ubud --is a 15-minute walk away, as is the Ubud Art Market, which sells sarongs, paintings, wood carvings, and fresh fruit. From the market, it's a five-minute walk downhill to the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary. Located a little over 10 minutes away by car, the Agung Rai Museum of Art displays Balinese, Indonesian, and European artists and has botanical gardens. Pura Samuan Tiga (Temple of the Meeting of the Three) is a 20-minute drive from the resort. Travelers should expect a one-hour drive to Ngurah Rai International Airport. 

The 18 rooms at the De Munut have a muted, contemporary Balinese style, with dark-wood furniture and offset by the overall muted neutral tones, like off-white walls and floors. Dashes of turquoise in the lampshades and leaf prints on the bedspread add a dash of color, though higher category Deluxe Rooms have colorful art pieces over the beds. Dark wood furniture has a blend of modern and traditional silhouettes. The spacious rooms get good natural light and are clean and quiet. All come with air-conditioning, desks, safes, mini-fridges, electric kettles for making instant coffee and tea, free bottled water, and wall-mounted flat-screen TVs with cable channels. Some rooms have furnished balconies or terraces, many with pool views. Bathrooms have indoor and outdoor sections, with outdoor showers; some also have separate indoor or outdoor stone bathtubs. 

The De Munut has two small outdoor swimming pools set in a lush and inviting tropical courtyard. Both pools have shallower sections for children. An on-site spa offers a range of massages, and poolside massages are available. Breakfast is included in room rates and is served a la carte, with items such as eggs, banana pancakes, fried noodles, and fruit, though the selection is limited. The restaurant also serves Western and traditional Indonesian cuisine for lunch and dinner, and 24-hour room service is available. Other facilities include a business center and library, concierge service, bicycle and moped rental, and free parking. Wi-Fi is available throughout the property, but reception is sometimes spotty.