Tandjung Sari is arguably Bali’s original hotel, and perhaps the first boutique hotel in South East Asia. Established in the 1960s, Tandjung Sari is a hotel that is very full of character. Initially the home of Dutch-Indonesian artist, Wija Wawo-Runtu, it later became a hotel and local hotspot on the island; as a hotel, it later attracted the likes of various Beatles, David Bowie, and a certain legendary hotelier by the name of Adrian Zecha. The hotel’s storied past lives on as a small and quaint beachside hotel in the East-coast village of Sanur. 

The hotel is upmarket, yet retains a very rustic, informal, and homelike feel; much like a Bali Aman, but even more authentic if that makes any sense. The Waworuntus, who founded the hotel (originally as a personal home), remain the proprietors and still manage and oversee the day-to-day operation of the hotel. 

Location

Tandjung Sari is located in the northern part of Sanur Beach, near Sindhu Beach; It lies between a row of historic hotels – of which Tandjung Sari is arguably the best – including the old Bali Beach Complex and the Segara Village Hotel. Sanur itself was Bali’s first area to be developed for tourism and the area’s old-world charm defines its quaintness. The Beach does offer a brilliant stretch of white sand beach (that was interestingly brought there from Nusa Dua in the 80s when Sanur’s original beach eroded) and is a great place to take long seaside walks.

Around the area is the exclusive Batujimbar Estate, many independent cafés and restaurants, as well as other resorts like Maya Sanur, and the old Bali Hyatt compound (now occupied by Hyatt Regency and Andaz). There also is a local market 10 minutes away. During the weekends, nearby sections of the beach are crowded with pop-up bazaars and food markets. Overall, it is a very lively neighbourhood, although not the party kind. The hotel lies around 20 minutes from the airport and 30 minutes from Ubud by car.

Arrival and Check-in

While we have stayed at Tandjung Sari a few times, the beautiful rustic driveway to the lobby never gets old. The driveway uses right-hand traffic, unlike the rest of Indonesia which drives on the left. and as we went up the driveway As we arrived, the well-kept and beautiful setting instantly reminded us of our last stay. 

Upon arrival, we were greeted by the hotel’s wonderful host, Ibu Manda. She immediately recognised us from our last stay and welcomed us back. Just to note, we were recognised as such on our second stay, and every stay thereafter. I am very impressed by the level of familiarity, which truly felt like we were returning to a dear friend’s home!

Check-in was done at the lobby and was preceded by the sounding of the hotel’s antique gong. Having already been aware of who we were, check-in was quickly processed while we were offered cold towels. Within moments, we were soon on our way to the room, escorted with our luggage brought on a vintage-style trolley.

Bungalows at Tandjung Sari

We have stayed at two types of bungalows at Tandjung Sari, so please below find a summary of the two types.

Village Bungalow

The village bungalows are the main bungalow type, accounting for 16 of the 28 keys of the hotel. In addition to the main building, there is also a gazebo with a sitting area. To put it mildly, the room looks and feels incredibly retro in the best way possible. I found the rustic ambiance of the room to be very charming, yet comfortable.

Bedroom

Much like the rest of the hotel, the bedroom features many interesting antique items. From the traditional tegel tiled flooring to the antique Javanese lamps to the rattan chairs, everything looked like it came from a different time. As is the case at Amankila and Amandari, there isn’t an in-room television, which really adds to the ambiance. The entire bungalow was very well-kept and very clean. We were welcomed with a nice fruit plate on the table.

In addition to the beautiful bed, the bungalow features a spacious living area, a dining table, as well a vanity desk. At turndown, the mosquito nets are lowered, and pyjama tops are offered and left on the bed.

Bathroom

Much like the bedroom, the bathroom likewise continues the beautiful quaint theme. The bathroom is separated from the bedroom with a curtain and features an oversized terrazzo bathtub. It is complemented by a handmade local soap bar and toiletries. There is also an outdoor shower located in the courtyard.

Two-Storey Bungalow

The Two-Storey Bungalow, as its name suggests, is split between two levels. The first storey houses the bedroom and the bathroom, whereas the second storey features a small living space with a sofa and a desk. Every Two-Storey Bungalow share the same ‘bones’ but each one features a different design. This particular bungalow features a timber-clad indoor space as well as an outdoor bathtub. Having said that, I really loved the look of the room, which I thought is full of character and in remarkably great condition. I also really adored the warm lighting, which reminded me of the villas at COMO Shambhala Estate.

First-storey Bedroom

In addition to lighting, virtually everything in the room was made of wood, giving it a very warm feel. In the room, there are several antique decorations, including an interesting-looking low chair and many beautiful and ornately carved items. There is also a rattan lounge chair next to the minibar, which proved to be a great place to read a book.

Next to the bed were a couple of books, including a namesake one that tells the story of the hotel. Inside the wardrobe are some amenities, including two nice sarongs to be used over the stay, and a pair of hats. Like in the Village Bungalow, a pyjama top is also offered every night during turndown. Similarly, a small plate of fruits was left in the room as a welcome amenity, along with a nice letter welcoming us back to the hotel. 

Bathroom

In this particular bungalow, there is no solid line that separates the bathroom and the bedroom. The sink and toilet are located in an area right of the bedroom, whereas there is a small shower cubicle just next to the wardrobe. The oversized bathtub lies alone outside in the bungalow’s coral-fenced backyard.

Living areas

Right outside the bedroom is a dining table set up, as well as a spiral staircase leading up to the second storey. Just like the bedroom, the furniture similarly looked antique. The dining table in particular is a marble-topped Peranakan table as you’d find in historic coffee shops around South East Asia.

Upstairs is a spacious and airconditioned living area with a couple of L-shaped couches. Adorning the wall is a traditional Kamasan-style Balinese artwork. In some variations of the Two-Storey Bungalows, you’d also find a desk on this level. How quaint!

Unique Touches

Lastly, one of my favorite things about the bungalows at Tandjung Sari is the do not disturb signs. There are a variety of hand-painted signs behind the room number board, some of which are hilariously more risqué than others!

Dining

The hotel has one restaurant, located on the beachside and next to their small swimming pool. The restaurant is entirely outdoors, with sections that are roofed.

Our room rate included breakfast, and it was served every morning at the hotel’s namesake restaurant. The food quality is excellent, and likewise, everything tasted wonderful. The juices were all made fresh as well. I have nothing but good things to say about the food at Tandjung Sari. The breakfast menu consisted of several dishes ordered from a set à la carte menu. The set consisted of a drink, a fruit plate, one main course of a Western or Indonesian dish, and pastries.

I, more or less, stuck to having their Eggs Benedict, which I found to be perfectly executed every time. Over the course of my stays, I’ve also tried a Nasi Kuning (turmeric rice) and their French Toast, both of which were also excellent. Their selection of viennoiserie is as always delicious. Though they weren’t very crispy outside, they were very fragrant and flaky. The pastries were served with some butter and a couple of homemade jams, of which the marmalade had to be amongst the best I’ve had anywhere (fresh, tangy, not too sweet).

We also had lunch and dinner at the restaurant on multiple occasions, and they were similarly and unfailingly exceptional. I would dare say that the Indonesian food I had here is the best I’ve had anywhere. High marks all around!

Hotel grounds and amenities

The hotel has a small swimming pool by the restaurant (and consequently, the beach), which is decorated with a few beautifully eclectic signs. We saw that it was mostly used by children as opposed to adults, which made sense considering its size.

The hotel also has direct access to a narrow strip of white-sanded beach (which like anywhere in Bali, is legally shared with the public) along with several lounger chairs that can only be used by hotel guests. Also available is a very well-equipped gymnasium behind the reception, which given the hotel’s size, is very impressive. 

Service

Service is very warm and home-like. Like what an Amanresort was meant to be, everyone appeared to know who we were and where we were staying, as no one ever asked us about our room numbers or name. Although, we had to sign things when charging our meals to the room (which makes sense given the amount of non-hotel guests dining on the premises). All our interactions with the staff were very family like and everyone was very courteous. I won’t single out any names because everyone was exceptional. 

Likewise, the staff must have kept track of our movements because when we came back an hour after heading out for breakfast or dinner, our bungalow had been cleaned and turned down, respectively. This is very well done on their part. Most members of staff also appeared to know who we were and where we were staying, so we almost never had to mention our room numbers. Everyone was, for the most part, proactive. For instance, upon seeing our discomfort being directly exposed to sunlight at breakfast, we were proactively offered to move to a table with more shade. Furthermore, our room is turned down proactively each night. 

One time, we left our afternoon tea snacks thinking that their advertised afternoon tea consisted only of drinks in the afternoon. When we returned after dinner, we received a call saying that we left our snacks and they had kept them for us, and delivered them to our room within an instant. Truly, nothing short of exceptional. 

Overall

Overall, the old Tandjung Sari is anything but an aging hotel. Every aspect of the property is very well kept and maintained, whilst also retaining a very authentic and historical character. 

I would say that the hotel is a great base to start one’s journey in Bali, and arguably the best hotel in the Sanur area, or even on the island! Whilst the hotel’s historical charm might not appeal to everybody, I am sure it is especially attractive to those who wish to immerse themselves in local culture within the comforts of their accommodation. In my opinion, it is truly Bali’s most special hotel – an opinion I imagine is also echoed by the hotel’s sizeable clientele of return guests.

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