Hotel: L Hotel: Seminyak, Bali

Chasing a Plate paid a media rate during its stay at L Hotel.
But we only blog about hotels that we genuinely wish to stay at and for which we would pay full rates to do so.

It’s most refreshing when you arrive at a hotel late at night, after a day of traveling to be greeted by smiling faces and people who can’t do enough to make you comfortable. We received this welcome at L Hotel when we arrived in Seminyak, our first destination on our week long jaunt around Bali.

The hotel is set virtually right on the street- it’s what I’d call mod-op, modern opulence, think mirrors, plush armchairs laden with bright cushions and black tiles. Our luggage is whipped off to our room as we are ushered into the air-conditioned comfort of the L Lounge adjoining reception. Tea is served as our welcome drink complete with hilarious teabags as the check-in process is completed.

Our butler escorts us to our room which overlooks the street on the first level and gives us a wee tour. The beauty is in the detail here- it’s the Kiehl’s toiletries, the apple which perches on a stand with the ‘an apple a day…’ mantra, the pillow menu and the fruit, sandwiches and cookies that have been thoughtfully provided seeing as we’ve arrived so late.  Our suite is dominated by the king size bed and features a hidden toilet, a flat screen TV, reliable wi-fi, an open bathroom and complimentary drinking water which is replenished daily. It has everything we need for our short stay in Seminyak.

The vanity area of the bathroom is generous and there’s plenty of room to unload our toiletries. The shower features a rain head as well as the traditional hose and for those who may be a bit shy, there is an automated screen that can be lowered from the ceiling in front of the shower at the touch of a button. The Kiehl’s toiletries- suncream, shower gel, face cleanser, shampoo, conditioner and moisturiser- are a treat and a welcome departure from the unidentifiable potions you usually find in hotels.

We head out in search of a late night snack and on the advice of the staff devour a delicious nasi padang and down a couple of Bintangs at Warung Padang, a local joint around the corner from the hotel. We stagger back to L Hotel and sleep easy amid the crisp linen and soft down pillows.

Ready to hit the day, we head to breakfast (served between 7:00am and 11:00am) at Lola located on the mezzanine floor. The dining area shares its space with a small indoor pool- great for a refreshing dip after a day walking the streets, although perhaps not during usual meal hours.

The a la carte breakfast caters to all tastes with a range of Western and Indonesian breakfasts available including eggs, nasi goreng, french toast and pancakes. There is also a fruit and cereal buffet available. Over the course of our stay we eat snake fruit, local passionfruit and I indulge in my obsession for Asian breakfasts. Mie goreng for breakfast? It doesn’t get better than that. Particularly good is the bubur ayam (Indonesian chicken congee). Also notable is the wide range of drinks on offer which include fresh fruit juices, smoothies and iced teas and coffees. The food is of a high standard and breakfast is eagerly awaited each morning. The service, as throughout the hotel, is exemplary.

L Hotel also boasts a rooftop bar and restaurant, Luna, where they had just wrapped up their Halloween party on the night of our arrival. We nip up there for an afternoon drink, a lychee martini for me and a beer for TBS. The cocktails are around $13AUD and unfortunately I’m disappointed on this occasion as it is a bit watery.

Among the other services L Hotel offers are a spa which is located next to the hotel as well as an outdoor pool which is offsite and requires a staff member to accompany you to open and lock up if you want a dip. There’s 24 hour butler service, a shuttle that ferries you to the beach and a turn down service where your bottled water is replenished and your pillows plumped.

There are a few small hiccups during our stay- the batteries in the safe die, the toilet stops flushing and the phone doesn’t work, but the speed in which each of these issues is fixed, almost immediately, is testament to the way the hotel is managed.

Would we stay at L Hotel again? Yes. If you’re after a modern, boutique hotel whose staff take a real interest in your comfort and in the success of your holiday then look no further.

Good to know:

L Hotel
Jalan Raya Petitenget
No. 8L Seminyak
Bali

The hotel is about a 25 minute walk into the centre of Seminyak (taking into account the heat!). By taxi, it’s about 5-10 minutes depending on traffic and should cost roughly 17,000 IDR (about $1.70AUD). For tips on where to eat in Seminyak check out our Top 3 Must Eats…

Telephone: +62 361 894 7898

Rates: at the time of writing the Lifestyle Suite (which we stayed in) is $127USD per night for the room only and $157 per night for the full benefits package including 24 hour butler service, daily breakfast, shuttle service in Seminyak, free mini-bar, free wi-fi and daily turn down service.

http://www.thelhotels.com

Images: Thomas Southam