A Camp Like No Other
Capella Ubud is not a hotel in any conventional sense. It is a fantasy — 22 tented villas designed by Bill Bensley, the maverick architect whose work has redefined the boundaries of resort design. Set in the rainforest of Bali's Keliki Valley, the camp draws inspiration from the early 19th-century European settlers who arrived in Bali seeking fortune and found something far more valuable.
Each tented villa is themed around a character from that era — the Cartographer, the Botanist, the Explorer, the Maharaja — and furnished accordingly, with antique maps, brass instruments, and curiosities that feel less like decoration than the genuine possessions of an eccentric traveller. The tents themselves are anything but primitive: outdoor copper baths, saltwater pools, and private decks overlooking the jungle canopy ensure that the fantasy never sacrifices comfort.
Dining and Discovery
The Api Jiwa, the camp's Japanese-inspired restaurant, serves omakase-style tasting menus using produce from the hotel's organic gardens. The Pesik bar, perched on a terrace above the river, offers cocktails made with Balinese arak and botanicals foraged from the surrounding jungle. The camp also offers guided treks through the rainforest, rice paddy walks, and traditional Balinese cooking classes.
Why It Matters
In a destination saturated with luxury resorts, Capella Ubud dares to be different. It is theatrical without being kitsch, luxurious without being corporate, and deeply connected to its Balinese setting without resorting to cliché. Bensley has created not just a hotel but a story — one that guests are invited to live in for the duration of their stay.
