[category]
[title]
The last time I visited Potato Head, it was back in 2012 and I was on my end-of-high-school holiday (blowout) with my girlfriends, knocking back Lychee Martinis at golden hour, doing bombs in the pool, and having the time of my life. Fast forward to 2026, and a few things have changed. For starters, I’m sipping on a happy hour Mango Mojito by the pool reserved exclusively for hotel guests. Instead of hitting Kuta’s clubs, this afternoon I’m booked into a sustainability tour of the hotel, followed by a massage at the spa. The one thing that’s the same? I don’t want to leave.
What is Desa Potato Head Bali like?
If you’re looking for a Bali hotel where you can spend your days lapping up the OOO perks – enjoying breakfast by the ocean, reading on the sunbeds, swimming in the ocean-facing infinity pools, doing rooftop yoga and meditation at sunrise, and making the most of happy hour cocktails – then Desa Potato Head is a great option.
Part hotel, part beach club, part creative village, Desa Potato Head Bali, created by Jakarta-born, Singapore-based entrepreneur Ronald Akili, combines award-winning design with first-class sustainability – with good times at its core.
There are two accommodation buildings: OMA House, designed by Rem Koolhaas’s OMA, and AM House, designed by Indonesian architect Andra Matin. AM House is made from 1.8 million hand-pressed terracotta bricks, with lush, open-plan suites, while OMA House features 168 rooms ranging from thoughtfully designed studios to ocean-facing hangouts.
I stayed in a Desa Studio, a compact yet stylish 36 sqm room overlooking the creative village, with a king-size bed, a very well-stocked in-room bar (hello, complimentary cocktails on arrival) and a zero-waste kit, including sunscreen and insect repellent.
Potato Head isn’t just infinity pools and cocktails at sunset. Recognised by The World’s 50 Best Hotels, its commitment to sustainability is woven throughout the entire experience – not simply tacked on as a tagline.
Each day, the hotel offers a ‘Follow the Waste Tour’ for hotel guests, and I was lucky enough to join one. It was equal parts fascinating and eye-opening, taking us behind the scenes to see how everything from medical and organic waste to food scraps is sorted, recycled and reused. We learnt how the team works with local communities and turns discarded coconuts into fibres for regenerative farming and restaurant oyster shells into new materials used throughout the hotel. Staff can also bring in their own plastic waste through the hotel’s exchange program, receiving a bracelet in return. See those bathroom amenities, drinking glasses and candle holders? They’re all the result of upcycling.
What are the restaurant options at Desa Potato Head Bali?
There are several great restaurants and bars within Desa, so if you don’t feel like hopping on a Gojek into town, you don’t have to. The team works closely with Indonesian farmers, fishermen and producers to source local ingredients, and everything I tasted was vibrant and fresh.
The Beach Club is the main drawcard, open to the public and hotel guests and serving all-day eats alongside vibey sunset sessions.
Kaum focuses on traditional Indonesian cooking, drawing on heritage recipes from across the archipelago. By the pool and ocean is where you’ll find Ijen, a seafood-focused restaurant centred around locally sourced fish and cooking over fire. For plant-based eats, head to Tanaman, and for a contemporary meal with natural wine, Dome is where it’s at. Sunset Park is another fun option for island-inspired drinks and snacks with sweeping ocean views.
Breakfast is served from 7am to 11am, with Indonesian, international and plant-based options. Instead of your stock-standard buffet, guests order from a menu to cut down on food waste, with complimentary tropical fruit, pastries, juices and coffee. Did I have nasi goreng every day? You bet. Do I have any regrets? Zilch.
What is the service like at Desa Potato Head Bali?
From the moment you hop off the buggy, the service at Desa Potato Head is exceptional. On arrival, I’m welcomed with warm smiles, a shot of turmeric-strong jamu and a cool hand towel, before I’m taken to my room, featuring a bar filled with fresh ice to make cocktails (and I do).
I get a rundown of all the activities hotel guests are welcome to join – from rooftop yoga sessions to meditation, boxing, cocktail-making classes, traditional jamu-making, sound healing and more.
Throughout my stay, the team is warm, attentive and genuinely helpful – and seems genuinely happy to be there.
Is there a gym at Desa Potato Head Bali?
Yes, Desa Gym is open 24 hours if you’ve got jet lag or want to get in a late-night sesh. Desa offers a complete fitness offering, with regular yoga, boxing, athletic training and other classes forming part of the programme.
There are also additional wellbeing experiences, including sound healing, breathwork, ice baths, traditional Balinese healing and private training.
Is there a pool at Desa Potato Head Bali?
There sure is – and there’s not just one. Everyone, including non-hotel guests, is welcome to swim and splash in the Beach Club’s beachfront infinity pool, with ocean views and daybeds right by the water. I loved that hotel guests have their own more secluded and private pool, still overlooking the ocean but offering a little more peace and quiet. There’s also a tranquil private pool for those staying in one of the Potato Head Suites.
Is there a spa at Desa Potato Head Bali?
Yes. Desa Spa offers a mix of traditional and modern treatments, with options including massages, reflexology and facials. As mentioned above, there’s also a broader wellbeing programme (including ice baths), so the spa is just one part of the hotel’s wellness offering rather than the entire focus. I enjoyed a 60-minute full-body massage and nearly fell asleep (twice) – it was that relaxing.
What's the area like around Desa Potato Head Seminyak?
Desa Potato Head is in Petitenget, Seminyak, right on the beachfront. Restaurants, beach clubs and boutiques are all within walking distance. If you’re heading to Canggu or Pererenan, the traffic around the hotel is notoriously bad, so I’d recommend booking a Gojek and hopping on a bike.
Why should you book a stay at Desa Potato Head Bali?
I’ve been to Bali five times over the years, and Desa is one of my favourite places I’ve ever stayed. I spent hours with my latest page-turner on a daybed by the pool, reached a zen state during meditation at sunrise and enjoyed fresh fish by the ocean for dinner. But beyond the Mojitos and grid-worthy sunsets, Desa really impressed me with its sustainability efforts and zero-waste philosophy. It’s not just a marketing tagline – it’s at the heart of the hotel.
And yes, the beach club is still as great as when I was 18.
Address: Jalan Petitenget No. 51B, Seminyak, Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia
Price per night: From around $380 AUD per night.
Closest transport link: Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS), around 30–40 minutes (and up to an hour) by car depending on traffic
Book now: Book your stay at Desa Potato Head Bali here.
Note: I was hosted by Desa Potato Head, but our editorial recommendations are always honest. You can find out more about our review process here.