My friends call me the “Bali expert”. Over the years, this island has become my second home, my escape hatch whenever city life burnout creeps in. I’ve seen Canggu morph from a laid-back surf town to a chaotic cafe sprawl. And yes, I’m that person pointing at random boutiques or cafes while giving unsolicited history lessons: “This literally used to be a padi field.”
So when I got the invite to check out Oshom Bali, tucked on the lesser-known black sands of Nyanyi Beach, I wasn’t expecting anything I hadn’t seen before. But here’s the thing: this wasn’t just another boutique stay with a pool and a yoga shala. It’s the first luxury hotel within Nuanu Creative City, a sprawling, 44-hectare cultural experiment on Bali’s southwest coast.
Originally the private residence of Nuanu’s founder, Sergey Solonin, the property has been reimagined by creative director Daisy Angus as an 18-key boutique hotel with moody treehouses, ocean-facing suites, and a design philosophy made to move you. It’s this careful balance between soul and style that sets Oshom apart, and you’ll feel it the moment you walk into your room.
The rooms: Like sleeping in an art gallery, but better
The interiors at Oshom Bali pay thoughtful tribute to both art and the island’s natural landscapes. But don’t mistake it for just another stylish stay in Bali. Sure, there’s the requisite lawn with pool and deck chairs, but that’s pretty much where the comparisons end. Oshom Bali feels more like a cross between a charming, boutique villa and an avant-garde art gallery. It feels like home - with just the right dose of eccentricity.
There are 18 rooms here, split between breezy ocean-facing suites with light-filled bathrooms and moody, Tarzan-worthy treehouses. In my Ocean Suite, I’m greeted by a lamp shaped like a naked woman curled up mid-slumber, a painting of mermaids balancing fruit baskets on their heads, and my favourite detail: a disco ball dangling in the dressing room. But it’s not just whimsy for whimsy’s sake - the mirrorball, as I learnt, is a tribute to the glistening volcanic sands of Nyanyi Beach.
No two rooms are the same. One might feature a self-portrait of Viktoria Dall draped dramatically in a giant bamboo shell or “trapped” inside a massive plastic bottle; another, a whimsical artwork by artist Rizrizrizz, painted live on the lawn. In the common areas, you’ll find high contrast portraits by Stéphane Sensey, who captures Indonesians with the stylised flair of a fashion spread. One even stars a man dubbed the “Balinese Karl Lagerfeld.”
The artists Daisy collaborates with are a clear reflection of Oshom’s ideal guest: international creatives, visionaries, and cultural shapeshifters.
“That guy was involved in building the Las Vegas Sphere,” Daisy whispered as we went on a tour around the property. Then there’s a DJ. A model. A tech founder. And while Oshom Bali attracts guests from all corners of the earth, one thread connects them all - they’re here to create, connect, and recalibrate.
The rest: Sound baths, ecstatic dance and your own beachside spa
Oshom doesn’t just dabble in the creative-wellness space - it fully commits. Expect a rotating calendar of ecstatic dance sessions, poolside wellness lectures, human garage workshops, sound healing, yoga, and sunset DJ sets. Most are ticketed for the public, but guests join free. At some point, you might even wonder if you accidentally booked a wellness retreat. And honestly, you kind of did.
If you’re not feeling the workshops or sunset raves, follow the sound of waves to The Nest. It’s a bamboo pavilion by the beach draped in billowy white fabric where massages and sound healing sessions are held. I was booked in for a 7am Balinese massage one morning - and let me tell you, morning massages before remote working is a propaganda I am definitely falling for.
That’s the thing about Oshom: your stay is what you make it. Treat it like a blank canvas - go all in, or go off-grid. Either way, the space will hold you.
Beyond Oshom: Exploring Nuanu Creative City
Oshom may be your base, but it’s just one thread in a much larger creative web. Hop on the hotel’s buggy and explore the rest of Nuanu Creative City. For the uninitiated, there are over 30 creative projects here, with more to be unveiled in the near future.
Inspired by global creative movements like Burning Man, Nuanu is a living experiment in progress – fitting, given its name loosely translates to “in the process.” You might stumble upon the colossal Earth Sentinels sculpture by South African artist Daniel Popper (whose works have been exhibited at EDC Las Vegas and AfrikaBurn), or get lost in Aurora Media Park, a 5,000-square-meter immersive AI-powered art park that comes to life at night with impressive projection mapping.
A personal highlight was Labyrinth Bali, a meditative art installation that spirals inward like a mandala for self-discovery. And if you’re around on Fridays, don’t miss Bali Mystic Dome, a 360° spectacle that fuses gamelan, classical Balinese dance, and psychedelic visuals.
Then there’s Lumeira, an ethereal wellness sanctuary that’s home to the world’s largest wood-fired dome sauna. Here’s where I signed up for their signature Slavic ritual, Parenia.
Picture this: me, sprawled out with an iced towel on my head, engulfed in steam as hot as a thousand suns while masters rhythmically thwacked me with eucalyptus bundles. Somewhere between the heatwaves and the herbal lashings, I swear I saw my soul briefly float above me – but I stayed the full 20 minutes. All for the plot (and this article).
Behind the theatrics is a deeper mission. Like every project in Nuanu, Lumeira contributes 5% of profits to the Nuanu Social Fund, supporting underprivileged communities in Bali through education, empowerment, and cultural preservation.
Why you should you book a stay at Oshom
Oshom Bali isn’t the kind of place you book to explore the island. Tucked far from Bali’s bustling enclaves like Canggu or Ubud, this boutique stay is best reserved for a creative reset or a wellness-fuelled wind-down at the end of your trip. With full access to the wider Nuanu Creative City – complete with immersive art parks, beach clubs, and wellness rituals – you’ll be staying in a space designed to spark inspiration.
The price tag’s in line with big-name luxury resorts like Ayana or the InterContinental, but what you get at Oshom is a rare combo of intimacy and artistry. I stayed in the Ocean Suite (IDR 6.6M with a 45% discount), complete with a private butler who handled everything from breakfast to bookings. For a more affordable option, the Treehouse Hideaway rooms start from IDR 3M. Considering the inclusions – from daily activities and breakfast to Luna Beach Club access and a sunset cocktail – it’s worth every rupiah if what you’re after is a soulful, one-of-a-kind stay.
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