W Bali - Seminyak

Seminyak's social beachfront resort, with sunset at Woobar and a large villa enclave behind it.

W Bali - Seminyak sits on the beach at the Petitenget and Batu Belig end of Seminyak, and it brings the W brand's bold, playful design to a Balinese setting. Its 233 keys (152 guest rooms, 6 suites and 75 private pool villas) are split between a main building of ocean- or garden-facing rooms and a large enclave of freestanding villas, so the resort can feel like two hotels: a buzzing social hub by the sea and a quieter residential pocket behind it.

All the standard rooms measure 64 sqm, and the choice is simply garden or ocean outlook; the Spectacular Ocean Facing rooms have balconies looking out to sea, and some upper-floor rooms have sunroofs over the bath and shower. Suites step up to the 127 sqm Marvelous Suite and beyond to the WOW and two-level Extreme WOW suites. The villas start at 225 sqm for one bedroom and run to two and three bedrooms, each with a private pool, sun loungers, dining space and a barbecue, which makes them the smart pick for families or groups.

Dining is anchored by Fire, a grill restaurant built around prime meats and seafood, and Starfish Bloo, the beachside pan-Asian restaurant known for seafood, sushi and sashimi. Both run Sunday brunches. W Lounge serves afternoon tea, and Woobar, the indoor-outdoor lounge with large round day beds, is the resort's sunset spot, with DJs keeping it lively into the evening.

The WET Deck is the main pool, a curving, multi-level layout that runs down towards the beach. AWAY Spa is billed as open around the clock, FIT is the fitness centre, and the W Sound Suite is a private recording studio, the brand's first. The Whatever/Whenever concierge will try to arrange most requests, from in-villa barbecues to day trips.

Ngurah Rai airport is usually 30 to 40 minutes by car, longer at peak times. Potato Head, Jalan Petitenget's restaurants and the Batu Belig cafes are close by, and Grab or the hotel's transport covers trips into central Seminyak or Canggu.

This is a resort for couples, friends and design fans who enjoy music and a scene, and for families who take a villa. Light sleepers and anyone wanting a hushed retreat may find the main building's social energy too much, and the beach has strong surf, so read the flags before swimming. Book Sunday brunch and sunset tables at Woobar ahead in high season.