Review: The Mulia Bali, where three resorts are better than one

Introduction

Bali is many things, from exotic cultural melting pot to an oasis of spirituality and surf. Above all, it’s synonymous with relaxation – and there’s a kaleidoscope of resorts and hotels primed for exactly this. The Mulia is frequently named among its best.

Boasting nearly 800 rooms including ocean view suites and private villas, the east coast mega-resort in family-friendly Nusa Dua is some 20 minutes from Denpasar yet a world away in terms of natural beauty and culture.

Sun lounges line the beachfront; cabanas can also be booked in advance.

It’s divided into three sections, all falling under the ‘Mulia’ umbrella. These are Mulia Resort with 526 rooms, The Mulia with 108 suites, and Mulia Villas with 101 rooms. The former is ideal for families, while the latter two are more exclusive.

My visit to The Mulia was in the height of Bali’s busy August season, and despite operating at full capacity, it maintained a welcome sense of calm throughout the stay.

Location & Impressions

From Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS), The Mulia Resort is an easy transfer along the expressway to Nusa Dua.

My night time arrival hinted at the resort’s substantial size, and once daylight broke the scale of the property became evident, with no less than six restaurants and a trio of bars, six swimming pools and even two wedding chapels within its footprint.

Sunrise over Geger Beach.

The property’s expansive enough you don’t need to leave – it’s truly set up for a ‘flop and drop’ type vacation with several dining and relaxation options.

Our view from The Earl Suite.

That said, it’s still in reach of several other resorts, as well as Bali National Golf Club.

A 24/7 buggy service is available to help you get around. However, as my stay progressed, I quickly discovered a number of shortcuts allowing me to zip between the main areas of the resort.

Room

The Mulia suites and Villas are the more exclusive parts of the resort: guests enjoy a refined breakfast experience at two exclusive venues, primarily à la carte. Additionally, you have access to a high-quality afternoon tea with wine and cocktails from 4pm to 6pm daily.

My key unlocked the door to The Earl Suite: a sprawling 130 sqm retreat enjoying ocean views and the sound of crashing waves from its wide balcony.

Aside from affording a sensational view, the balcony also featured its own dining table, lounger and Jacuzzi, which was perfect after a day exploring.

The suite itself was divided into three light-filled spaces: the living room, bedroom, and bathroom. Decor followed an modern aesthetic with polished surfaces, timber and glass alongside tactile soft furnishings.  

Sliding doors separated each area, providing a degree of flexibility and privacy. For instance, if travelling with children, you could create a distinct space just for them, while couples could enjoy independent activities without disturbing each other.

The suite offered all the usual five-star amenities, including a separate powder room linked to the living room, and a spacious wardrobe to keep suitcases neatly organised.

Another benefit of The Mulia resort is personalised butler service, which I found to be impeccable throughout the stay.

Work

It goes without saying that most people aren’t visiting Bali to work!

However, if you have to, you can easily set up a makeshift office on the dining table in the living room. Or, for a desk with a view, out on the balcony with the outdoor dining table.

There’s no work table per se but I found these two spots perfectly acceptable to knock out some emails.

Eat

Dining across the resort was consistently high quality and full of flavour, and I’d even go as far as to say the breakfast options were some of the best I’ve seen at any resort – worldwide.

Guests of The Mulia and Mulia Villas both have their own restaurants, The Lounge and Living Room, respectively. Both are open for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner. (If you really want the buffet experience, you can have that at The Cafe restaurant at the Mulia Resort).

The Lounge is open exclusively to guests of The Mulia and Mulia Villas.

The Lounge had a seemingly endless variety of à la carte breakfast options. Feel like a full English one day, a Japanese grilled salmon set the next, and steak and foie gras on the third day? You can have them all at The Mulia.

Steak and foie gras is just one of the lavish dishes on offer.

The usual egg choices were of course available, as well as more worldly fare including shakshuka and huevos rancheros. It was a difficult choice to make every morning.

The Japanese set breakfast instantly transported us to 'the land of the rising sun'.

The lunch menu was equally impressive, with favourites such as nasi goreng and pad Thai both hitting the spot. 

Soleil Restaurant at the centre of Mulia Resort affords a stunning outlook to the sand and sea beyond. 

Here you can enjoy an extensive menu including modern Western classics, Indonesian, Thai, and Vietnamese specialities. With generous portion sizes and bold flavours, it’s a solid family restaurant.

Decor at Soleil Restaurant is over the top in all the right ways.

Soleil is also famous for its Sunday brunch, where you have 4 hours to try an extensive à la carte and buffet menu, with the option of bottomless alcoholic or non-alcoholic drinks.

The Cafe is the go-to for buffet dining, though it can get rather busy.

Dinner at The Cafe, the resort’s primary venue, is a multicultural affair – an international buffet featuring cuisines from all over the world, including Asian, Indian and Western, in addition to several live stations with seafood and meats.

Relax

If it’s relaxation you seek, you’ll find just that at the Mulia. There are six pools to choose from: four in the main resort and an exclusive one in both The Mulia and Mulia Villas.

The Oasis is arguably the resort's signature pool.

In my experience the main pools could would get quite busy, so I enjoyed having access to The Mulia’s large pool, stretching down to the beach where there were plenty of free sun lounges. Paid private cabanas could be booked 24 hours in advance, for a fee.

In addition, an extensive gym and fitness centre offering scheduled group classes, along with a pampering day spa (massages are almost mandatory on holiday).

The spa includes 20 treatment rooms, plus saunas, steam rooms and more.

A splash pool with water slides and two excellent kids clubs – ‘Mulia Kidz’ for ages 3-8 and a separate ‘T-Zone’ for 9-15 – make great options for those with the family in tow. 

The Splash Pool is dedicated to kids aged 3 to 12.

Verdict

With direct beach access, the sensational dining and wide array of pools, The Mulia deserves its place among the best resorts in Bali.

The concept of a ‘resort within a resort’ also gives you the best of both worlds: a private escape from the main crowds, yet still allowing you benefit from the wider facilities. Add in the kids club and you have a property that appeals to both families and couples.

The author was a guest of The Mulia Bali