Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve

Mandapa sits along the Ayung River in the Kedewatan area, separated from the constant traffic of Ubud Palace by a ten-minute drive into the rainforest. The property winds across a steep riverbank, placing the restaurant and pool decks directly above the rushing water.

Most travelers stay in the centre of town to be near the Monkey Forest, but Mandapa works because it ignores that frantic pace entirely. While the restaurants around the Campuhan Ridge Walk rely on their proximity to the street, this place leans into its isolation. It is better to choose this for the quiet of the river valley than for the amenities; the gym and kids club are standard, but the sound of the water against the villa walls is why people return.