Shoot the Moon in Bali at Luna2 Private Hotel

This post is published in partnership with Luna2 Private Hotel.

Discreetly tucked in the continuous line of tropical resorts and clubs that borders Seminyak Beach is an unexpected hideout: Luna2 Private Hotel. A five-bedroom house that looks straight from London in the 1960s, it’s the only private hotel on these shores. But to say just that would be an understatement—it’s also the only place of its kind in Bali, coupling the personalized service of luxury hospitality with the ease and comfort of a private home that’s nothing short of a design-lover’s dream.

Opened in 2007, Luna2 Private Hotel was created by Melanie Hall, the daughter of a renowned British architect whose influence on modern design has been channeled through Hall and manifested here. The property was named after the first spacecraft to land on the moon in the 1950s, and the house is a throwback to that time, with the rooms, gardened backyard, and 20-meter lap pool all created by Hall with more than a bit of panache—think custom-designed rugs and wallpaper with geometric patterns, retro furniture and fabrics, and Marilyn Monroe reincarnated in mosaic tiles at the bottom of the cabana-rimmed pool, just steps from the beach.

Luna2’s backyard with a mozaic-tiled pool depicting Marilyn Monroe.

Able to sleep up to 11 guests, Luna2 is one of those rare, malleable places that lends itself equally well to a variety of occasions—family vacations, party trips for groups of friends (there’s a back stairway to sneak up after late nights out in Seminyak), wedding gatherings, even small company retreats. The themed bedrooms allow guests to choose their vibe—calm and feminine in a back bedroom inspired by a gorgeous vintage Hermès scarf framed on the wall; regal in the expansive, emerald-green master bedroom—while bathrooms are super sleek with Dornbracht rain showers and Philippe Starck tubs. All of a hotel’s amenities are here in full force, from a special pillow menu and laundry service, to iPads loaded with information about the hotel and the surrounds and iPods that play groovy playlists put together by local DJs and the hotel staff. Pop art bedecks the walls throughout, save for the sitting area right off of the living room, where black-and-white photos of Hall’s family taken on their mid-century travels are framed next to a wall of well-loved books with floppy covers—familiar details that make the house feel like home.

The master bedroom overlooks a roof terrace and the ocean.

The difference between a private hotel and a private villa, however, is the service. At guests’ disposal here are some 20 staff members, including spa technicians that can give treatments in-room or on the rooftop overlooking the backyard and ocean; an animated nanny to keep kids happy and entertained; bartenders who can whip up a delicious fresh juice or cocktail at any hour of the day or night; and Luna2’s renowned culinary team, headed by British executive chef Errol Defoe. Breakfast and lunch are served à la carte from menus of classic comfort foods—eggs benedict, a juicy Lunaburger, beer-battered fish and chips—while dinner menus are tailored to guests’ wishes and showcase Defoe’s Lunafood concept, which infuses gourmet European cuisine with innovation, imagination, and fun. Degustation menus, seafood backyard barbecues, and multi-course private parties can all be arranged, as can wine pairings from Luna2’s Wine Spectator-awarded wine cellar, which is one of the best on the island.

From the friendliness of the staff down to the playfulness of the design and funky music, Luna2 Private Hotel offers all the ingredients for a Bali getaway that’s unlike any other around. Turn on some oldies, order one too many sunset cocktails by the pool, and relax—the whole point of Luna2 is to have a good time.