Kimpton Bali Ubud, the lifestyle brand's long-awaited entry into Indonesia, is slated to welcome guests in early 2026. The 101-room property stretches along the Wos River within a short walk of Ubud Palace, promising travelers a serene retreat woven into central Bali's lush landscape. Parent company IHG Hotels & Resorts says the new build will combine nature-forward design with localized cultural touches, positioning the hotel as a high-style base for Ubud's art markets, temples, and terraced rice fields.
Key Points
- 101 guestrooms in a stepped riverfront design
- Japanese fine-dining restaurant Imamura, plus two additional venues
- Walkable to Ubud Palace and city center
- Why it matters: introduces Kimpton's first Bali Hotel and first Indonesian outpost
Snapshot
Set on a tiered site overlooking the Wos River, Kimpton Bali Ubud will integrate terraces, open-air corridors, and local stone to blur the line between indoors and outdoors. Room categories span river-view studios to secluded suites, each with private balcony, hand-carved wood accents, and freestanding soaking tubs. Amenities will include an infinity-edge pool, a full-service spa featuring Balinese rituals, and complimentary morning yoga-signature Kimpton perks aimed at wellness-minded travelers.
Background
IHG Hotels & Resorts currently operates seven Kimpton properties across Asia-Pacific, including Bangkok and Tokyo. Bali's hotel pipeline remains robust despite market-wide rate compression, with luxury and lifestyle brands chasing year-round demand from Australia, the United States, and Mainland China. By planting its flag in Ubud rather than the saturated beach corridors, Kimpton targets travelers who prioritize culture, spirituality, and cooler highland temperatures over nightlife. The move also complements IHG's existing Holiday Inn Resort and InterContinental inventory elsewhere on the island, expanding the company's price-point ladder.
Latest Developments
A recent management agreement between IHG and local partners PT Mustika Adiperkasa and GHS K.K. formalized the project's timeline, confirming a Q1 2026 soft opening. Construction crews broke ground in April and are now pouring foundations for the central podium that will host the lobby and Imamura, the 40-seat kaiseki restaurant led by Michelin-starred chef Hirofumi Imamura (ex-Furushima, Tokyo). Two additional outlets-a botanical-themed pool bar and an all-day café spotlighting island-sourced produce-will round out the dining program.
Design and Location
Singapore-based SCDA Architects has opted for a cascading layout that steps down the hillside, allowing nearly every guestroom an unbroken river vista. Indigenous hardwoods, lava stone, and bamboo screens dominate the materials palette, while landscaped roofs aim to reduce heat gain.
Culinary Focus
Chef Imamura's venue will import Hokkaido seafood and pair multi-course menus with a 120-label sake list, a first for Ubud's dining scene. The concept mirrors Kimpton's global strategy of partnering with high-profile chefs to differentiate on F&B.
Market Strategy
IHG will leverage its One Rewards program and accelerator promotions in Australia and North America to capture early bookings. Pre-opening packages are expected to launch next summer, bundling meditation classes and market Tours with opening-rate discounts.
Analysis
For travelers, Kimpton Bali Ubud fills a product gap between Ubud's ultra-luxury villas and backpacker homestays, offering full-service amenities at an achievable nightly rate. The hotel's walkable location reduces reliance on Bali's congested roads, a notable pain point for first-time visitors. Its pet-friendly policy and nightly social hour-Kimpton hallmarks-should resonate with millennial and Gen-Z guests who value community spaces over formal lounges. Meanwhile, F&B differentiation via Imamura positions the property to lure non-resident diners, a revenue stream increasingly crucial amid island-wide ADR pressure. Travel advisors may find strong commission potential through IHG Luxury & Lifestyle rates, especially for clients combining beach time in Seminyak with cultural immersion inland.
Final Thoughts
Kimpton's decision to plant its inaugural Indonesian flag in Ubud rather than on Bali's beaches underscores a strategic bet on culture-driven travel. The hotel's nature-immersive design, chef-led dining, and tailored wellness programming aim to capture guests seeking authenticity without sacrificing comfort. Advisors should monitor pre-opening offers and consider pairing the property with Bali's northern rice-terrace treks or sunrise climbs of Mount Batur to craft itineraries that spotlight the island's interior. As bookings open in mid-2025, Kimpton Bali Ubud is poised to become a marquee stop for travelers exploring Bali beyond its southern coast, solidifying Kimpton Bali Ubud as a destination in its own right.