Domo Villa 1

Ubud’s appeal has always been the balance between the town and the quiet, and Domo Villa 1 lands squarely on the right side of it. The villa sits within walking distance of the Monkey Forest and the restaurants along Jalan Monkey Forest, yet closes behind a heavy carved timber door into a walled garden where the loudest thing is the water feature. It is a new build, and it shows in the best way — everything works, the air conditioning is quiet, and the finishes are crisp rather than weathered.

The pool is the centre of the plan: a long stretch of water running the length of the garden, with a shallow end shaped for small children and a run of loungers under a broad umbrella. Behind it, an enclosed and air-conditioned living room opens through full-height glass so the two spaces read as one. Inside there is a deep sofa, a Smart TV, board games and a guitar for the evenings, and an open-plan kitchen and dining area built around a generous island. Thoughtful touches run through it — international power sockets throughout, a single-level layout with no steps to negotiate.

Three bedrooms open to the garden or the pool through sliding glass, each with white linen, warm timber furniture and soft, low lighting. All three are air-conditioned and have en-suite bathrooms in stone-look tile with rain showers. The villa can also be taken as a two-bedroom, which makes it work as well for a couple or a small family as it does for a group of six — worth knowing if your party is smaller, since the reduced configuration is priced accordingly.