Kaba Kaba Estate

Those seeking royal treatment in palatial surroundings can expect nothing less at the enchanting eight-bedroom KabaKaba Estate. Built on royal land on the edge of KabaKaba village in Bali's Tabanan regency, this stately villa will have guests in its thrall. From the Rajasthan palace elephants guarding the lotus courtyard to the glided, bejeweled throne of a Burmese king presiding over the dining pavilion, the stunning interiors are a treasure trove of skillfully curated antiques, curios and paintings that reveals the owners' passion for Asian culture and contemporary art.

The elegant living areas and bedroom suites scattered among multiple pavilions within the glorious estate enjoy majestic views; beyond manicured lawns dappled with palms, lotus ponds and sparkling swimming pools, an emerald sea of rice terraces rolls towards the Indian Ocean a few kilometres south, and northwards towards the volcanoes shimmering on the horizon. Closer to home, KabaKaba's no-expenses-spared facilities command sovereign attention. Hold court at the head of the six-metre-long table set for a feast created by the accomplished chef. Sink into the deeply cushioned banquettes in the velvet-curtained home cinema. Work out in the gym before deservedly basking in a mandilulur royal body treatment in the private spa. Serve an ace on the pro tennis court, score a goal at table football and take a bike ride through the rice fields. Naturally, these fabulous facilities are accompanied by impeccable service provided by the highly trained and genuinely charming 23-strong staff.

Designed for regal entertaining, KabaKaba Estate is the perfect venue for large family gatherings and special celebrations. It promises to capture the hearts of many brides and grooms as a sought-after wedding venue; exchanging vows on the lawn, dining by candlelight under the stars, then retiring to the supremely romantic master bedroom suite with private plunge pool for their first night as newly weds.

VILLA LAYOUT

Kaba Kaba Estate’s eight bedrooms and numerous living spaces are distributed among a series of pavilions fanning out from a central courtyard and oriented to a panorama of emerald rice terraces. First is the entrance pavilion, which houses the spa, gym, and above, a rooftop bar, balé and performance space. On the ground floor of the main pavilion a foyer leads to the formal living room, the media room, the library and the master bedroom suite. Upstairs are two guest bedrooms. Next is the open-sided dining pavilion with guest kitchen and service kitchen tucked behind. To one side of the rolling lawn is the single-storey Pilisan Pavilion housing the games room and two guest suites separated by a living area, with the tennis court behind. On the other side is the two-storey Pande pavilion with its open living area and three guest suites.

LIVING & DINING AREAS

Kaba Kaba Estate has an abundance of living areas spread throughout its grounds – some large enough to easily accommodate a full house of 18, some set back in private corners for those seeking a quiet retreat from the crowd.

A formal living room rests at the heart of the estate’s main building. Conversation flows in this elegant space with generous seating, gilded Burmese and Thai Buddhas displayed against a silk-lined wall, and spectacular 180-degree views beyond the pool and garden. Sliding glass doors on two sides can be closed for air-conditioned cool, or left open for fan-assisted tropical living.

Two more living rooms complement the guest pavilions. Designer fiberglass bulldogs guard the entrance to the Pilisan living area with its Andrew Martin ikat-covered seating, colourful kilim and garden deck. The open-sided Pande living area exudes Raffles-style elegance with its diamond-patterned marble floor, colonial-style cane seating, steamer trunks, whirring paddle fans and crisp white colour scheme splashed with blue accents from Chinese ceramics. The TV is discreetly hidden behind sliding doors, and pride of place is given to the stately table with an 18th-century marble top from a Rajasthan palace.

A solid Suarwood table – so heavy it took 40 people to install – stretches over six metres and is surrounded by 18 upholstered dining chairs, commanding centre stage in the open-sided dining pavilion. Among the eclectic collection of Asian antiques that adorns this space is the gilded throne from a Burmese temple and an Indian Kerala river boat. Alongside is a gleaming open-plan guest kitchen with sit-up bar, coffee machine and TV and, behind a wall of gold lacquer hiding two wine fridges, the main service kitchen contains an enviable range of quality culinary equipment.

- Media room
In this Moroccan-themed media room, curtains of rich maroon velvet frame plush sofas set on a Persian carpet and facing the 60-inch TV with Bose surround-sound. For an enhanced cinematic experience, movies can also be enjoyed on the huge retractable projector screen. In an adjacent washroom, where bevelled mirrors hang on metallic walls, the decadent souk-style continues.

- Games room
Kids of all ages will love playing air hockey and table football in the games room, which has a long bench with bar chairs designed for gaming (bring your laptop), a walk-in play room full of toys, books and board games, and a cute washroom.

- Library
The library adjacent to the master bedroom suite is the perfect spot for some quiet time in the company of an absorbing book. The shelves yield an intriguing selection, from popular fiction to photography-rich books on Bali; take your pick, then curl up on the canopied seat hand-printed with an antique map of the East Indies.

- Outdoor living
On the upper level of the entrance pavilion is a huge entertainment space, with alfresco performance area, covered bar, and enormous rooftop balé where guests can enjoy Bali’s legendary sunsets sprawled in cushioned comfort. Around the main 25-metre swimming pool are deeply cushioned sunbeds-for-two and all-weather rattan seating arranged in a convivial u-shape. The bedrooms’ balconies and decks provide many private areas for quiet relaxation too.

BEDROOMS

Kaba Kaba Estate offers seven bedroom suites – five with king-size beds and two with twin beds convertible to kings – each oriented for privacy with garden and rice-terrace views. An eighth room, with two sets of bunk beds, is designed specifically for kids.

Named after the major banjars (community councils) in the village, these large suites have marble-edged teakwood parquet floors spread out under a vaulted alang-alang thatched roof. Stunning antiques, contemporary paintings, hand-crafted ikat fabrics and statement furniture create a truly princely experience. Four-poster beds with King Koil Pillow-top mattresses dressed in high-thread-count bed linen ensure a sublime night’s sleep, helped by blackout curtains and a choice of air-conditioning or overhead fan. All suites have 32-inch TVs and Blu-ray players with iPod docks and speaker systems, dressing rooms and ensuite bathrooms with statement bathtub. The bedrooms and dressing rooms feature both air-conditioning and dehumidifiers, and bathrooms are also air-conditioned.

- Beringkit master suite
From the library in Kaba Kaba’s main pavilion, a corridor lined with children’s paintings leads to the palatial master suite with its huge pillared bed on a raised platform. The large bathroom attached to this magnificent suite includes a private garden with alfresco shower and regal hamam-style sunken bath. Outside is a private sundeck and 6m x 3m plunge pool bordering the rice terraces.

- Juntal pavilion guest suites
Upstairs in the main pavilion, the super-sized Juntal Daja suite is warm and inviting with Chinese-red walls, a richly coloured oriental carpet, and stunning black & white prints by Bealana Cho. A sitting area extends beyond sliding glass doors onto a large terrace where rice-field views can be enjoyed from a double daybed. Across the breezy hallway is the twin-bedded Juntal Delod suite with a balcony wrapping two sides.

- Pande pavilion guest suites and children’s room
A private ironwood deck with circular loveseats overlooking a mature Kapok tree is the focus of the spacious colonial-styled Pande Beten suite. Within the Venetian-mirrored, marble bathroom, sliding shuttered windows by the bathtub give the option of a long soak-with-a-view, as an alternative to the garden shower. Above, the Pande Duur suite has the same expansive layout, with a stunning red-and-purple rug offsetting stylish white-painted furniture. This suite also has a bathtub-with-a-view, plus an ironwood balcony on two sides. Also on the second level is the kids’ room, Pande Alit, with two sets of bunk beds, beanbags, lots of toys and a fun, colourfully tiled shower room. The 12m x 2m wading pool lies just outside this pavilion.

- Pilisan pavilion guest suites
Both suites in the Pilisan pavilion feature walls of carved teakwood and beds facing the garden beyond sliding glass doors. The Pilisan Daja suite has its own plunge pool just two steps from its stately four-poster bed, and louvred windows opening onto the bathtub in the indoor/outdoor bathroom. The Pilisan Delod suite is furnished with twin beds that can be configured as a king, and has both indoor and outdoor showers in its bathroom.

DINING

A key element of the Kaba Kaba experience is the villa’s delectable cuisine.

Breakfast gives a taste of what’s to come, with an appetising selection of either American or Balinese fare. For lunch and dinner, Kaba Kaba Estate operates an a la carte system with a very reasonably priced menu of snacks, appetisers, mains and desserts.

Reigning over his exceptionally well-equipped professional kitchen, the chef prepares a wealth of special Balinese dishes such as Gado Gado (mixed vegetables with peanut sauce), Pepes Ikan (fish cooked in banana leaf with Balinese spices, served with rice), and Dadar Guling (rolled pancake with grated coconut and palm sugar). The western menu covers everything from pumpkin soup, goat cheese salad, beef sirloin, and lamb ribs to seared tuna and lobster. There’s also a choice of pizza and pasta dishes, as well as a kids’ menu.

The chef is happy to tailor meals to special dietary requirements, or to work off-menu to meet your dining preferences. Should you wish to host a dinner party, he is in his element whipping up Balinese feasts, which are served with panache by the villa butlers. Additionally, an excellent wine list provides a choice of wines, spirits, champagnes and cocktails. Non-menu food items and all beverages are charged to guest account.

STAFF

One of the greatest advantages of staying in a villa is the personalised service provided by dedicated staff. All members of Kaba Kaba Estate’s large staff team have been professionally trained and will do their utmost to please with their warm and friendly Balinese hospitality.

- Villa manager
Kaba Kaba Estate’s full-time villa manager is responsible for the overall operation of the villa, including staffing, service standards and guest satisfaction. A hospitality professional with many years’ experience in high-end hotels including Aman Resorts, he considers the villa his second home, and is available by phone round the clock when not on site.

- Chef
The villa’s highly experienced chef, ably assisted by his cook, will happily prepare Balinese, Asian, western and children’s dishes from the extensive menu, as well as special requests and meals tailored to meet specific dietary requirements.

- Butlers
The butlers take meal orders, wait at table, serve poolside snacks and drinks, and mix a mean cocktail. They also coordinate guest activities and act as guides on rice-field walks. Butler service is round-the-clock, 24 hours a day.

- Housekeepers
The housekeepers are responsible for the cleanliness and tidiness of the villa, and work in shifts from 6am to 11pm. They are mindful of guest privacy and clean rooms with discretion according to the schedule of the guest.

- Security guards
The villa estate is kept safe and secure 24 hours a day by a six-strong security team working in shifts, supported by CCTV with 16 perimeter cameras.

- Gardeners and maintenance
Gardens and pools are well tended, and the entire estate is kept running smoothly by a maintenance engineer.

FAMILIES

The family friendly advantages of a villa holiday are many, including access to your own private facilities and the freedom to use them whenever you want. Knowing that the kids can run around happily, independently and safely, without you having to worry about other guests, is a real plus – and one that means parents are certain to have a more relaxed holiday too.

Kaba Kaba is a fabulous villa for families. Children will delight in their four-bunk bedroom and games room complete with air hockey, table football and library of books, games and toys. The media room with enormous projector, Wii entertainment system and 60-inch TV is likely to attract attention too – though with a wading pool, croquet lawn, fishing pond, tennis court and bicycles, not to mention staff-supervised activities such as Balinese dance classes or Yoga lessons – it will be easy to keep them occupied outdoors.

The team of friendly staff at Kaba Kaba Estate will make children feel as welcome as adults. Having these willing helpers on hand gives guests plenty of flexibility and freedom to do their own exploring beyond the villa grounds (full-time babysitting incurs a small extra cost).

Although the equipped kitchen allows you to prepare meals for fussy eaters or babies with ease, staff will happily do this for you – just talk through your requirements and meal schedules with the villa manager or chef and they will take care of the rest. The kids’ menu includes lots of all-time favourites.

And don’t worry about packing all that cumbersome kids’ equipment for your stay. Just let us know what you need, and anything they don’t have in house (amongst the kids’ equipment already at the villa are: two cots, two high chairs; pool safety toys including AquaAlert wrist bands), we can hire on your behalf. 

WEDDINGS & EVENTS

With its vast and gorgeous lawned gardens, photogenic vistas and fantastic living space, Kaba Kaba Estate is an event destination that’s hard to beat. Celebrations of all kinds acquire a special magic here, be they formal sit-down dinners for 20 or cocktails and canapés for hundreds. It’s a particularly romantic wedding venue; exchange vows on the pool deck against a picture-perfect backdrop of rice terraces with volcanoes shimmering in the distance, then settle down to a candle-lit banquet on the lawn under a canopy of stars.

We can recommend expert event organisers, florists, decorators and caterers so you can focus on relaxing and celebrating with your guests. Please check with us for all costs and conditions.