Best Room At… Desa Potato Head, Bali

The first thing you notice at Potato Head is the courtyard. Designed by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas, the soaring Brutalist complex sits just off Seminyak Beach, but it feels worlds away from the usual Bali resort formula. There is no grand lobby and little interest in exclusivity for exclusivity's sake. Instead, the sprawling campus-like property is anchored by restaurants, a recording studio, art installations, live music, and a sustainability program that has become as much a part of its identity as its architecture.

For travelers to Bali who want to stay in the middle of it all without sacrificing a sense of calm, the best rooms are found at Potato Head Suites. The accommodations lean into Indonesian craftsmanship, with hand-pressed brick walls, local ceramics, woven textiles, and outdoor spaces that open toward gardens, plunge pools, or the sea.

"One of the most grounding experiences here is watching the sun dip below the horizon from the comfort of the oversized wooden bathtub," says Radit Mahindro, the property's senior marketing and commercial director.

We asked Mahindro to tell us more about the room he'd book every time.

What do you consider to be the best room at the property and why?

The Ocean Suites are a personal favorite for many. Spanning 775 square feet, these rooms sit within Desa Potato Head Bali's OMA House, a place where the natural rhythm of the Desa is felt most clearly. When you open the floor-to-ceiling windows, the atmosphere of a coastal Balinese village drifts inside. The scent of morning incense, the steady pulse of the waves, and the sound of birds and wind through the trees all settle into an ambient soundscape that defines the day.

The location of these suites keeps you close to the energy of the Desa. You are just a short walk from the open air of Sunset Park above, the innovative menu and curated books at Dome restaurant downstairs, and the familiar pulse of the beach vlub right next door. It is a simple way to stay connected to everything happening around you while having a spacious space to call your own.

How much does it cost per night?

From $510 for double occupancy, which includes daily breakfast, and access to the gym.

How would you describe the vibe at the hotel?

The guests and the ambiance naturally support one another. Desa Potato Head Bali was designed and built for interaction and participation rather than sterile exclusivity. The experience of staying here is grounded and accessible, designed to spark a genuine sense of curiosity. There is always something happening within the Desa, whether it is a morning yoga session, a live ambient jazz performance at the Dome, an incense-making workshop at (farm)acy, a cultural-wellbeing session with our friend Pak Sedana, or the quiet preparation of a new art installation. Our guests tend to arrive with an open mind and a desire to discover something new. They often look for ways to find a better sense of balance, whether through our wellbeing sessions, the curated library, or by exploring the practical steps we take toward a zero-waste way of living. More than just visiting a destination, they are here to engage, learn, and become part of the daily life of the Desa.

Is there anything about the hotel that first-time visitors will find surprising?

Many people are surprised to discover that the Desa feels less like a hotel and more like an open platform or a shared campus. While we have two main hotel buildings, AM House and OMA House, you won't find a traditional lobby here.

Instead, the complex unfolds through a series of distinct communal areas, including a subterranean sound centre, a restaurant that houses its own library, an amphitheatre, a large rooftop bar and sculpture garden, and various art installations created by Indonesian and international artists. The architecture across the Desa follows a range of different styles that come together as a single, cohesive whole. Perhaps the most unexpected detail is our approach to the environment. Despite the scale of the Desa, we have managed to reduce our waste-to-landfill ratio to just 0.5%, a figure we are constantly working to maintain as we learn more about the land we inhabit.

What's one design detail in the hotel that guests might overlook?

The interior of AM House is furnished entirely with pieces designed by Indonesian artists and makers, all housed within a structure envisioned by Indonesian architect Andra Matin. While the nearby OMA House takes its cues from the sturdy geometry of Brutalist architecture, its form is softened by stacks of earth-toned breeze blocks. These blocks are cast with symbols from the Tika, a 210-day calendar used in Balinese Hinduism, blending a modern structural approach with a deep and ancient sense of time.

What do you think gives Potato Head a unique identity?

Our identity likely stems from a simple love for exploration. We are on a continuous quest to find a more joyful and responsible way to eat, travel, and live all at once. Because we don't set strict limits on how this should look, we naturally find ourselves working with like-minded makers, designers, chefs, and musicians. Together, we explore a wide spectrum of ideas that bridge the old and the new, the ancestral and the contemporary, or the quiet and the energetic.

What's a local attraction or activity that you always recommend?

In Bali, the full moon is known as Purnama. It is recognized as a time of heightened positive energy, making it a natural day for gatherings, temple ceremonies, and seeking blessings. Many believe this is when the deity Sang Hyang Chandra shares a sense of grace across the island, and people often visit their village temples to offer banten as a sign of gratitude. At the Desa, we mark this occasion with a guided meditation in the open air of the Bamboo Garden. This space is surrounded by our Bamboo Studios, making these rooms a choice option for those who wish to stay close to the centre of the evening's activities. These sessions usually bring together about 40 guests under the night sky, followed by a plant-based dinner at Tanaman restaurant.

Purnama is a personal favourite moment or activity for many of us here because it creates a quiet bridge between ourselves and our friends, the surroundings, and the food that grows from the soil.

The holy day is a moment to feel grounded and connected to the rhythms of the island.

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