I’ve stayed countless nights around Kuta, Legian and Seminyak during my travels in Bali. Over time I have developed a love, hate relationship with the area. I’ve never seen it as a relaxing place. There are the crowds and the shouting in the evening (when people are drunk). Yet it is also such a fun area to be in! You are always walking distance from one of the beaches. There are the countless choices of stores to shop in, a lot of nice restaurants and cafes, and so much more.
Last time I stayed in this area, I remember I saw The ONE Legian (which was previously named The 1O1 Legian) and couldn’t help but feel curious about the place. Not only due the big size of the hotel, honestly speaking I thought at first it was a mall instead of a hotel, but also the thumping music from the hotel. Then there were the people gathered in the windows overlooking the road. It looked like a very cool place to stay.
I’m sure if you’ve passed The ONE Legian you’ll know the feeling. Well last week I finally had the chance to visit and I was impressed. You’ll understand when you arrive at the lobby. It is very elegant and sophisticated.
The Accommodation
I already told you that The ONE Legian is huge. It is indeed the biggest hotels on Legian street. They have 300+ rooms, which are divided into two classes, Superior and Deluxe. Both the room types offer the same amenities inside the room. The only difference is that the Superior rooms don’t have a balcony, but they do have a window.
Superior is located in the main building or people normally call it as existing as it was built and opened in 2011. While the Deluxe is located at the new extension where it opened in middle 2014. So this two rooms category is actually representing the two building Existing (198 rooms) and Extension (103 rooms) which now merged as The ONE Legian, a Four (4) Stars Lifestyle brand that offering New Urban Legian concept (One Stop Kuta Experience).
I stayed in one of the Deluxe rooms and it was a nice stay. The room was cozy and felt warm and homey. The interior decoration is dominated with pastel colors such as pale yellow, orange, light brown and also white. The balcony in the room overlooked one of the swimming pools.
The Food
The ONE Legian is a 4 star hotel and has 3 restaurants and the main meals that are served here are really amazing. If we are talking about the taste, De Basilico and Chef Picha deserve a shout out! All the food served from De Basilico (which is on the ground floor and accessible from the street) is very tasty. I can’t make up my mind which dish on the menu was my favorite. Ok, I can at least narrow it down to these three dishes: Lamb Shank, Norwegian Salmon and the BuntutGoreng (oxtail).
When I stayed at The ONE Legian breakfast was included. The breakfast was a mood booster. There was a large selection of food to choose from (main course, salad bar, egg station, fruits, pastry and some more). I enjoyed eating at the Rooftop Dine and Music Lounge on 4th floor. The view from the top of the building is special. The really nice thing was the staff. They were all super friendly and helpful.
Events
Everybody knows about the Sky Pool Party at The ONE Legian. It is held 3 times a week, every Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday and starts from 3 pm. The party is definitely created for young adults (or people who are young at heart). There are games with prizes, DJ performances and much more. The most happening thing is the Marathon Shots. Sounds like so much fun, right?
Besides the well-known Sky Pool Party, The ONE Legian also holds The ONE Movie Night on the Rooftop. These movie nights are held 4 times a week. They start at 07:00 and end around 10:00 pm. When the movie nights are held there are day beds and sofas set up… Not to forget the free popcorn.
Public Area
I love the pools at The ONE Legian. The hotel actually has 3 pools, but only two really function as a pool. These are the Romeo Pool, which is on the ground floor at the New Extension Area, surrounded by all The Deluxe Rooms, and the Sky Pool, which is on the third Floor of Main Building (Existing). The third pool is too shallow, but a perfect backdrop for the De Basilico Restaurant. The Romeo Pool is nice for people who want shade while the Sky Pool is for those who are looking for kisses from the sunshine.
One of my favorite areas of the hotel is actually the lobby. The ONE Legian has several daybeds overlooking the road. Pillars fence off each daybed giving you and your friends a bit of privacy. The daybeds are a perfect spot to chill out, do people watching and even get some work done (oh yes, I was busy with my laptop).
Insider Tips
I personally think that the Deluxe Room with the pool access (the SKY pool) in the Main Building is the best room type in the hotel. Due to the close proximity to the pool, expect some noise, especially when they hold the Sky Pool Party. These rooms are not suitable for people who want peace and quiet in the afternoon and evenings.
The ONE Legian team is the friendliest hotel staff that I know. During my two-night stay there almost all the staff that I met greeted me. They either greeted me with a their signature greeting “Morning Spirit!” which represent as their Spirit for 24 hours 7 days service oriented.
Though it seems that there are so many things happening in the hotel and it is busy, it is really possible to get a good quality of sleep during your stay there. Just request that you want a quiet room when you book / check in. You’ll get it.
If you want a hotel in the center of Legian The ONE Legian is one of the best hotels. The location is perfect for exploring Legian. The hotel has a great design, the food at the restaurants is really tasty and the cocktails make for a nice way to end the day. What else you need? Oh, I am a big fan of their hospitality too.
FYI
I was invited (January, 2016) to The ONE Legian as a guest, however the views expressed in this article are, as always, my own opinion. Check out their social media: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook.
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