Bali has a reputation for many things and spas are one of the categories where a visitor will have plenty of choice.
Living in Seminyak I am very close to one spa with a very unique style. The Prana Spa at The Villas on Jl. Kunti has been open almost 1 year and anyone driving past will be immediately struck by its unique Moroccan and Indian style.
I arranged to meet with Ketut, the food and beverage manager for a look around.
Arriving at 10am I parked outside and walked through the entrance of the circular building into a central garden which serves as the dining area. I think the first thing that grabbed me was the strong orange brown coloring and the relentless Indian motifs present in the architecture and decoration.
Ketut arrived and we sat at a table, he sipping an orange juice and me a Bali coffee. He has been here at Prana for 3 years, as food & beverage manager. He previously worked for the Sheraton in West Papua.
He told me the owner of Prana is Mr. Jim Elliot, an Australian painter who came to Bali 5 years ago. He built himself a villa at the present location and decorated it in his own style. Friends came to stay from overseas and wanted him to build them villas. There are now 50 villas
The concept for villas is almost the same, a little bit of Balinese and Indian style, featuring, statues and Hindu symbols.
The style of food served in the restaurant is a mixture of Indonesian and western, with a little bit of Indian fusion. Says Ketut “The food must represent the style of spa.” The restaurant supports the spa with healthy food by sticking to 3 basic principles: Detoxification, digestion, balancing.
Ketut says “Our food is all natural, organic and helps with all these.” “We use fresh juices, raw salad, alfalfa sprouts and other locally grown items helps digestion.”
For balancing they have power drinks like Chai tea.
There is a daily special which is a very good price at 39,000rp. It includes an appetizer, main course, dessert and choice of soft drink, juice, mineral water. The daily special is available for lunch and dinner.
I asked Ketut what was special about working at Prana and he told me the culture is different in this restaurant. The guests come here for leisure and don’t mind waiting a little longer for the food. The whole pace of the establishment is one of tranquility and rest.
Says Ketut, “The staff here are peaceful.”
The restaurant is open to general public 7am – 10.30pm and does serve alcohol.
Ketut has tried the spa, massage, and ayurvedic treatments and told me after the ayurvedic treatment you will sleep like a baby. He told me the purpose of the Spa is re-balancing, to make the body good.
Ketut showed me to the entrance of the Spa where Widiana took over. I snapped a couple of shots inside the reception area before Widiana informed me that all photography was banned. That was a shame indeed because Prana Spa is decked out like an Aladdin�s cave with carpets, mirrors, gold designs, Moroccan lamps and blankets. It really is an overwhelming place and all I can say is ‘Wow! they didn�t go halves on the decoration.’
Widiana showed me to the various rooms for changing, massages, water massages, steam room and facial room. A wide range of Balinese treatments such as the oil massage, Indian Ayurvedic re-balancing and Shirodura are available. There is also a selection of facials, wraps, cream baths, manicures, pedicures that are all available in packages. Widiana told me the foot massage was very genuine and is practiced in the villages in Bali.
I think for someone looking to pamper them self this would be a great place. Prices aren�t bargain basement but then again you aren�t looking at a white tiled floor with a retired beach vendor working on you. It seems to me a lot of attention to detail has been put in and I�d bet the treatments are pretty good.
All the restaurant staff are from Bali. The Spa has staff from different parts of Indonesia as some of the practices and skills are learned elsewhere. The clientele at the restaurant and Spa tends to be mixed, with a fair proportion of Australians, Koreans and Indonesians. The Spa enjoys a roughly equal proportion of men and women clients.
Prana Spa at The Villas
Jl.Kunti 118X
Seminyak
Bali
0361 730840
Prana Spa
•What is it?
Prana Spa is a high end health spa, designed, built and decorated in Indian / Moroccan style. Spa treatments are high quality, with trained staff.
•Where is it?
Located on Jl. Kunti in Seminyak
•Who would Prana spa be good for?
People on a romantic vacation / honeymoon. As a special treat for someone. People who want to spend money on high end spa treatments, in a unique environment.
•Who would Prana spa not be good for?
People on a budget. Men looking for ‘extra services’.
•How long does it take to get there?
From Kuta 5 minutes up the Sunset Rd / Jl. Legian.
•Best time to go?
Anytime is good.
•Accommodation available?
Yes, at The Villas, attached.
