Just off the main street in Tanjung Benoa (a traditional fishing village, increasingly developing as an upscale resort hub) and a short walk from Tanjung Beach, Rumah Bali is a well-priced find if you want to stay in a luxury resort suburb but can't afford the international 5-stars. It's also a find for those who yearn for a more typically Balinese family-style setup and hospitality, which this delivers (albeit with foreign owners). Affiliated with Bumbu Bali Balinese restaurant, this B&B is ensconced within a vast, peaceful Balinese village-style compound, all part of Bumbu Bali's efforts to re-create traditional Balinese daily life. The local experience starts with the reception area, housed in a converted lumbung (traditional rice barn), and extends to a market, a cooking school, and a village Hindu temple.
Accommodations feature Balinese architectural design, with rustic overtones like thatched roofs, spread generously across pretty gardens. The 18 one-bedroom units (the highest category is the Superior Pool View with Kitchen) are adequately spacious, some with two stories, and all featuring beautifully decorated interiors with teakwood furnishings. On the expansive front porch, surrounded by luscious greenery and looking out over the communal pool, outrageously indulgent Balinese breakfasts are served upon request (not surprisingly, they're raved about by guests). Within the same compound, a trio of three-bedroom villas and one two-bedroom villa each come with their own pool, personal housekeepers, and tropical gardens. These offer more privacy and are suited to families and friends traveling together—it's basically like staying in your own Balinese home and enjoying outdoor tropical living. Obviously, you'll be paying more for the privilege, but villa rates here are competitive with those in villa-central Seminyak and Petitenget. Rumah is very popular for all of the above reasons, plus its very friendly staff, hellbent on providing great service.