The Prana Spa in Seminyak Bali

by Sean on June 9, 2004

by Sean | June 9th, 2004

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

{ 8 comments }

Barrie June 9, 2004 at 1:27 pm
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G’Day Nick,

Excellent!. I’m surpised Ketut didn’t say to you upon arrival “Welcome to the Casbah”. It is very Moroccan.

There was a write-up about this place in the travel section of the Sunday Times newspaper here in Perth not so long ago. The writer (whose name I cannot recall) gave it a big thumbs-up.

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polia June 9, 2004 at 2:37 pm
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tidak lupa, kamu selalu bule.

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Mark Spark June 9, 2004 at 5:54 pm
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Nick i cannot but have the same thoughts as Barrie about the Morrocon theme I am suprised upon entering the joint you were not blasted out with a loud rendition of Rock The Casbah by the Clash (actually one of my favourite
songs) Yes indeed a very nice place indeed mate and an informative guide mate. Must visit the place i reckon…looks a right chill out zone mate….The place looks so laid back i amsuprised Ketut didnt come out too meet you lying down on a stretcher….cool place though eh?

Regs Mark

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Nick June 9, 2004 at 7:17 pm
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It is a cool place alright but bring your savings as the price list will scare the average mortal.

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Barrie June 9, 2004 at 7:26 pm
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G’Day Nick,

If its that pricey then I’ll just stick to the gals in PL2!. AS IF!. Can you imagine Candika giving me heaps if I did…perish the thought!

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Tracey.D. June 11, 2004 at 5:43 am
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Had written a long reply about how dreamy this place looks & then…. I lost it all!!!!!

Anyways this place looks like the type of palace for me!
I love moroccan colours & styles!!!!
GORGEOUS!!!!

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paul June 15, 2004 at 10:42 am
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Hey Nick,

a friend had a few treatments here this weekend, and she said the girl she had was not very good. never been there myself so i can’t say.

but the next day all of us went to Antique Spa (in Seminyak i think? on the way to Tanoh Lot), and we were all more than satisfied and can definitely recommend.

i had a green tea scrub and aromatherapy massage. I think the cost was around 350Rp (~$40US) for two hours. (already can’t remember!)

– Paul

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Michael June 15, 2004 at 12:17 pm
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I stayed at The Villas back in October 2002. We also had the pleasure of a spa package for 3.5 hours. The service was amazing and the spa treatment was better than anything I could have imagined. It was about 100 US but was worth it. I’m coming again this October and will definitely visit this spa or another in Seminyak again. I’m currently looking for a good private villa to stay in.

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