Noema, a new Bali resort, marries art with a family focus

It’s become truly hard to stand out in Bali’s crowded tourist-focused south-western enclave of Canggu, but sometimes it’s still possible to find a good surprise. Noema Pererenan Resort, part of Indonesia’s own JHL Collection of hotels, is the first resort-style property in the popular namesake beach, set within a 10-minute walk (700m) from the black sand Pererenan Beach and a couple of minutes away from its strip filled with high-brow restaurants, art galleries, and cafes.

The 157 rooms are all disabled accessible thanks to large corridors, elevators and ramps. The hotel has two large, attractive swimming pools, and about 11 rooms on the ground floor have secluded verandas with direct access to the second, more private pond.

Upon arriving at the lobby, which has a welcoming, large open side strewn with couches, one steps out of the largely concrete-paved surroundings and into a youthful, airy environment. Noema utilises a soothing Mediterranean-type palette of colour, where beige and light sand brown make a relaxing backdrop for splashes of greenery, and walking inside the arch-like ceiling reminded me of stepping into a Middle Eastern caravanserai structure or a Moroccan mansion. A series of couches set below the floor level and hemmed by a pond filled with red fish sets the lobby’s farthest perimeter, inviting guests to look right towards the open space where a large free-form pool nestles outside of the wall-to-ceiling windows of Noema’s all-day restaurant, Mamaloma.

We are served a fruit-infused welcome drink as staff register us in, and soon enough we are ushered in our room, one of Noema’s Imagisuite on the third floor — a large, luminous room with a cosy living room space, table and mini-bar and coffee preparing station on the left, separated by a bamboo-covered screen housing a flipping LED television that gives way to the sumptuous bedroom area. The bathroom is impressive — larger than life, with beautiful retro terrazzo tiles and a vintage and artsy vibe, a bathtub to soak in, and, if needed, enough room to accommodate a whole family with children. There’s also a balcony that overlooks the swimming pool and — a very nice touch given the speed of development in the area — a relaxing view over Pererenan’s last and rare rice terrace fields.

Other types of rooms have a private plunge pool and their own rooftop balcony. Their warm, artist home-like feel — each has art books and colourful rugs that set the mood — is the first sign of Noema’s commitment to blend hospitality with creativity and art — the rest is all visible as one strolls around the resort’s three long floors.

A commitment to creativity and the arts

One of Noema’s characteristic creative features is outside on the second floor: a rock-climbing wall realised by Japanese artist Kanoko Takaya, a mix between adult playground and work of art. A few metres away and set in a vertical open space from the ground to the third floor is another art installation by Jogjakarta-based artist Iwan Yusuf. A giant man and a woman come together in mid-air, cleverly realised using a mix of upcycled materials, most of it sourced from the sea, such as fishing nets, ropes and pieces of driftwood.

Just in front of it, on the other side of the corridor on each floor, there is access to Noema’s feature dedicated to kids of all ages, the Hoola Playground, which is developed using rope tunnels and slides across three stories. The area is made with a mix of rattan, bamboo and playground-type games that help kids own an area they can explore while their parents enjoy other parts of the resort. The main piece is an octopus installation made of bamboo and rattan, whose tentacles dominate the structure and become the pillars upon and among which the kids can climb, jump and explore. Adults may find the spot attractive, too — the swings and structures are certainly nice for taking pictures.

A dedicated studio space is used for workshops and for exhibiting artworks, where guests can take a stroll and get to know about some contemporary Indonesian and visiting artists.

Noema takes the art involvement even further by offering international artists the chance to take up residencies of about a week. The guest artists’ works are then exposed at the nearby Sun Contemporary Gallery tucked away along Pererenan’s main street, a delightful space funded by a South African artist. When we visited, we saw the incredibly detailed miniature paintings of South African artist Lorraine Loots, who created a series inspired by her time on the island.

Breakfast and Lunch at Mamaloma

Noema’s annexed restaurant, Mamaloma, is set around the right corner from the lobby, with views of the swimming pool hemmed by greenery and rice fields. Breakfast is a la carte, with a menu of eggs and French toast-type mains, with an additional well-stocked buffet area where the highlights definitely were the Indonesian choices (I loved the tempe and fresh ground spicy sambal on offer), the salad area, fresh cheese, and pastries.

The coffee served is barista type, brewed with beans from a Jakarta-based company called Roemah Koffie. My cappuccino was frothy the way I like it. The selection of four different coffees in the rooms, all from the same brand, surprised me with fruity flavour and the high quality of the brews.

If one had to try lunch at Mamaloma, the menu leans towards Italian tastes. We tried a mushroom soup, which was good but a little salty, and as an Italian I am, I had to try the sourdough pizzas. Done in a Napoli style, they have a soft and light crust that didn’t feel stuffy even after I wolfed down a whole pizza. My wife tried the duck confit ravioli — served in a thick layer of olive oil and butter, it’s filled with tender shredded meat to enhance the taste and flavour. Well done.

Noema: the verdict

I was positively impressed by Noema. The rooms are perfect for families or couples who need a little bit of extra space or an excuse to snuggle inside a foamy bathtub. The swimming pool area is quiet and hemmed by greenery, which is a rarity in these southern Bali parts, and the breakfast is definitely curated and deserving of the area’s reputation for excellent food. Families with kids will enjoy having the Hoola Playground as a space to let their little ones go wild, and if I could pick, I’d say that the rooms with private pool access are definitely the highlight. Pick Noema if you look for a cosy and artsy stay with plenty of good vibes and relaxed colours, secluded and yet set deep into the heart of one of Bali’s tourist hot areas.

+ Marco Ferrarese was a guest of Noema. They have not influenced this story, or read it before publication.