Tuju

We discovered TUJU by accident – walked past the entrance on Jalan Suweta and got curious about the jungle sounds drifting from inside. Best spontaneous decision of our Ubud trip.

Started with lunch by the main pool, where the atmosphere was relaxed but buzzing. The two-level pool setup was brilliant – we could swim and socialize, then move to the quieter Nest Pool when we wanted to actually read our books. The DJ playing mellow beats made everything feel like a tropical daydream.

Around 6 PM, we joined the fire pit ceremony and it felt genuinely special. Not touristy at all – just people gathering around flames, sharing stories, with the jungle as our backdrop. Met a photographer from Germany and a local artist who gave us the best restaurant recommendations for later in the week.

The food surprised us. We expected typical pool club fare but got beautiful dishes that actually had soul. The Asian-Mediterranean fusion made sense when you tasted it – familiar flavors but with creative twists that worked perfectly.

Stayed for the Jungle Lounge after dark, which felt like discovering a hidden speakeasy. Intimate lighting, comfortable seating, and cocktails that were proper craft creations. We ended up talking with the bartender about local life in Ubud until way past our usual bedtime.

Walking back through quiet Ubud streets, we felt that perfect combination of energized and relaxed that only happens at really special places.