Uma Ubud is one from the stable of Christina Ong, revered for her landmark design hotels from London to Bhutan. Her magic touch strikes again here in Ubud, Bali's cultural hub in the middle of the island. You're on the fringe of town but with the surrounding forests and paddy fields its perfect for exploring town and country.

Its 29 rooms are set on a hillside overlooking a deep valley gorge. Many of the rooms open out to this valley vista and open air showers remind you where you are.

All you see and touch has a soothing affect from creamy white bedrooms, bleached wood carvings and super soft bedding to the tranquil Como Shambhala spa for yoga and wellbeing therapies. The cuisine is light and imaginative and the low slung bar area serving Expresso Martinis lets you pleasantly drift into conversations with whom you wish. This is pure understated quality as you would expect from Mrs Ong.