There’s a moment at Como Uma Ubud when the noise of Bali simply stops. You’re standing on a terrace above the Tjampuhan valley, the river is somewhere below you doing its work in the dark, and the only sound left is insects arguing in the trees. No infinity pool photo can really capture that. This review is built around what it’s actually like to spend a few nights here — not the marketing copy, but the small frictions and quiet wins that decide whether a resort is worth your money.
Como Uma Ubud at a Glance
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Kedewatan, above the Tjampuhan valley, ~5 min drive from central Ubud |
| Rooms & Villas | 46 rooms, suites, and villas |
| Room Types | Water Garden Room, Uma Pool Suite, Como Villa (2-bedroom, private infinity pool) |
| Price Range | Approx. $250–$350/night for entry rooms; $500–$900+/night for pool villas (varies by season) |
| Dining | Kemiri (Indonesian/breakfast), Uma Cucina (Italian), Uma Bar (pool bar) |
| Wellness | COMO Shambhala Retreat spa, daily yoga, morning rice-field walks |
| Airport Distance | Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS), roughly 60–90 minutes by car |
| Best For | Couples, honeymooners, wellness travelers |
Location: Close to Ubud, But Not Of It
Como Uma Ubud sits in Kedewatan, a short drive from central Ubud, perched above the Tjampuhan valley with the river running through the gorge beneath the property. The resort deliberately keeps its distance from Ubud’s traffic and souvenir stalls — you feel like you’re staying somewhere rural even though the town’s art market, temples, and restaurants are close enough for a quick shuttle ride.
That trade-off matters. If you want to walk out of your hotel directly into Ubud’s café scene, this isn’t it. If you want the option of town nearby without living in the middle of it, the location works in your favor. The drive from Ngurah Rai Airport in Denpasar takes roughly 60–90 minutes depending on traffic, which is worth factoring into your first-night plans — arriving late and hungry after a long flight is not the ideal introduction.
Related: Most Beautiful Underwater Hotels in the World and Maldives Travel Guide if you’re weighing Bali against an overwater-villa trip.
Accommodation: Small, Deliberately So
The resort holds a modest number of rooms and villas — a small enough footprint that it never feels crowded, even at the pool. Rooms range from garden-facing terrace rooms up to villas with their own private plunge pools overlooking the valley. The design, by Japanese architect Koichiro Ikebuchi, leans into a restrained, almost monastic aesthetic: natural materials, generous natural light, and interiors that open outward rather than sealing guests inside air-conditioned boxes.
What Stands Out
- Every room has its own terrace or courtyard — there’s no “standard room with a view of the parking lot” here.
- The top-tier villas include private infinity-edge plunge pools facing the jungle canopy, which is the single best argument for upgrading if your budget allows it.
- Four-poster beds with mosquito netting are standard — a practical touch rather than a decorative one, given the setting.
What to Watch For
Because the resort backs onto a river valley, humidity is part of the experience. A handful of guests have mentioned occasional dampness in ground-floor rooms during the wet season, so if you’re visiting between November and March, it’s worth requesting a room away from the lowest terraces.
Dining: Small Menu, Serious Kitchen
Como Uma Ubud runs two main dining venues: Kemiri, which handles breakfast and Indonesian-leaning dishes, and Uma Cucina, an Italian restaurant that punches well above what you’d expect from a boutique jungle hotel — several guests specifically call out the wood-fired pizza. There’s also a pool bar for casual all-day dining and drinks.
Breakfast is the meal to pay attention to. It’s served buffet-and-à-la-carte style beside a koi pond, and the produce leans local and seasonal — this is a COMO property, and the brand’s wellness-driven food philosophy shows up clearly in the quality of the fruit, pastries, and health-conscious plates on offer.
Related: Capella Ubud Bali Review for a dining comparison in the same valley.
Activities: Structured Around Stillness
The property’s activity program is built for people who want to slow down rather than tick off a checklist. Complimentary morning rice-field walks, scheduled yoga sessions with a resident instructor, and access to the COMO Shambhala Retreat spa — which focuses on holistic wellness and fitness as much as pampering — form the core of the experience. A yoga pavilion positioned above the river valley is one of the better-reviewed spots on the whole property.
Beyond the resort, Como Uma Ubud can arrange excursions into central Ubud — cultural performances like the Kecak fire dance, museum visits, and rice-terrace walks — along with car and bicycle rental for guests who’d rather explore independently.
Featured Snippet: Is There a Spa at Como Uma Ubud?
Yes. Como Uma Ubud guests have access to the COMO Shambhala Retreat, a wellness-focused spa offering massage, body treatments, sauna, and fitness-oriented programming rather than a purely cosmetic spa menu.
Service: The Actual Differentiator
Ask most people who’ve stayed here what they’d tell a friend, and the conversation moves quickly past the architecture and lands on the staff. Multiple long-stay guests describe being remembered by name, having preferences noted without being asked twice, and receiving thoughtful touches like nightly turndown and daily fruit plates. This isn’t a resort chasing five-star box-ticking — it reads more like a small, well-run house where the team has been there long enough to know how to anticipate a guest’s needs.
Value for Money: Where It Actually Sits
Como Uma Ubud isn’t a budget stay, and it isn’t trying to be. Entry-level garden rooms sit in the upper-mid luxury bracket for Ubud, while pool villas move into the top tier of what the area charges. Given the small guest count, personalized service, and included extras — morning walks, yoga, and shuttle service — most guests who’ve paid the premium describe it as reasonable rather than excessive, particularly against nearby five-star competitors charging similarly for a less intimate experience.
Price Range: What to Expect
Rates fluctuate with season and demand, but as a general guide: entry-level Water Garden Rooms typically start somewhere in the $250–$350 per night range, while rooms with private plunge pools move into the $400–$600 bracket. The two-bedroom Como Villa — with its own infinity pool facing the valley — sits at the top end, often exceeding $700–$900 per night. Low season (February–March) and midweek stays (Sunday–Monday check-in) tend to offer the best value, while Saturday nights and peak dry-season months command the highest rates. These figures are indicative rather than fixed — always confirm current pricing directly with COMO or a trusted booking platform before deciding.
The practical tip: book a rate that includes breakfast. The quality of the morning meal here is high enough that paying for it à la carte every day adds up quickly, and prepaying often unlocks small perks like in-room breakfast delivery.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Genuinely personalized, name-remembering service | Not walkable to central Ubud |
| Strong Italian and Indonesian dining on-site | Ground-floor rooms can feel damp in wet season |
| Wellness-focused spa and yoga program | Small property means limited room inventory/availability |
| Private plunge pools in upper room categories | Premium pricing for top villa categories |
| Quiet, jungle-immersed setting above a river valley | Requires a car or shuttle for most excursions |
Who Should Stay Here
Como Uma Ubud suits couples on a honeymoon or anniversary trip, wellness-minded travelers who want yoga and spa access built into their stay, and anyone who’s already done Ubud’s town center on a previous trip and now wants distance from it. It’s less suited to travelers who want nightlife or walkable restaurant-hopping outside the hotel gates, and families should note the resort’s atmosphere leans adult-oriented, even though children are accepted.
Rating Box
| Category | Score (out of 10) |
|---|---|
| Location | 8.5 |
| Accommodation | 9 |
| Dining | 9 |
| Service | 9.5 |
| Facilities & Wellness | 9 |
| Value for Money | 8 |
| Overall | 8.8 / 10 |
How We Evaluated This Resort
This review was built by cross-referencing verified guest feedback from major booking and travel-review platforms, alongside official property information, alongside official property listings and independent hotel-review coverage, weighed against seven factors: location and accessibility, accommodation quality and design, dining standard and variety, service consistency, wellness and activity facilities, overall guest experience, and value relative to comparable Ubud properties. Pricing figures were checked against multiple booking platforms rather than a single source. No single glowing or critical review was treated as representative — patterns across dozens of accounts carried more weight than any individual account. This process reflects Plishere’s standard editorial methodology for luxury resort reviews.
Final Verdict
Como Uma Ubud earns its reputation less through spectacle and more through consistency — a small property where the staff, the food, and the setting all quietly do their jobs well. It won’t suit travelers who want to be in the thick of Ubud’s town life, but for a couple or solo traveler chasing genuine stillness with a serious kitchen and a wellness program that isn’t just window dressing, it’s one of the stronger arguments in the valley. Book a pool villa if your budget stretches to it — the private plunge pool overlooking the jungle is the detail most guests remember longest.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Como Uma Ubud good for honeymoons?
Yes, it’s a popular anniversary and honeymoon choice thanks to its private pool villas and personalized service.
Does Como Uma Ubud have private pools?
The higher room categories and villas include private plunge or infinity-edge pools overlooking the valley; entry-level garden rooms share the main pool.
How far is Como Uma Ubud from central Ubud?
It’s roughly a five-minute drive from Ubud’s town center, with a scheduled shuttle service provided by the resort.
Is breakfast included at Como Uma Ubud?
It depends on the rate booked. Many guests recommend booking a package that includes breakfast, since the à la carte cost adds up over a multi-night stay.
Does Como Uma Ubud offer airport transfers?
Airport transfer can be arranged through the resort, though it’s worth confirming cost and timing in advance since the drive from Denpasar takes about an hour or more.
What is COMO Shambhala Retreat, and is it part of Como Uma Ubud?
COMO Shambhala Retreat is the on-site spa and wellness facility at Como Uma Ubud, distinct from COMO’s larger sister property, COMO Shambhala Estate, located elsewhere near Ubud.
Is Como Uma Ubud family-friendly?
Children are welcome, but the atmosphere is quieter and more adult-oriented than family resort chains, so it suits older children better than very young ones.
What’s the resort’s cancellation policy?
Cancellation and prepayment terms vary by room category and rate type, so it’s best to check the specific conditions at the time of booking.
Is Como Uma Ubud walkable to Ubud’s attractions?
No — most guests use the resort’s shuttle or arrange a car, since the property sits outside Ubud’s walkable center.
How does Como Uma Ubud compare to Capella Ubud in price?
Both sit in a similar luxury bracket, though Como Uma Ubud’s smaller room count and more restrained design generally position it as slightly less villa-heavy than Capella’s tented-suite concept.
What’s the best time of year to visit?
The dry season, roughly April through October, offers the most reliable weather for the resort’s outdoor activities like morning rice-field walks and valley-view yoga sessions.
Does the resort have a gym?
Yes, fitness facilities are available alongside the COMO Shambhala Retreat’s wellness programming.
Disclaimer: Prices, room categories, and amenities mentioned in this review are indicative and based on publicly available guest reviews and booking platform listings at the time of writing. Rates fluctuate with season, demand, and currency exchange, and hotel offerings may change without notice. Always verify current pricing, availability, and policies directly with Como Uma Ubud or a trusted booking provider before making a reservation. Plishere was not compensated by the property for this review.