Overview
Canadian architect David Lombardi's concept of 'Function over Form' leaves Villa Sapi's guests with a sense of discovery and surprise at every turn, from the traditionally styled, grass-roofed building that houses the main kitchen to a futuristic home theatre. Furnishings carry a signature colour theme of black, red and lime green, while the walls are adorned with flair - bamboo, water cascades and conceptual artwork. The first clue to the quirky nature of the artwork is a white sculpture in the coconut grove garden which, in huge black letters, suggests that we should 'Stop Making Sense'.
The view from the villa's open-sided living and dining room, bedrooms and bathrooms is unrivalled; here guests can look forward to a vista that is ever-changing with the moods of the sea, sky, neighbouring islands, distant mountains, forests and colourful fishing boats. At night, after a magnificent sunset, the scene becomes even more magical as the moon's reflection twinkles on the water, presenting a picture of tranquillity and unforgettable beauty.
A full team of staff is on hand at Villa Sapi to look after every guest's need with superb cuisine and service. The villa's manager, chef and head butler were all previously employed by The Oberoi Hotel Group and have been trained to the highest level. A wide range of activities is available to villa guests, including golf, snorkelling, diving, waterfall hikes and mountain trekking, cycling, day trips to the nearby Gili Islands, cooking classes and more.
There is a sweet story behind the villa's name. The huge coconut grove on which the property stands used to be grazing land for cows, the most treasured possessions of Lombok farmers, symbolising status, wealth and happiness. The owners decided that these graceful beasts should be rightfully honoured: Sapi means cow in the Indonesian language.
Accommodation
Villa Sapi rests within an expansive coconut-grove garden and comprises a main single-storey residence with a 25m swimming pool and a children's pool, plus a stand-alone guest pavilion with two more swimming pools, set well away from the main house. Also within the villa's grounds are a floodlit tennis court and a lumbung (traditional rice barn) massage pavilion.
The main building is entered via a timber pathway, lined with fire torches. This leads past a feature wall of bamboo and a cascading wall of water. Running parallel to the beachfront, the main building incorporates the living and dining areas, kitchens, three of the five bedrooms, the study and the home theatre.
The guest pavilion is built into a manmade hill capped with grass, and presents an open-sided sitting area and two bedrooms, one of which is semi-subterranean. Both bedrooms are complemented by a deck and a private swimming pool.
Bedrooms & Bathrooms
Bedroom 1
Villa Sapi's master bedroom is accessed from the living room via an unusual swivel door. Cooled by both air-conditioning and ceiling fan, this spacious room features concrete floors and white walls adorned with artwork.
A king bed with coconut-shell veneer takes pride of place, while floor-to-ceiling windows look out over an ornamental pond against a backdrop of garden and sea. The ensuite bathroom presents three distinct areas, one of which contains clothes storage and a twin vanity. The main bathroom area features circular skylights that channel the sunshine and moonlight, a multi-faceted shower and a bathtub next to a picture window that looks out towards the ocean. Beyond this, a rain shower stands open to the tropical elements in the garden.
Bedroom 2
Also located off the living room, this air-conditioned and fan-cooled guest bedroom is ideal for kids or a young family with its king-size four-poster bed that neatly incorporates a large trundle bed below its frame. This wooden-floored room is also furnished with wardrobe storage and a funky blue chair which hangs from the ceiling.
The ensuite bathroom is fitted with a resin-topped vanity unit and features an outdoor shower screened for privacy. Doors slide open from the bedroom onto a private terrace where a furnished deck lies beside a pond overlooking the garden.
Bedroom 3
Similar to bedroom 2 in size and layout, bedroom 3 is furnished with a king-size bed crafted in coconut shell which 'floats' above a sea of white pebbles. A sliding door opens to an ensuite bathroom fitted with a vanity unit embedded with colourful guitar plectrums and an outdoor shower screened for privacy.
This bedroom also has its own private terrace, accessed from the bedroom, which features a furnished deck beside a pond with garden views.
Bedroom 4
There are two urban-chic air-conditioned bedrooms in the guest pavilion. One of these, on the same level as the sitting area, features polished concrete floors, walls and ceiling. It is furnished with a king bed, a desk and fitted wardrobes. Glass doors slide open to a sheltered wooden deck beside a private swimming pool.
The ensuite indoor bathroom has a tub facing the sea and a single vanity unit. An outdoor 'bamboo pipe' shower opens to the garden.
Bedroom 5
A flight of stairs in the guest pavilion descends to a semi-subterranean bedroom with a steeply curved concrete roof. Despite its unusual situation, the room is filled with plenty of natural light courtesy of a wall of glass opening to a second private swimming pool where sunbeds rest on a timber deck.
Furnished with a king bed featuring decorative white pebbles underneath, this air-conditioned bedroom has a huge walk-in wardrobe and a sitting area next to the glass doors. The ensuite bathroom has a tub facing the sea, a single washbasin and an alfresco poolside rain shower, sheltered by a roof and sheer white curtains.
Living & Dining Areas
Indoor living
Living and diningVilla Sapi's living and dining areas are situated in the main open-fronted pavilion with its warmly-hued wooden floor and soaring timber-framed roof hung with pendulous rectangular lanterns. The sitting area is furnished with modular sofas and ottomans (big enough to seat 22 guests) crafted in coconut shell veneer. The picture is completed with a huge piece of artwork and two arched stainless steel reading lamps.
The dining area is positioned adjacent to the kitchen at the opposite end of the main building. Here, an impressive wooden dining table is complemented by 14 cushioned chairs with covers revealing a flash of scarlet.
The guesthouse features an open-sided flat-roofed sitting area with a concrete floor, six comfy chairs and a solid wood coffee table.
Kitchens
The villa presents two kitchens connected via a bridge over an ornamental pond. At the front, adjacent to the dining area, is a cutting-edge feature kitchen fashioned in white lacquer with a service bar crafted in resin and lit by three original 'Campari Light' suspension lamps. Designed by Raffaele Celentano, each lamp has been created using ten genuine Italian Campari Soda bottles in original condition complete with the Campari inside. This kitchen is equipped with a Nespresso coffee maker and a five-burner gas hob and oven.
Behind the feature kitchen, a bridge over a pond connects a stand-alone building reminiscent of a Lombok cottage - rustic and charming on the outside, with a thatched roof, a traditional Lombok double door, and random rock Lombok stone walls, yet a state-of-the-art working kitchen on the inside, fully equipped with professional appliances.
Study
A 'secret' door from the living space opens into the study. This air-conditioned oval room has a wooden floor that slopes upwards into the room. Characterised by curved walls of white stone and glass, and with views of the garden, the study is furnished with a centrally positioned large desk and chair and accessorised with funky lights and black & white framed photographs.
Within the study is a concrete 'funnel' housing a circular shower room with a skylight at the top. Around its outside wall, the shower room supports a wooden spiral staircase which leads up to the rooftop where a metal ladder drops back down to the living area. A king-size bed can be installed in the study to convert it into an additional bedroom if required.
Home theatre
The extraordinary 'space-age' home theatre room is wrapped in bamboo and appears to hover above the ground. With its sides of glass and heavy sliding door accessed via a solid stone step, this unique building features funky ceiling lamps and a polished concrete floor upon which ten beanbags - one lime green and nine red - are arranged for comfortable viewing.
A large flat-screen satellite-channel TV and DVD player is positioned at the far end of the room, with surround-sound channelled through speakers in each corner.
Spa/massage room
A thatched lumbung (traditional rice barn) featuring ornate carvings and wooden shutters and furnished with two massage beds serves as a fan-cooled spa room in the garden. A washroom is positioned next to the lumbung, its curved roof planted with grass and its rustic shower, crafted from bamboo, open to the sky.
Outdoor living
Swimming pools and pool decksThe main swimming pool extends for 25 metres between the beach and the main house. It is deep enough to dive into and has a springboard for that purpose. Sunloungers rest upon the grassy deck and a modern flat-roofed balé (relaxation pavilion) sits at one end. Running alongside the main pool is a shallow (80cm-deep) children's pool. Two more swimming pools serve the guesthouse on two different levels, both of them are bordered by small timber decks.
Garden
Dotted with dozens of towering coconut palms, the garden fronts onto the beach and is so huge that guests will have no problem escaping to private areas. A wooden structure in one corner of the grounds serves as an elevated, sheltered platform for watching tennis on the adjacent, floodlit court.
Comfort & Amenities
Staff & Services
Villa Sapi has a dedicated team of 21 staff, working shifts.
Manager
Gede is the manager and activities manager at Villa Sapi. His job is to oversee and coordinate the staff and property, and to assist guests during their stay. He is on call 24 hours a day. Gede was previously employed by the prestigious Amanwana Resort as boat skipper and dive master, after which he moved to The Oberoi, Lombok, as dive shop director. In 1999, he set up his own dive company, H20 Sportz Indonesia at The Oberoi, where he fulfilled the role of dive instructor. He brings this facility to Villa Sapi for any guests who wish to go diving, snorkelling, or fishing, practice watersports or enjoy boat trips to the nearby Gili Islands.
Chef
Nengah is Villa Sapi's full-time chef. He has been trained in five-star cuisine by Asian and French Chefs in the most renowned hotels in Singapore and Lombok (The Oberoi, Lombok) and he presents guests with the best of both culinary cultures. He has one full-time assistant working with him in the kitchen.
Butlers
Two full-time butlers are on hand to attend to guests' every need; this includes serving food and beverages at meal times, as well as snacks, afternoon tea, cocktails and drinks throughout the day and evening. The head butler previously worked at The Oberoi, Lombok.
Housekeepers/room boys
This team of two will attend to all of the daily cleaning and domestic duties at Villa Sapi including the laundry, which is done in-house free of charge.
Gardeners
The huge garden at Villa Sapi is tended daily by a team of seven gardeners, who are extraordinarily discreet. They work hard to maintain high standards without disturbing the guests.
Maintenance
Villa Sapi employs a full-time maintenance man to resolve any problems inside or outside the buildings.
Pool maintenance
Two externally-contracted pool maintenance men look after the four swimming pools at Villa Sapi.
Security
Villa Sapi is kept safe and secure day and night by a team of six security guards working rotating shifts.
Pool
22 x 4m main pool (with diving board); 20 x 3m kids' pool (depth 80cm); two pools at guest house (12 x 4m and 10.5 x 4m).
Location
Villa Sapi is located at Sira (also spelt Sire), a spur of land bordered by a white ribbon of beach with magnificent coastline views. Just one kilometre from the villa is the Lombok Golf Kosaido Country Club, an 18-hole championship course, which is open to the public. 300m in the opposite direction is Hotel Tugu Lombok, a funky-fantastic, atmospheric living museum of extraordinary Indonesian antiques, with a restaurant and bar. Tanjung (4km) is an attractive Sasak market village with stalls overflowing with local produce; this is also home to The Oberoi Lombok Hotel, complete with a jetty - should you arrive by boat - and a gourmet restaurant.
Lombok Kosaido Country Club and Golf Course
1km
Bangsal
4km
Hotel Tugu Lombok
300m
Oberoi Lombok Hotel
4km
Gili Islands
15 minutes by fast boat or 30 minutes by local boat
Senggigi
23km
Mataram
31km
Praya, Airport
80km
Banyumulek
40km
Sembalun
77km
Senaru (Waterfalls & Gateway to Rinjani National Park)
59km
Lembar
60km
Activities
Villa Sapi's manager, Gede, has a wealth of information about nearby places of interest and will help arrange transport and make any bookings as required. Villa Sapi is supported by a five-star PADI dive resort under H20 Sportz Indonesia. There is a tennis court at Villa Sapi and a tennis coach is available on request. Cooking classes are available at the villa under the guidance of Chef Nengah, offering the opportunity to learn the secrets of the local cuisine. Do also ask the staff about the local area, most of them live locally and will be able to give an interesting insight into some of the fascinating aspects of Lombok life.
In the meantime, here is a taste of the many and varied activities on offer within reach of the villa.
- If you want to go shopping in Lombok, don't expect modern malls or designer clothing; instead seek out local products. Sweta's 'Bertais Market' at Mataram (31km) sells everything that is made or produced on the island, including Lombok's intricate basketware. Pearl sellers occasionally walk along Sira Beach and will offer you their wares, expect to be hassled a bit, and remember to barter. For quality and range of pearls, the best option is to visit the specialist retail outlets in Sekarbele, near Mataram (31km).
- Banyumulek (40km) is one of the three main pottery centres on the island; in the mornings, you can watch the women potters at work. At the traditional weaving village of Sembalun (77km) in the foothills of Mt Rinjani, you can witness the production of the island's striking hand-woven textiles. The beautiful fabrics are created on manually-operated back strap looms.
- Lombok Golf Kosaido Country Club, designed by Peter Thompson, lies within Sira Bay. A golf buggy can pick you up to enjoy this uncrowded and serene 18-hole championship course (nine coastal holes and nine tucked in the shade of the majestic Mount Rinjani).
- Eat out for a change of scene. Inspect the history, artefacts and curios of nearby funky Hotel Tugu, a living museum of Indonesian antiques and local artwork, over a beachside lunch or dinner. Or enjoy the gourmet food at the 5-star Oberoi Resort and The Lombok Lodge which is opposite the Oberoi.
- Visit the Gili islands to experience a different side of Lombok. Of the three small coral-fringed islands, Gili Meno and Gili Air are fairly quiet and Gili Trawangan has the nightlife. Cidomos (Horse drawn carts) or bicycles and lazy beachside cafes set the scene with no high rise buildings, no motorised vehicles and not a McDonald's in sight. The villa manager can arrange a boat transfer.
- Investigate the attractive market village of Tanjung, where stalls overflow with mysterious and exotic produce such as locally grown tobacco, coffee, soya and peanuts.
- For a gentle trek, head to Senaru village, the gateway to Rinjani National Park. Local Sasak guides will show you the park's two beautiful waterfalls of Sindang Gila and Tiu Kelep.
- Do nothing. Relax, Robinson Crusoe-style, on your own deserted beach in the shade of the palm trees, taking a cooling dip in the blue ocean or the refreshing swimming pool.
- Revitalise and rejuvenate with an in-villa massage treatment. Try a deep pressure Balinese massage, a cleansing facial or a simple manicure from professional therapists from The Oberoi Hotel. Or head off to the neighbouring Hotel Tugu Lombok (sister to Tugu Bali) for a yoga meditation session or spa treatment in the gorgeous spa.
Services included
The villa and all its facilities, 21 staff including villa manager and chef, 3 swimming pools (plus children's pool), floodlit tennis court, table tennis, 4 mountain bikes, 2 kayaks, spa/massage room and a stretch of beautiful white sandy beach.
Additional Notes
Families
Villa holidays are an excellent option for families. Family-friendly advantages of villa stays include having access to your own private facilities, such as swimming pool, living space and gardens and having the freedom to use them whenever you want. Knowing that the kids can run around happily, independently and safely, without you having to worry about other guests, is a real plus - and one that means parents are certain to have a more relaxed holiday too.Villa Sapi has an enormous open garden, a tennis court, table tennis, bikes, kayaks, a 20m kids' pool, a funky TV room with beanbags, DVDs, board games and toys. The villa's friendly staff will go out of their way to make children feel as welcome as adults - whether it's cooking in the kitchen or playing table tennis or football in the garden. Having these willing helpers on hand also gives you plenty of flexibility and freedom to do your own exploring beyond the villa grounds. Although equipped kitchens allow you to prepare meals for fussy eaters or babies with ease, the staff will happily to do this for you - just talk through your requirements and meal schedules with Chef Nengah and he will take care of the rest. Sausage sandwiches in the balé at six? Poolside pancakes for breakfast? No problem. Chef Nengah will customise all meals to suit children's taste buds.
Neither do you have to worry about packing all that cumbersome extra equipment when you stay at Villa Sapi as all the essentials, and more, can be provided. Just talk through your requirements with us when you make your reservation and we'll make sure it's all there ready and waiting for your arrival.
Dining
Chef Nengah discusses food and meal schedules with guests at the start of their stay. He then produces three gourmet meals per day (at the very reasonable cost of US$50 per day for adults and US$30 per day for children aged 2-11 years.): a full and hearty breakfast, a three-course lunch and a three-course dinner, plus afternoon tea and snacks. He is happy to accommodate likes and dislikes, special requests and special diets, including children's meals and low calorie options. Chef Nengah only uses the freshest vegetables and fruits, mostly harvested from Villa Sapi's own organic garden or from the local market. Fish comes directly from the local fishermen. Poultry is raised locally and organically. Fresh beef and lamb are imported from Australia and New Zealand.Guests can expect stunningly presented delicious servings of fresh fish, steaks or lamb chops with a colourful array of fresh vegetables; gazpacho soup; gourmet pasta dishes; local dishes such as pepes ikan (fish baked in banana leaf packages); Lombok prawn curry; Sate Ikan Tanjung, which originates from the neighbouring village of Tanjung and features a satay of spiced tuna or snapper fish with an infusion of coconut milk and garlic, pressed onto a lemongrass skewer and grilled. Desserts include a wonderful chocolate fondant. Freshly squeezed fruit juices are always available at Villa Sapi, as well as other soft drinks, beers and a good range of imported spirits - Mojitos are a specialty. Barbecues or pool balé dinners can be arranged with traditional dance entertainment.
Spa
Feel like a body scrub or massage? Just ask our staff to bring the spa to you! We can recommend deluxe treatments carried out in the privacy of your own villa by fully trained therapists from a reputable local spa (extra charges will apply). Here's a sample of what's on the menu:Massage
Release built up tension with a traditional Indonesian massage. Using a combination of gentle stretches, acupressure and aromatherapy oils to stimulate the flow of blood, oxygen and energy around your body, you will feel totally relaxed in no time.
Foot reflexology
Foot reflexology is a natural healing art based on the principle that there are reflexes in the feet which correspond to every part of the body. Through application of pressure on these reflexes tension is relieved and circulation improved leaving you feeling balanced.
Body scrub
A full body scrub will exfoliate and hydrate your skin leaving it soft and smooth. A rejuvenating scrub combines an abrasive material such as salt, coffee, rice bran or pecan hulls with essential oils to remove any impurities and make your skin glow.
Manicure/pedicure
Our hands and feet work hard for us every day but rarely get the attention they deserve. Treat them to a manicure or pedicure, which usually comes with the added bonus of a quick hand or foot massage.
Wedding
Villa Sapi's massive beachfront garden, combined with breathtaking coastal views, makes an ideal tropical setting for weddings, parties and barbecues, and Lombok's climate (especially during the dry season, from April to October) is hard to beat. The villa's pool deck can easily be transformed into the perfect moonlit dance floor and the large kitchens are well-equipped for outside caterers.Villa Sapi can accommodate up to 80 people (seated or standing) for special events. If you would like to find out more about holding an event at the villa, please see the event guidelines below or contact/email for further information.
Maximum people sitting: 40 pax
Maximum people standing: 40 pax
Minimum nights low season: 3
Minimum nights high season: 5
Minimum nights peak season: 7
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