Black Penny Villas Ubud
by the TopOfHotel team
Black Penny Villas is the place for the widest view on this list — rice fields, jungle and the Ayung River all framed in a single 360-degree sweep.
Black Penny Villas is the place for the widest view on this list — rice fields, jungle and the Ayung River all framed in a single 360-degree sweep.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
Black Penny Villas Ubud is a small retreat — just 10 villas — set on a cliff above the Ayung River. The villas are done in traditional Balinese style, each with a private balcony and a compact plunge pool right at the cliff edge. Sit in the water and you look straight down at the Ayung running below. Some villas have open-air bathrooms that open to the sky, which guests find striking, though a few note it is less convenient on a rainy night.
Food and amenities
The room rate is generous about what it covers. Butler service is on hand to arrange activities and transfers, and both breakfast and afternoon tea are included rather than charged on top. The plunge pool is the main water feature — small and meant for cooling off rather than swimming laps.
Location and getting there
The villas sit about 15 minutes from central Ubud, and the rate includes a shuttle into town for the market, Monkey Forest and the restaurants there. Because the shuttle, breakfast and afternoon tea are all bundled in, you are not paying extra for them.
Things to know before booking
The pool is a compact plunge pool, not a full-size swimming pool — fine for a dip, less so if you want to swim. Some villas have open-air bathrooms, lovely in dry weather but worth avoiding if you are visiting in the rains. And at 15 minutes out, you lean on the shuttle or your own car to get into town.
Our take
Black Penny is best for couples and honeymooners after something quietly romantic — a wide 360-degree view over rice fields, forest and the river, a high degree of privacy, and a stay several guests call their favourite in Bali. Rates start around $311 a night.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- A 360-degree view that takes in the rice terraces, the forest and the Ayung River running below — all from one spot.
- Each villa has a private plunge pool set right at the cliff edge, so you can sit in the water and look straight down at the Ayung. Several guests rate it the best place they have stayed in Bali.
- With only 10 villas, the atmosphere stays very private, and butler service handles activities and transfers.
- The room rate already includes breakfast, afternoon tea and the shuttle into town, so those costs are not added on top.
- Villas are done in traditional Balinese style with a private balcony for sitting out over the view.
- Some villas have open-air bathrooms that open to the sky — striking to look at, but a few reviews found them inconvenient on rainy nights.
- The pool is a compact plunge pool rather than a full-size swimming pool, so it is for cooling off rather than doing laps.
- At about 15 minutes from central Ubud, you depend on the hotel shuttle or your own car to reach the market and restaurants in town.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
Things to do near Ubud, Bali
Day tours, attraction tickets and experiences around Ubud, Bali — book ahead on Klook with mobile e-tickets.
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Insider Tips
- Book a villa with the cliff-edge plunge pool — sitting in the water looking down at the Ayung River is the whole point of staying here.
- If you are travelling in the wet season, ask for a villa with an enclosed bathroom rather than the open-air type so the rain is not an issue.
- Use the included shuttle to reach the Ubud market and Monkey Forest in town, since it is already covered by your rate.