The Oberoi Lombok Review: Teak Pavilions on Medana Bay

Escape into nature with birds chirping, away from the Bali crowds. The Oberoi Lombok isn’t new or flashy, and it doesn’t need to be.

Where it is

The Oberoi sits on 24 acres of lawn and coconut palms on Medana Bay, on Lombok’s quiet north-west coast, looking across the water to the Gili Islands. From Lombok International Airport it’s about 1 hour 45 minutes by road. There’s also a direct fast boat from Bali if you’d rather skip the drive.

The architecture takes its cue from traditional Sasak villages: thatched roofs, rough stone walls and a lot of teak, spread out low across the grounds rather than stacked into a block. The Sira is just along the same coast; I stayed there the following night, and it has its own review.

The booking

I booked a Luxury Pavilion with a garden view on Expedia for one night at USD 232. Nothing sponsored, nothing discounted beyond what Expedia was showing that day.

Arrival

By the time I got in from the airport it was already dark, so my first look at the place was lamplight on carved teak columns in an open-sided lobby.

Check-in was done right there in the lobby: quick, simple, no fuss. I was handed a ginger drink, a cold towel and a slice of lapis legit, the Indonesian layered cake, which beats the usual fruit skewer.

The pavilion

I was in pavilion 142. The Luxury Pavilion is the entry-level room here, and it’s around 90 sqm including the balcony, or about 75 sqm inside. It doesn’t feel like an entry-level anything.

The room is teak from floor to ceiling. Even the ceiling fan is done in wood, which sounds like a small detail until you notice how much it pulls the room together. A king bed sits in the middle, with a sitting area, a desk and a daybed spread around it.

The minibar mixes the usual (a Nescafé Dolce Gusto machine and TWG tea) with a lot from the region: Toraja coffee, Balinese cashews, Isola wine from Bali, and Krakakoa, an Indonesian craft chocolate. There’s a pillow menu with four options, a printed activities sheet for the next day, and a leaf with selamat datang (welcome) carved into it, left out for arrival.

One thing I didn’t like: the 55-inch TV sits in a corner, and you have to swivel it round to watch from the bed. Not a big deal, but it’s clearly an afterthought in a room that otherwise feels carefully planned.

The resort also takes mosquitoes seriously, with repellent in the room and bathroom. I didn’t see a single one.

The bathroom

The bathroom is the reason to book a pavilion. It’s huge, with a proper area to open a suitcase, twin basins, and a walk-in shower with a view of a small private garden.

The centrepiece is the Oberoi signature: a sunken marble bathtub set right beside a little lily pond, separated only by a sheet of glass. There were a few fish swimming around in it. Lying in the tub looking at a pond is exactly as nice as it sounds.

Toiletries are from Sensatia Botanicals, a natural skincare brand from Bali. The bath set runs to bath salts, soap, a loofah, body moisturiser and even candles with matches, if you want to make an evening of it.

There are two bathrobes, slippers in two sizes, two knitted beach bags, and heavy wooden door hangers for Do Not Disturb and room service. The safe is big enough for a 16-inch MacBook Pro.

Dinner at Lumbung

Dinner was at Lumbung, which means rice barn and is set in an open, thatched pavilion. Across its restaurants the resort covers Indonesian, Indian and Western food, and the menu leans into the brand’s Indian roots with a generous Indian section. I stayed Indonesian.

Fried plantain came first, then Tum Ayam, minced chicken with local aromatics steamed in banana-leaf parcels, and a garden salad.

The main was Chicken Sate Campur with steamed rice and an eggplant salad, with crackers and a row of dips on the side. Simple, well-presented Indonesian cooking.

The library

There’s a small business centre with an iMac and a printer, which doubles as a library. The book selection is well chosen and there’s a comfortable seating area, which makes it a nice spot to wind down after dinner.

The next morning

Morning was my first proper look at the place in daylight. The balcony has a daybed and a small table, and looks straight out onto lawn and coconut palms.

The grounds

The lawns are enormous and immaculately kept, with coconut palms as far as you can see. The birds never stop; they’re the resort’s unpaid entertainers, and the soundtrack to the whole stay.

There are 50 rooms in all: 32 pavilions like mine and 18 villas, each with its own walled garden and pool. Bicycles are free to borrow if you want to get around faster than walking pace.

The daily activities sheet is worth reading. On the day I was there it had yoga on the lawn by Tokek Bar at 8, free horse riding on the beach, table tennis, complimentary fruit sangria and sorbet by the pool, and a Sasak afternoon tea with traditional snacks.

The pool

The infinity pool is the photograph everyone takes, and it deserves it. It’s long and dead still, lined with palms and thatched bale, and the far edge drops away so the water seems to run straight into Medana Bay. On a clear day you can see Mount Agung in Bali across the strait.

Tokek Bar sits between the pool and the beach, with tables out on the terrace.

The beach

The beach is calm, clean and practically private. The water is calm, and there’s plenty to do on it: there’s PADI diving, and the resort can arrange a private boat to the Gilis from its own jetty.

Gym, tennis and spa

The fitness and recreation centre is a short walk through the gardens. The gym is small but well equipped, and there are racquets and balls to borrow for the tennis court next door.

The Oberoi Spa is set among its own gardens. I didn’t book a treatment this time, but the prices felt fair for a property of this standard.

Breakfast at the Sunbird Cafe

Breakfast is à la carte at the Sunbird Cafe, on a terrace looking out over the lawn to the sea. You can order anything on the full menu, which, like dinner, has a proper Indian section alongside the Indonesian and Western dishes.

I started with a small plate of seasonal fruit, then had poori bhaji from the Indian section. Eating it with the sea in view and the sound of the waves was a very good way to start a day.

What I’d change

• The TV. Put it where you can see it from the bed, or leave it out.
• No kids club. The activities keep older children busy, but families with little ones should know there’s no dedicated club.
• The transfer. An hour and 45 minutes from the airport is a long drive after a flight, especially if you land late and arrive in the dark like I did. The fast boat from Bali is worth considering.
• There’s nothing outside the gate. This is a resort you come to and stay at.

Verdict

The Oberoi Lombok is a quiet, classic resort that knows exactly what it is. The pavilion is large and beautifully finished, the sunken tub by the lily pond is a genuine highlight, the grounds are huge and peaceful, and the food covers Indonesian, Indian and Western without doing any of them badly.

What really sets it apart is the service. The staff struck a perfect balance between giving you space and being there the moment you needed something. True to the Oberoi’s reputation for warm hospitality, it felt intuitive and refined, even on a remote island.

If you’re looking for a calm, peaceful escape in Lombok, The Oberoi is a genuinely wonderful choice.