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 over the 2,500sqm estate 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.
Rooms
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.
Restaurant & Food
Guests at Villa Sapi have the option to avail of the special full
board meals (at a special rate). Villa Sapi’s chef discusses food
and meal schedules with guests at the start of their stay. He then
produces three gourmet meals per day: 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. The chef 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
and the villa’s pastry chef bakes delicious cakes and other sweet
treats. Freshly squeezed fruit juices are always available at Villa
Sapi, as well as other soft drinks, beers and a good range of
imported spirits (served at cost price) – Mojitos are a specialty.
Barbecues or pool balé dinners can be arranged with traditional
dance entertainment.
Activities & Sport
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
(full-time babysitting incurs a small extra cost).