Review / Bali’s up-and-coming luxury villa retreats, Lyvin Bingin and Melasti in Uluwatu

Despite its rapid development, though, Uluwatu’s relative serenity still sets it apart from the rest of the island – as do its spectacular cliffside views and cultural offerings, from the Kecak Fire Dance performed at Uluwatu Temple, to Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park, home to the 121-metre Garuda Wisnu Kencana, the tallest statue in the country.

Both are run by husband-and-wife-owned Lyvin Properties, which encompasses three villa complexes throughout Bali – including Lyvin Berawa near Canggu. Lyvin Melasti is the newest, having opened in June 2025, with 20 ocean-view suites to be added this December. The end of the year will also see the opening of a new on-site spa and Middle Eastern restaurant.

The properties have hosted Korean stars including Red Velvet’s Seulgi and actor Jung Kyung-ho, in addition to a number of Indonesian celebrities.

Owners Alexander and Victoria Sokovykh have been living in Bali since 2013 and, according to a promotional video released in 2024, the company’s story began with “a dream of an ideal home” on the island. That combined with Victoria’s background as an architect – she leads the design of all the company’s properties – might give you an idea of what to expect from Lyvin.

The villas and suites are true homes away from home, with plenty of attention paid to design details. As charming as the more typical approach to barefoot luxury on the island might be – breezy bohemian with thatched roofs and plenty of wood and woven materials – Lyvin has a more expansive vision, proving that a more contemporary, elevated look is hardly out of place at a coastal resort. Think a Japandi aesthetic, marble floors, minimalist curvilinear structures, clever plays on light and shadow – and eye-catching statement features, like an elegant free-standing spiral staircase or rock-formation feature wall.