Griya Santrian asks you to pay nearly twice what you would spend at many nearby Sanur hotels, around $250 to $300 AUD per night. As Sanur regulars who have stayed at hotels, homestays and villas across Sanur, we spent three nights here to find out if it truly delivers enough extra value to justify the price. This is our honest review.
The short answer? It depends entirely on how you plan your Bali holiday. For certain types of travellers this upmarket resort is worth every rupiah. For others it is an over-the-top expense. Here is what we found.
Is Griya Santrian a 5-star hotel?
Griya Santrian is positioned and priced as an upper-end resort but in our experience it delivers upper-mid-range quality, closer to 4 stars in practice. The pools, beachfront location and traditional Balinese architecture are good. The rooms are only marginally better than hotels costing half the price. The main draws are the pool setup, breakfast included and the beach access, not the rooms themselves. As of mid 2026 Griya were updating the main pool area near the beach.
Compared to other hotels in Sanur, Griya sits above Prama and Watujimbar in quality, and is comparable to Segara Village.
Where is Griya Santrian?
Griya Santrian is centrally located in Sanur, Bali with direct beachfront access. Jalan Danau Tamblingan with its restaurants, cafes and shops is right outside and the Sindhu and Baruna beach markets are a 10-minute walk along the beach path. It is approximately 15km from Ngurah Rai International Airport, around 30 to 45 minutes depending on traffic.
Check-in begins at 2pm and check-out is at 12pm. Early check-in or late check-out may be available at an additional cost, so worth asking when you book if you have an early arrival or late departure.
Book Griya Santrian on Booking.com
All room rates include breakfast. Check availability and current prices
The rooms at Griya Santrian
A garden room with partial pool view runs about $250 to $300 AUD per night with breakfast included. All room rates available on sites like Booking.com and Agoda include breakfast. Similarly sized rooms at nearby hotels like Watujimbar go for $90 to $120.
- Standard Room — 35m², garden views
- Deluxe — pool access, updated interiors
- Beach Wing — ocean views, premium location
- Suite — best views, separate living area
- Santrian Suite — 70m², the most spacious option
What stood out: the location, storage space, robes, slippers, good WiFi and comfortable beds with multiple pillow options. What did not: air conditioning, TV and fridge are the same as mid-range hotels and some garden view rooms are dated. The rooms are clean and well kept. You get more pillow options and bigger TVs than at most hotels in the same area.
If you are booking Griya Santrian, go for the Deluxe or Beach Wing over the Standard garden room. The standard garden rooms show their age and the Beach Wing rooms are worth the upgrade for the ocean views. They are also closer to the pool bar.
Is Griya Santrian good for couples?
Griya Santrian is well suited to couples. The traditional Balinese architecture, tropical gardens, beachfront pool with swim-up bar and beachfront Starfish Lounge create a romantic atmosphere for couples in Bali. The regular live entertainment, happy hour specials and Friday night beach BBQ are all well suited to couples wanting a relaxed resort experience. The cooking and dance classes are also a good activity to do together.
Is Griya Santrian good for families?
It can work for families but is not specifically family-focused. There is no dedicated kids pool and no kids club. There is a games room which families with kids can enjoy, and the three pools give options. The calm beachfront is safe for swimming. Griya is better suited to families with older children or teenagers than those with very young children who would benefit from a dedicated kids area like the one at Prama Sanur Beach Hotel.
The pools at Griya Santrian
This is where Griya genuinely earns its premium price. The pool setup is the best feature of the resort and a real differentiator from mid-range Sanur hotels.
- Three pools versus the single pool at most Sanur hotels
- Beachside infinity pool with swim-up bar, rare in Sanur
- Two quieter garden pools
- Premium loungers and umbrellas, no scrambling for seats
- Full pool service with drinks and food delivery
- Dedicated pool towel service
The beachside infinity pool is the pool to be at. The swim-up bar and views make it the best feature of the resort. If you plan to spend most of your days poolside, the pools alone go a long way to justifying the price difference over mid-range hotels.
Facilities at Griya Santrian
- Direct beachfront access with free sun loungers on the beach
- Three pools including infinity pool with swim-up bar
- Free kayaks, saving around $20 per hour on rentals
- Premium bikes free for guests
- Spa with excellent quality treatments from $50–$80
- Gym, small and basic
- Games room
- Cooking classes and traditional Balinese dance classes
- Organised day tours bookable through the resort
- Free parking, good for GRAB pickups and private drivers
Cultural experiences at Griya Santrian
One of the genuine differentiators between Griya and the mid-range hotels nearby. The resort offers cooking classes where you learn to prepare traditional Balinese dishes, traditional dance classes and organised day tours across the island. For guests who want to experience Balinese culture from their Sanur hotel rather than having to find it themselves, Griya is the perfect place to stay in Sanur. For travellers who prefer to organise day trips themselves it is a feature they will likely never use.
Breakfast at Griya Santrian
All room rates include breakfast on Booking.com and Agoda. The buffet is served daily at The Wantilan Restaurant and includes Indonesian dishes, pastries, breads, fresh fruit, cereals and a live egg station. It is a solid buffet and is included in every booking.
Dining at Griya Santrian
The Wantilan Restaurant sits right on the beach path with views of Sanur Beach and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Attached to it is the Starfish Beach Lounge, a bamboo structure on the beach in front of the resort. It sits directly on the sand and is a beautiful spot for a drink or meal with the ocean breeze coming off the beach. If you are going to spend money on a meal at Griya, the Starfish Lounge is where to do it.
Special dining events throughout the week: afternoon tea at 85,000 IDR, a Friday night Beach Dinner BBQ priced per 100g of meat and fish, an Indonesian buffet every Wednesday at 199,500 IDR and a satay night on Mondays at 155,000 IDR. These are good value compared to ordering from the main menu.
Unless you are committed to dining exclusively at the resort, you will find better value outside. Jalan Danau Tamblingan has the Wicked Parrot, Warung Rib Steak and Forketta Italian all within easy walking distance. The Starfish Lounge is worth it for drinks. For dinner the restaurants on the main street are better value.
Exploring Sanur from Griya Santrian
The central location is one of Griya’s real strengths. Walk out of the resort gates and you are on Jalan Danau Tamblingan with restaurants, shops and cafes in every direction. The Sindhu and Baruna beach markets are a 10-minute walk along the beach path. Icon Mall is accessible by GRAB.
Further afield, the resort can organise drivers and day tours to Ubud, the Kecak Fire Dance at Uluwatu, Teganungan waterfall and the Ubud Monkey Forest. You can also browse and book Bali tours through Klook before you arrive. The free parking makes GRAB pickups and private driver drop-offs easy. On the beach path you can go jet skiing, stand-up paddleboarding, kite surfing and banana boat rides.
Is Griya Santrian worth it?
Griya Santrian charges premium prices for upper-mid-range quality. The pools, beachfront setting, included breakfast, traditional architecture and central location are good for guests. The rooms are only marginally better than hotels at half the price and the gym is basic. It comes down to how you holiday.
It works if you plan to spend most days at the resort, want pool access, beach access and cultural activities on site, or are marking a special occasion. It does not work if you plan to spend most of your time out exploring. You will be paying for facilities you are not using.
Griya is a lovely hotel with beautiful grounds and the best pool setup we have seen in Sanur. But we are the type of travellers who want to be out exploring, restaurants, markets, day trips. For us the facilities that justify the premium are facilities we weren’t using enough. If you are a resort person, you will love it here.
Pros and cons of staying at Griya Santrian
Pros
- Three pools including infinity pool with swim-up bar
- Breakfast included in all room rates
- Direct beachfront access with free sun loungers
- Stunning Balinese architecture and tropical gardens
- Central Sanur location with restaurants and markets within walking distance
- Cooking and dance classes on site
- Free kayaks and premium bikes for guests
- Regular live entertainment and weekly dining events
Cons
- Room quality only marginally better than hotels at half the price
- Some garden view rooms need updating
- No kids pool or kids club
- Gym is basic
- Better value dining available outside the resort
For travellers who want to explore rather than stay poolside, consider alternatives like Sanur Resort Watujimbar at around $120 AUD, Parigata Resort and Spa at around $100 AUD or The Palm Garden at around $70 AUD. They offer 80% of the experience at 50% of the cost.
Book Griya Santrian on Booking.com
All room rates include breakfast. Check availability and current prices
FAQs about Griya Santrian Sanur
Is Griya Santrian a 5-star hotel?
Griya Santrian is positioned and priced as an upper-end resort but delivers upper-mid-range quality in practice, closer to 4 stars. The pools, beachfront and Balinese architecture are excellent. The rooms themselves are only marginally better than hotels at half the price. It sits above Prama and Watujimbar in atmosphere but below the Andaz by Hyatt in overall polish.
Is breakfast included at Griya Santrian?
All room rates available on Booking.com and Agoda include breakfast. The daily buffet at The Wantilan Restaurant includes Indonesian dishes, pastries, breads, fresh fruit, cereals and a live egg station. It is included in every booking.
What time is check-in and check-out at Griya Santrian?
Check-in begins at 2pm and check-out is at 12pm. Early check-in or late check-out may be available at an additional cost, so worth asking when you book if you have an early arrival or late departure.
Is Griya Santrian good for couples?
The infinity pool, Starfish Beach Lounge, tropical gardens and traditional Balinese architecture create a genuinely romantic atmosphere. The cooking and dance classes, live entertainment and Friday night beach BBQ are all well suited to couples. It is one of the better Sanur hotels for a special occasion stay.
Is Griya Santrian good for families?
It can work for families but is not specifically family-focused. There is no dedicated kids pool and no kids club. There is a games room and the calm beachfront is safe for swimming. Better suited to families with older children or teenagers than those with very young children.
How far is Griya Santrian from the airport?
Griya Santrian is approximately 15km from Ngurah Rai International Airport, around 30 to 45 minutes by car depending on traffic. The resort has free parking which makes GRAB pickups and private driver transfers easy to arrange.
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