From the moment you walk through the traditional Balinese door into the courtyard at Arena Living Sanur, you get a sense of the place. It is quiet, tidy and removed from the traffic noise of the bypass road out front. It is a mid-range hotel sitting slightly away from the beach and the main strip, which is exactly why it is cheaper than many other options in Sanur. For the right type of traveller, that trade-off is worth it.
Quick verdict — who is Arena Living for?
Arena Living suits couples, families and digital nomads who want modern, comfortable rooms at a lower price point than beachfront or Jalan Danau Tamblingan properties. The hotel is quiet which makes it good for couples. Families will appreciate the pool, the proximity to McDonald’s and Pizza Hut, and the easy GRAB access to the rest of Sanur. We have a full guide to Sanur with kids if you are travelling with children. It is good value for what you get and the WiFi is reliable enough for working.
The main trade-off is location. The beach is 700 metres away, about a 10 minute walk, and the main restaurant strip is a GRAB ride rather than a stroll. If you want to walk out your door and be at a beach bar in two minutes, Arena Living is not the right choice. But if you spend most of your time out and about and just want a clean, comfortable base to come back to, it works well.
If you are still deciding on where to stay in Sanur, our area guide covers all the options. Check current rates at Arena Living on Agoda or Booking.com.
The rooms at Arena Living
The rooms are modern and well equipped, comfortably above what you would expect at this price point in Sanur, Bali. We stayed in a ground-floor Deluxe Balcony room. Worth noting: all room types are called Balcony rooms at Arena Living, including ground-floor rooms which have a terrace rather than a raised balcony. If you have mobility issues, request a ground-floor room when booking.
Rooms include a comfortable bed, wardrobe, desk, fridge, kettle and air conditioning. The desk and reliable WiFi make it a reasonable setup for digital nomads who need to work. Housekeeping serviced our room daily. The private terrace or balcony is a good spot for a morning coffee or an evening beer.
The rooms at Arena Living are more modern than the Palm Garden Hotel nearby. The Palm Garden has traditional Balinese character but the styling is showing its age. Arena Living feels newer and fresher. The trade-off is that Palm Garden is 200 metres from Semawang Beach while Arena Living is 700 metres away.
If you are a digital nomad or remote worker, bring an Amazon Fire Stick or Chromecast for the TV. The in-room WiFi worked well during our stay and the desk setup is comfortable for a few hours of work each day.
Pool and facilities
The pool is the centrepiece of Arena Living and it is a good one. Large, clean and surrounded by a sun deck with loungers. There is a small book and games nook near the pool which is a nice touch for a relaxed afternoon.
The hotel also offers laundry service, room service and a safety deposit box. Bikes are available to hire on-site for exploring the area. The staff were helpful throughout our stay and took the Koi fish and chips suggestion from my wife with a smile.
- Large outdoor pool with sun deck and loungers
- Book and games nook near the pool
- Bike hire on-site
- Laundry service
- Room service
- Safety deposit box
- No gym onsite
- No spa onsite (treatments can be arranged on request)
Breakfast and dining
Breakfast is served at the Arena Pub and Restaurant on site. The menu covers toast, sandwiches, omelettes and Nasi Goreng. It is fine. Nothing elaborate but solid enough to start the day. The choice is more limited than what you would get at a larger hotel but the quality is good.
The Arena Pub and Restaurant is a full-service restaurant open for lunch and dinner too. Not just an in-house kitchen. It was popular with guests and outside visitors. The car park was full most evenings. The menu covers Balinese and Western cuisine.
For other options, the surrounding area has McDonald’s, Pizza Hut, Warung Babi Guling, Pan and Co. and Naughty Nuris all within easy reach. The full Sanur restaurant guide covers everything in the area. Stop at Bulls Coffee on the way to the beach. It is one of the better coffees in the area.
Location — how far is Arena Living from the beach?
Arena Living is on the Jl. Bypass Ngurah Rai road, which is not where most Sanur hotels are located. The beach is 700 metres away, around a 10 minute walk. Jl. Pantai Sindhu and Jalan Danau Tamblingan are even closer and give you access to shops, restaurants and massage places.
The bypass location is why Arena Living is cheaper than comparable hotels closer to the beach. The hotel is not on the beach and is not walking distance to the main Jalan Danau Tamblingan strip. For day trips from Sanur and getting around, GRAB is easy and cheap from this location. The airport is approximately 30 minutes by car.
Stop at Bulls Coffee on your walk to the beach. It is about halfway between Arena Living and the sand and is one of the better coffee spots in central Sanur. A good ritual to get into each morning.
Pros and cons of Arena Living Sanur
Pros:
- Modern, well-equipped rooms above expectations for the price
- Good pool with sun deck
- Quiet atmosphere, good for couples
- Reliable WiFi, suits digital nomads
- Full-service on-site restaurant open for all meals
- Friendly, helpful staff
- Good value given location away from the beach
Cons:
- 700 metres from the beach. Not a beach hotel
- Not walking distance to the main Jalan Danau Tamblingan strip
- Breakfast is fine but limited in choice
- No gym or spa on-site
- Limited on-site entertainment beyond the pool
Final thoughts — is Arena Living Sanur worth it?
Yes. If you go in knowing what it is, a well-run, modern, good-value hotel slightly removed from the beach and main strip, Arena Living delivers. The rooms are better than the price suggests, the pool is good and the staff are friendly. Would we stay again? Yes, without hesitation.
If staying on or near the beach is important to you, look elsewhere. But if the beach is something you visit rather than live on and you want a clean comfortable base at a fair price, Arena Living is a smart choice. We recently stayed at the Griya Santrian and found the room quality at Arena Living to be very similar at a significantly lower price. The Griya Santrian is beachfront. That is the difference you are paying for.
FAQs — Arena Living Sanur
Is Arena Living Sanur worth it?
Yes, for travellers who want modern, comfortable rooms at a lower price point and do not need to be right on the beach. The rooms are well equipped, the pool is good and the staff are helpful. It is cheaper than comparable hotels closer to the beach because of its bypass road location, which is the main trade-off. If you want to walk to the beach from your room in two minutes, this is not the right hotel. If you are happy with a 10 minute walk, it is excellent value.
How far is Arena Living from Sanur Beach?
Arena Living is around 700 metres from the beach, about a 10 minute walk. Jl. Pantai Sindhu and Jalan Danau Tamblingan are closer and give you access to shops, restaurants and cafes. The fixed-price shops in Sanur are all within easy reach. The hotel is on the Jl. Bypass Ngurah Rai road which is further from the beach than most Sanur hotels.
Is Arena Living good for couples?
Yes. The hotel is quiet and relaxed which suits couples well. The pool area is a comfortable spot to spend time and the on-site restaurant means you do not need to go far for dinner. It is not a romantic resort but it is a comfortable and well-priced base for a couple wanting to explore Sanur.
Is Arena Living good for families?
Yes. The pool suits families and the location near McDonald’s and Pizza Hut makes it easy for families with younger kids who want familiar food options. GRAB access to the rest of Sanur is easy and cheap from this location. The hotel is quiet which means it does not have a big resort atmosphere but the facilities are solid for a family stay.
Is Arena Living Sanur good for digital nomads?
Yes. The WiFi worked well during our stay and the rooms have a proper desk setup. It is quieter than hotels on the main strip which helps if you need to focus. The on-site restaurant means you do not need to go out for every meal. At a lower price point than beach-adjacent hotels it is a practical choice for longer stays.
How does Arena Living compare to Palm Garden Hotel Sanur?
The rooms at Arena Living are more modern than Palm Garden Hotel. Palm Garden has traditional Balinese decor that is showing its age while Arena Living feels newer and fresher. However Palm Garden is around 200 metres from Semawang Beach while Arena Living is 700 metres away. If beach proximity matters, Palm Garden has the advantage. If room quality and value are the priority, Arena Living wins.
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