Right on the beach, a Michelin-trained chef, and one of Indonesia’s best waves
Right on the beach, a Michelin-trained chef, and one of Indonesia’s best waves
Rote is Indonesia's southernmost island, the kind of place that still feels genuinely far away. The journey rewards the explorers: empty beaches, palm-thatched villages, no large resorts, clear turquoise waters, and world-class reef-breaks.
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Rote is Indonesia's southernmost island, the kind of place that still feels genuinely far away. The journey rewards the explorers: empty beaches, palm-thatched villages, no large resorts, clear turquoise waters, and world-class reef-breaks.
THE SURF HIDEAWAYS ADVANTAGE
Save 5% as a Surf Hideaways guest with the code HIDEAWAYS
81 Palms and its sister property Next Door sit right on the beach at the edge of Nemberala, a small surf village dotted with a few warungs and guesthouses.
T-Land, one of Indonesia’s most celebrated left-handers, breaks directly in front of the resort. A beginner-friendly reef, perfect for longboarding, is just a short walk away. To access the surf breaks around the island, boat transfers are included with your stay.
A few bungalows, an infinity pool, and a restaurant run by a former Michelin-starred chef from Barcelona. The award-winning architect Alejandro Borrego modelled the structures on the traditional Rotinese tribal houses, with contemporary comfort.
When you come to surf in a place this remote, this level of gastronomy and aesthetic feels like a miracle.
81 Palms and its sister property Next Door sit right on the beach at the edge of Nemberala, a small surf village dotted with a few warungs and guesthouses.
T-Land, one of Indonesia’s most celebrated left-handers, breaks directly in front of the resort. A beginner-friendly reef, perfect for longboarding, is just a short walk away. To access the surf breaks around the island, boat transfers are included with your stay.
A few bungalows, an infinity pool, and a restaurant run by a former Michelin-starred chef from Barcelona. The award-winning architect Alejandro Borrego modelled the structures on the traditional Rotinese tribal houses, with contemporary comfort.
When you come to surf in a place this remote, this level of gastronomy and aesthetic feels like a miracle.
Rooms
81 Palms and Next Door are just a few hundred metres apart and share the same restaurant, infinity pool, and sundeck. At both, the rooms are inspired by traditional Rotinese houses and come with air conditioning. Open your door, and you are right on the beach.
The six cabanas at 81 Palms are generous (92m²). Inside, steep thatched roofs, meranti timber and bathrooms with coral-sand floors. You sleep on large king-sized beds. Furniture is made by Poppou, an Indonesian design collective. It is polished, comfortable, but still unmistakably Rote.
The four bungalows at Next Door opened later. Slightly more compact, yet still spacious (50m²), they combine the traditional aesthetic with a more modern feel. All feature semi-outdoor bathrooms.
81 Palms and Next Door are just a few hundred metres apart and share the same restaurant, infinity pool, and sundeck. At both, the rooms are inspired by traditional Rotinese houses and come with air conditioning. Open your door, and you are right on the beach.
The six cabanas at 81 Palms are generous (92m²). Inside, steep thatched roofs, meranti timber and bathrooms with coral-sand floors. You sleep on large king-sized beds. Furniture is made by Poppou, an Indonesian design collective. It is polished, comfortable, but still unmistakably Rote.
The four bungalows at Next Door opened later. Slightly more compact, yet still spacious (50m²), they combine the traditional aesthetic with a more modern feel. All feature semi-outdoor bathrooms.
Food & Drinks
A chef trained in Michelin-starred kitchens cooking fish that was just caught. This is 81 Palms’ restaurant in a nutshell.
The chef, Jose, is one of the two owners. What he cooks depends on what the Nemberala market has, and what the local fishermen bring to the door every morning. Expect Spanish food with an Indonesian accent: tomato bread with jamón ibérico, mahi sashimi, patatas bravas, fish grilled with a dash of very good olive oil, and, obviously, delicious paellas.
This is an actual restaurant in an open-air pavilion facing the ocean, perfectly oriented for sunset. No wonder it draws visitors from across the island.
Breakfast is included for all guests. The rest is à la carte.
A chef trained in Michelin-starred kitchens cooking fish that was just caught. This is 81 Palms’ restaurant in a nutshell.
The chef, Jose, is one of the two owners. What he cooks depends on what the Nemberala market has, and what the local fishermen bring to the door every morning. Expect Spanish food with an Indonesian accent: tomato bread with jamón ibérico, mahi sashimi, patatas bravas, fish grilled with a dash of very good olive oil, and, obviously, delicious paellas.
This is an actual restaurant in an open-air pavilion facing the ocean, perfectly oriented for sunset. No wonder it draws visitors from across the island.
Breakfast is included for all guests. The rest is à la carte.
Surfing
T-Land breaks directly in front of 81 Palms. It is one of Indonesia's longest left-handers: four linked sections known as The Point, The Steeple, Magic Mountain and Inner Tubes, which connect on a good swell to produce rides of up to several hundred metres. It is also, by the standards of comparable Indonesian breaks, approachable. When the swell is right, intermediate surfers can find room here.
A short walk away, you find Squealers, a soft right-and-left peak perfect for beginners, intermediates and longboarders.
The hotel's speedboat runs transfers to other breaks along the coast, included in the rate. Bo'a, a heavy barrelling right, is a short boat ride away. Sucky Mamas, further out, delivers fast, hollow rights on a larger swell. Do'o, a right-hand barrel on an uninhabited island, is a 20-minute boat ride from the property. Several additional spots along the coast remain unnamed.
Water stays warm year-round. The dry season (April to October) sees consistent swell and offshore conditions, with the biggest swells in July and August. In the wet season (November to March), surf is still possible but conditions are generally smaller and less predictable, with cleaner early-morning windows, fewer crowds, and some seasonal slowdowns.
T-Land breaks directly in front of 81 Palms. It is one of Indonesia's longest left-handers: four linked sections known as The Point, The Steeple, Magic Mountain and Inner Tubes, which connect on a good swell to produce rides of up to several hundred metres. It is also, by the standards of comparable Indonesian breaks, approachable. When the swell is right, intermediate surfers can find room here.
A short walk away, you find Squealers, a soft right-and-left peak perfect for beginners, intermediates and longboarders.
The hotel's speedboat runs transfers to other breaks along the coast, included in the rate. Bo'a, a heavy barrelling right, is a short boat ride away. Sucky Mamas, further out, delivers fast, hollow rights on a larger swell. Do'o, a right-hand barrel on an uninhabited island, is a 20-minute boat ride from the property. Several additional spots along the coast remain unnamed.
Water stays warm year-round. The dry season (April to October) sees consistent swell and offshore conditions, with the biggest swells in July and August. In the wet season (November to March), surf is still possible but conditions are generally smaller and less predictable, with cleaner early-morning windows, fewer crowds, and some seasonal slowdowns.
Activities
The property's speedboat opens up uninhabited islands and diving trips. Rote's reefs sit in water clear enough that the hotel can put you on dive sites with almost nobody on them but the dense marine life.
The mangroves are worth an afternoon by kayak or SUP. Fishing trips can also be arranged. Head into the village of Nemberala for the market, the ikat weavers, and the relaxed pace of an island that has not been overrun. For those willing to hire a scooter, Rote’s remote corners are worth exploring.
For wellness, in-bungalow massages can be arranged for post-surf recovery. Otherwise, the reset comes from the setting, a great surf session, and from having just enough to do.
The property's speedboat opens up uninhabited islands and diving trips. Rote's reefs sit in water clear enough that the hotel can put you on dive sites with almost nobody on them but the dense marine life.
The mangroves are worth an afternoon by kayak or SUP. Fishing trips can also be arranged. Head into the village of Nemberala for the market, the ikat weavers, and the relaxed pace of an island that has not been overrun. For those willing to hire a scooter, Rote’s remote corners are worth exploring.
For wellness, in-bungalow massages can be arranged for post-surf recovery. Otherwise, the reset comes from the setting, a great surf session, and from having just enough to do.
The People Behind
Behind 81 Palms are Jose and Julia, a Spanish couple brought together by their shared love of the ocean. Jose, a passionate surfer, came to Indonesia with the idea of combining kitchen work with life by the waves. After training and working in acclaimed Michelin-starred restaurants around the world, he always dreamed of opening a place of his own. On Nusa Lembongan, he met Julia, a zoologist and diving instructor. Together, they began shaping a shared vision for a boutique beachfront resort, which became 81 Palms. Completed in 2020 and designed by award-winning architect Alejandro Borrego, the resort, set above turquoise water and white sand, reflects their ethos: thoughtful design, exceptional food, and warm hospitality.
Behind 81 Palms are Jose and Julia, a Spanish couple brought together by their shared love of the ocean. Jose, a passionate surfer, came to Indonesia with the idea of combining kitchen work with life by the waves. After training and working in acclaimed Michelin-starred restaurants around the world, he always dreamed of opening a place of his own. On Nusa Lembongan, he met Julia, a zoologist and diving instructor. Together, they began shaping a shared vision for a boutique beachfront resort, which became 81 Palms. Completed in 2020 and designed by award-winning architect Alejandro Borrego, the resort, set above turquoise water and white sand, reflects their ethos: thoughtful design, exceptional food, and warm hospitality.
Booking
FROM
$190
USD
per night
THE SURF HIDEAWAYS ADVANTAGE
Save 5% as a Surf Hideaways guest with the code HIDEAWAYS
FROM
$190
USD
per night
THE SURF HIDEAWAYS ADVANTAGE
Save 5% as a Surf Hideaways guest with the code HIDEAWAYS