Ahead of the Curve: 10 Reasons Desa Potato Head remains one of the most prolific cultural centres in the heart of Bali

The Music 

Music amplifies every experience – be it meditation, a meal, or a marathon. It is what the Desa was  known for from the very start – its Beach Club, so it  comes to no surprise that this aspect has been vastly  expanded over time. Ekostika is a sustainably designed studio that offers some of Indonesia’s rarest vinyls. It  doubles as a digital streaming site where DJs, musicians  and thinkers gravitate to broadcast their voices, stories  and sounds on Headstream: a land of digital escapism for anyone around the world to find refuge in, at any time. The Desa also acts as a throne for contemporary art and experimental cultural performances that channel the island’s energy as the sun or moon come into view.  

And then there is Headonism, Potato Head’s monthly weekend of multi-sensory indulgence, where guests can expect experimental music sessions over  sunset-to-sunrise libations.  

The Cuisine 

Housing 6 food and beverage destinations within the Desa, the one unifying factor is each  establishment’s commitment to using organic, sustainable ingredients that are farmed and  sustainably sourced from around the archipelago.  

Tanaman, helmed by chef Dom Hammond honours each ingredient from root to fruit, where her  daring sense of creativity transforms Indonesia’s lush, tropical flora and botanical into full edible  potential without a single wasted cell.  

Kaum, named after “clan” or “tribe” in Bahasa, Kaum is an authentic Indonesian restaurant that showcases recipes passed on for generations but were rarely recorded or shared outside the islands’ 600 tribal communities. Marking Potato Head Family’s commitment to place Indonesia’s rich culinary heritage at the centre of the world gastronomic map, Kaum celebrates and presents a taste of Indonesia’s culinary origins inspired by the Archipelago indigenous tribes to a wider global audience.  

Ijen is the first restaurant in Indonesia dedicated to radical Earth-conscious practices with a “nothing  left-over” approach – a masterclass in conscious sourcing and utilising every remaining morsel to be  composted, used as animal feed or fertiliser or to be recycled. The terrazzo-style dining room floor  itself is repurposed from broken plates and chipped glasses, whilst the furniture diners are seated on  are sourced from Mersawa wood and plastic from motorcycle oil caps.  

Sunset Park, an idyllic rooftop location where guests can immerse themselves in spectacular  sunsets and local cuisine to a tranquil soundtrack and atmosphere. Situated on the roof of Desa  Potato Head’s cultural hub, Potato Head Studios, the space enables guests to experience the  transition from day to night in the most idyllic way possible - under the setting sun. Aligned with the  hours of dusk, Sunset Park opens between 5 and 9pm, rendering the venue the most remarkable  spot on the island to experience the evening fall.  

The Drinks 

Akademi, the open-aired cocktail bar, lab and training centre houses root-to-flower cocktails that shine a spotlight on native botanicals like arak and jamu. Cocktail magic that is unique to Potato  Head is achieved with locally distilled spirits, native ingredients and juices that are all concocted in house.  

The Art Scene  

Treated as an additional vehicle to raise awareness whilst celebrating local  and global artists alike, Potato Head seeks prolific names in the art world  across disciplines to shape interactive, interesting and holistic  experiences. Majority of the art pieces are formulated from renewable  materials, such as the recent collaboration with Futura2000 titled  “Pointman – River Warrior”, a sculpture made from repurposed waste  materials collected from the waterways in Bali as a social commentary on  pollution.  

The Design 

Other design aspects of the hotel merge Brutalist architecture with its  tropical setting – highlighting the luscious vegetation and hypnotic forms  of nature that surround the Desa. Each detail is charged by the soul of its  designer, whilst a great deal of Indonesian artisanal craftsmanship is  showcased throughout the Potato Head Suites – down to the amenities  offered in room such as beach sets woven by indigenous Dayak people, botanically tinted, hand woven rugs, linens and tapestries from a natural-dye house Tarum and Jengki furniture which is  custom made from handpicked teak. 

The Community  

Potato Head is also committed in supporting future change makers – especially grassroot communities that aim to restore natural ecosystems, create safe walking trails and connect carbon offsets to real projects. During the pandemic, the Sweet Potato Project was born around regenerative farming that could not only provide nutritious meals to local populations, but also create purpose, jobs and hope.  

The Sustainability 

Actions speak louder than words – and at Potato Head, it’s what they do to create a beautiful, sustainable existence that counts.  

At Waste Lab, the open-air workshop where passion for the environment breeds creativity, anyone who passes through is welcome to explore and learn about  waste management – how they give clothing a second life, or turn plastic and Styrofoam waste into  furniture or objects of art to be admired once again. The lifestyle brand has cultivated an  environment where eco-innovators co-exist, inspire and teach each other how to design a circular  future.  

Through the activities at Sweet Potato Kids, the next generation is engaged in a sustainable manner  where they draw and plant seeds, make boats out of coconut shells and adorn their arms with bracelets of recycled plastic beads.  

The Wellness 

Potato Head’s wellness service, MERASA which is Indonesian for ‘to feel’ is a tailor made approach  to discovering resolutions for the body, mind and spirit. Honouring the philosophy of duality within  Balinese culture which embraces life’s pleasures and challenges, the service is a guidance towards a  natural inner balance while integrating both traditional and modern practices. Visitors can expect  wellness consultation, talks, workshops from Potato Head’s mix of local and international wellness  experts - covering everything from frequency meditations, yoga, qi gong, intention setting, oracle cards, nutrition basics, native medicine and gut health through the service. The gym is 24 hours too,  and appropriate workouts are also designed with children in mind.  

MERASA also offers Sanctuary, a wellness experience that offers alternative forms of wellness and spirituality such as vibroacoustic audio visual therapy, sound healing, breath work, ice bath therapy, energy medicine, somatic release, and awakenings 6-days per week. This temple of wellness connects its hosts with their flow state, in turn,  heightening either their sense of concentration or state of relaxation, as they simultaneously awaken a higher level of consciousness.