Naked plush maroon sofas dressed up with glittery gold sequined cloth. Throwing a warm glow to the place are chandeliers of candles decorated with chains of cream-coloured pearls.

On any given night at the Hu'u bar, it is a visual treat to see how the minimalist and classy turns on its seductive charm, ready to welcome its guests for the party theme of the evening.

In the two nights that I wined and dined at the Hu'u, I caught her splendid transformation from "Hu'u Jazz Nite" to "Solid Gold" disco night, without losing its elegant character.

But such is the essence of Hu'u, located at the coastline of the outer vestiges of Kuta, and which is named after a mystical atoll off Sumba that is revered by surfers. The concept of the place is described as "a state of consciousness that brings together the quiet elegance imbued by the mysticism of Bali", says a brochure.

Amidst this central mood of uber style and quiet hip, variety is the name of the game. In addition to the "Cigars, Single Malts & Jazz" and "Hu'u Jazz Nite", which runs on a regular Wednesday and Thursday evening respectively, the bar also thrives on exciting lineups for the weekend. "Paradise Garage", "Solid Gold", "A Night of the 90s" and "Retro Nite" were just some of the offerings on the plate for the month of March.

 

If the boogie does not get you, there is always the lovely outdoor dining area, which occupies more than half of the Hu'u's 20,000 square foot area. There, peace and serenity take centre stage with a 14-metre long pool surrounded spaciously placed white-tableclothed tables and chill-out wooden chairs.

The pieces are deceptively simplistic, but the lighting adds to the magical touch. Electrical lamps on pillars and indoor ceilings are kept to a sparse minimum, giving plenty of space for candle-lit illumination for the outdoor areas.

Besides adding a touch of romanticism, the candle lights against the white tablecloths seem to also put a natural radiant glow on the faces of the customers.

The whole Hu'u experience is enhanced by the delectable pan-Asian cuisine served there. The entire menu is fastidiously put together by chef Abu Goh, who draws inspiration from his work and travel experiences in Thailand, Australia and South Africa.

The house favourites are the Hu'u seafood salad, a tangy yet spicy appetiser of mesclun leaves with generous servings of fresh tuna, prawns and muscles; the braised garoupa served with scallops, potatoes and sharkfin nage; and the slow cook teriyaki salmon partnered with soba noodles and shimeji mushrooms.

The fusion of east-and-west comes full circle with the use of organically grown vegetables and ingredients, which is abundantly available in Bali, says Chef Abu.

An evening at the Hu'u starts and ends with great drinks, and here the bar serves up the full works, with its acclaimed lychee martini being an all-time favourite. It is refreshing, sweet and invigorating, and goes down beautifully in the balmy evening breeze.

For the more adventurous, try the Hu'u submarine, a mixture of tequila and beer; the former served in an inverted shot glass nestled inside a larger beer-filled glass. Every tip of the beer glass tilts the shot glass, and more tequila is released into the brew.

The drink starts you off slow, but progressively reaches a strong "climatic" finish.

And such is the character of Hu'u, it never tries to overwhelm but gradually seduces, and lingers long after you have left the place.

» Read about Jaymee's exclusive experience at Bali here.

The writer's trip is courtesy of DBS,Launchpad Asia and Motorola.