Meru Sanur (former Grand Inna Bali Beach), Sanur

The short answer

Meru Sanur (former Grand Inna Bali Beach): what visitors should know first

Look at it as a landmark as much as a hotel. It is large, beachfront and historic, so it suits groups who like space and facilities. Confirm current room standards and operator, as it reopened after renovation in 2024, and ask about non-guest access before visiting.

History and context

The story behind Meru Sanur (former Grand Inna Bali Beach)

Construction began in 1963 under Sukarno, funded by Japanese war reparations, and the hotel opened in 1966 with 10 storeys and 566 rooms. It was renamed Bali Beach Hotel in 1979. A three-day fire closed it on 20 January 1993, and it reopened on 4 October 1993 as the Grand Bali Beach. Fires in 2020 and 2021 damaged parts of the hotel, it closed in July 2022 for renovation, and it reopened in early 2024 as the Meru Sanur, according to Wikipedia.

Useful facts

Meru Sanur (former Grand Inna Bali Beach) facts at a glance

Location: Jalan Hang Tuah, Sanur Beach
Stay style: Large beachfront heritage resort
Location trade-off: Walk to cafes, but not the quietest stretch
Best suited to: Groups, families and history-minded guests
Origins: Opened 1966 as Bali's first five-star resort
Operator: Check the current operator before booking

Why it matters

Why Meru Sanur (former Grand Inna Bali Beach) is worth your time

This hotel is a landmark in the history of Bali tourism. Under President Sukarno, construction began in 1963 as the Bali Beach InterContinental, financed by Japanese war reparations, and it opened in 1966 as Bali's first five-star resort. It is widely regarded as the start of mass tourism on the island.

Its height also shaped Bali's skyline. A 1971 provincial law capped new hotel heights at 15 metres, so this ten-storey building remains the tallest hotel on the island. For visitors who care about how places change, a night here, or even a walk past, shows the beginning of the story that later produced Kuta and Seminyak.

Highlights

What not to miss

01
Bali's first five-star
It opened in 1966 and is widely seen as the start of the island's mass tourism.
02
Tallest on the island
A 1971 height cap means no hotel has since been built taller.
03
Large grounds
Gardens and a beachfront setting make it more spacious than most Sanur hotels.

Plan your visit

How to experience it

If you stay, request a room with a sea or garden view and ask which wing is closest to the beach path. The hotel's size is its main feature: it is one of the biggest in Bali, with several hundred rooms plus villas and cottages, and its ten-storey main building is still noticeable on the Sanur skyline.

If you are not staying, view it from the beach path and ask about restaurant visits. One listing places the Roso restaurant here, serving Indonesian dishes, with set meal times, though menus and hours can change.

Walk the grounds in the early morning, when the garden is quiet. Because the hotel is old and has been through renovations, ask the front desk to confirm current facilities such as lifts, accessible rooms and pool depth before you book.

Plan with confidence

Before you book the room.

Confirm current room standards after the 2024 reopening
Ask for a room near the lobby and lift
Check non-guest access before visiting
Book directly or via a reputable site

Know before you go

Timing, access and comfort

Area: Jalan Hang Tuah, Sanur Beach
Time needed: Overnight stay or a short look from the beach path
Best time: Year round; June to September is driest
Walking level: Easy
Senior comfort: A large single resort with long internal distances but lifts in the main tower and level garden paths. Ask for a room near the lobby and check beach access steps before booking.
Tickets and access: Hotel guests have full access. Non-guests may be able to eat at the hotel restaurants or look around the public areas, but rules vary, so ask the front desk or the restaurant before turning up.

Best for

History-minded guestsLarge family groupsTravellers wanting facilities on siteSeniors who like one-stop resorts

Plan it with

Sanur Beach and the Beachfront PathA long, east-facing beach on Bali's south coast with a paved path running along it, calm shallows, fishing boats and a sunrise view across to Nusa Penida.Places to visit · 1 to 2 hours for a walk; a morning for a relaxed beach stop Le Mayeur MuseumThe seafront house of the Belgian painter Adrien-Jean Le Mayeur, now a small museum of his paintings and carved Balinese furniture, set in a garden by the beach.Culture and craft · 45 to 75 minutes Sanur Harbour and Boats to the IslandsThe departure point for fast boats to Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan and the Gili Islands, with a working harbour feel just off the beachfront.Places to visit · 30 minutes to board; the island day trips take a day

Book with confidence

Check rates at Meru Sanur (former Grand Inna Bali Beach)

Compare room types, cancellation terms and breakfast before you book. Ask for a ground-floor or lift-access room if anyone finds stairs hard.

Check prices and availability Compare other Sanur hotels

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Travelling with parents?

A large single resort with long internal distances but lifts in the main tower and level garden paths. Ask for a room near the lobby and check beach access steps before booking.

Raahzo can arrange an arrival or day companion who handles tickets, queues and pacing, and keeps the family updated.

See concierge support

Map

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FAQs

Is Meru Sanur the same as Grand Inna Bali Beach?

Yes. Wikipedia says the former Grand Inna Bali Beach reopened in early 2024 as the Meru Sanur.

Why is it so tall?

A 1971 provincial law capped new hotels at 15 m, and this hotel pre-dates the rule.

Can I visit without staying?

Possibly. Ask the hotel about restaurant access and public areas first.

Sources and further reading

Timings, fees and access rules change. Recheck with the official source before you travel.