Bali is no stranger to luxury hotels and innovative dining, but Shelter Island, Room4Dessert, and Powder Room have created a unique food-lovers destination, a.k.a the R4D universe. Here you’ll find a seamless fusion of hospitality, sustainability, design and culinary storytelling. Spearheaded by dessert visionary Will Goldfarb, expect a carefully curated experience that challenges expectations. Instead of relying on grand statements or over-the-top theatrics, these spaces deliver an experience that redefines the box.
Shelter Island - A Stay with Character
Just a short drive from central Ubud, Shelter Island is not your typical boutique stay. Inspired by mid-century beach motels in New York with references to 60s and 70s Riviera glam, it was designed as a place for students of the R4D Academy students who come from all over the world to get a little of the magic of one of the world’s most renowned dessert chefs. It didn’t take long before travellers wanted to check in too.
The Gallery Room, where we hung our pyjamas, is a blast of culture and colour. A bright yellow wardrobe pops against the room’s neutral palette, while a four-poster bed draped in fabric adds a touch of romance. A striped yellow-and-white sofa stretches across one wall with quirky artwork by Indonesian artists Black Hand Gang. Shelter Island has style in spades, it’s funky, fun and effortlessly comfortable.
Room4Dessert - GOAT Vol. 2
If Room4Dessert were a band, it would be the kind that reinvents itself with every album, keeping the crowd on their toes. The GOAT Vol. 2, the latest iteration of Goldfarb’s ever-evolving dessert experience, delivers a multi-act performance that blurs the line between restaurant and theatre. Before stepping into the dining spaces, guests walk through the Miyawaki forest and North Garden, both central to the restaurant’s ethos. The Miyawaki method, a reforestation technique designed to encourage dense and rapid growth, reflects a commitment to sustainability. The North Garden, meanwhile, showcases the ingredients that will soon appear on the menu, turning the pre-dinner stroll into a quiet moment of connection with the land.
Then, the dining experience begins. The latest tasting menu, GOAT Vol. 2, is a collection of greatest hits and is presented in a way that keeps things playful and unexpected, moving across multiple spaces. With a funky soundtrack and simple spaces, this experience is all about the food and also offers a great pairing menu of organic wines and incredible cocktails.
Act One: The Savoury Prelude
Before the sweets take centre stage, Room4Dessert sets the tone with a series of savoury dishes that are small, intricate, and unexpected. Pea Shoots is the first course and one of the standouts; a clever play on Indonesian pucuk pakis (fern tips) and Chinese dou miao (pea shoots), combining delicate textures with fresh, verdant flavours. Then there’s Squid Noodles, a dish that nods to Xiao Long Bao in the most unorthodox way. It’s a silky, chiffonade-like tangle of squid tossed in bold, Thai-inflected sauce. It’s playful, technical, and a brilliant precursor to the evening.
Act Two: Desserts, Redefined
Next we enter the dining room where dessert takes centre stage, but in a way that feels innovative rather than indulgent. The first standout, Planifoglia, is a dessert that pays homage to vanilla’s complex history. It is something that transforms the familiar into something revelatory. Then the Chocobubbles 4 Evah, a Room4Dessert classic that never grows old. So many past guests have joked about wanting a longer tongue just to savour every last bite.
Act Three: The Finale
The last act in the fire pit is a playful mix of textures and techniques. Poky with rosella aioli packs a sharp bright punch, then the Cashew Medium Mac that reinvents the classic macaron with a touch of turmeric. Cacao leaf explores the lesser-known nuances of cacao with its delicate oil. Finally, D&C’s take a playful approach to nostalgia, inspired by M&M’s yet executed with Room4Dessert’s signature flair.
From the first bite to the last, GOAT Vol. 11 is a testament to Room4Dessert’s ever-evolving creativity, a dining experience that challenges conventions while remaining deeply rooted in flavour and storytelling.
The Powder Room - A Laid-Back Finish
Wake up and head to the Powder Room, to reset the pace. A more casual concept from the same team behind Room4Dessert, this takeaway and brunch spot introduces nostalgia, humour and candy-bar classics. There’s no fuss, just indulgent pastries and morning essentials washed down with a local brew. Keeping it local is part of the brilliance of Will Goldfarb’s team – do more with less and support local artisans and growers.
The continental breakfast is deceptively straightforward. A pop tart, a bowl of yoghurt with granola and dragonfruit, and a selection of drinks including coffee/tea and jamu. The signature bombolonis make an appearance too, continuing their well-earned reputation. You’ll be sorry you ever tried these because one is too much but never enough – the creme brulee is a hot favourite and made to order.
Brunch here isn’t an afterthought. Whether it’s a quick stop or a slow drawn-out morning, Powder Room offers the same level of culinary wizardry as the night before, without the formality. No unnecessary flourishes, just great pastries, a relaxed atmosphere, and a sense that breakfast deserves just as much attention.
A Unified Approach to Hospitality
What ties Shelter Island, Room4Dessert, and Powder Room together is not just ownership, but philosophy. Each element is designed with a strong sense of purpose, whether it’s the way the rooms at Shelter Island feel lived-in rather than staged, the menu at Room4Dessert that unfolds like a story, or the way Powder Room delivers excellence in an unfussy format. It’s hospitality with personality.
The R4D Universe offers a range of experiences – from a night to remember at Room 4 Dessert, coffee, donuts and design at Powder Room, an academy for dessert-obsessed chefs and home cooks and immerse yourself in this unique world with a sleepover at Shelter Island. Do like us and experience them all.
Check the website to learn more.
