MesaStila Resort and Spa

MesaStila Resort and Spa is built within a coffee plantation at Losari, near Grabag in the highlands of Central Java, ringed by eight mountains, with cool highland air, tropical gardens and rice terraces around it. It opened in 2004 and keeps a strong Javanese character: its 23 villas are historic joglo houses, the traditional wooden buildings of Java, filled with antiques and artworks, and a colonial railway station stands in the grounds. Plantation Villas sit on a hilltop among the coffee, Arum Villas have a day bed, a large Mediterranean-style bathroom and a balcony facing the mountains, and there are Ambar family and two-bedroom villas, as well as the Bella Vista compound of five villas with its own pool and butler for groups. The resort concentrates on wellness, with treatments in its Hammam Spa, organic and Javanese food, and Pencak Silat, the Javanese martial art, among the activities, while dance shows, gamelan performances and batik lessons are held every afternoon. Most staff come from the villages around it, and every six months the spare change guests leave at the front desk goes to local orphanages. It is open all year, about 55 kilometres from Semarang airport and 65 kilometres from Yogyakarta.