Mesa Stila Retreat and Wellness Spa, Central Javafeatured
Mesa Stila Retreat
Mesa Stila is a destination spa and wellness retreat in Central Java, Indonesia. It is surrounded by rain forest and set on a 55-acre coffee plantation established in 1928. Once occupied by a Javanese Prince it is a unique property built in Colonial style. The Club House is the original building with a collection of antiques and the era paintings.
The accommodation comprises only 23 villas and as such the place is never crowded. For an even more private experience select a villa overlooking the valley and the mountains. Mt Andong is visible on most days and on a sunny day you will see Mt Merapi on the background. It is one of the world’s most active volcanoes and it erupts regularly so you might witness a grey ash cloud or two!
Food and Dining
Java Red is the main restaurant at Mesa Stila and it is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It is fully licenced and serves a great variety of local and western cuisine. I recommend trying red rice dishes and warm mushroom soup made of locally grown mushrooms, which you can actually see during the plantation tour.
Try in-room dining. It will be beautifully set up in the privacy and tranquillity of your own villa. And if you are in the retreat in the afternoon enjoy some coffee and snacks in the Club House.
You can also combine a trek with a picnic lunch which will be prepared and set up for you in a picturesque village. Fresh coconuts and fruits, as well as fish wrapped in banana leaves, will be a great conclusion to the long hike.
In the morning you will be offered a medicinal drink called Jamu made of leaves, roots, and flowers. Various combinations are to prevent different health issues and are part of the ancient tradition. Some are extremely bitter and some are sweet. You can read a menu of ingredients and make some brave choices!
The Spa
The Mesa Stila Spa is a certain highlight of the trip. The Turkish-style Hamman Spa experience is a combination of steam, scrub, and full-body massage treatment. I highly recommend a reflexology session and a facial. If you are into detoxing body treatments then try coffee and pandan wrap, that is applied head to toe with a soft brush and feels like warm coffee with milk!
Activities at Mesa Stila
On your arrival, you will be given a list of daily scheduled activities complementary for all guests to join. That includes:
- Daily yoga before breakfast overlooking the valley
- Coffee Plantation tour where you learn the history of the estate, visit the organic farm and see how mushrooms grow in the dark!
- Exercise activities such as circuit training, core stability, aqua, and gym training
- Traditional things to do like batik making, Javanese dancing and Pencak Silat ( form of Indonesian Martial Arts)
For the best experience at Mesa StilaW
Local mosques
The estate, although large, is surrounded by villages and numerous mosques, where 5 daily calls for prayers take place including at 4:00am. During the day the calls add to the authenticity and tranquility of the place, they are melodic and pleasant. If you are not a morning person though, at 4am this might be a bit too loud, so pack some earplugs, which are also kindly offered at the reception!
What to pack
Indonesia is generally hot and humid and the resort is not an exception. pack light and casual. Take comfortable clothes for morning yoga classes and good trekking shoes. Pack plenty of sunscreen, mosquito repellent, and hand sanitiser. If you are planning to visit Dieng Plateu or trek local mountains take some warmer clothes and a rain jacket. Due to the higher elevation, these places are considerably cooler and the weather is unpredictable.
Things to do in Central Java
Mesa Stila has a list of excursions that they organize in Central Java for all tastes and fitness levels. From comfortable drives through the area visiting major tourist attractions to challenging trekking to the top of the surrounding mountains, you will find something to do every day if lazing around the pool and getting spa treatments becomes boring somehow.
Although you can hire a car in Semarang and do the driving around yourself, it is not something I would recommend for a stress-free experience. Roads are narrow and windy, traffic is heavy everywhere, parking would be a challenge at major tourist attractions like Borobudur. At night, it is simply dangerous when trucks overloaded with building materials hit the road. They move very slowly and can look like they can tip over at any moment. Mesa Stila has comfortable cars, experienced drivers and they carry cold towels, water, and snacks. Therefore, all you have to do is turn up!