Scallywags Resort Gili Air

The group is owned and managed by long-resident Australians who have been operating in the Gili archipelago for nearly two decades. The brand is known for casual beach-club restaurants with a reliable Mediterranean-Asian menu and well-priced cocktails — the resort attached to the restaurant is the secondary product.

This shows in the experience: the restaurant is the strongest part of the property, and the rooms are good-but-not-exceptional.

Three categories. Garden Bungalows are the entry option (900,000–1,200,000 IDR) — set behind the restaurant in the garden grounds. Deluxe Bungalows are larger with king beds and outdoor sitting areas (1,200,000–1,500,000 IDR). Beachfront Bungalows face the sea directly with private deck access (1,500,000–1,800,000 IDR).

For 2-night stays, the Garden Bungalows deliver decent value if you don't mind being set back from the beach. For 3+ nights, the Deluxe Bungalows are noticeably more comfortable. Beachfront Bungalows are worth the upgrade only if you specifically want sea views from bed — the restaurant noise is more present in those units.

Scallywags is on Gili Air's south coast main strip, about a 5-minute walk from the public boat harbour. This is the busiest part of Gili Air with most restaurants, dive shops, and yoga studios within 5–10 minutes' walk. The hotel beach is the main south-coast snorkel beach, with shallow swimming entry and the famous offshore reef within a 5-minute swim.

The position is busy but walkable. After dinner, you can wander the strip without leaving the area; for quieter evenings the east-coast or north-coast beaches are a 15-minute bike ride.

The restaurant is the property's defining feature and reason to book. Scallywags' kitchen runs a Mediterranean-Asian menu — wood-fired pizzas, fresh seafood, Indonesian classics — at mains 100,000–250,000 IDR. The setting is open-air beachfront with proper Gili sunset views to the west. Hotel guests get a 10% discount on food; some longer-stay guests basically eat all meals here.

Breakfast is included and is good — eggs to order, fresh fruit, pastries, smoothies, Indonesian options. The restaurant runs from 7am breakfast through to 10pm dinner.

Bungalows have been refurbished in waves over the years. The newer Deluxe and Beachfront units feel modern with strong air-con, hot showers, in-room safes, and reliable Wi-Fi. The older Garden Bungalows have had cosmetic refurbishments but feel their age — request a recently refurbished unit at booking if possible.

The pool is small — a circular dip pool in the central garden rather than a swimming pool. For real swimming, the beach in front is the better option at high tide.

Restaurant noise is the main downside for the front rooms. The kitchen winds down around 10pm but the bar is open until 11pm and music carries to the Beachfront Bungalows. Garden and Deluxe Bungalows further from the beach are noticeably quieter.

Service is friendly and consistent — many staff have been at Scallywags for 5+ years and bring genuine warmth. English is spoken throughout. The concierge handles snorkel trips, dive bookings, and onward boats efficiently.

Book here if you want central beachfront location with the on-site restaurant as a major draw, you're a couple or group on a 2–3 night stay, and you don't mind some evening sound from the restaurant. Strong for foodie travellers and groups who want everything in walking distance.

Skip if you want quiet (the south strip is busy), if you want pool-villa privacy (Gili Air Lagoon Resort is better), or if you want a brand-new product without compromise (Mahamaya Gili Air is more polished).