Villa in Tamarindo

A hillside estate above Tamarindo, drawn from the spirit of Bali and scaled for the kind of gathering that asks something more of a place. Fifteen thousand square feet of open-air living unfold across three levels, with the Pacific visible from nearly every room — the estuary below, Playa Grande tracing the horizon to the north, the ocean filling the rest.

The architecture earns its reference. Ironwood, carved stone, and thatched overhangs give the interior a warmth that feels considered rather than decorated. The main living area anchors around a long dining table and opens onto the primary infinity pool, its edge dissolving into the ocean view. Below, a 21-meter lap pool sits beneath a Balinese bale with double loungers — a quieter counterpoint to the activity above. Both levels catch the breeze.

Eight bedrooms are distributed across the three floors with enough separation that a group of twenty moves through the house without ever feeling crowded. The primary suite occupies the upper level: a California king, double sinks, a double shower, and a carved stone bathtub positioned the way only a room with this much confidence can manage it. The main floor holds two bedrooms — one with a king and desk, another with a king, a twin, a walk-in closet, and its own workspace. The lower level spreads four more across its footprint, three of them kings with ensuite bathrooms, and one outfitted with five single beds, a smart TV, and a ping pong table — the room that tends to become its own small world. A separate apartment with private entry, kitchenette, and sitting area completes the count.

The house runs on detail. A purified water system delivers still and sparkling on demand. A botanical MistAway system keeps the outdoor spaces genuinely usable after dark. Sonos carries through every room. The staff — concierge, daily housekeeping, laundry, pool and garden crew — works quietly in the background, and the kitchen will be stocked before you arrive if you ask. A media room with a 60" screen and two deep lounges, a mirrored yoga and exercise room, beach chairs and umbrellas, surfboards on request: the house anticipates a range of moods and covers most of them.

Town and beach are a five-minute walk. The hillside makes it feel farther.