Hello, welcome to Bali. Read on for everything you need to know about Bali nightlife. [Updated June 2023]
Bali nightlife is centred in the southern tourist areas of Seminyak, Canggu and Uluwatu. After that it is Ubud, Sanur and, once the king of Bali nightlife, but now coming in way behind, Kuta. There is hope for a Kuta resurgence, but we’ll leave that for later.
A bit of Bali nightlife history. Kuta
Kuta was the original party zone of Bali nightlife and the place that back packers, surfies and first time visitors invariably arrived for their first taste of Bali. Cheap accommodation, cheap beers and buzzing at all hours with people from all parts of the world is what Kuta is all about. The demographic has changed in the Kuta area over the past years, and not just because of Covid, as Canggu and Uluwatu have taken a lot of the surfie backpacker youth away, but Kuta nightlife still rocks seven nights a week for a certain crowd – mainly young local, or tourists that don’t know any better. The dress code is very casual; wear your shorts, T-shirt and why not, the ubiquitous Bintang singlet if you like and you will feel right at home.
Seminyak
Meanwhile, Seminyak has always been the more sophisticated end of Bali nightlife. Luxury villas, classy people and fine dining is the situation in this sometimes pricey and up-market enclave of expats and higher-end tourists. It’s still the place to get dressed up in your coolest linen for a night on the town. Seminyak nightlife is still busy seven nights a week and mainly around Jalan Petitenget and Oberoi where you can find La Favela, Mexicola and Shishi, Red Ruby, amongst many others. Potato Head, Ku De Ta and W Bali are busy around sunset and also have big events that are worth attending. It’s also busy most nights for an alternative crowd on Jalan Dhyana Pura, Bali Joe, Mixwell et all.
Canggu
Canggu is just north of Seminyak and in the last ten years has become the new night and day-life playground, with young international tourists flocking to Bali on a digital nomad ticket and hipster ride. Loads of hipsters, surfies, Aussies and Euros are riding around on their bikes, no-helmets, shirts off looking for hotspots like Sand Bar, Old Man’s, Deus, Finns Beach Club, The Lawn or Miss Fish, Morabito, The Shady Pig and a whole bunch of new western influenced bars and restaurants. It is similar to Seminyak a few years ago, but with a new and definitely more hipster twist. Berawa, Batu Bolong and Echo Beach are the spots. Pererenan is fast catching up. Canggu is well worth a look and a play.
Uluwatu
The Uluwatu area has bounded out of the gates in the past couple of years and taken Bali by storm. The uber-stylish Savaya Day Club, formally Omnia, has become one of the most popular venues on the Bali map since opening at the beginning of 2018. There is a continual line up of nternational superstar DJs on the decks every weekend. Another top notch venue in the area is Ulu Cliffhouse, which has been very busy, with large events upstairs and cozier shows on the lower deck right next to the water. Tabu is the latest hotspot in the new Uluwatu town (you could call it) on the weekends with Bali’s best DJs performing. With El Kabron, Karma Kandara’s Karma Beach and Sundays Beach Club down the road offering great chilled beach-side action, and Single Fin and the other warungs all going nuts at sunset overlooking the Uluwatu surf break, Uluwatu has a lot to offer. And let’s not forget the glorious white-sand beaches with crystal-clear water down that way, too! Uluwatu has become THE place to be.
Jimbaran & Nusa Dua
Jimbaran made its name with the fish warungs sprawled along the long white-sand beach from the airport to Four Seasons Resort of Jimbaran Bay. Those beach side seafood restaurants continue to pack punters in every night of the week. Four Seasons’ Sundara restaurant right on the beach has tasty sunset sessions with chilled DJs and live music action, and one of the most famous bars in town, the Rock Bar (pictured below) is up the road at the Ayana Resort. Rock Bar is breathtaking and set right on the water’s edge, but go early before sunset as it’s always busy and normally has a long queue for the inclinator, but you can can always walk down on the left side. Further down the road to Nusa Dua, you can find, Manarai Beach House, which has excellent dining and the perfect spot for a Sunday laze by the beach or pool. The Sunday brunches in the Nusa Dua five-star hotels are also worth the drive.
Sanur
Sanur was the first tourist area of Bali going way back to the 1930s with the likes of Charlie Chaplin or artist Miguel Cervantes staying there on holiday and no doubt having a night out or two. Sanur now, like then, has a languid, chilled out approach to life. There are a number of dining options along Jl. Danau Tamblingan and the hotels along the beach. There are also a bunch of casual restaurants on the promenade along the beach that are well worth a try. Nightlife is limited to a few sports bars and old timer restaurants and bars. There are also a number of live music joints along the main road, Casablanca being a standout.
So, en fin, how is the Bali Nightlife?
There are plenty of options for nightlife and entertainment in Bali. Everyone is covered from the backpacker looking for a bamboo beach hut experience, the clubber looking for the latest electronic sounds in an ice cold, dark nightclub, to the high-end roller dining in some of the finest restaurants or partying in some of the fanciest clubs in the entire world—in Bali there is literally something for everyone.
It may take a while, maybe a couple of trips, to figure the island’s magic nightlife scene out for yourself, or go the fast lane and click the links below for all the latest information on the Bali nightlife.
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