Bali Nightlife – Where to go and what to do.
Bali Nightlife – where to go and what to do.
Where do you go out nowadays in Bali? Well, that would depend on what style of entertainment and nightlife you’re looking for. A lot of people nowadays are into the day time/early evening beach clubs and bars along the coasts of Bali. Most of the big beach clubs are open seven days and pumping out the good times day and night (until 10pm or 12 midnight). Savaya (formerly known as Omnia) on the south coast is still the must-visit location with international and local DJs, great service, drinks, and for a clientele who like to see and be seen. Not far away from Savaya is Ulu Cliffhouse, which has had some phenomenal international shows recently and Single Fin. They both look west near Uluwatu surf break and catch a bit more of the sunset−and that’s when they are at their busiest. More on Uluwatu here.
Closer to town and in Seminyak you can try a more casual and very popular beach bar La PLancha and their multitude of neighbors on Seminyak beach from Double Six to Gado Gado. Further north along Seminyak Beach, Cout d’etat has been a mainstay giant in Bali food, style, tunes and parties for the past couple of decades. Up to the new Batubelig Beach Moriand the more casual beach bars nearby like 707, Il Lido are worth a look, especially on Sunday afternoons. Further up in Canggu, Cafe del Mar, Finns Beach Club, LV8have a new neighbor, Atlas Beach Club on Berawa beach, which opened last year. Some love it and others are less enthusiastic about the dignity of it all. It looks to be the perfect spot for people who like banging EDM by the beach – there is also a massive indoor venue at Atlas too. Echo Beach area has a few casual bars on the beach and further north near Pererenan beach some nice bars have popped up recently on the beach. All along the coast from Jimbaran, Kuta, Seminyak there are plenty of small beach side warung bar options – think upturned beer crates and styrofoam cool boxes – mostly with cheap, cold beer, but most get quiet after sunset.
More about Bali Beach Clubs here
The proper nightlife still starts around midnight in Bali clubs but some venues manage to get some punters in earlier.
PETITENGET
Petiteneget has been taken off right from where it stopped after the pandemic closure in March 2020 and is still the main area to hang out at night. Most of the clubs and bars were clandestinely open for almost the entire pandemic.
Some clubs like the three floors ShiShi in Petitenget offer free flow drinks to entice an early crowd and it works. ShiShi is the home for commercial pumping music from EDM to Hip-Hop, so if that’s your style, it’s the place to be and if you’re early enough you might even get a free drink, too. Wednesday’s Ladies Night is the pick for girls (free drinks and food) and guys understandably hanging out to chase all those gals. Early till late.
Just down the road is the smaller club, Red Rubywhich has taken the mantle in recent times of being THE house/techno spot on the Petitenget strip. It does get busy with people who enjoy the underground scene and vibe, but mostly late. Some Wednesdays you may even catch The Beat crew spinning a few tracks there. After midnight.
Further down Jl Petitenget and into a side lane Mrs Sippy is back in action and already bringing in the big star DJs. Daytime/early evening.
Back up and across the road from Red Ruby is the Faith Rooftop which is super stylish and uber-chic spot with a view. Hip hop features twice a month, but DJs on rotation other nights. They do have some good underground sounds too. I like this place. Sunset and some later parties. (Temporarily closed for renovations)
Heading north up around the bend is the new Shady Flamingo with top notch cocktails, DJs and vibe. It’s looking good. 8pm to 3am.
If you are into live music and especially live indo pop music you can’t miss Nineteen Lounges just up from The Shady Flamingo. They have the best local bands playing mostly Indonesian hit songs (Indonesian hits). early.
The Forge is up the road and around another bend. It’s a fun place with great food and drinks. Being owned by the same folks as ShiShi (and previously Sky Garden) you’re guaranteed a great vibe with DJs every night. It is open 24/7.
Ling Ling’s, next door is still a fave spot for the younger crowd, with their waitresses in funky costumes and a real hip hop urban kinda feel. There are all kinds of offers every night to keep you entertained and fed. Early till late.
Right at the top of Jalan Petitenget you can find Da Maria which pumps the DJs from Hip Hop to house techno depending on the night. Also offers pretty decent Italian food. And further up and across the road the clandestine, recently renovated and enlarged 40 Thieves is a cool and casual bar/club. From 11pm.
Back down to Jalan Kayu Aya, every night of the week La Favelas is turning it on with hip hop through the main two floors of the venue while upstairs the third floor is the house techno area. Great drinks can also be found on the third floor bar called Attica. La Favela packs in a generally younger crowd, but everyone is welcome and seen in this fun and busy club. From 10pm.
Across the road is the mainly older crew’s Red Carpet which has a lot of sophistication and up-market carry-on with mainly 80’s style pop music. Early till late.
One of the kings in the Petitenget area has to be Mexicola. The Mexican restaurant turned nightclub has a great formula of fun, mostly older, mashed up tunes and flowing tequila shots keeping the dance floor pumping seven nights a week. They have Balinese nightlife style down to a T and packed every night with a full on tourist party crew. Early till late.
SEMINYAK
Seminyak still has some hot spots but mainly down Jalan Dhyana Pura (now officially named Jl Camplung Tanduk). At the top we have Kingsway which offers fin-ish dining and small room clubbing. A very cool spot. 11pm.
The alternative clubs are further down the road, which can’t be missed, with people spilling out onto the streets every night of the week in all kinds of garbs. Flamboyant is a word that comes to mind in this area. Mixwell, Bali Joe, 66 Bar and more offer all kinds of entertainment, diversion and loads of fun for anyone that’s game. From 10pm.
Very good late night clubbing can be experienced on the same road too. Opera or is it now called Obsession (a former name of venue on the same site) and The Warehouse have been the places to be after midnight and beyond with underground sounds going till very late. Dat Dash is another smaller late late night club down the road further on the right. late.
One of Seminyak’s most loved underground clubs, Jenja is back open on Jalan Nakula. With a new management and outlook they are now open on the weekends with most nights packing them in. It’s always great to be back enjoying some great sounds and shots with Mac and the crew.
Now, if you are looking for something local you can always try Phoenix KTV which has a rather pumping local and some Caucasians crowd late into the night. Last drinks possibly here. Late Late.
CANGGU
Canggu starts basically over the bridge from Jalan Batubelig into Berawa. First happening spot right there is a beach club called Cafe del Mar. It’s a spacious area right in front of the ocean and their sunsets are generally pumping most days. Big acts sometimes pass by too. Behind the Green Door has a pretty young expat and local crowd. It’s a smallish bar upstairs from a now rather fancy restaurant called Maize, with a variety of DJs playing. It can definitely be fun after midnight and onto late. Finns and Atlas beach clubs fight it out right next to each other on Berawa Beach. Always packed out there with mainly Aussie and Indonesian tourists. They both have big name DJs, but probably Atlas more often than Finns.
There seems to be many nightlife spots opening in Berawa lately, but if you like cozy bars you can’t beat The Shady Pig that opened during the pandemic and being a hidden speakeazy was a huge hit from day one. Miss Fish has suddenly become a hit on the same road – it’s a classy Japanese restaurant and lounge bar with cool DJs and vibe seven nights a week. Also worth a look is Riviera restaurant near Frestive supermarket which has a very cool expat bar feel about it, reminds me of the old A Bar in Seminyak many years ago. An early start down there.
Need some more Canggu information? Click here
Burning Beach Festival to be held in Bali
Burning Beach Festival is set to be the biggest House and Techno festival ever held in Bali, Indonesia and will be held over two days and nights on three stages at the incredible new beach club Canna Bali in Nusa Dua.
The main stage will be hosting ten international world-renowned headline DJs, as well as over forty DJs based in Indonesia hailing from Bali, Jakarta and around the globe across the rest of the festival.
On top of this, the organizers have activated and collaborated with some of the most well-known and beloved brands in Bali, Jakarta and beyond, including Escape, Mixmag Asia, Designer and Nebula from Jakarta to name a few. Together with the outstanding line-up, this will create an absolute not-to-be-missed atmosphere and experience never seen before in Bali.
Over the two days of the festival, guests will be able to enjoy a journey through house and techno, all spun in one of Indonesia’s most breath-taking beach clubs on the white sands of Nusa Dua.
The event originated from a collective of passionate like-minded music enthusiasts living in Lombok who wanted to curate a space for genuine musical connections, combining their collective backgrounds in large-scale renowned events across Europe. The fire was lit, so to speak, after they curated a series of successful beach parties that drew increased attention and hype. Initially the festival was due to take place in Lombok but after listening to the feedback from hundreds of inquiries the promoters made the brave decision to move it to Bali and this is great news for the island.
Organizers are also pleased to announce they have added two more international DJs to the roster including an absolute giant of house and techno in Darius Syrossian (main stage) and, as if the line-up wasn’t big enough already, one of Europe’s brightest young stars in Ale De Tuglie from Italy (Escape Stage).
Canna is one of the hidden gems in Bali with its absolutely stunning location and plenty of space and home comforts to ensure a quality experience for all attendees including a state of the art two level nightclub for the Burning Box late night revelers who don’t want stop!
Phase two early bird tickets (10% discount) are currently on sale and are available on www.burningbeach.com.
The Burning Beach experience is still growing and more will be revealed over the next few weeks.
‘Let’s start a fire!’
TAKUMI – The Beat Bali
TAKUMI A NEW JAPANESE DINING EXPERIENCE.
Japanese dining just hit a new, higher level in Bali with the opening of Takumi on Jalan Petitenget, situated right next to Ling Lings.
We arrived and were directed to the light colored timber dining bar or counter, sitting on elegant dining chairs, and now overseeing the action. Osaka born Chef Daijiro [pictured above] is in front of us smiling. He overseas a multitude of cooks and assistants, who are busy hand-making dishes right in front of our eyes. The main kitchen, which services the counter is out the back. Floor staff are attentive and discrete, hovering back and forth, making sure everything is comfortable. There are also separate tables and booths for guests requiring more exclusion.
Besides the handcrafted Japanese set menu (pictured above), the decor and finishing of Takumi places it right among the best restaurants in the area.
But back to the menu. There are two choices right now. The full set menu, consisting of nine separate dishes, and also a six piece version. There is no a la carte. The set menu is seasonally based and will change periodically. The menu and dining concept follow Shun and Chisan Chisha principals, which basically means eating foods at their seasonal freshest and best. Everything is super fresh at Takumi.
There are plenty of tasty morsels on the menu and, as you would expect from a Japanese eatery, they are mainly from the sea, but some come from the farm―succulent beef and chicken cooked in a variety of ways and forms, and perfectly cooked vegetables that appear in such a simple way on the plate that you have to smile. They are also simply delicious. The Japanese have perfected stylish and healthy dining over centuries and here at Takumi those centuries of experience would appear to be rolled right into every single dish. If you are seated at the counter those dishes, which roll out every few moments, as I said above, are mostly created right before your eyes.
Takumi is an exceptional dining experience with Mr Daijiro at the helm.
Upstairs henceforth, is the bar and wow, what a bar. Plush interiors and Japanese whiskeys are de rigor and it too is up there with the fanciest bars in town. Not overly large, but intimate and uber-stylish.
Points
9 course set menu 1.2 million.
6 courses 900k.
The menu changes seasonally.
Produce imported from Japan.
And also sourced locally.
A real hands on experience.
Take it slowly.
An excellent selection of sake.
The ultimate Japanese whiskey bar upstairs.
www.takumibali.com
Arigatō
The WorldCup. Where to watch it in Bali?
Football’s biggest championship, The World Cup is on the way soon. It starts with the opening and first game between host nations Qatar and Ecuador at the Al Bayt Stadium at local Bali time of midnight Sunday, November 20, 2022.
The World Cup 2022 is being held in Qatar for the first time this year from Nov 20 and finishing with the final on Sunday December 18, right in time for Christmas!
There is a 5 hour difference in the time between Qatar to Bali so expect some late games, but some are reasonably timed during the group stages.
Group stage games will be televised live in Bali at 6pm, 9pm, midnight and 3am. The qualifying finals will be televised at 11pm and 3am. Thankfully, the Final itself is on at the manageable time of 11pm.
There will be some glary eyed football fans roaming around the streets of Bali late at night during that month so be careful on the roads.
So how can you watch it at home?
Free to air local stations SCTV (56-matches) and Indosiar (16-matches) will show all the games between them. Get an antennae quick. Moji and Mentari TV (selected group stage matches), Champions TV, Nex Parabola and Vidio (all matches and cheap)
Where to watch the World Cup in a bar?
Since some of the games are out of normal operating hours it can be difficult to find a place open for the late games but the early games shouldn’t be an issue at your usual sports bar. Ask if they are open for the 3am games. We shall update the list below as information comes in.
The Forge is open 24/7 (Petitenget)
Seminyak Social (Petitenget)
Finns Rec Club (Berawa)
James Cook Sports Bar (Anya)
Y Sports Bar (Legian)
Pavilion Sports Bar (Double Six Beach)
The Bench (Batubolong)
Nirvana Sports Bar (Oberoi)
The Goat (Oberoi)
Gracie Kelly’s Irish Pub (Kuta)
Latest additions..
Warung Evening – Jl Merta Agung
Warung Canteen Canggu – Berawa Town
Good luck and may the best team win.
John Digweed & Bedrock to release new ‘Quattro III’ compilation
Bedrock Records has announced the third installment in its ‘Quattro’ series, with John Digweed again in charge of mixing and compiling the album himself. It is slated for release on December 3rd in CD, vinyl, and digital.
‘Quattro III’ features four mixes of new and unreleased music, including an exclusive artist album from UK house & techno producer Miles Atmospheric. The compilation will showcase over 50 exclusive new tracks, from club-oriented beats to texturized cinematic soundscapes and its acclaimed ‘Redux’ remixes, including music by David Morales, Pig&Dan, Frankey & Sandrino, Dino Lenny, Robert Babicz, SOEL, Quivver, Sasha Carrassi, and many more.
John Digweed told electronicgroove.com, “It has been a year and a half since ‘Quattro II’ and I have spent many months searching out some incredible music for the latest edition. For me, these albums seem to get better with each edition. I have always been about finding new and exciting music from fresh up and coming producers. This time I have added an additional CD full of incredible breaks that really add an extra dimension to this series, alongside an artist album from Miles Atmospheric which has delivered some quality warm deep ethereal techno that is a breath of fresh air and perfectly complements the other 4 CDs.”
Bedrock Records’s ‘Quattro III’ will be out on December 3rd. Pre-order your copy here.
Catch the latest John Digweed Transitions show on The Beat Radio Bali early Saturday evenings.
Hemingway Chef Cookoff at Bali Beach Glamping
Pictured above; Mandif representative, Chef Wayan, Chef Alexander, Chris Salans, Chef Fabian Sorlury, Bayu Retno representative.
Roast Mental Health. February 18th, 2023. The event was organized by the Disciple Escoffier Indonesia and Chris Salans.
This Saturday evening is going to be a special moment for all food buffs on the island with a gourmet dining event happening at Hemingway, the spectacular, beachside restaurant and bar at Bali Beach Glamping, north of Tanahlot.
The proceedings of the event will go to Bali Together Can (balibersamabisa.org), a group providing inpatient rehabilitation services in Dalung for people all over Bali with mental health issues.
The Beat asked DJ Denton, one of the organizers of the event and fundraising organization, Right Reasons, what the event is all about.
DJs: There are five chefs from around Bali fine dining restaurants coming together to cook one dish each. The chefs found out last Monday what dish they will be cooking at a presentation at Beachwalk Mall. They drew cards like a raffle to find out which protein (more or less) they would be cooking on the night. The guests at the dinner will be the judges of the competition, choosing which dish they feel is the best. It should be a load of fun and remember, the proceeds will be going to a good cause.
Tell me more about the BBB organization and how the money will be used.
DJs: Bali Bersama Bisa is a community center with support groups – for people diagnosed with cancer, HIV, or are physically disabled, bipolar, schizophrenia, transgender, blind/deaf and have mental health issues. They have workshops on suicide prevention and other mental health related activities. The facility/community space has a total of 10 beds and will eventually cost about 100 million a month to operate at full capacity. Hopefully the Cookoff can get it started on a smaller scale now and then we do more events and things later in the year.
Is the facility already operating?
Yes, but not with stabilization and 24 hour care. Now it’s just “dropped in” and with some scheduled groups…. But psychiatrists and psychologists are already available to meet and provide treatment.
balibersamabisa.org
There are still a few spaces left for the dinner. Be quick to join up for a great night out and in turn help the community at the same time.
Tickets
Valentine’s in Bali. Anything going on?
Valentine’s Day or night has always been a busy dining and nightlife moment in Bali and this week, namely Tuesday, shouldn’t be any different.
Most restaurants have a special Valentine’s dinner set menu on offer, but if not, just dine straight from the menu ala carte at any of these romantic restaurants and locations around the island.
Breeze at the Semaya, Ku De Ta, La Lucciola, Starfish Blue at W have all the trappings of romance and fine-dining, or you could try ShiShi’s all-you-can-eat extravaganza, too. They are all in Seminyak/Petitenget. Something else of great interest down the road in Kerobokan is Casera Terrace who are having a Valentines to remember. Girls eat for free! That’s right, your date just ended up costing you half! DJs are also supplying the vibe.
Up in Ubud, Mozaic is back in action and with a Valentines set menu, also the Four Seasons and other luxury hotels in Sayan and Cascades at Viceroy are great options. Not sure there is anything so romantic in Canggu, but maybe some kind of dimly lit warung or Mexican could fit the bill.
There is plenty of romance going on in Uluwatu though. Ulu Cliffhouse has their regular movie night after dinner on Tuesday, the Bulgari is of course, next level Italian and fancy. White Rock Beach Club is holding a special Valentine’s show called Love Potions, which has specialized in love shots cocktails and foam parties with love floaties. Sounds like fun.
The Jimbaran luxury hotels, Four Seasons, Ayana, Intercontinental et al, will no doubt be offering all kinds of loveable dining options. Locca Sea House has a special evening for unattached folks with a party starting at sunset, the Swipe Right Party. But if that’s all too much for you, maybe just grab a spot at a fish stall on Jimbaran beach.
After all the eating and intimate conversations are done it’s then time to get out for a little party. It’s normally busy out and about after Valentine’s dinner as couples move to the clubs for a little more romance and perhaps a drink or three, and especially around the Seminyak area. try Woobar at W Bali – they have a special event going on, Red Ruby also, Forge and ShiShi are good batch, the Shady bars also have Valentine’s events. Also remember, women eat for free at Casera Terrace and there will be DJs till late.
See you out and about.
Big Mountain to tour Bali and Indonesia
US based Big Mountain had a number of releases during the 90’s, but their stand-out hit was a cover of Peter Frampton’s ‘Baby, I Love Your Way’ in 1994, which went to No. 2 in the UK and No. 6 in the US in that year. The band decided to stop touring after 10 years in 2005 and since then the original vocalist of the band, Quino McWhinney has been holding the flag and touring occasionally with new and old members of the band. In May 2016 the band released their first album in 14 years, Perfect Summer.
Quino has now joined forces with local reggae band MARAPU and will be doing a mini Indonesian tour, The Indonesian Tour 2022 from Nov 9th till Dec 6th2022.
It was announced today that shows will be held at Canggu’s Deus Ex Machina (Sun 20 Nov), Friday 25 Nov 2022: Jayapura, Papua (Hang Over Club), World Bar seeds in Ubud Sun 27 Nov 2022, The Orchards on Wednesday 30 Nov. And also at the Reggae Festival rides in Medan Sumatra on Sun 4 December.
We will post more dates when they are confirmed.