Bali Nightlife Update 2013

Bali nightlife isn't terrible. If you are there for a short holiday, or if you're an expat partying twice a month, you'll have a lot of fun. You'll find the atmosphere is generally laid-back and festive with about 10 decent options for clubbing on weekends. If you are not into clubbing, then you'll have a much larger number of bars and lounges, often with live music, cheap food and happy hours. 

It is good destination for singles too: There aren't too many prostitutes if you compare with other holiday destinations in Asia but you'll have your chance at finding a match rather easily... The fat, sweating Norwegian or Australian girls dancing in Bounty may not be your type, but trust me they are available...

To make it simple: Kuta is where young people go, Legian is for families, Nusa Dua is dead, Sanur is for working girls, Ubud is for new-age hippies and Seminyak is for expats.

Having said that, I don't need to write a long article about the best bars and nightclubs since it is pretty easy to simply develop:

If you are young, in holiday, and that you would like to experience a sort of college party, go to Kuta and especially to SkyGarden. Even if you don't like Kuta you should visit it because it is quite spectacular. You have 5-6 levels with different music and shows, and a really mixed international crowd. A real pick-up place too, with Indonesians and international backpackers/travellers. The last floor, with the terrace is pretty cool with old-school music and an older crowd. There are some decent clubs around Skygarden with similar commercial music, but they are just good for warm-up. Drinks are cheap and people tend to get drunk very early. It's a good thing because with the new rules, everything closes around 3am. Don't waste your time.
Among those other clubs, those that are usually happening: Eikon (80% Australian), Vi Ai Pi, Bounty (100% Australian), Apache, Engine Room, Paddy's (older crowd with prostitutes), MbarGo and Surfers Bar. There are a few live music bars as well with some old looking prostitutes just across the street from Paddy's and on Jalan Legian (Crusoes' and Love Shack for instance). If you just want to have a drink, there are some friendly joints in the Poppies Lane too. Popular with a younger Indonesian crowd are Brewers, Hard Rock Café, and everything located inside the brand new BeachWalk Mall.

If you are older, and you want a more sophisticated nightlife, go to Seminyak. The best club there would be Mint in my opinion even though the crowd is worsening every week. Some other places are popular and have a nice crowd, especially Hu'u (full of Jakartans but the music is commercial, just like in Kuta), Maria Magdalena (good music but a bit empty). For live music try JP's Warung. For gay bars, try Bali Joe and the nearby places (they change the name every year so hard to keep up). For pre-party warm-up, you could try the following bars: 2nd floor of Mamasan restaurant, Rumours, Red Carpet Champagne Lounge (surprisingly popular), the bar at Ultimo, and Mantra in front of Mint. Three places I don't really enjoy but popular as well and with views on the beach: Potato Head, Ku De Ta, and one of the bars of Hotel W. In those 3 hotels, the prices are quite high but the crowd is more sophisticated. They have some special events once every two months. If there is one when you are in Bali, it is worth checking out.

Another area in Seminyak attracts a laid-back crowd, Jalan Double Six. It has some beach bars like La Plancha and similar ones. Not my cup of tea but worth checking. Also has Cocoon (best to go on a Sunday night with DJ sessions by the beach) and La Vida Loca which is the equivalent of a Blok M bar in Jakarta but near the beach.

Few other places to check: For latin nights and salsa, you have Cubana and Bahiana. The latter is the more popular but it has become a sort of prostitute bar in the past few years and as a consequence, the atmosphere has deteriorated.

At last, there are a few relatively new venues that are becoming popular in Bali nightlife. You have Pyramid in Kuta and Eatoss in Seminyak. Both have DJs playing electronic music. Pyramid is OK after 2 or 3am but I never saw it too crowded. I've not tried Eatoss but heard some good reviews.

If around 5am you are still not ready to sleep, you can go to DeeJay café in Kuta, near Kartika Plaza. Many hookers there and a lot of Ecstasy. It closes at 11am. Regarding the drug situation in Bali, I'll strongly advise not to take anything while you are here except alcohol and mushrooms. Mushrooms are surprisingly legal and will cost around 5$.

If you are more interested in Indonesian "North-Jakarta" style nightlife, you may want to try two nightclubs: Adora (ex-Blue Eyes Club) and Bosche. Both are mega-club with pumping house music, complete with karaoke rooms and lady companions. Bosche is one of my favourites and if you are a group of males from Chinese ancestry, you may want to check it out. 

Outside of those areas, the nightlife in Bali is pretty poor. Sanur is infamous for having a few massage parlours and lady bars but I have never checked one actually. In Ubud, there are also some bars with live music but it never gets rocking past 1am...