Bali nightlife, red light district travel guide, golden beaches and sexy girls

Nightlife is one of the best things to do in Bali. Every big city has bars and nightclubs, especially in the south of the island. Here we will focus on the nightlife areas and features. What kind of atmosphere, and how much you will spend.

Kuta



Kuta is the center of Bali's tourism industry. If you haven't been there, imagine crowded golden beaches, hundreds of souvenir shops and endless traffic jams. Although it has improved a lot in the past decade, it is still a fairly down-to-earth area, dominated by Australians, Indonesians and backpackers under the age of 25.

The nightlife in Kuta is also fun, especially if you are young. The nightlife atmosphere here has more of a festival vibe. It's easy to meet people and you can basically meet any girl before 2am. Generally, there is no entrance fee (except at Skygarden after 11pm) and the price of drinks is cheap for Indonesian standards.

01 Kuta Nightlife Spots:

Kuta's biggest party area is on Jalan Legian, where there are at least 15 nightlife venues, all lined up side by side. The most famous is the 4-story Skygarden nightclub. They have a lot of exciting promotions that are great fun if you're a woman (free drinks on certain days). The club has several dance floors to choose from (EDM, Rn'B, Top 40) and an old-school hip-hop rooftop.

Other popular venues are Vi Ai Pi, Apache, and Eikon. The renovated Engine Room is huge, but also not much to offer. Other places tend to be horrible, such as Paddy's or Bounty, both of which are bugan territory. There's nothing wrong with having a look, but don't say Erye didn't warn you. In every club in Kuta, there are a fair number of prostitutes. If a girl stares at you for no reason, you can assume she's staring at your wallet.

02 Hotels near Kuta nightlife area

Here are some recommended hotels within walking distance of Kuta nightlife

Harper Kuta ($40 per night, rated 8.3)
Grand Barong Resort ($50 per night, rated 8.5)
The Bene Hotel ($70 per night, rated 8.2)
Citadines ($70 per night, rated 8.3)
Sheraton Beachwalk Mall ($160 per night, rated 8.6)

Seminyak



Seminyak is the second best city for partying in Bali. It is more upscale due to the high density of private villas and luxury resorts. Although the beach looks ordinary, it is a nice place for those who want to relax, eat well and get spa treatments. The Seminyak crowd is mainly composed of upper class Australians, wealthy Indonesians from Jakarta, European travelers and expats living in Asia. Of course, the bars and nightclubs are quite expensive. A beer will cost at least 500,000 rupiah, while a cocktail will cost 1.1 million rupiah. Some venues have an entry fee and a dress code on weekends, such as Mirror.

01 Where to go for nightlife in Seminyak:

Nightlife in Seminyak is spread over at least 5 streets: Jalan Oberoi, Jalan Petitenget, Jalan Dhyana Pura, Jalan Double Six, Jalan Batu Belig.

Jalan Oberoi is the best street for dining and partying in Seminyak. Its center is near the bar/club La Favela and extends to the Italian restaurant Ultimo. Most venues are open-air and you can see from the outside which ones are interesting. The most famous places are also the Red Carpet Champagne Bar, Rumors and Mexicola.

Jalan Petitenget has more fashionable venues, including several beachfront bars and restaurants (Potato Head, Mrs Sippy, Woo Ba, Kudeta). There are also small clubs and trendy bars like Da Maria, Mirror, Hacienda, or the newly opened Red Ruby. At the end of Jalan Petitenget, the Jungle bar hosts great parties every Friday. Very popular with young expats and foreign residents.

Jalan Dhyana Pura is famous for having several small gay bars (Bali Joe, Mixwell, Bottoms Up) and LGBT-friendly clubs (Opivm, the new Wild House). You can also find old-style live music bars (Frankenstein's, Santa Fe).

Jalan Double Six is ​​a path along the beach. At sunset, two venues are worth a look: La Plancha and Cocoon. Beach parties and pool parties are organized every month. Jalan Batu Belig is close to Canggu. It is quite trendy. Some of Bali's trendiest venues are now there, such as Beach Club 707.

02 Hotels near Seminyak nightlife

Near Jalan Oberoi
Ananda Hotel ($45 per night, rated 8.4)
U Paasha ($110 per night, rated 8.6)

Near Jalan Petitenget
Agura Bungalows Petitenget Beach ($40 per night, rated 8.8)
W Retreat and Spa (Home of Woo Bar - $300 per night, rated 9.0)

Near Jalan Dhyana Pura
Ping Hotel ($40 per night, rated 8.5)
Tijili Hotel ($55 per night, rated 8.8)
Courtyard by Marriott ($200 per night, rated 8.8)

Near Double Six
FuramaXclusiv Beach Hotel ($70 per night, rated 8.1)
Double-Six Hotel ($220 per night, rated 8.7)

Batu Near Belig
There are hundreds of private villas in this area that can host parties. The recommended one is 007 Villa ($180 per night, rated 9.2).

Legian



Legian nightlife doesn't have a clear identity: it's a mix of trendy expat and resort bars.

01 Legian nightlife locations:

Jalan Padma, Jalan Padma Utara and Jalan Melasti.

These streets are all within walking distance from the beach and have several laid-back open-air sports bars with occasional live bands. The crowd is overwhelmingly Australian families on holiday. It's perfect for those friends who want to drink cheap brunch. Prices are low, averaging IDR50,000 and beers at IDR80,000. Try Y Sports Bar, which hosts small boxing matches every night. Jalan Dewi Sri / Jalan Nakula, Legian is close to Denpasar and is a fringe red-light district. There are several late-night nightclubs (Jenja, Pyramid, the brand new Eden) and some informal massage parlours (Star Bugar, Delta).

02 Hotels near Legian nightlife areas

Legian is strategically located in South Bali. Close to everything and the beach is not as crowded as Kuta. Here are a few recommended hotels:

AQ-VA Hotel ($45 per night, rated 8.6)
Mercure Bali Legian ($75 per night, rated 8.1)

Canggu



Canggu has been developing rapidly in recent years, with an influx of young expats looking for a quiet Seminyak. A relaxed atmosphere, affordable housing and a close-knit community. If you are a hipster, vegetarian, designer, chef or yoga enthusiast, it is definitely suitable.

01 Canggu Nightlife Location:

Canggu still has a village feel, without a high-density night scene on the streets. The best place to go is Old Man's, a hippie beach bar, which has a popular party every Wednesday. It is close to the minimalist beach lounge The Lawn. Finn's Beach Club is a place to play during the day until sunset.

02 Hotels near Canggu Nightlife Area

If you can afford it, it is best to stay in a villa. Some cheaper alternatives:

Echoland Bed and Breakfast ($40 per night, rated 8.4)
Aston Batu Bolong ($75 per night, rated 8.6)

Denpasar



Denpasar used to have no decent establishments except for karaoke bars and massage parlours (e.g. H69, Royal Palace and Sriya Spa). The clientele is usually local Indonesians.

Recommended hotels in Denpasar:

Ibis Styles Denpasar (30 USD per night, 7.5 rating).

Sanur



Sanur has a fairly significant sex industry. Prostitutes usually wait in the "fish tanks" inside villas marked with an X. Most can be found around Jalan Danau Poso or Jalan Tirta Ening. Beyond that, there are a few expat bars. Nothing really interesting in my opinion.

Recommended hotels in Sanur:

Taksu Hotel ($50 per night, rated 8.5)
Akana ($100 per night, rated 8.6)

Ubud



Although Ubud has a calm atmosphere at night, in the city center, some cafes can be active until 2 am. The most interesting is the live music bar Laughing Buddha, which is always crowded with backpackers and long-term residents. On the same street, you can also check No Mas, a two-story trendy bar with regular live bands. Locavore's Night Rooster is also recommended for those who want to taste good cocktails.

Recommended hotels near Ubud nightlife: Anywhere on Monkey Forest Road.

Nusa Dua



Nusa Dua doesn't have a lot of nightlife. If you need to drink and socialize, your best bet is to head to ZJ's Bar in the Mulia Resort.

Uluwatu



Uluwatu - The busiest hangout is Mono Fin. However, after sunset it gets pretty quiet and closes early. It's open until 1am on weekends and has a DJ/live band. Karma Kandara Beach Club also hosts occasional parties, including the monthly "Glow Party".