Bali Entertainment

Bali has something for every taste, and it offers everything from exciting clubs in Kuta to cultural evenings of drama in Ubud, the artistic centre of the island. There are many cultural events to look out for throughout the year, and many of the festivals include colourful celebrations and Hindu rituals.

Nightlife

Nightlife in Bali kicks off well after dark, with many clubs only becoming busy after midnight. Even in Kuta, which is the centre of much of the nightlife, things can be quiet until well into the evening, though once the clock strikes midnight, the town comes alive and clubs fill with revellers.

Kuta is the epicentre of the party scene. The original town has been extended and now stretches up to five miles north of the original town and includes Legian, Basangkasa and Seminyak. However, many of the best spots are close to the centre of the town and include many open-air pubs and clubs.

Admission is generally free and there are happy hours from 18:00 to 21:00, with promotions available on drinks and food. The most frequented pubs are located along Jalan Padma and Jalan Legian, and there are also several good eateries in this area. Tubes Café has been traditionally popular among surfers, while other happening places in town include Bounty Restaurant I, the trendy 66Club and Gado Gado. Nightlife in Ubud takes a more traditional form and features displays of Balinese dance, performed nightly at several establishments.

Theatre and music

There are many excellent live music venues in Bali, and Kuta has its share. Marcaroni club offers live music throughout the week including jazz on Sundays. For an opportunity to see some Balinese dancing, try Zero Six in Turban, where you’ll enjoy live dancing, often combined with live rock music. The Hard Rock Café also offers live music, though drinks tend to be over-priced.

Further live music venues include a number of Australian bars such as Joni Sunken Bar and Restaurant, and a number of other bars along Jalan Melasti, while more sedate musical performances can be enjoyed at the Bali Padma Hotel on Legian Beach. Sanur also offers more refined entertainment, with many hotels offering displays of traditional dancing. Candissa stages traditional Balinese dance at the Pandam Harum Dance Stage, while Candi Agung Warung restaurant is yet another establishment that has presentations of the local dance culture.

An alternative form of entertainment is offered by Warung Karma Padang Lovina aned Bali Apik restaurants, where you can enjoy a free video night. Other establishments that offer video nights include Ubud Restaurant, Casa Luna and Yogyakarta Café in Ubud.

Festivals

There are over 20,000 temples (pura) on Bali, each of which holds festivals (odalan) at least twice a year, which means that there’s always some celebration afoot. There are also many large festivals that are celebrated across the island, though the dates of these festivals are set according to a local 210-day calendar, which is totally out of sync with the western calendar.

• Galungan is a 10-day festival that celebrates the death of the tyrant Mayadenawa. It includes a drama where gods arrive on earth and are greeted with gift-laden bamboo poles called penjor, which line the streets. The final day of the festival is known as Kuningan.
• Nyepi, or Hindu New Year, usually falls in March or April, though it’s not particularly popular with tourists, as everything shuts down for the day including the electricity supply. It’s also known as the Day of Absolute Silence!
• The island celebrates Saraswati, a day that is devoted to the manifestation of God as a wise and beautiful Goddess of Knowledge, Art and Literature: Dewi Saraswati. The day is marked by the blessing of books and manuscripts, and aspirations for knowledge.
• Another important festival is the Annual Arts Festival, which occurs between June and July. The Annual Arts Festival celebrates exhibitions and performances of many different types of art and culture on the island.
• Indonesia Independence Day is an annual celebration and public holiday, and occurs during August.