Bali is a partygoer’s paradise and one of the world’s top travel destinations when it comes to music festivals, bars and clubs. Each region has a different scene and a different type of nightlife, from the all-night excesses of Kuta to the more laid-back vibes of Canggu. If you want to go all out and really make your time in Bali memorable, the island has tonnes of options for stylish villas – perfect for hosting pre-drinks!
Read on for the biggest parties and most happening venues in Bali!
Best places to party in Bali
Seminyak
Stylish Seminyak is home to Bali’s glitziest and most popular late-night venues and has enough going on at night to keep you partying throughout your visit. Beachfront bars, live DJs and late-night clubs draw partygoers from all over Bali. But where are the best watering holes in town and where can you find the best nights out?
Best clubs and bars in Seminyak
Potato Head Beach Club
The Potato Head Beach Club is indisputably Seminyak’s biggest and best for late-night drinking. This awesome beachfront venue is a weekly stage for international, world/-class DJs, epic laser light shows and the most badass parties in Bali. This happening beach club is the place to be after sunset in Seminyak. Keep an eye on their events page for info on which world-class performers they have lined up for the coming weeks!
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Mirror Lounge & Club
Mirror’s futuristic design and unique mosaic decor make this party venue stand out, as does their incredible ambience Make your way here for live DJs and all-night dancing in this cool and classy club.
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La Favela
La Favela’s chic interior and buzzing atmosphere are great reasons to visit this stylish restaurant/club. Their selection of professionally mixed cocktails are the perfect way to kickstart your night and it doesn’t end there. Hit the dance floor or chill and chat in this cool, comfortable venue. La Favela hosts happening events throughout the week, so partygoers will have plenty of opportunities to check out this popular late-night venue.
Kuta
Even if you know nothing about Bali, you may well recognize the name of the island’s infamous party capital. Kuta is the leading destination for young partygoers in Bali and is the typical choice for groups of friends on holiday. Check out the wildest venues and biggest weekly parties in town, for a trip you’ll never forget (or more likely, don’t remember).
Best clubs and bars in Kuta
Skygarden
Sky Garden is an iconic part of Kuta’s party scene and is located in the very heart of the town’s main nightlife strip. The bar is famous for its weekly line up of world-class DJs and high-energy atmosphere. Sky Garden doesn’t close until 4 am and is the best place in Kuta for late-night partying.
Paddy’s Pub
WIth an everyday happy hour and permanently good vibes, Paddy’s is one of the most popular clubs on Seminyak’s main strip. This friendly and relaxed venue is a great place to have fun with friends and make new ones in Kuta.
The night kicks off after 11 pm at Paddy’s and continues until the early hours. Expect lots of drinking, dancing and a buzzing atmosphere!
Vi Ai Pi
This stylish three-tiered venue is worthy of a whole evening in Kuta. Start things off with pizza in their ground-floor sports bar or head upstairs to their restaurant, where you can dine to live music. After dinner, hit their third-floor club to keep the party going in Vi Ai Pi’s unbeatable party atmosphere!
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Gili Trawangan
Gili Trawangan (AKA Gili T) is a notorious party island and hedonist’s hangout. Walking along the beachfront by day, the island has a sleepy, relaxed vibe that’s hard to consolidate with the excesses of the evening. Return after dark, however, and the main strip begins to pulse with late-night life. The beachfront bristles with bars and the nightly booze-fuelled parties spill out onto the sand and last well into the AM.
The party is held at a different venue each night and begins around midnight, so let’s take a look at the best pre-drink spots in town.
Best clubs and bars in Gili T
Sama Sama Reggae Bar
Sama Sama is the best place on Gili T to kick off your night, where the chilled vibes make it easy to mingle and make friends. Their nightly live reggae performances frequently get the whole bar dancing and singing and their mixers are reasonably priced. Head to Sama Sama to get your party spirits up and let their awesome atmosphere set you up for an epic night out!
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The Jungle Pre-drinking Bar
Jungle’s whole concept is designed to help you get in the party mood and find your crowd for the night. Their drinking games make it impossible not to make friends here and their beer pong tournaments are sure to get your night going! Their cheap drinks and all-night specials will guarantee you have a great time, before heading out to one of Gili T’s late-night parties.
Jiggy Boat Party
The scenery around Lombok and the Gili’s is sensational and the Jiggy Boat Party is an awesome way to appreciate it. Join up to 125 other partygoers on this incredible 6-hour cruise, which features live DJ’s, free shots and an energetic, young atmosphere.
This unmissable trip is the best way to experience the incredible views of Lombok’s sloping, verdant shores and the majestic Mt. Agung. The sunsets around the Gili’s are famous for their kaleidoscopic beauty and are sure to put a magical edge on your evening!
Canggu
For laid-back vibes and a more low-key kind of party, head to Canggu on Bali’s southwestern coast. Bars here generally close earlier than in nearby Seminyak and Kuta, but the town still has a few late night venues where you can dance ‘til dawn. All of Canggu’s top evening hangouts are known for their warm, energetic atmosphere and friendly crowd; perfect for solo travellers!
Best clubs and bars in Canggu
Od Man’s
Old Man’s is a fond favourite of many visitors to Canggu and is best loved for its awesome atmosphere. Whether you’re with a group or flying solo, this is a great place to mingle, make friends and pre-game before your night out. Drink and dance to live music at this spacious beachfront venue on the edge of Batu Bolong Beach, where the party often relocates after midnight.
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Deus Cafe (Deus Ex Machina)
Deus Ex Machina, badass crafters of custom surfboards and dealers in vintage motorbikes, is well worth a look-in while you’re in Canggu. Aside from their cool array of vintage goods and artworks, this edgy venue is also a great spot to hang out at night. Otherwise known as The Temple of Enthusiasm, Deus Cafe is a must-visit for partygoers in Canggu. Order a cocktail and check out their spacious, open-air courtyard, where Deus often hosts live bands and Dj’s until midnight.
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Pretty Poison
Pretty Poison is chiefly known for their California-style skate bowl out back, where locals and travellers gather most nights to show off their skills. This unique feature is a cool focal point around which to hang out and chat, but head inside if you feel like dancing. Pretty Poison’s badass playlist is heavy on rock and punk and the bar hosts live musicians and DJ’s several times a week.
Best music festivals and party events in Bali
Full Moon Party
Where? Berawa Beach, Canggu
When? Every month
The full moon party is a bucket list item for most partygoers in Southeast Asia and Bali’s own version is held at Berawa Beach in Canggu. With fire dancers, top international DJs and the tropical beaches of Bali as your venue, this event is a monthly must-do for travellers in the area. Get your UV face paint on and hit the volcanic sands of Berawa for a full night of drinking and dancing under the stars.
Rapture Summer Party
Where? The Mulia Resort, Nusa Dua
When? September
Rapture is the ultimate summer beach party and is held in September at The Mulia Resort in Nusa Dua. Get your beach glam on and dance with soft, white sand underfoot and the Indian Ocean in front of at this glitzy daytime party. Rapture is a huge event and every year features international singers and DJs. The lineup this year includes Fergie and Mark Ronson and promises to be unforgettable!
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Air Festival
Where? Gili Air
When? March/April
Gili Air lies to the West of Bali, around a 90-minute boat ride away and is usually a place to chill and take it easy. Once a year, however, this tiny, laid-back island comes alive when the Air Festival lands on its sandy shores. Now in its fourth year, the Air Festival is a three-day eco-friendly event that has become an established hangout for musicians, dancers and artists in Bali. Soak up some peace-and-love vibes in this incredible island paradise and enjoy the live musicians and DJs that perform throughout the festival.
Air Festival jumped ship to Canggu this year, due to extensive renovations at the usual site on Gili Air. However, Air Festival will return to its original (but improved) home on the Gilis in 2019.
Ultra Beach Bali
Where? Potato Head Beach Club, Seminyak
When? September
The Bali edition of the world-famous Ultra Music Festival is the ultimate destination music event.
This epic beachfront party is held annually at the Potato Head Beach Club in Seminyak, where it’s been a feature since 2015. Ultra Beach is the festival of the year in Bali and electronic music fans especially won’t want to miss out. With cutting-edge stage production and epic laser and visual effects, Ultra Beach is Bali’s biggest and most popular music festival.
The lineup for 2018 is yet to be announced, but previous years have seen international legends Kygo, Skrillex, Deadmau5 and Dubfire take to the stage.
Bestival Bali
Where? Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park, Badung Regency
When? September/October
The hugely popular UK music festival made its debut in Bali last year and Bestival is set to return to the island in 2018. Held in the beautiful GWK Cultural Park, this award-winning event promises to have an epic lineup. Last year’s featured artists included De La Soul, George Clinton Parliament Funkadelic, and Rob Da Bank, so keep your eyes peeled for news on this year’s performers!