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Telegraph
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
The best bars and nightlife in Bali
There was a time when Kuta Beach was the island's party central, but the tectonic plate of Balinese nightlife has been on a westward drift for several decades. These days, Bali's nocturnal happenings have their epicentre in Seminyak and neighbouring Canggu. The Bukit Peninsula (Bali's far south) has also seen rapid development, with new beach clubs and bars opening almost every week. Nightlife here tends to focus on the beach areas and vibrant Ubud town, but with more than 400 miles of coastline, there are enough spots to appeal to everyone, whether you're looking for a party zone or a chilled sunset cocktail venue. Here are some of the finest. All our recommendations below have been hand-selected and tested by our resident destination expert to help you discover the best beaches in Bali. Find out more below, or for more Bali inspiration, see our guides to the island's best hotels, restaurants, things to do and beaches. Best beach-front venues Rock Bar Named more for the geological setup than the style of music, this incredibly exciting nightspot at Ayana Resort and Spa is the setting for a night out that you'll talk about long after your holiday has ended. The evening begins with the funicular ride (expect queues) down to the waveside grotto – and it just gets wilder and more exciting. The Round Deck, a private VIP island high above the crashing waves, is the centre point of this incredible 880-seat venue. FINNS Beach Club Much more than a mere nightlife venue, FINNS is a Bali institution. It's often described as the world's best beach club and some people come to the Island of the Gods specifically to visit. Dedicated party-goers sometimes arrive before lunch and keep going until closing time at midnight. This adults-only venue is vast and, while the music varies, the background beat is cleverly maintained across the three pools, 11 bars and two 'party restaurants'. La Plancha Styled on a Spanish chiringuito (beach bar), this spot is perhaps the best-value nightlife venue on the island. La Plancha, meaning grill in Spanish, serves great meals – from Cajun chicken skewers to snapper ceviche – and tapas-style snacks. Most visitors are drawn for sundowner cocktails and live music, but all enjoy the beanbags that sit beneath a kaleidoscope of parasols. This wide section of beach is great for people-watching, with beach volleyball, football and surfing coming to a climax around sunset. Return to index Best bars for a laid-back vibe Pinstripe Bar It's like stepping back in time to the roaring '20s when you walk into Bali's most glamorous and romantic speakeasy-style venue. This soulful, atmospheric and supremely cool bar often serves as a nightcap spot for those who have just enjoyed a seven-course degustation menu at neighbouring Apéritif restaurant – part of Viceroy Bali. Yet Pinstripes should be considered a destination in its own right. Order from a tantalising menu or ask head mixologist Panji to rustle up something bespoke. Single Fin Bali A super-cool retro beach hangout where you can gaze down on the surfers challenging Uluwatu's famous waves. Single Fin Sundays are a regular fixture for many islanders and expats who come for the laid-back vibe and comfort food; fish and chips, tacos and well-stacked burgers. The Guinness beef stew is a firm favourite and the Last Wave cocktail, a fruity mix of spiced rums and absinthe, serves as the finest possible accompaniment to an Uluwatu sunset. Return to index Best for music The Iron Fairies Bali Award-winning designer Ashley Sutton has created this magical nightspot by transforming a 500-capacity venue in the heart of Seminyak into a stylised Australian mine. It's tooled in hand-hewn timber, leather and – you guessed it – iron. A mind-bending combination of industrial steampunk and avant-garde chic, this incredible venue (open until 3am) is considered by many to be the place to be seen in Bali. The live music and sophisticated cocktail menu are added incentives to visit. Area: Seminyak Website: Price: £££ Getting in: Strictly no beach wear or vests Motel Mexicola If it's margaritas that rock your boat, then this place, offering six different recipes, is unmissable. If you're a fan of mezcal, even more so – there are almost a dozen varieties on the menu. Looking for great dance music from celebrated DJs? You'll find that too. This is almost certainly Bali's most colourful nightspot; full of typically flamboyant Mexican flair and excellent Mexican cuisine. Motel Mexicola celebrates everything from Mexican Independence Day to Day of the Dead and International Margarita Day. Savaya Uluwatu's trendiest nightspot is the venue for some of Bali's hottest DJs. The cliff top location, high over Uluwatu's crashing waves, is absolutely sublime – especially at sunset when the ocean seems to turn to fire. Savaya is often rated as Asia's premier spot for clubbing and is focused around a sinuous infinity pool. Since it opens at 1pm, it's also an ideal daytime pool hangout. Return to index Best for cocktails Sundara Just 20 minutes after leaving Bali's international airport, you can find yourself sitting in front of a 57m infinity pool overlooking Jimbaran's white sand, sipping a zero-waste tropical cocktail: try the Mangrove Revival, an irresistibly zesty, fruity and fresh gin and absinthe combo topped with a mangrove flower. Sundara is part of Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay and the Day At The Bay package includes a Sundara lunch. The Shady Pig Vintage bootleg Bali, with all the intrigue and mystery of the 1920s prohibition era, comes alive at this secret spot in Canggu. The password that gains you access changes daily. Find it by contacting them via WhatsApp or Instagram, although you'll still have to use some detective work to find the exact location – unless the queue outside gives you a clue. It's a tiny, cosy venue with a great vibe and even better cocktails. Try the barrel-aged Negroni or the Sexy Colada. Return to index How we choose Every bar in this curated list has been expertly chosen by our destination expert, to provide you with their insider perspective. We cover a range of areas and styles, from popular city beaches to lesser-known corners, to best suit every type of traveller. We update this list regularly to keep up with the latest openings and provide up-to-date recommendations. About our expert Mark Eveleigh I first fell in love with West Bali during a surf trip 25 years ago. Since then, I've returned at every opportunity and, whenever I'm not on assignment, I write from a bamboo and thatch house in the West Balinese village of Pekutatan.
The Hindu
26-06-2025
- The Hindu
Sky high in Lonavala: Marquee blends craft cocktails with Sahyadri views
It was one of those wet, low-lit Mondays where everything feels like it is wrapped in grey. Driving into Lonavala, the Sahyadris played peekaboo behind a soft curtain of rain. But upstairs at Marquee, the newly opened rooftop bar at Radisson Resort & Spa, the mood lifted like the clouds themselves. Marquee is touted as Lonavala's first sky bar, and for once, the claim holds. It is not flashy, but it knows how to hold a vibe. Think open-air, lots of stone and wood, and panoramic views that change hour by hour — from brooding midday mist to golden-hour drama. The space is split across three zones: a stone-clad Rock Bar, a chilled-out dining area, and a Sunset Garden with front-row seats to the horizon. But it is the drinks that do the talking. I tried three of their signature cocktails and came away pretty impressed. The cocktails Spirit & Stone is a cocktail with weight. Cognac forms the base, tempered by a soft hit of chocolate liqueur and the roundness of sweet vermouth. This one leans dark and velvety, slightly bitter but comforting. It is a solid match for anything umami-rich: the soy-slicked shiitake dumplings on the small plates menu, or a plate of charred lamb skewers. Skip the sweetness here. Twilight is the wildcard. Gin, orange liqueur, lychee and apple juice, brightened with lemon and finished with butterfly pea flower and lavender syrup. Sounds like a lot, and it is, but somehow it works. The flavours unfold in layers: citrus first, then fruit, then the soft floral fade. It is best paired with light, zesty dishes — go for seafood, ideally with chilli oil as an accompaniment, or anything with yuzu or lemongrass. Lady of Fortune is the crowd-pleaser. Vodka, peach schnapps, white peach purée, rose syrup, lemon, and sparkling sake — it is pretty, slightly fizzy, and easy to drink. On a rainy evening, it lands like a tonic: soft, floral, and clean. This one plays well with creamy cheeses, or even burrata. It also holds up surprisingly well next to a thin-crust mushroom pizza. Each drink has a zero-proof twin with the flavours adjusted, not dumbed down. By day, Marquee is all misty introspection; by night, it gets a quiet glow. No big switch-flip energy, just a gradual shift in tempo. You come here not for a scene, but for a slow burn: a good drink, a thoughtful plate, and the rain as your background track. A meal for two is ₹2,500 plus taxes. Address: Plot Nos. 19-21 & 27-29, Gold Valley, Sector-D, Tungarli, Lonavala, 410401
