Kuta, Legian & Seminyak - Bali and Lombok

Travel Reference

In-Depth Information

the time they hit the genial bar. Order the

heaping grilled seafood platter and Bali's best

garlic bread - the prawn toast is tops.

Sana Restaurant (Map pp96-7 ;

Watching DVD movies at a bar with a

crowd is a Kuta tradition and you'll find

scores of places in and around Poppies Gang

II. Look for signs during the day or follow

your ears at night. Expect anything with lots

of guns and guys.

kitchen turns out some spectacular mie goreng

(rice-flour noodles fried with vegetables, often

meat and sauces).

Fuel (Map pp96-7 ;

Queen' at this small cabaret. Ten drag

queens stage two shows nightly to orgasmic

applause.

Legend (Map pp96-7 ;

767312; Jl Melasti;

dishes 25,000-80,000Rp) Give the kid a hot dog at

this bustling corner spot, which amends its

long menu with a children's page. There's

creative Indonesian and many grilled items

served on the large patio or in the breezy

room upstairs.

Yut'z (Map pp96-7 ;

11am-

5am) This high-concept café has a stark red

and black design and popular features such as

'sexy dancers'. There are lots of shot specials

and the motto is 'eat, drink, groove'.

Hard Rock Café

765777; Jl Legian 62;

11pm) A popular open-air spot, the Legend

draws nightly crowds for 'Elvis Parsley' and

live music shows, playing everything from

pop to country.

Ye Olde Foo-kin Pub (Map pp96-7 ;

755376; Jl Sahadewa;

Bars & Clubs

Most bars are free to enter, and often have

special drink promotions and 'happy hours'

between about 5pm and 8pm. A cover charge

is a rarity. Ambience ranges from the low-

down vibe of the surfer dives to the high-

concept nightclubs with their long drink

menus and hordes of prowling servers.

At many of the more raucous clubs you'll

see plenty of young women (usually from the

north or a neighbouring island) looking to

make a 'friend' - usually a Western guy who's

a multiple of their age.

The swank clubs of Seminyak are most

popular with gays and lesbians, but in general

you can find a mixed crowd pretty much

anywhere in Kuta and Legian.

(Map pp96-7 ;

755661; Jl Pantai

751802; Jl

11-2am) A merchandising

outlet disguised as a nightclub, the sprawling

Hard Rock fronts the beach and is a magnet

for local and Javanese yuppies. Slick bands

play classic rock covers.

Oscar's Pub

) It's always nice to

see a pub with a historical context. Burgers

and more are served in a cool, woodsy bar

that's probably more fun than the ones the

Aussie patrons enjoy at home.

Kuta; burgers 60,000Rp;

Werkudara 525;

3-11pm;

765047; Jl Pura Bagus Taruna 52;

dishes 30,000-90,000Rp) An upscale European

restaurant, Yut'z overlooks the street and a

small garden. The menu boasts many steaks,

prices are good and there are daily specials.

If you're a German breakfast fanatic, you can

get your Fruhstuck fix here.

Papa's Café (Map pp96-7 ;

(Map pp96-7 ;

755674; Jl Benesari;

noon-midnight) A low-key pub with good

drinks, snacks and a couple of tables outside.

Paddy's

Jl Double Six

The eponymous club is the big destination

here. There's usually another raucous post-

midnight club running just next door (al-

though the name changes by the season).

De Ja Vu (Map p96-7;

755055; Alam Kul Kul, Jl

Pantai Kuta; dishes 30,000-100,000Rp) Enjoy ocean views

at this breezy Italian café in the Alam Kul Kul

hotel. The menu ranges from simple sand-

wiches to elaborate seafood dishes. There are

more options like this place at neighbouring

hotels.

4pm-4am)

Reborn near Bounty after 2002, Paddy's is

walled in front, but that doesn't mean that

the pulse-pounding rock inside doesn't spill

out onto the street. Lots of partiers drawn by

the cheap beer specials.

Peanuts

(Map pp96-7; Jl Legian 66;

732777; Jl Double Six;

5pm-

) DJs are on duty from opening every

night at this high-concept, glass-fronted club

with beachfront tables outside.

Double Six Club (Map p96-7;

4am;

(Map pp96-7 ;

754226; cnr Jl Legian & Jl

11pm-late) Testosterone-fuelled Peanuts

attracts gigolos of all persuasions and their

suitors. Arak and 'Jungle Juice' feature big

time at this place, while the hawkish facade

of the Screaming Eagle Bar could bring a snif-

fle to any marine.

Tubes Surf Bar & Restaurant (Map pp96-7 ; Poppies

Gang II;

Melasti;

0812 462 7733; Jl

11pm-6am) This renowned club got

an upscale makeover to better compete with

the clubs on Jl Dhyana Pura. The swimming

pool is still there and so is the bungy jump

(save the crowd and don't have that extra

drink before leaping into the void; see p104).

Top international DJs play a mix of dance

tunes in a sleek open-air pavilion right out of

Wallpaper* magazine.

DOUBLE SIX BEACH

These places are right on the beach, which is

wildly popular with locals and visitors alike.

Zanzibar (Map pp96-7 ;

TUBAN

DeeJay Cafe (Map p103 ;

Double Six;

758880; 2nd fl, Kuta Centre, off

2-7am) In the post-midnight

hours, this place rocks in the post-apocalyptic

Kuta Centre, the run-down shell of a tourist

mall. House DJs play tribal underground,

progressive trance and more.

Jl Kartika Plaza 8x;

733529; Jl Double Six; dishes

20,000-45,000Rp) Sunset is prime time, but during

the day you can enjoy the shade of the large

trees overhead. Popular day and night, dishes

are tasty variations on Bali menu classics like

the nasi family and the burger bunch.

Seaside (Map pp96-7 ;

10-1am) A cavernous place that's

deserted during the day, but attracts an

enthusiastic crowd in the evening. The music

is commercial and a long way from the bad

cover bands found elsewhere. Kiosks open in

the evening with info on surf lessons and trips.

Beer specials pour forth.

KUTA

Apache Reggae Bar (Map pp96-7 ;

737140; Jl Double Six; dishes

25,000-70,000Rp) The curving sweep of seating

at this sleek place provides beach views for

one and all. The menu mixes faux Mexican

with authentic fusion. The burgers and sand-

wiches are good. Just try to pass without plop-

ping down on a bench for at least one drink.

ENTERTAINMENT

Around 6pm, sunset on the beach is the big

attraction, perhaps while enjoying a drink at a

café with a sea view. After a good dinner,

many visitors are happy enough with an-

other drink (or two) and a stroll in the cooler

evening air. But a lot of people are on holiday

and here to party, and in Kuta and Legian

that means lots of drinking, dancing and late

761212; Jl Legian

Balinese Dance & Music

The Ubud area (p197) is really the place to

go for authentic dance, and you'll see offers

in many hotels from tour operators. But note

that you won't get back to Kuta until after

10pm with most of these.

SHOPPING

Many people spend - literally - a major part

of their trip shopping. Kuta has a vast con-

centration of cheap places, as well as huge,

flashy surf-gear emporiums on Kuta Sq and Jl

Legian. As you head north along the latter into

Legian, the quality of the shops improves and

you start finding cute little boutiques, espe-

cially past Jl Melasti. Jl Double Six is lined with

wholesale fabric, clothing and craft stores, giv-

11pm-4am) One of the rowdier spots

in Kuta, Apache jams in locals and visitors,

many of whom are on the make. The music

is loud, but that pounding you feel the next

day is from the free-flowing arak (colourless,

distilled palm wine) served in huge plastic

jugs. A more sedate café is out front.

Bounty (Map pp96-7 ;

146;

LEGIAN

Most of Legian's bars are smaller and appeal

to a more relaxed crowd of visitors than those

in Kuta. The very notable exception is the area

at the end of Jl Double Six.

Capt Cook (Map pp96-7 ;

10pm-

6am) Set on a faux sailing boat amidst a mini-

mall of food and drink, the Bounty is a vast

open-air disco that humps, thumps and

pumps all night. Climb the blue-lit staircase

and get down on the poop deck to hip-hop,

techno, house and anything else the DJs come

up with. Frequent foam parties.

Dilenile (Map pp96-7 ;

752529; Jl Legian;

761122; Jl Werkudara;

) You may not discover Hawaii

at this corner place but you can explore the

pool table or settle back for a lengthy voyage

at the bar.

Dolphin (Map pp96-7 ;

3-11pm;

11pm) A popular spot in the heart of Legian, the

755376; Jl Sahadewa;

0812 396 0982; off Jl Legian;

Bali and Lombok

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