Mr S and I have come to prefer sunset drinks and laid back beach bars to frenzied night clubs and there are some gorgeous choices in Bali; here are some of my top picks of places that we visited.
Kuta Beach is the centre of commercial tourism in Bali and the shopping malls, chain hotels, busy streets and loud night clubs make it tacky and little seedy. Nearby Seminyak, whilst still touristy, is much more stylish with luxury hotels, cool boutiques and great restaurants.
Potato Head, Seminyak
No, not the childhood toy, Potato Head is Bali’s coolest beach club. As soon as we walked I proclaimed to Mr Silver ‘I love it here, this my favourite bar ever!’
Potato Head is basically a large lounge bar located right on the beach including two restaurants, a pool and lots of space to lounge and have a drink. It’s open from 11am so you can enjoy the relaxed vibes and cool music and inventive cocktails all day.
For more details about our night at Potato Head check out my earlier post.
Woo Bar at The W Hotel, Seminyak
The W Hotel is a very short walk along the beach from Potato Head making it easy to try out both in one night. As it seemed like there was ticketed event going on there we didn’t stay long but I loved the cool design of the Woo Bar and the lively atmosphere.
It’s known for being one of the most happening spots for a drink and a dance and hosts a roster of international DJs. There’s lots of choice from the signature cocktail menu and they also offer a tapas selection for a drink and a nibble at sunset.
When I first visited Bali, 7 years ago it wasn’t anywhere near so developed as it is now. Back then Ku de Ta was the place to go, an unmissable place for all day eating, drinking and lounging. I do think Potato Head has somewhat stolen the crown of this 15-year-old venue as I much preferred the design and the vibe there.
However, Ku de Ta has interesting decor and a lively atmosphere and I definitely think it’s still a great place to go for a drink. We went for dinner and there are definitely better places to eat in Seminyak but the food is nice and we loved grabbing a lounger for two at the end of the night to sip champagne and listen to the waves crashing!
Jimbaran Bay is a much more laid back alternative to the beaches of Kuta and Seminyak and though there isn’t a huge amount of nightlife, the bars are stylish and chilled out.
Sundara at the Four Seasons Jimbaran
Sundara has a gorgeous location right on Jimbaran beach and I loved decor of polished teak, comfy sofas and dramatic flame bowls. 
A table right on the edge of the pavilion is the perfect place to have a drink at sun down and enjoy the relaxed live music from independent artists. The menu of Modern-Asian tapas was a little hit and miss but mostly enjoyable and I loved the way you could customise the menu by portion size. Sundara also have a Sunday brunch with unlimited starters and the option of unlimited drinks!
Rock Bar at the Ayana Hotel
Finally, the famous Rock Bar, perched 14 metres above the Indian Ocean at the AYANA Resort and Spa. 
It’s been dubbed a bit of a tourist trap but Mr S and I loved sipping cocktails with the waves crashing beneath us! While sunset is the best time to go, you may find yourself stuck in the queue for the lift to get down there and end up missing the sunset…which ummm we did! Actually the queue can be over an hour long so unless you’re desperate to see the sunset I’d wait until a little later when it’s quieter.
Here we enjoyed some delicious Asian nibbles and the live music at one of the world’s best and most unique bars.
Have you been for cocktails in Bali? Where would you recommend?
