11 Things to Do in Ubud: The Ultimate Game Room Guide at The Melting Pot Saloon
- Greg Berlin
- 6 days ago
- 9 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
More Than Just a Bar in Ubud
Ubud has no shortage of places to grab a drink. What it doesn’t have — anywhere else — is a single venue packing 11 different games & activities under one roof. The Melting Pot Saloon isn’t just a Texas-style saloon with craft beer and live sport on the big screen; it’s become one of the genuine things to do in Ubud for travelers, expats, and locals looking for more than another quiet dinner or spa afternoon.
Whether you’re planning a night out with friends, looking for a group activity that isn’t a cooking class or a temple tour, or just want somewhere to burn an evening that doesn’t involve staring at your phone, this guide walks through every single game we’ve got — what it is, how it’s played, and why it’s worth your time.
The Only Place for Axe Throwing in Ubud
Axe throwing is the one that gets people through the door the first time, and keeps them coming back after. As far as we know, we’re the only venue in Ubud with a proper axe throwing setup — and quite possibly the only one anywhere in Bali doing it properly, with real steel hatchets and real wooden targets rather than a novelty add-on.
We run six separate throwing targets, and we don’t let the wood get worn down and predictable — the boards get swapped out weekly, sometimes more than once a week during busier stretches, so the surface stays consistent and fair no matter how many groups have been throwing that day. For anyone who takes it a little more seriously, we also stock a small lineup of premium axes beyond the standard house hatchet — including the Bad Axe, the Butcher Axe, and the Corporal Axe — each with a different weight and balance that changes how the throw feels.
The appeal is simple: it’s competitive, it’s a little bit dangerous-feeling (safely, of course, with proper instruction), and it photographs incredibly well for the group Instagram story. Beginners land a bullseye more often than you’d expect, which is exactly what makes it addictive — one good throw and everyone in the group wants another turn.
We’ve written a full deep-dive on the sport itself, the different axe types, and how it’s taken off in Bali — check out our dedicated Axe Throwing in Bali post for the complete breakdown.
Ubud’s Biggest Pool Hall: 10 Tables, Fresh Felt, Straight Cues
Ten full-size pool tables. Not one or two tucked in a corner — ten, which makes The Melting Pot Saloon the largest pool setup anywhere in Ubud by a wide margin. Whether you’re a serious player looking for a proper 8-ball or 9-ball match, or you just want a casual game while you wait for your food, there’s always a table free.
What actually separates a good pool hall from a bar with a table shoved in the corner is maintenance — and it’s something we take seriously. Felt doesn’t last forever; it wears thin, gets shiny, and starts affecting how the balls roll. We keep an eye on every table and re-felt them as soon as one starts to go, rather than waiting until players start complaining. Combined with a full set of straight cues (not the warped, chalk-starved ones you find at a lot of casual bars), it’s the kind of detail serious players actually notice.
Pool remains one of the most requested things to do in Ubud among expats specifically, since it’s a game you can play for twenty minutes or three hours depending on your night. With ten tables running, it’s also one of the easiest games in the venue to jump into a rivalry — challenge the table next to you, put a round of beers on the line, and suddenly your Tuesday night has a storyline.
If you’re rusty on the actual rules — call shots, scratching, what counts as a foul — we’ve got you covered in our full Guide to Billiards Rules.
Ubud’s Only Snooker Table — And One of the Few Left in Bali
Snooker is pool’s more technical, more patient cousin, and it’s not just rare in Ubud — as far as we’re aware, we’re the only venue in town with a full-size snooker table, and one of only a handful anywhere on the island. Most bars simply don’t have the table space for it, which makes ours something of a genuine rarity rather than just another billiards variant.
Played on a larger table with smaller pockets and a more intricate scoring system involving reds and colors, snooker rewards precision over power, and it’s become a favorite among visitors from the UK, Australia, and anywhere else where the game has serious cultural roots.
If you’ve never played, it’s worth ten minutes of someone explaining the reds-then-colors sequencing before you dive in — but once it clicks, it’s one of the most satisfying games in the room, precisely because it takes real skill to look good at it. We keep our snooker table maintained to a standard serious players actually notice, which matters if you’ve played competitively back home and don’t want a sloppy table ruining the experience.
The Only Full-Size Shuffleboard Table in Bali
Shuffleboard has quietly become one of the most popular things to do in Ubud for a low-key, social night — it’s easy to pick up in under a minute, works for any group size, and somehow generates more trash talk per square foot than almost any other game in the building.
It’s also genuinely hard to find anywhere else on the island. As far as we’ve been able to confirm, ours is the only full-size shuffleboard table in Bali — a couple of other venues have a shuffleboard-style table, but they’re the shorter, smaller tabletop versions rather than a true full- length table. The extra length changes the whole game — more room for a puck to build or lose momentum, and a lot more room for a great comeback shot at the end.
The concept is simple: slide weighted pucks down a long, sand-dusted table, aiming to land in the highest-scoring zone without sliding off the end. It’s the kind of game that’s just as fun after four beers as it is stone sober, which is probably why it’s become such a fixture of bar culture in the first place.
We’ve covered the full history and rules of the game in our dedicated Shuffleboard in Bali post, if you want the deeper story behind it.
Darts in Bali: One of Our Most Popular Games
If you’ve been searching for darts in Bali, there’s a good chance you’ve already found your way to us — it’s become one of the most consistently played games in the entire venue, and one of the activities we get asked about most by name. Whether you’re playing a casual game of 501 or getting technical about checkout combinations, our dartboards see near-constant action throughout the week.
Darts is one of the oldest bar games in the world, and it’s held onto its popularity for a reason — it’s simple to learn, endlessly replayable, and genuinely competitive at every skill level. It’s also seen a real resurgence globally in recent years, with televised tournaments turning it into something closer to a mainstream spectator sport, and that same energy has found its way into Ubud’s nightlife scene. It’s one of the easiest games in the venue to jump into solo, too; you don’t need a full group to have a proper game, just someone else at the board.
For the full history of the sport and why it’s found new life here in Ubud, read our complete Darts post.
Ping Pong in Ubud: One of Our Busiest Tables, Day After Day
We’re not going to pretend we’re the only place in Ubud with a ping pong table — plenty of venues have one. What we can say is that ours barely sits idle; it’s one of the most consistently played games in the building, day in and day out, and it draws a genuinely competitive crowd rather than just the casual “hit it back and forth” kind.
We regularly see proper rallies, legitimate spin serves, and the kind of trash talk that only a table tennis grudge match can produce. It’s one of the best things to do in Ubud if you’re looking for something physical rather than purely a drinking game — a few rounds of ping pong will get your heart rate up in a way pool or darts won’t. It’s also one of the most accessible games in the room for kids and families during earlier hours, before the evening crowd properly settles in.
Well Maintained Foosball Table in Ubud
Foosball tables have a way of turning complete strangers into a two-person team within about thirty seconds, which is exactly why it’s one of the most social games in the venue. Fast, chaotic, and built for trash talk, a proper foosball match is one of the quickest ways to make friends at the bar — or lose them, depending on how competitive things get.
What’s harder to find is a foosball table that’s actually properly maintained — balanced rods, no sticky spins, figures that haven’t been chipped or replaced with mismatched parts. Not many venues can confidently say theirs is in genuinely good condition, and it’s something we specifically keep on top of, since a wobbly or unbalanced table ruins the game fast.
It’s a game that rewards quick reflexes over strategy, which makes it approachable for absolute beginners while still being genuinely fun for people who’ve played their whole lives. Pair it with a round of drinks and it’s one of the easiest ways to fill twenty minutes while you’re waiting on a pool table to free up.
Air Hockey: Ubud’s Fastest, Loudest Game Under One Roof
There’s something about air hockey that turns even the most laid-back person mildly feral the second the puck starts moving. It’s fast, it’s loud, and the physical thwack of a good slap shot never really gets old, no matter how many times you’ve played.
Air hockey remains one of the most nostalgic things to do in Ubud for anyone who grew up around an arcade — it’s a genuine throwback, and it’s exactly the kind of game that turns into an impromptu tournament once a few people start watching.
The Arcade Basketball Machine Everyone Wants a Turn On
Our basketball arcade machine is one of the simplest games in the building, and also one of the most competitive — feed it, shoot as many hoops as you can before the timer runs out, and try to beat whoever went before you. It’s the kind of game that draws a small crowd of onlookers the second someone starts putting up a serious score.
It’s a great option for larger groups too, since it naturally turns into a rotating leaderboard battle rather than a one-on-one game — perfect for a group night out where not everyone wants to commit to a full match of pool or darts.
Golden Tee: The Only One in Ubud, Maybe All of Bali
Golden Tee is a genuine arcade classic — a golf simulation game that’s been a bar-room fixture in the US for decades. As far as we’ve been able to find, we’re the only venue in Ubud with one, and quite possibly the only one anywhere in Bali. If you know it, you already know how deep the rabbit hole goes; if you don’t, it’s an easy, satisfying game to pick up in a few minutes.
It’s one of the more relaxed games in the venue, which makes it a nice change of pace if you’ve just come off a competitive round of pool or darts and want something a little more low-key without leaving the game room entirely.
Ubud’s Only Incredible Technologies Arcade Cabinet — A US Bar Classic
Rounding out the game room is our arcade cabinet from Incredible Technologies, a name that’s been a staple of American bar culture for decades and one of the most recognizable arcade brands in the US. As far as we know, it’s the only cabinet of its kind anywhere in Ubud, giving you a genuine taste of classic US bar-arcade culture without needing to leave Bali.
It’s an easy one to duck into solo while you’re waiting on food or friends, and it consistently pulls in anyone who grew up around 80s and 90s arcade culture looking to relive it for a few minutes.
Why The Melting Pot Saloon Is Ubud’s Best Bar for Finding Things To Do in Ubud
With 11 different games under one roof — more than any other venue in Ubud — this isn’t just a bar with a couple of pool tables tucked in the back. It’s a genuine destination for group nights out, solo visits, and everything in between.
Pair any of these games with our 19 craft beers on tap, full Texas-style food menu, and live sport playing daily with the sound always on, and it’s easy to see why The Melting Pot Saloon has become one of the top things to do in Ubud for anyone looking for more than a quiet dinner.
The Melting Pot Saloon, Jl. Raya Pengosekan (Hanoman) No. 22X, Ubud
Open daily, 10:30AM – 2AM
WhatsApp: +62 812-4641-0890
The Melting Pot Saloon is Ubud’s Texas-style saloon and largest game room — 19 craft beers on tap, Texas-style food, 11 games, and live sport every day with the sound always on.
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