Ubud Nightlife Guide: What to Do in Ubud at Night

Ubud is famous for rice terraces, temples, yoga studios and cafés, but the town doesn't simply shut down when the sun goes down.

If you're searching for Ubud nightlife, you might be wondering what a night out here actually looks like. Does Ubud have bars? Is there live music? Can you watch sport, play pool or find something to do besides sitting at a restaurant?

The answer is yes.

Nightlife in Ubud has its own character. It isn't trying to be Seminyak or Canggu. Instead, nights here can mean live music, cocktails, craft beer, pool, darts, axe throwing, quiz nights, live sport and relaxed bars where it's actually possible to have a conversation.

Whether you're travelling alone, visiting with friends or simply looking for something to do in Ubud at night, here's what you need to know.

What Is Ubud Nightlife Actually Like?

Ubud nightlife is generally more relaxed and social than the nightlife found in Bali's major beach areas.

You're unlikely to find rows of huge beach clubs or an entire district built around nightclubs. Instead, going out in Ubud tends to revolve around smaller bars, live music venues, restaurants, pubs, activity-based venues and a handful of places that keep the night going later.

That makes Ubud particularly good if your idea of a night out involves actually doing something. You can have dinner, catch a live band, play a few games of pool, watch a football match, join a quiz night or grab a craft beer without needing to build your entire evening around a nightclub.

There are later-night options too, particularly if you're looking for music and dancing, but Ubud's overall nightlife scene is more laid-back than Bali's main party destinations.

Where to Go Out in Ubud

You don't necessarily need to travel far to find nightlife in Ubud.

Central Ubud has plenty of restaurants, bars and live music venues, while the Monkey Forest Road area is particularly active in the evening. The surrounding streets are also home to a variety of bars and later-night venues.

Further south, the Jalan Hanoman and Pengosekan areas offer another mix of restaurants, bars, activities and entertainment. The best area depends on the type of night you're looking for.

If you want cocktails and live music, central Ubud and the Monkey Forest area give you plenty of options within a relatively small area. If you would rather spend the evening playing games, watching sport or doing something more interactive, look beyond the traditional cocktail-bar experience and towards Ubud's activity-based venues.

Things to Do in Ubud at Night

Going out in Ubud doesn't have to mean sitting at a bar all evening. One of the best things about Ubud nightlife is the variety of ways you can spend a night.

Play Pool

Pool is an easy option whether you're travelling with friends, on a date or just looking for a casual game. A good pool venue also gives you something to do between drinks rather than making the bar itself the entire focus of the night.

The Melting Pot Saloon has 10 full-sized pool tables available for hourly rental, making pool one of the venue's biggest activities. If you'd like to know more about the game itself, check out our guide to playing pool in Ubud.

Try Axe Throwing

For something a little different, axe throwing turns a normal evening into a friendly competition. You don't need previous experience to try it. The basic idea is simple: learn the technique, throw at the wooden target and see who can score the most points.

The Melting Pot has dedicated axe-throwing lanes, making it an easy activity to add to a night out with friends or a group. Read our Axe Throwing in Bali guide for the rules, safety basics and what to expect before your first throw.

Play Darts, Shuffleboard and Bar Games

Pool isn't the only option. Darts, shuffleboard, ping pong, foosball, air hockey, arcade games, Golden Tee and a basketball machine can turn an ordinary evening into a few hours of friendly competition. This works particularly well for groups because everyone can move between different games rather than committing the entire night to one activity. For the full selection, see our Games & Activities in Ubud guide.

Join a Quiz Night

If you're in Ubud on a Monday, you can also make trivia part of your night out. The Melting Pot's weekly Quiz Night starts every Monday at 8:00 PM and brings together travellers, expats, locals and groups for an evening of team trivia.

Reservations are available for Quiz Night, so booking ahead also helps us know how many people to expect. See our Ubud Quiz Night guide for the latest details.

Watch Live Sport

Being in Bali doesn't mean you have to miss the game. Sports bars are an important part of Ubud nightlife, particularly for travellers trying to catch Australian, European and international sport while they're away.

At The Melting Pot, all AFL and NRL games are shown, alongside English Premier League, football, UFC, Formula 1, State of Origin, the Super Bowl and other major sporting events.

For schedules and more information, visit our Live Sports in Ubud guide.

Live Music and Cocktails in Ubud

If games and sport aren't what you're looking for, Ubud also has a well-established live music and cocktail scene.

The town's artistic side carries into the evening, with bars offering everything from acoustic music and reggae to rock, funk and DJs. The Monkey Forest area is particularly useful if you want to move between different venues during the same night, with a concentration of bars and live entertainment within a relatively compact area.

Cocktail bars provide a quieter alternative. These can work well for a date night, a drink after dinner or anyone who wants to go out without committing to a louder pub or club environment. The result is that a night out in Ubud can be as relaxed or as lively as you want it to be.

What to Do in Ubud at Night Besides Drinking

You don't need to drink alcohol to enjoy Ubud nightlife. If you'd rather have an activity at the centre of your evening, look for places offering games, entertainment or events. Pool, darts, axe throwing, shuffleboard, ping pong, arcade games, trivia and live sport all work without alcohol being the main attraction.

This is also useful when you're travelling with a group where everyone has different preferences. Someone can grab a beer while someone else plays pool, watches a match or joins a game. Ubud's evenings can therefore work just as well for people who want an activity as they do for people looking for bars.

Going Out Alone in Ubud

Travelling alone doesn't mean spending every evening back at your hotel or villa. Activity-based nightlife can be particularly useful for solo travellers because there's already something happening around you. Watching a live sports match, joining a quiz, sitting near a pool table or heading somewhere with live music can feel more natural than walking into a quiet restaurant and sitting alone at a table.

If you're hoping to meet people while travelling, choose somewhere social and relatively busy rather than making "singles nightlife" the goal of the evening. Ubud attracts visitors from around the world as well as long-term residents, so the crowd can change significantly from one night to another.

A Night Out at The Melting Pot Saloon

If you want a night where you can eat, drink, watch sport and play games without moving between several venues, The Melting Pot Saloon on Jalan Raya Pengosekan brings all of those things together.

The Melting Pot is a Texas-style saloon, sports bar and game room in Ubud.

Inside you'll find:

• 10 full-sized pool tables

• Axe throwing

• Darts

• Shuffleboard

• Ping pong

• Foosball

• Air hockey

• Basketball machine

• Golden Tee and arcade games

• Live sports

• Weekly Monday Quiz Night

• 33 beers in total, including 23 on tap

• 19 craft beers on tap

• Food, cocktails and spirits

The venue has more than 250 seats, so it can handle everything from a casual game of pool to busy sporting events and larger groups. The Melting Pot is open seven days a week from 10:30 AM until 2:00 AM and is located at Jl. Raya Pengosekan (Hanoman) No. 22X, Ubud. If you're simply coming in for a normal night, reservations generally aren't required.

Ubud Nightlife for Groups

Going out becomes slightly more complicated when there are six, eight or fifteen people trying to agree on what to do.

That's where activity-based venues become particularly useful. Rather than asking everyone to sit around the same table for several hours, choosing somewhere with multiple activities lets the group split up and move around.

Some people can play pool while others throw darts, watch sport or grab food, and everyone can meet back up throughout the evening. If you're organising a birthday, bachelor party or another larger gathering, check our guide to groups and parties in Ubud for more information.

What Time Does Ubud Nightlife Start?

There's no single starting time for nightlife in Ubud. Restaurants become busy around dinner, while bars, live music and entertainment generally become more active later in the evening. A simple plan is to have dinner first and then move on to whatever you want to do afterwards. If you're attending a scheduled event such as Quiz Night, a sporting event or live performance, check the actual start time rather than relying on general nightlife hours.

How Late Is Ubud Nightlife Open?

Closing times vary considerably between venues. Some restaurants and quieter bars finish earlier, while a smaller number of nightlife venues continue into the early hours. The Melting Pot Saloon is open until 2:00 AM seven days a week, giving you a late option if a game runs long or you simply aren't ready to call it a night.

Getting Around Ubud at Night

Think about how you're getting home before the night gets too far along. Ride-hailing services and local drivers are commonly used around Ubud, but availability can vary depending on your location and the time of night. If you're staying outside central Ubud, arranging your return transport in advance can make the end of the evening much easier.

And if you're drinking, don't ride a scooter or drive yourself home.

What Should You Wear for a Night Out in Ubud?

Ubud nightlife is generally casual. For pubs, sports bars and activity venues, normal comfortable clothes are usually fine. If you're heading somewhere more cocktail-focused or upscale, smart-casual clothing may be a better choice. If your evening involves an activity such as axe throwing, practical footwear and clothing also make more sense than dressing for a nightclub.

Ubud Nightlife FAQ

Does Ubud have nightlife?

Yes. Ubud has bars, live music, cocktails, sports bars, games, activities, trivia and some later-night venues. The nightlife is generally more relaxed than Bali's major beach-party areas, but there's still plenty to do after dark.

Is Ubud good for nightlife?

That depends on the type of nightlife you want. If you're looking for huge beach clubs and an all-night party district, other parts of Bali have a larger scene. If you prefer live music, bars, games, sport, cocktails and social venues, Ubud has plenty of options.

Where can I go out at night in Ubud?

Central Ubud and the Monkey Forest area contain a concentration of bars, restaurants and live music. Jalan Hanoman and Pengosekan also have evening venues and activities, including The Melting Pot Saloon on Jalan Raya Pengosekan.

What can you do in Ubud at night besides drinking?

You can play pool, darts, shuffleboard and other games, try axe throwing, join a quiz night, watch live sport, listen to live music or simply head out for dinner. Drinking doesn't need to be the focus of the evening.

What time does nightlife start in Ubud?

There isn't one official starting time. Restaurants become busy around dinner, while bars and entertainment generally pick up later. Scheduled events such as live music, sport and trivia have their own start times.

How late are bars open in Ubud?

It depends on the venue. Some close around midnight while others continue later. The Melting Pot Saloon is open until 2:00 AM seven days a week.

Can I go out alone in Ubud?

Yes. Solo travellers can choose social settings such as live music venues, sports bars, quiz nights and activity-based venues where there is something to do besides simply sitting at a table.

Where can I watch live sport in Ubud?

The Melting Pot Saloon shows all AFL and NRL games along with football, UFC, Formula 1 and other major sporting events. Check the Live Sports in Ubud page for more information.

Is there live music in Ubud?

Yes. Live music is a regular part of Ubud nightlife, with venues around town hosting bands and other performances. Check current schedules before heading out because line-ups and performance times can change.

Make the Most of Ubud After Dark

Ubud may be better known for what happens during the day, but there's much more to the town after sunset than many visitors expect.

You can spend the evening listening to live music, exploring cocktail bars, playing pool, throwing axes, joining a quiz, watching sport or simply having dinner followed by a few drinks with friends.

And if you're looking for somewhere that combines games, live sport, food, craft beer and late-night entertainment under one roof, come and visit The Melting Pot Saloon on Jalan Raya Pengosekan.

Ubud nightlife doesn't need to look like the rest of Bali.

That's part of what makes a night out here worth experiencing.