10 Fun Things To Do in Uluwatu at Night (Not Just Bars!)

While days in Uluwatu consist of surfing, lounging at luxurious pool clubs, and lazy afternoons on beautiful beaches, one of the reasons we love spending time here is the surprising number of activities to keep us busy after dark.

Whether you’re into late-night parties, watching traditional dance performances, or enjoying casual evenings with a movie under the stars, we’ve put together this guide with some of our favourite things to do in Uluwatu at night.

1. Stay late at Uluwatu’s top beach clubs

Uluwatu’s beach clubs are incredibly diverse. Some are known for their laid-back daytime vibe, while others really come alive after dark, hosting huge parties that last well into the early hours.

We’ve spent plenty of time making our way around Bali's top beach clubs, so here are the spots we’d recommend for a fun night out in Uluwatu:

2. Experience El Kabron’s famous sunset pool party

El Kabron is a lively, upmarket beach club on the clifftop close to Dreamland Beach, with amazing ocean views and some of the tastiest Spanish food we’ve tried in Bali (try the patatas bravas!). But it's their elaborate sunset pool parties that have earned them a dedicated spot on our list of top evening activities in Uluwatu.

From around 3pm each afternoon, a DJ sets the vibe with classic house tracks, joined by live sax, trumpet, and violin performances that bring serious Ibiza energy.

We were caught by surprise as waitresses started handing out sparklers to the crowd, smoke machines filled the air, and guests twirled handkerchiefs to the music. Whenever we thought the party had peaked, it only got better and better.

El Kabron isn’t somewhere to visit on a budget. Every seating area has a minimum spend, starting at 400,000 IDR ⓘ for the restaurant tables, which only let you experience the party from afar. To properly enjoy the evening, you’ll need a pool-access day bed, which starts at 1,800,000 IDR ⓘ per person.

3. Watch the Kecak Show at Uluwatu Temple

The Kecak fire dance is a traditional Balinese dance known for its dramatic choreography and use of fire. The unique dance is performed in several locations around Bali, but the most famous is the stunning backdrop of Uluwatu Temple, sitting on a cliff overlooking the ocean.

Kecak is performed by a huge chorus of 50+ men who chant “cak-cak-cak” throughout. The performance tells a story from the Hindu epic, Ramayana, focusing on Prince Rama’s quest to rescue Sita. A written commentary of what’s happening is provided in English, so you can follow along.

To close the show, bamboo torches are lit and fire is flung across the stage, casting an enchanting orange glow over the temple.

Kecak performances at Uluwatu Temple are held twice a day at 6pm and 7pm, each lasting just under an hour. It doesn’t matter which one you attend, but we’d highly recommend purchasing your tickets at least one day in advance. You can read about our experience trying to buy tickets at the door here.

You’ll need to cover your knees when entering the temple (sarongs are provided). Arrive early so you can explore Uluwatu Temple (Pura Luhur Uluwatu), one of Bali’s nine directional temples. It’s not huge, so 30 minutes is plenty. Keep an eye out for the temple's infamous monkeys — they are known to steal glasses and valuables.

4. Enjoy craft beers at The Bench Brewery

The Bench Brewery is a huge tap room in central Uluwatu, owned by the team behind Island Brewing. Similar to Canggu’s famous Black Sands, The Bench Brewery has a spacious beer garden and serves dozens of local craft beers on tap, including my favourite, Summer Pale Ale.

The beer garden has numerous long tables that are perfect for sharing and making friends after a few drinks. We’ve never found it to be particularly busy, so advanced booking isn’t required unless you’re a large group.

The Bench is open daily until late, but Saturdays are the most lively, with live music followed by a DJ that keeps the energy going into the night. Plus, keep an eye out for special events. We went to their huge Oktoberfest party, and it was a lot of fun!

5. Party late into the night at Hatch

Hatch is one of the closest things you'll find to a nightclub in Uluwatu. By day, it's a laid-back restaurant that hosts a fantastic Sunday market. Then by night, it transforms into a lively bar that stays open well into the early hours.

We love Hatch’s unique jungle/treehouse theme, with trees growing through the roof, plenty of indoor greenery, and a raised walkway that feels like walking along a canopy. Everything is built from recycled materials too, which is another big thumbs up from us.

The décor leans into a hippie aesthetic, with colourful artwork and psychedelic lighting. It gets quite lively on the dance floor later into the night, but the spacious venue also has lots of little hidden nooks where you can sit and hang out with friends.

The bar hosts regular events throughout the week, including a Tuesday games night, with pool tournaments and beer pong, and a Saturday Salsa Fiesta.

6. Watch the Baraong show at GWK Cultural Park

For another of the best cultural shows in Uluwatu, head to the modern amphitheatre just outside the GWK Cultural Park between Wednesday and Saturday for their evening Baraong dance.

Starting at 6pm each evening, the dance performance follows the story of Prince Bara as he searches for three Barongs (mythical lion-like creatures) to restore peace to his kingdom.

The huge show has a cast of 30+ performers and features beautiful Balinese dancing, highly elaborate costumes, special effects, and even some audience participation.

At one point, everyone had to play instruments that were provided under our seats. Immersive visuals on the back screen bring the story to life, with English subtitles narrating key parts so you know exactly what's happening (rare for cultural shows in Bali).

Tickets for the Baraong show are separate from the main entry ticket to GWK Cultural Park, so you can attend the evening show without visiting the rest of the complex.

7. Discover Uluwatu’s live music scene

For a chilled night out in Uluwatu, many local bars and restaurants host regular live music nights featuring Bali’s talented singers and musicians. From Latin rhythms to soulful acoustic sets, there’s something for every vibe.

These are a few of our favourite live music bars in Uluwatu:

8. Go for sunset drinks at Rock Bar

Just north of Uluwatu, Rock Bar is one of our favourite places for a luxurious night out in Bali. Built into the cliffside in Jimbaran, the spacious bar offers some of the Bukit's most stunning sunset views, accompanied by the sound of waves crashing beneath you.

To reach the bar, you need to take a short funicular ride down the cliffside, then follow a winding passageway through the cave. The journey there is part of the fun!

As well as a fantastic wine menu and creative cocktail list, the food here is delicious, with a tempting tapas menu to pair with your drinks or more substantial Mediterranean-inspired mains.

Rock Bar is part of the AYANA resort. Only resort guests can reserve tables, but outside guests are welcome with a minimum spend of 300,000 IDR ⓘ for drinks and tapas or 500,000 IDR ⓘ for dinner.

Without a reservation, we’d recommend arriving not too long after the bar opens at 4pm. Despite having hundreds of tables, it’s a popular spot and does get busy. Even when we visited during low season, all the best tables were taken by sunset.

If you’re not quite ready to go home, head to After Rock, their sister venue within the AYANA complex. The luxury bar offers exclusive cocktails, bottle service, and a live band followed by a DJ until the early hours.

9. Book an evening spa session at The Istana

If partying isn't your idea of a good time, opt for a relaxing evening spa session at The Istana instead. This luxurious clifftop wellness retreat in Uluwatu has a large infinity pool overlooking the ocean, spa and wellness facilities, and a yoga and meditation centre.

A spa pass gives you access to the pool, saunas, sound dome, hot and cold plunge pools, and the stunning clifftop lawn. You’ll need to book a specific time slot for the spa, with evening sessions running from 6-9pm daily. On Fridays and Saturdays, they also run a later "Midnight Session" from 9:30pm until midnight.

The Istana is one of the most peaceful places we’ve visited in Bali. It’s a completely tech-free zone, so phones, tablets, and other devices must be left in lockers at the entrance (which is why we don’t have any photos inside!).

It’s the perfect spot to switch off and enjoy a digital detox for a few hours. We’ll be honest, the no-tech thing took us a little while to get used to.

10. Watch a classic movie under the stars

Several of Uluwatu's beach bars and clubs also host open-air movie nights each week, where you can watch classic movies under the stars with the ocean as the backdrop.

Ulu Cliffhouse has a popular open-air cinema night every Tuesday. Each week, the beach club screens a different movie on its giant outdoor screen, with cosy daybeds set up in front and the lapping waves of the Indian Ocean behind.

We’ve turned up and got a last-minute spot before, but daybeds are limited. We’d recommend pre-booking on Instagram. The movie starts at 7pm, but we like to arrive early and enjoy the sunset first. There's a 500,000 IDR ⓘ minimum spend per bed (2-3 people). This can be spent on food and drinks during the movie.

Uluwatu's other most popular movie night is at the beautiful Sundays Beach Club. Movie nights take place 2-3 times a week, usually on Wednesday/Thursday and Saturday. They release the full movie schedule at the start of each month.

You can either get a day pass for the beach club and stay until the evening for the movie, or book a movie night package (book here), which includes entry after 5:30pm (so you can still enjoy sunset), popcorn, pizza, and a drink. The movie's sound is played over an app, so don't forget headphones!