bring on the beats | bali's top 5 live music venues

Amid the thumping beats and electronic tunes on Bali’s nightlife scene, there are a few hotspots that feature live music instead, with great local and international regular bands. The following selections are the most mentioned when you ask for the best live music spots in Bali, as they feature the island’s most talented soloists and bands playing from Jazz, R&B, Latin, pop to fusion and world music.

Laughing Buddha Bar

Halfway up from the Ubud Monkey Forest, Laughing Buddha Bar is one of the liveliest spots to enjoy live music while in Ubud. The island’s greatest Jazz and Blues performers play regular gigs at Laughing Buddha, with a weekly agenda comprising The Bali Blues Brothers and The Mushroom Blues Band playing on Mondays with powerful lead vocalist Imelda Joplin. 

Zibiru Restaurant

As one of Seminyak's great spots for Italian cuisine, Zibiru Restaurant is tucked away from the main Seminyak traffic on the Jalan Drupadi side street, allowing only the soothing sounds from the nightly live band’s soul and slow jazz to accompany your dinners. The main dining room is homey and subtly-lit with tables arranged under an open-beam wooden ceiling. Outside, its lush garden is guarded by a family of Zibiru’s colourful mascot ceramic pigs adjacent the live jazz band.

Hard Rock Centerstage

Centerstage is Hard Rock Hotel Bali’s one-of-a-kind entertainment venue with a raised stage above a bar (doubling as a lobby bar), where you can enjoy drinks whilst watching live bands up-close. Bands play from Rock to Rhythm ‘n’ Blues, and Hip-hop to the most current singles playing on the charts and airwaves. Hard Rock’s ‘band of the month’ alternates between established performers, including Hard Rock’s long-performing Siluet Band that usually plays from retro ‘70s rock, ‘80s dance to the latest Top 40. Centerstage also hosts unique shows, especially around the hotel’s anniversary celebrations such as Hard Rock’s annual body painting competitions, special fashion shows and unplugged performances by international celebrities. 

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