One of the best things about being on holiday is that you get to disconnected for a while. You know: put down your smartphone and actually live in the moment for a change. But as any sports fan will tell you, even when you find yourself in paradisal Bali, sometimes you just need to watch the game. To save you the trouble of screening Bali’s watering holes for TV screens and sports feeds, we’ve put together a list of the best sports bars in Bali. From Legian to Ubud and from Canggu to Nusa Dua, these venues allow you to enjoy AFL and NRL in good company and of course, with plenty of cold drinks.
Sports Bars in Legian
The Legian and Kuta area are the holy grail of sports bars in Bali and you basically can’t swing a cat without hitting a TV screen showing a rugby match. That being said, not all sports bars are created equal and without doing some research, visiting a sports bar in Legian is a real game of hit and miss. These bars offer a stellar mix of good food, friendly service and most importantly, a steady stream of live sports.
Y Sports Bar
Y Sports Bar shows a great variety of live sports, including AFL, NRL, tennis and Formula 1. The menu is a who’s who of sports bar classics – take your pick between a Footy Dog, Aussie Burger and Bangers n Mash. Patrons love Y Sports Bar for its great range of sports, but it’s worth noting that the venue might not be everyone’s cup of tea: three nights a week, Y Sports Bar hosts “Midget Fun Boxing.”
Y Sports Bar
Location: Jalan Padma Utara No.4, Legian
Rama Garden Restaurant & Sports Bar
Located at the hotel of the same name, Rama Garden Restaurant & Sports Bar takes your average pub night up a notch – the dining room has actual tablecloths covering the tables. But don’t worry, the atmosphere is still warm and welcoming. The restaurant’s big screen displays sports including AFL, NRL, soccer, cricket and more. Rama Garden is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with the menu featuring a mix of Indonesian food and Western favourites.
Rama Garden Restaurant & Sports Bar
Location: Jalan Padma, Legian
Sports Bars in Seminyak
Next to Legian, Seminyak offers a good concentration of sports bars in Bali. True to the upscale ambiance of the neighbourhood, the venues in Seminyak are generally slightly more sophisticated than those you’ll find in Kuta and Legian. The overall atmosphere still remains friendly and relaxed, though.
Adrenalin Sports Bar
Adrenalin Sports Bar is arguably one of the best sports bars in Bali. With 13 TV screens, Adrenaline shows a great variety of live sports, ranging from AFL to Formula 1. The menu is a no-nonsense offering of Western favourites – you can choose between nachos, burgers and pizza. There’s also a small kids’ menu. The bar has a very central location right on Seminyak’s famous Eat Street, on the second floor of Seminyak Square shopping mall.
Adrenalin Sports Bar
Location: Jalan Kayu Aya, Seminyak Square 2nd floor, Seminyak
Nirvana Restaurant
If you’re looking something beyond the average sports bar in Bali, Nirvana Restaurant is a great choice. Besides showing AFL and other live sports on 15 TV screen plus one jumbo screen, Nirvana offers live entertainment ranging from live bands to thrilling fire dancers. The food isn’t a mere afterthought, either – Nirvana’s stakes come praised as some of the best in the area.
Nirvana Restaurant
Location: Jalan Kayu Aya No. 50B, Seminyak
Lucky Day
Lucky Day is a family-friendly venue lovingly reared by long-time Bali residents originally hailing from Port Macquarie, Australia. The restaurant has big screen TVs and overhead projectors showing rugby, football and more. The menu is a mix of Australian pub grub and local Indonesian flavour and there’s also a designated kids’ menu. Besides the generous screens showing live sports, the bar offers nightly live music starting at 6.30 pm.
Lucky Day
Location: Jalan Camplung Tanduk, Seminyak
Sports Bars in Canggu
Canggu is probably the trendiest neighbourhood in Bali right now, but the island’s sports central this is not. There are countless bars and cafes dotted across the neighbourhood and lining the beaches, but when it comes to finding live sports feeds, a little detective work might be required.
James Cook Sports Bar & Restaurant
If you don’t mind driving a little outside the main hub of Canggu, James Cook Sports Bar & Restaurant is your best bet for watching live sports in the area. Located on the border between Canggu and Kerobokan, this much beloved pub shows all the sports you’ll ever need: State of Origin, Tour De France, UFC, AFL… It’s all here. If your must-see game happens to be missing from the daily line-up, the bar will go above and beyond to make it happen. The menu features excellent burgers and classic pub grub. Definitely one of the best sports bars in Bali.
James Cook Sports Bar & Restaurant
Location: Jalan Raya Semer No.100, Kerobokan
Bistro C Sports Bar
Bistro C Sports Bar is part of Finns Recreation Club (formerly Canggu Club) and shows live sports every day of the week on multiple HD screens. Besides ice cold beers, Bisto C Sports Bar offers bar snacks and also does main courses if you’re feeling really hungry. The venue is open to the public (that would be non-club members and those without a daypass) starting from 5pm on weekdays and all day Saturdays and Sundays.
Bistro C Sports Bar
Location: Jalan Raya Pantai Berawa at Finns Recreation Club, Canggu
(The Only) Sports Bar in Ubud
The Melting Pot
Ubud is the spiritual capital of Bali and mainly known for offering temples and a whole lot of yoga. But lo and behold – there is an actual sports bar in Ubud! The Melting Pot is easy to find on the bustling Jalan Raya Pengosekan. The bar has two projection screens and two TV screens showing sports ranging from rugby to football and soccer. The Melting Pot is also very accommodating for guest requests for streaming specific games. There’s also pool tables, ping-pong, video games and darts to keep you entertained.
The Melting Pot
Location: Jalan Raya Pengosekan No. 22, Ubud
Photo via The Melting Pot
Sports Bars in Nusa Dua
Upscale Nusa Dua is home to Bali’s most luxurious resorts and more than a few great sports bars in Bali. When you need a break from the resort pool and want to enjoy a night out watching the game, make your way to one of these venues.
Meads Beach Bar & Grill
Meads Beach Bar & Grill sits in the heart of Nusa Dua and even offers complimentary transport service to customers. The family-friendly venue shows live sports including AFL, State of Origin, UFC and more. The menu features fresh seafood picked up from local fish markets daily.
Meads Beach Bar & Grill
Location: Jalan Pratama No.99, Tajung Benoa
Homerun Sport Café
Homerun Sport Café is a venue dedicated to all things sport, showing live feeds on eight screens. The impressive line-up includes NRL, AFL, tennis, baseball, soccer and more. As for the menu, you can enjoy pasta, gourmet sadwhiches and ice cold beer to go with today’s game.
Homerun Sport Café
Location: Jalan Taman Bali No.1, Jalan By Pass Ngurah Rai, Nusa Dua
Photo via Homerun Sport Cafe
Sports Bars in Uluwatu & Jimbaran
Thanks to the area’s rugged cliffs and majestic ocean views, Uluwatu and Jimbaran boast some of the best rooftop bars in Bali. Luckily for sports fans, there are also a few venues where you can watch live sports while nursing a cold Bintang.
Boatrocks Bar
Boatrocks offers a great variety of live sports, including State of Origin, AFL, NRL and more. As you might have guessed by the name, there’s also a steady offering of live music at the venue. Boatrocks Bar sits between Uluwatu and Jimbaran along the main road of Jalan Raya Uluwatu, offering easy access for visitors throughout the greater Bukit area.
Boatrocks Bar
Location: Jalan Raya Uluwatu, Uluwatu
Smoqee Sports Bar & Lounge
Located at the fabulous Le Méridien resort, Smoqee Sports Bar & Lounge promises to take spectator sports into elegant new heights. The space is divided into a sleek indoor bar and a spacious outdoor terrace. Smoqee prides itself as being “the only sports bar in Jimbaran” and shows live sports on multiple HD screens. You can also play a game of pool, beer pong or darts. Even if you’re not that into sports, you’ll love the design of this place which is hands down one of most photogenic sports bars in Bali.
Smoqee Sports Bar & Lounge
Location: Jalan Bukit Permai at Le Méridien resort, Jimbaran
Photo via Smoqee Sports Bar & Lounge
Do you have a favourite sports bar in Bali? Share it in the comments below!
