Cocktails And Conversation – The Most Intimate Bali Bars

Do we need to talk? ⁠Ten great Bali bars for cocktails and conversation.

Set the scene: you head out with friends or a date and you want a serious catch-up but hey, the music is so loud you can barely hear yourself think! Sound familiar? We discovered ten great bars where the cocktails are good, the wine list is interesting and you won’t have to struggle to talk over the music.⁠👂🏼⁠
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Each offers a spot where you can sidle up to the bar for a chat with a mate, a solo drink and in most cases a quick bite. ⁠

@mostobali ⁠- Get social or hang solo at Mosto, the friendly neighbourhood bar is a great spot to socialise and sample their amazing natural wine list or grab a seriously good cocktail. ⁠Denny Bakiev is the man behind the cocktails here and has all sorts of brilliant creations born of years as a world champion bartender. His Not Wine list is filled with innovative signature cocktails and the window seats offer some excellent people-watching. Grab a bite to eat at the bar or book a table and get into some serious dining.

@vagabondo- The cosy cocktail bar upstairs at Vagabondo is a little hideaway in Seminyak, perfect for enjoying an aperitif or post-dinner cocktail, or a good glass of wine. Vagabondo’s softly lit, eclectic interiors are filled with memorabilia that strikes a Greek grandma chord. From hand-written menus to their premium cocktails, this is a perfect perch for a romantic tete-a-tete or D&M with a close friend.

@bar.souvenir⁠ – Looking for intimate? Souvenir is the perfect spot for pre-dinner cocktails and a great way to extend a night out.⁠ Open from 7 pm to 12 am with just 15 seats they focus on craft cocktails, natural wine and sake. It’s a very cool spot to grab a pre-dinner drink or wind up the evening when the conversation continues. Minimalistic, and serious about their booze, Souvenir is made for sharing intimate moments.

Mamasan – @mamasanbali ⁠- downstairs for dining and drinks, upstairs for a more intimate experience. Sit at the long bar or grab a table and settle in for a catch-up, Asian-style bites and an excellent drinks list.⁠ Mamasan has put together a great list of cocktails, many with an Asian twist. There’s a good wine list, interesting small bites menu and a sophisticated vibe. Groups of 8+ can book out the Mamasan Supper Club exclusively and enjoy the intimate space upstairs.

⁠Sunset Park @potatoheadbali ⁠– We never get tired of the technicolour sunsets and the rooftop views at Sunset Park. This is a very cool spot to start the evening. ⁠Check out their small bites menu and let the resident mixologists craft a cocktail just for you as waves break on the shore and the sun sinks into the horizon. As always with Potato Head, the music is cool but perfectly set to allow conversation.🌇⁠

⁠@dumbobali ⁠- fans of vinyl records will love Dumbo on a Friday night when the owner’s collection comes out to play. Any night is a good time to grab a seat at the bar with a friend, loosen the lips with a good cocktail and ignore the world for a while.⁠ The vegetarian-friendly pizza menu and the vinyl tracks make this a hidden gem in Ubud’s main street.

@laterlierbycyrilkongo⁠ – instead of rocking the DJ vibe, L’Atelier at Kempinski has a grand piano and an excellent singer to accompany smoky drinks on the rooftop in the twilight hours. ⁠Settle into the terrace and watch the lights twinkle across the resort and the moon reflected on the ocean. With a Mediterranean-style menu, there are small bites and full meals on offer but the cocktails still shine brightest with lots of smoky whisky, handmade chocolates and excellent cigars.

@oursbali⁠ – rock up anytime at this neighbourhood bar where the crew meets regularly and the drinks flow on. ⁠🍸️⁠Ours offers happy hour prices and a friendly atmosphere for post-surf or pre-dinner. They also own Tabu Bali, an atmospheric supper club that gets naughty till late.

@segno.bali⁠ – let’s get serious. Tucked away upstairs at @luma.bali Segno is where you’ll find some sanity among the madness of Batu Bolong.⁠ Sink into buttery leather sofas or sit at the generous bar stools, Segno’s Japanese-inspired cocktail list is next level and they are adept at creating cocktails to suit your taste. Order some snacks from Luma Bali for serious sessions. This is about as upmarket as you’ll find in Canggu.

@nikaibytakumi – if you’re into hidden gems, this is the spot. The intimate cocktail bar above Takumi is as intimate as it gets, with a small bar that stocks one of Bali’s best collections of Japanese whisky and high-end sake. The man behind the bar has some signatures worth trying. Tuck into a booth or grab the sunken table and order some small bites from Takumi’s a la carte menu and chat away.