Best Pubs in Ubud: Where Locals Actually Drink

A Local's Honest Guide to the Best Pubs in Ubud

I have been drinking in Ubud long enough to remember when the main strip was a two-lane road flanked by rice paddies and the idea of a dedicated pub felt almost foreign in a town better known for yoga retreats and silent meditation. These days, the drinking culture here has matured in ways that surprise even me. The best pubs in Ubud are not the flashy rooftop spots you find in Seminyak. They are small, deliberate places where the owner probably knows your name by the second visit and the beer is cold enough to survive the equatorial heat. This is not a guide for tourists chasing Instagram sunsets with cocktail umbrellas stuck in pineapple slices. This is for anyone who wants to sit where the locals sit, drink what the locals drink, and understand why Ubud nightlife has a heartbeat that pulses well past the wellness crowd's 9 p.m. bedtime. I have personally sat in every single spot on this list, some of them dozens of times, and I want you to know the difference between performance and authenticity in a town that sells both in equal measure.

CP Ubud Lounge, Jalan Raya Ubud

CP Ubud sits right on the main drag of Jalan Raya, and if you walked past it thinking it was just another resort lounge, you would not be the first. But go past the lobby and head toward the back where the bar area opens up into something genuinely comfortable. This is where some of the longer-term expats and local creative types converge after 10 p.m., when the early dinner crowd has gone and the space loosens up. The cocktails here skew Balinese-inspired using local arak spirits and tropical fruits you might not recognize from a Western bar menu. Try the tamarind whiskey sour as your first order. The staff has been trained well enough to explain what each drink contains if you ask, which matters more than you think when working with unfamiliar Indonesian ingredients.

Thursday evenings tend to bring a small DJ set that is bass-heavy but never loud enough to kill conversation. That distinction matters to the regulars. Most tourists do not realize that the back patio area has a separate entrance from the resort, so you do not need to be a guest to sit there. Just walk around to the side alley and follow the lantern-lighting pathway. The only real complaint I have is that the wooden bar stools get uncomfortable after about ninety minutes, and nobody seems to have fixed that issue in the two years I have been coming here.

Naughty Nuri's Warung, Jalan Raya Ubud

Naughty Nuri's is the one place on this list that half the readers will already know, and the other half should learn about immediately. Located on Jalan Raya just west of the Ubud Monkey Forest road intersection, this is technically a warung that happens to serve dangerously potent martinis. I am including it here because the best pubs in Ubud are not always establishments with "bar" or "pub" in the name. This is where Australian backpackers first discovered Ubud nightlife in the early 2000s, and the reputation stuck for a reason. The martinis, particularly the classic gin martini, are mixed stiff enough that two will have you singing karaoke before midnight.

The pork ribs here deserve their own paragraph. They come slathered in a sticky sauce that is sweet and savory in equal measure, and they are large enough that splitting an order between two people is the smart move. Locals from Gianyar regency drive up the hill specifically for these ribs on Saturday afternoons, which tells you everything. The quirky part most visitors never figure out is that the original open-air concept of eating at rough wooden tables under a tin roof has barely changed since Nuri first set up shop decades ago. The charm is in the unpolished roughness of the place, and nobody managed to replicate that formula successfully. Parking on Jalan Raya during peak dinner hours between 6 and 8 p.m. is genuinely awful if you are on a scooter, so arrive early or accept a five-block walk.

Laughing Buddha Bar, Jalan Hanoman

Walk down Jalan Hanoman heading south from the Ubud Palace, and you will eventually reach Laughing Buddha, a compact bar that has quietly earned a following among Ubud residents who appreciate live music without the chaos of a full nightclub. The sound is primarily acoustic sets, and on most nights of the week you will find a guitarist or small ensemble playing covers and originals from a corner stage area that does not require a cover charge. The beer selection includes both Bintang , the national lager, and a rotating set of Indonesian craft beers that the staff genuinely seems enthusiastic about.

The best time to arrive is after 9 p.m., when the small front terrace fills up and people-watching on Hanoman becomes half the entertainment. What distinguishes Laughing Buddha from the louder bars in town is its consistency. The same bartender has worked here for over five years, and if you describe a flavor you like, she will improvise something that hits close. I once watched her build a drink from palm sugar syrup, lime, and Japanese whisky for a visitor who could not tolerate beer, and it was better than half the cocktail menus I have read in Kuta. The one thing that frustrates regulars is the single restroom, which creates a queue on busy Friday and Saturday nights.

Ripples Wine Bar, Jalan Goutama

Wine is not the first drink most people associate with Bali, and I admit I was skeptical when Ripples first opened on Jalan Goutama, a side street restaurant corridor just north of the Ubud art market. But the owner spent years sourcing Southeast Asian and imported wines with genuine care, and the result is the most thoughtful wine list you will find in a town known for cheap cocktails and overpriced smoothies. The space is intimate, roughly eight tables, and the air conditioning actually works, which in humid Ubud at night is not a minor detail.

My recommendation is to order a glass of the Indonesian Plaga Shiraz from Bali's own vineyards. It has an earthy character that pairs surprisingly well with the bar snacks, particularly the truffle fries and the smoked duck satay skewers that come grilled on house-made peanut sauce. This is the spot I bring visiting friends who want real conversation without shouting over a band. Wednesday evenings are quieter, which is when the owner sometimes opens a bottle of something special for regulars who show curiosity. Most tourists never venture past Jalan Raya, so Goutama stays peaceful even on holiday weekends. Just know that the pricing runs noticeably higher than other spots on this plan. A glass of imported wine can cost twice what you would pay at a warung beer, but the quality justifies the premium.

Fila Sport Bar and Grill, Jalan Monkey Forest

If you have ever wanted to watch a Premier League or Champions League match at full volume surrounded by local football fans, Fila Sport on Monkey Forest Road is the address. I will be honest that this is not a drinker's bar in the cocktail-crafting sense. The cold Bintang flows freely, and the mixed drinks are straightforward, straightforward gin and tonics and vodka sodas served in plastic cups when the place gets packed. But the energy during a big match is something you cannot replicate in a resort lounge. The Indonesian fan base is passionate and vocal, and the handful of expats who have claimed the front table since 2019 add their own commentary to the mix.

Order the chicken wings, which come with a chili sauce that is smoky and carries real heat. The best nights to visit are Saturday and Sunday evenings when European league fixtures overlap with Asian Leagues, meaning the screens are active from late afternoon until midnight. What most outsiders miss is that the upstairs balcony area has a second air-conditioned room with a projector for major finals. It is accessible via a narrow staircase in the back, and unless someone specifically shows you, you will assume the ground floor is all there is. Expect the plumbing to be an issue during very busy hours. You have been warned.

Jungle Fish, Jalan Raya Ubud (Bratan Area)

Jungle Fish deserves a place on any list of where to drink in Ubud if you are willing to accept that "pub" can mean an entirely open-air sky pool with cocktail service. The structure, overlooking the gorge near Lake Bratan on the western edge of Ubud, is architecturally stunning, and the cocktails are well above what you would expect from a tourist-facing bar. Passion fruit mojitos are their signature, and the fresh-pressed juices mixed into every drink on the menu give the cocktails a brightness that is hard to find at beach clubs where the rum-to-juice ratio favors sweetness over balance.

Getting there is an experience in itself. Shuttle service operates from central Ubud, or you can ride a scooter up the winding road past rice terrace viewpoints that alone justify the trip. Go at late afternoon around 4 or 5 p.m. to catch the golden hour light over the gorge and stay through sunset. The crowd thins out earlier in the day and builds toward a sunset peak. Jungle Fish represents a version of Ubud that younger locals and international residents have embraced: outdoor design inspired by Balinese woodcraft, progressive electronic chill-out music projected from a small dock lounge area, and a price tag that reflects the premium setting. Cover charges vary, sometimes reaching 150,000 IDR on certain evenings. Check their social media if you are concerned about the night you are targeting.

Pychtos, Jalan Monkey Forest

Pychtos is not easy to locate on your first visit because the entrance is a narrow alley off Monkey Forest Road that looks like it leads to someone's house. That is partially because it kind of does. The family compound vibe is intentional and deeply Balinese. The bar area opens into a courtyard with stone-carved seating and fairy lighting that creates a mood romantic enough for a first date but casual enough for friends splitting a pitcher of sangria. Sangria here is made passable, but I would steer you toward the local brews or the homemade arak cocktails, which are far more interesting.

The best night for Pychtos is a Tuesday, when the western Balinese reggae group plays live and the courtyard fills with a mix of surfers, artists, and Ubud-based writers who treat the place like a salon. The crowd is the most eclectic of any spot on this list, and conversations about Indonesian politics, travel misadventures, and the best warungs in the region happen organically between sets. The last time I went on a Friday, the service was noticeably slower than usual, with an understaffed team struggling to keep up with the rush. Tuesdays avoid this problem almost entirely. That narrow entrance doubles as a bottleneck, and when the place reaches capacity on a big night, you may find yourself waiting on the Monkey Forest sidewalk trying to get the host's attention.

Three Kings Bar and Bistro, Jalan Goutama

Three Kings sits on the same stretch of Jalan Goutama as Ripples but serves a different mood entirely. This is the neighborhood pub in a town that does not actually have many neighborhood pubs. The owners are British-Indonesian and have built a menu around pub classics done with genuine care: fish and chips with proper malt vinegar, beef pies with actual flaky pastry, and Bangers and Mash that would pass inspection in any London gastropub. The tap selection is a mix of international lagers and local Indonesian craft beers, and on any given night you will find a row of Ubud regulars lined along the bar nursing a pint and talking about their day.

What makes Three Kings essential on a list of the best pubs in Ubud is the owner's relationship with the local music and art community. Local painters display work on the walls on a rotating basis, and the chalkboard by the entrance lists upcoming open mic events that attract some of the best singer-songwriters in the region. I once heard a young Balinese artist play a fifteen-minute instrumental set on an acoustic guitar that was so good the entire bar fell silent. Order the pie of the day between 7 and 9 p.m. when the kitchen is at its peak. The only real downside is the limited seating, around thirty seats inside, so a reservation on weekend evenings is not a suggestion, it is a requirement.

When to Go and What to Know Before You Head Out

Ubud's drinking culture is quietest on Sunday evenings and loudest on Fridays and Saturdays. Tuesday and Wednesday are the best nights for visiting places like Pychtos and Laughing Buddha, where the weekday crowd consists of actual neighborhood regulars. If you arrive in Ubud during Nyepi, the Balinese Day of Silence, forget about any nightlife for twenty-four hours. The entire island shuts down completely, including every bar and warung. Scooter riding after dark is the norm for locals, and drinking and driving laws exist but are inconsistently enforced. I strongly recommend using Grab or Gojek ride-hailing apps after you have been drinking. Tipping is not mandatory but leaving 5 to 10 percent at a bar or restaurant is appreciated and signals to staff that you understand local customs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the tap water in Ubud safe to drink, or should travelers strictly rely on filtered water options?

Tap water in Ubud is not considered safe for foreign visitors and should be avoided for drinking and brushing teeth. Most restaurants and bars use filtered or bottled water, and you can request filtered water almost everywhere at no charge or a small fee of around 5,000 IDR. The local water purification infrastructure has improved over the past decade, but bacterial contamination remains a risk, particularly during the rainy season from November through March.

Are there any specific dress codes or cultural etiquettes to keep in mind when visiting local spots in Ubud?

For most bars and pubs in the central tourist area, casual clothing is acceptable. When entering temples or attending cultural ceremonies, both men and women must cover their knees and shoulders, and a sarong sash around the waist is required. Locals appreciate when visitors dress modestly in residential neighborhoods, and at nicer establishments on Jalan Monkey Forest, smart casual attire helps you blend in rather than stand out as a tourist.

What is the one must-try local specialty food or drink that Ubud is famous for?

Brem is a traditional Balinese rice wine that has been produced on the island for centuries and is worth sampling at least once. For food, babi guling or suckling pig is Ubud's iconic dish and is served in several warungs and some bar-restaurant combinations around town. A standard portion costs around 35,000 to 50,000 IDR at a local warung and comes with rice, sambal, and slow-roasted pork with crispy skin that shatters when you bite into it.

Is Ubud expensive to visit? Give a realistic daily budget breakdown for mid-tier travelers?

A mid-tier budget in Ubud runs approximately 600,000 to 900,000 IDR per person per day, covering a modest guesthouse or small hotel at 200,000 to 350,000 IDR per night, meals at local restaurants and warungs costing 40,000 to 80,000 IDR each, scooter rental at 60,000 to 80,000 IDR daily, and a few drinks adding 50,000 to 100,000 IDR. Western-style dining and craft cocktail bars push the daily total toward the higher end, and resort dining can exceed 150,000 IDR per meal, so your food and drink choices are the largest variables.

How easy is it to find pure vegetarian, vegan, or plant-based dining options in Ubud?

Vegetarian and vegan dining is exceptionally easy to find in Ubud, with an estimated forty to fifty restaurants offering dedicated plant-based menus. Mixed rice or nasi campur warungs serve tofu and tempeh options for under 30,000 IDR, and establishments such as Alchemy and Zest are entirely vegan. Even most of the bars on this list, including Naughty Nuri's and Laughing Buddha, carry plant-based snack options on their menus, making Ubud one of the most素食-accessible towns in all of Southeast Asia.