Video: Kuta, Bali nightlife explored

Bali is a tropical paradise with something for everyone. For those after some Bali nightlife, then the only place to find it is in Kuta (not the more relaxed Lombok Kuta,) a city on the south coast. Though bars are pretty much all over town, the greatest concentration of them is on Legian Street: The Kuta Strip, a 100 meter stretch of bars, pubs and clubs, all walking (or crawling) distance from your hotel. Here are some of the highlights, or lowlights depending on how you take your nightlife experiences.

Paddy’s
A huge, brightly lit room with comfy seating at the front and a massive dancefloor in the middle, Paddy’s is dedicated to bringing the beach party vibe. “No shirt, no shoes, no problem” is their theme for Sunday nights (and pretty much for the rest of the week, too.)

Bounty
Bounty’s got it all: a sprawling compound of no less than five distinct venues. There’s a laid back live music bar for people who want to relax to some tunes, a pool room for all the sharks, then another live music bar, this one with a high energy cover band that offers live karaoke to any and all, often with horrendous, and humorous, results. There's also a dedicated discotheque: An enormous, dark room with some of the best music in town, but very few people. The crowd, a huge one, is upstairs at the party bar -- a monstrous, open air space that’s almost all dance floor.

Espresso Club
This tiny hole-in-the-wall has some of the city’s most energetic live music. The place is so small that the band often ends up playing on the sidewalk as it's packed until the wee hours of the morning. You’ll probably have just as good a time picking up a drink from one of the many 24-hour convenience stores and enjoying it out front next to the band.

61 Legian
The most authentic clubbing experience, the complex at 61 Legian offers live music on the main floor with pop on the next floor. The third floor hosts Brandy’s Hip Hop Bar, and the VIP room on the top floor plays hardcore techno. In addition to this variety of moods, it’s also home to the city’s best drink deals. Thursday has no cover open bar, Friday has US$1 Long Islands, and Saturday has 10 cent draft beers. When tired of bumping into drunken, sweaty, shirtless Aussie teenagers but still in the mood to hit the dance floor, this is the place.

Some Tips & Tidbits

• Every place in Bali is sweltering. Even in places with air conditioner, the temperature is boiling.
• Most places do not require shoes or a shirt.
• Indonesia pushes for the death penalty when it comes to drug trafficking. Remember this because you will constantly be offered illegal drugs.
• Kuta is a late night party place. The streets are packed until 4am or 5am. The drinks are strong and cheap, so pacing is advised.
• The music can be incredibly monotonous. Almost all the clubs play the same music, regardless of the people they cater to or the style they claim to be. And when they say “Top 40 international dance” they’re exaggerating a bit. Most clubs only play half that: 20 songs on repeat with an occasional new one mixed in. In fact there are some songs that you’re guaranteed to hear every night in every club, probably three or four times in each place.

Kuta’s Top 10 songs
10: Krazy -- Pitbull 9: Dangerous -– Akon & Kardinal Offishal
8: Riverside –- Sidney Samson
7: Bonkers -- Dizee Rascal
6: Hotel Room Service -- Pitbull
5: Day & Night -- Kid Cudi
4: Fire Burning on the Dancefloor -- Sean Kingston
3: I Know You Want Me -- Pitbull
2: Sexy Bitch -- David Guetta & Akon
1: I Gotta Feeling -- David Guetta & Black Eyed Peas