James Cook Sports Bar sits on Jalan Raya Semer in Kerobokan, the quieter stretch between Canggu and Seminyak, and it solves a problem most island sports bars ignore. It runs 9 TVs across 3 rooms and keeps a dedicated kids room next door, so a parent can watch the rugby while the children are occupied a few metres away.
The address is Jalan Raya Semer No. 100, Kerobokan, a short drive inland from both Canggu and Seminyak. The bar opens at 11am on weekdays and 10am at weekends, running to half past midnight every night, which carries an early cricket session through to a late European kickoff. The Bali Bible lists it among the island's family friendly sports options. For the wider scene, see our guide to Bali sports bars.
The room is an open air tavern split into three connected spaces, with 9 screens positioned so almost every seat holds a sightline to a game. The standout is the kids room, fitted with toys, books, an Xbox, mini golf and foosball, which makes James Cook the rare Bali sports bar built for a family rather than a stag trip. The open sides keep the air moving through a long afternoon fixture.
What to order: a cold local beer is the base, with the kitchen running a full pub menu of burgers, parmas, curries and a roast that does the work across a long session. Spirits and cocktails sit at a holiday price. A board of beers and a feed for the table is the standard match day move while the kids are next door.
The crowd is the family end of the expat and traveller set, plus the Aussie and British fans who want football, rugby, cricket or tennis without a club night soundtrack. James Cook spreads the codes across its 9 screens, so a cricket Test, a rugby fixture and a Premier League match can all run at once without anyone losing their seat.
Who it is for: the parent who still wants the game, the group after football, rugby and cricket on at the same time, and anyone who prefers a relaxed open air pub to a beach club. Pair it with a wider island trail, lining it up with 108 House of Sports down in Legian, with more across the Bali bar guide and the national sports bars index.
What regulars flag: parents return for the kids room and the spread of screens, and the roast and curry menu earns mentions alongside the sport. The common note is that the open air layout stays comfortable through an afternoon Test, and the three rooms keep rival codes from clashing. Arrive early on a big rugby weekend, because the tables with the best sightlines go first.
Best time to go is an hour before a marquee fixture, when a table with a clear screen is still going and the kids room has space. An afternoon Premier League or cricket slot suits a family session. Confirm the fixture on the bar's socials first, because Bali rooms juggle codes across time zones and the schedule shifts by the week.
Marcus Webb rates James Cook as the island's most family friendly sports room, the place a parent can watch a full Test without negotiating screen time. It is not the slickest bar in Kerobokan, but for nine screens and a kids room a few steps away it has no real rival on the island.
Sources: James Cook Sports Bar official site (jamescooksportsbar.com); The Bali Bible listing for James Cook Sports Bar; Finns Beach Club guide to the best sports bars in Canggu.
