Single Fin
Uluwatu

If you only have one evening in Bali, spend it at Single Fin — but make it a Sunday. Perched on the limestone cliffs above the legendary Uluwatu surf break, the bar occupies a position so cinematically perfect it could have been designed by a Hollywood location scout. The Indian Ocean stretches to a clean horizon; below, surfers pick apart world-class left-handers as the sun arcs towards Indonesia's westernmost point of visibility.

Single Fin opened in 2013, born from Bali's surf culture rather than its luxury hospitality scene — and that DNA is still palpable. The fit-out is rough-hewn and honest: timber decking, rattan furniture, hand-painted signage. Nothing here is trying too hard. The menu skews affordable and unfussy: Bintang on tap, straightforward cocktails, fresh juices. But the simplicity is a feature. When the view is doing this much work, the bar doesn't need to.

Sunday Sessions, the weekly DJ event running from 3pm to sunset, has become one of Southeast Asia's great recurring parties. The music is soulful and global — think Bonobo, Khruangbin, DJ Tennis — never aggressive, always in dialogue with the mood of the afternoon. The crowd is a beautiful mess of local surf culture, long-term Bali expats, and first-time visitors who stumbled upon the right tip. Nobody is showing off. Everyone is pointing at the horizon.

For the uninitiated, the Bukit Peninsula is a 40-minute scooter or Grab ride from Seminyak — make a day of it by catching a morning surf or visiting the Potato Head Beach Club on the way. And consult our complete Bali bar guide to plan the rest of your nights on the island.