Night Rooster

Night Rooster is the cocktail bar of the team behind Locavore NXT, the restaurant that grew out of the original Locavore, one of the best-known fine-dining names in Bali. It occupies a small, dark and cosy upstairs space on Jalan Goutama Selatan in central Ubud and works as an intimate speakeasy, a place for a carefully made drink before or after dinner rather than a night of dancing. In 2017 it was listed on Asia's 50 Best Bars, and it continues to be described as an award-winning bar.

The drinks follow the same philosophy as the Locavore kitchens: local first, with an experimental streak. Cocktails are built on Bali's wild botanicals, house-made infusions and locally foraged ingredients, and draw inspiration from Indonesian folklore, and the bar's resident alchemist, Raka, is responsible for the list. Alongside the house creations, the menu includes twists on classic cocktails such as the White Lady and the Hanky Panky, as well as signature drinks such as Monkey Business.

Night Rooster opens daily from 5pm until around midnight, according to recent guides, and bookings can be made online through the Locavore NXT website, which lists the bar alongside the group's restaurants. The space is small, so booking ahead is sensible at weekends and in the high season, though it also suits a spontaneous nightcap if there is room. Prices are in line with other high-end cocktail bars in Ubud.

The atmosphere is quiet and grown-up, which fits Ubud's nightlife generally: the town is better known for cocktail bars, live music and traditional dance performances than for clubs. Recent guides are clear that this is not a place to party, but somewhere to sit over a carefully made drink. Night Rooster is ideal for couples, small groups of friends and solo travellers who want to sit at the bar and talk to the team about what they are drinking.

Jalan Goutama Selatan is one of the small streets in the centre of town with a cluster of bars and restaurants, including Bacari, an intimate wine bar on Jalan Goutama, so it is easy to combine a drink here with dinner nearby. Allow an hour or so for a couple of cocktails.