chloedickensonLast Updated on 13th July 2023
This post about Gili Trawangan nightlife and Gili T pub crawl may contain affiliate links.
After spending 10 days on the island, Matt and I became fairly accustomed to the ins and outs of the Gili Trawangan nightlife scene.
Being the largest of the three Gili Islands belonging to Lombok, Gili T is a party haven for generations of all ages. There’s something to suit everyone’s partying needs so whether you’ve got a penchant for rock music, prefer to “get down” to the latest pop songs, or you’re quite happy sipping a cocktail or two in a quiet bar, Gili T has something to cater to everyone’s needs.
I’ve put together the ultimate guide to Gili Trawangan nightlife, along with a few safety warnings about alcohol and the party scene!
Gili Trawangan Nightlife – Alcohol and methanol poisoning
I’m gonna start this post off with a few safety precautions and warnings about drinking in Gili T. It’s nothing at all to worry about, but from my own personal experience and research into the matter, I felt that I had a responsibility to share it with you guys.
Gili T, Bali and Indonesia as a whole have had a reputation in the past for lacing spirits (not maliciously, just as a way to water down the alcohol to make more money) such as Smirnoff Vodka with a locally produced spirit called Arak.
Arak is a sort of rice wine drink that has an incredibly high alcohol percentage (around 40%-50%) and is very commonly consumed by locals all over Indonesia.
Fun fact: Matt and I actually bought a bottle of Arak when we were in Singaraja in Bali from our driver for the week and despite not knowing the potential damages it can cause from a bad batch, we were fine, thankfully!
I’m no expert on the matter but I have read multiple stories about bars on Gili T where a few people were killed or left blinded due to methanol poisoning from local spirits. I don’t want to scare you into not drinking in Gili at all as we drank alcohol almost every night we were there, I’m just encouraging you to err on the side of caution.
You can do this by only drinking imported spirits as opposed to local ones (most bars have the option for both, with the former being more expensive), sticking to the highly coveted Bintang and Radlers, or just doing plenty of research and making decisions that you feel comfortable with.
As I said, we were there for 10 days and we didn’t experience anything unnerving or suspicious when it came to alcohol, but I really just wanted to make you guys aware and (hopefully!) not scare you!
If you do want to read more about alcohol and methanol poisoning in Gili T and Indonesia, take a look at some of the articles below and if not, let’s crack on with some of the best nights out you’re sure to have in Asia!
- News.com
- Safeproof.org
- Newnaratif.com
Gili T Pub Crawl
Now that the boring (albeit very important to know!) stuff is out of the way, let’s get on to the fun part: partying!
One thing that I would highly recommend you do while in Gili T is joining the Gili T pub crawl. I was incredibly apprehensive about it at first as I was reluctant to pay around £15 each for what I thought was essentially just following a group of people around the island to different pubs and bars. However, I really couldn’t have been more wrong and it turned out to be my favourite thing we did the whole time we were on the island!
Starting in the Irish Bar (Tir Na Nog) at 9 pm (check-in is anywhere between 6 pm and 8.30 pm), you don your free Gili T Pub Crawl vest tops which are remarkably fetching and sink down a “bucket” of cocktail while everyone gets ready.
We immediately made friends with three Swedish people who we hung around with most of the night, but we also talked to people from England, Germany and Denmark too!
After the Irish Bar, you head to Sama Sama where you take part in yet more drinking games, shots and a limbo contest which even though I was shockingly bad at it, it was also tremendously fun.
Throughout the course of the evening, you also head to Evolution and the Jungle Bar. It’s a fantastic way to make friends, enjoy discounted (and many free!) drinks and have a truly awesome time. I really couldn’t recommend it enough!
The Pub Crawl is hosted every Tuesday, Friday and Sunday from around 9 pm.
Price:
- Women – 250,000IDR (£13.86)
- Men – 350,000IDR (£19.40)
Tir Na Nog (Irish Bar)
As I mentioned above, Tir Na Nog is where the Gili T Pub Crawl begins but it’s also a great place to head to on a night out in Gili T any day of the week.
We actually went here a couple of times during our 10 days on the island to watch various football and rugby matches. It’s got a pretty laid-back vibe to it; similar to an English or Irish pub if you can believe it given the name 😉
Lava – Gili Trawangan Nightlife
Most nights we walked passed Lava and it seemed pretty nonchalant; just a few travellers enjoying a Bintang, but on Friday nights this place absolutely comes alive thanks to their Rock ‘N’ Roll Bingo night!
It gets absolutely rammed in the bar as it’s really not that big on a Friday from around 7.30 pm (the bingo doesn’t start until around 9 pm but you’ll want to get there well before to ensure you get a seat and a bingo sheet!).
On bingo nights they also do insanely cheap food too (less than £2.50 a meal) and the bingo itself is honestly so much fun.
It gets pretty crazy, as the more people get drunk, the more competitive it becomes but the prizes are pretty great and there’s also a forfeit if you claim a false bingo; litres of water poured over your head outside the bar as everyone shouts “shame”! It’s an awesome part of the Gili Trawangan nightlife scene!
The Jungle Bar
The Jungle Bar was one of our stops on the Gili T Pub Crawl but it was arguably my least favourite place for both alcohol and atmosphere.
It reminded me somewhat of a really sleazy nightclub back home in York in the UK and I could honestly tell you to skip it as there are many more places that are much better.
They do offer free-pour shots on some nights, however, so it’s a pretty good place to go if you’re looking for free drinks!
Evolution – Gili Trawangan Nightlife
We went to Evolution three times while we were in Gili T, simply because they had beer pong tables and I proved myself to be an absolute master at it (I beat Matt 3-1 one night!).
It’s also one of the places you go on the Pub Crawl and the atmosphere inside is absolutely electric with competitive travellers all trying to prove how good they are!
Cocktails are also 2-4-1 on most nights before 10 pm (I think; don’t quote me on that one!) and it’s honestly one of my favourite places in Gili T for a good night out.
Jiggy Bar
The Gili T Jiggy Bar gets a rep as being one of the top places to drink on the island but unless you’re into sleazy nightclub vibes, I’d probably advise against it.
We went one night to see what all the fuss was about but it was just too crowded and “clubby” for my liking.
Jiggy Bar also hosts the Jiggy Boat Party two or three times a week which is supposedly pretty good but we thought it was a tad expensive for what it is for us so we skipped it and did the Pub Crawl instead.
Sama Sama Reggae Bar – Gili Trawangan Nightlife
Sama Sama was yet another place on the Pub Crawl and it was also the place where we enjoyed numerous drinking games in the exclusive area upstairs specifically for the Pub Crawl.
It also has a live band or musician playing most nights and while it’s not as lively as most places, it’s ideal for a quieter drink with good company and good music!
As I’m sure you can see, Gili T is home to so many awesome places to enjoy the nightlife; there’s an eclectic mix for all kinds of people so regardless of the vibe you’re looking for, you’ll find a place that you’ll love!
Related posts:
- The Best Things To Do On Gili Trawangan – Ultimate 10-Day Gili T Itinerary
- 16 Things You Should Know Before Visiting Gili T
- The Best Restaurants In Gili Trawangan – Cheap Places To Eat
- Trinity Gardens Ubud – Where To Stay in Bali
- The Best Day Trip From Ubud, Bali
- Lempuyang Temple And Gates Of Heaven Bali Reality – The Truth About The Gates Of Heaven
Pin for later – Gili Trawangan Nightlife
Have you ever experienced Gili Trawangan nightlife? Is it somewhere you’d like to visit one day? Let me know in the comments or on Twitter at @imjustagirl_16.
*Prices in this post are accurate as of October 2019.
