Nightlife In Brunei: Are There Any Clubs?

If you're looking for a wild night out, Brunei might not be the place for you. The small Borneo nation has banned alcohol, and you won't find any bars, pubs, clubs, casinos, or discos. However, that doesn't mean there's nothing to do after dark in Brunei. The coffee bar scene is bustling, with spots like Kapra Coffee and The Coffee Bean offering a place for the younger crowd to hang out until midnight (or later). For foodies, there's a variety of cuisine to explore, from Asian fare at the Orchid Room to local delicacies like barbecue chicken tails at the Gadong Fish Market. And if you're looking for some excitement, Jerudong Park offers an amusement park, live music, and a musical fountain. So while you may not find traditional nightclubs in Brunei, there are still plenty of ways to enjoy the night.

Alcohol is banned in Brunei, so there are no bars, clubs, or pubs

The closest thing to a nightlife scene in Brunei is the coffee bars in Gadong, where the younger crowd tends to hang out until midnight or 1 a.m. Some of these cafes have pool tables and, in the case of The Coffee Bean, live music. There are also board game cafes such as Games & Lattes and Ner Dee Cafe, which are open until midnight.

For those who enjoy dining out, there are plenty of options. The Gadong Night Market is a clean, spacious, and relatively quiet night market with a wide variety of food options. For a more upscale dining experience, there's the Orchid Room in Kuala Belait, Ming Fann in Seria, or the De Royalle Cafe in Bandar Seri Begawan, which serves Asian cuisine in a living-room-style setting.

For entertainment, there's Jerudong Park, a well-maintained amusement park with rides, food stalls, and a musical fountain. Cinemas can also be found in Bandar Seri Begawan, including the three-screen Empire Cinema and the eight-screen Mall Cineplex, which show a mix of Hollywood and Asian films.

While the emphasis in Brunei is on shopping and dining rather than drinking and clubbing, there are still plenty of ways to have fun after the sun goes down.

Coffee bars are the closest thing to a nightlife scene in Brunei

In Bandar Seri Begawan, Piccolo Cafe serves tea, coffee, cold brews, smoothies, and a variety of food items like sandwiches, wraps, waffles, pasta, and fish and chips. It is open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. from Saturday to Thursday, and 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Fridays. Kapra Coffee is another coffee bar in the city, offering a range of caffeinated beverages, including piccolo lattes, espressos, affogatos, and iced coffees.

De Royalle Cafe, also located in Bandar Seri Begawan, features a living room-style indoor area and outdoor pavement tables. The cafe serves Asian dishes like noodles, beef rendang, homemade ice cream, and freshly brewed coffee. It is usually open.

For those seeking a unique evening out, board game communes like Games & Lattes and Ner Dee Cafe offer a cosy atmosphere to socialise and play board games with friends or locals. Games & Lattes is open from 11 a.m. to 12 a.m., providing a friendly environment to challenge others to a game.

While Brunei may not have a typical nightlife scene with clubs and bars, coffee shops, cafes, and board game cafes offer social alternatives for those seeking evening entertainment.

There are restaurants and eateries serving Bruneian food at affordable prices

Brunei is a small Borneo nation with a ban on alcohol and no bars, casinos, arcades, nightclubs, or dance floors. However, there are still plenty of restaurants and eateries serving Bruneian food at affordable prices.

One notable Bruneian dish is Nasi Katok, which literally translates to "knock rice." According to local legend, the name comes from the practice of knocking on the seller's door to order rice. Nasi Katok typically consists of $1 fried chicken, sambal (chili paste), and steamed rice.

• Aminah Arif Restaurant: Specializes in traditional Bruneian cuisine, including the national dish Ambuyat, as well as Belutak, Pais, and Daging Lalap.
• Soto Rumah Adresto: Serves Soto, a spiced comforting soupy bowl of noodles or rice vermicelli topped with chicken or beef and garnished with chilies and herbs.
• Tarindak DSeni: A restaurant offering a lunch and dinner buffet with a variety of local, Asian, and international dishes, accompanied by a splendid view of the Kampong Ayer Water Village.
• Seri Damai Restaurant & Catering: Serves Pakistani cuisine, including briyani rice dishes and chicken tikka.
• Iskandar Curry House: Known for their Murtabak, Roti Canai, and Teh Tarik.
• Lee Loi Fatt Foodstall: Renowned for their rojak, deep-fried fritters, laksa, and refreshing iced drinks.
• Gadong Night Market: A lively night market with an array of vendors selling local delicacies, beverages, and produce at affordable prices.
• Chop Jing Chew: A well-known coffee shop offering tea time treats and freshly baked goods.
• Little Audrey's Café: A charming café adorned with photos of Audrey Hepburn, offering a diverse menu ranging from breakfast items to hearty main courses and delectable desserts.
• Old Time Kopitiam: A popular eatery known for their noodle dishes, including local, Malaysian, and Chinese cuisine.
• Buffalo Steak House Restaurant: Initially a steak house, but now also offers local delicacies and Nyonya kueh.
• Thien Thien Restaurant Kiulap: Cozy eatery offering comfort food such as Martabak India and Teh Tarik.
• Le Taj Restaurant: Serves some of the best Garlic Naan in Brunei, along with flavorful fish tikka masala.
• Gwad Basha Arabic Restaurants: Specializes in Lebanese, Mediterranean, and Arabic cuisine, including perfectly grilled mixed grills and kebabs.
• My Town Eating House: Offers a diverse menu featuring various international cuisines, including Filipino, Malaysian, Japanese, Taiwanese, and Indonesian dishes.
• Ximply Chriz One Riverside: A bakery turned restaurant offering modern Western dishes and delectable cakes and pastries.

These are just a few examples of the many restaurants and eateries serving Bruneian food at affordable prices in Brunei. Each establishment offers its own unique atmosphere, menu options, and dining experience, so be sure to explore and find your favorites!

Cinemas, cultural shows, and sporting events are also available

While there are no nightclubs in Brunei, there are plenty of other entertainment options available. Alcohol is banned in the country, and there are no bars, casinos, arcades, or dance floors. However, the country offers a range of cinemas, cultural shows, and sporting events for visitors and locals to enjoy.

Cinemas

The Mall Cineplex is one such option, offering the latest movies and a convenient booking system.

Cultural Shows

For those interested in cultural performances, Brunei has a variety of options:

• Faith & Devotion 19th Century Orientalist Art Exhibition, showcasing the intersection of art and faith.
• A Tale Worth Singing with Jeemah Jefri, an interview with the author of "A Tale of The..."
• The ISB 60th Anniversary Gala Night, a celebration of the International School of Brunei's six decades of education.
• Bruhaha Comedy – Improv Comedy Classes, a fun way to learn and enjoy comedy every Sunday from June 30, 2024, to December 29, 2024.

Sporting Events

Brunei has hosted several international sporting tournaments and is particularly fond of football and basketball. They have welcomed competitions like the Shell Rimula Challenge Trophy and the Sultan's Cup, an invitational tournament for East Asian basketball teams. Additionally, Brunei holds the highest-priced marathons in Asia, with purses of over half a million dollars. The country is also part of the Asian Golf Tour, featuring the beautiful Brunei Open.

Karaoke, board game cafes, and amusement parks are other entertainment options

In the small Borneo nation of Brunei, alcohol is banned, and there are no bars, casinos, arcades, nightclubs, or dance floors. However, that doesn't mean there aren't other entertainment options. Karaoke, board game cafes, and amusement parks are some of the alternative ways to have fun in the country.

For those who enjoy singing, there are karaoke bars in Brunei where people can belt out their favourite tunes. It's a popular activity in the country, offering a fun night out with friends.

Board game cafes are also a great option for a fun evening. Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei, has two popular choices: Games & Lattes and Ner De Cafe. For $5 per person, visitors can play board games as long as they like at Games & Lattes, and if they order $5 worth of food or drink per person, they can play for free. The cafe offers a wide variety of games, including strategy games, Euro games, filler games, and party games. Ner De Cafe, on the other hand, has a smaller collection of games but also sells board games and runs discounts on them.

When it comes to amusement parks, Jerudong Park is the place to be. It is the largest and most expensive amusement park in Southeast Asia, built and funded by the Bruneian government for $1 billion. The park has a range of rides and attractions suitable for families, and it also hosts various entertainment programmes and activities that appeal to both children and adults. The Little Kingdom Petting Zoo, which houses animals from around the world, is also located within the park.

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