In terms of nightlife destinations in Seminyak, there is one venue that stands tall (literally) above the rest. A landmark club destination known amongst the young and old throughout Southeast Asia and one as undeniably recognizable as Bali's many cultural tourist sites. For serious clubbers, energetic ex-pats, or vacationing weekenders, Double Six is the spot where every nocturnal Kuta/Seminyak/Legian partygoer eventually ends up, no matter what day of the week or what hour of the night. Adjoining Double Six is Paparazzi Lounge, a more exclusive annex of sorts that opened its doors in 2004, and now soon to join the 2 venues will be Bacio, another bi-level lounge set to open by summer high season 2006, creating a super club trinity along scenic Blue Ocean Beach in Seminyak.
Having recently celebrated its 19th anniversary in June 2006, the very first incarnation of the space was as an Italian restaurant that opened in 1987. At this time there were very few restaurants, shops, and no discotheques, on what is now known as Jl. Double Six. By 1994, the eatery transformed by name and nature into Bali's very first open-air nightclub, a revolutionary concept at the time envisaged by well-known Balinese entrepreneur, Pak Kadek, who wanted to create a casual beachfront nightclub that suited the growing surfer and tourist population whose wardrobe generally consisted of singlets and flip flops. Throughout the years, Double Six has grown exponentially in popularity, especially as a nightclub that provides world-class DJ entertainment from 11pm to 6am, 7 days a week. Representing progressive house music and occasional trance and neo-electro, Double Six has been a stop off point for several of the globes most famous and respected Djs, the likes of Sasha (UK), Tiesto (NL), Pete Tong (UK), Armand Van Helden (US), Lisa Loud (UK), and Danny Howells (UK), to name just a few, as well as a healthy rotating roster of international ex-pat talent and local jock residents who hold things down regularly and during the weekends when as many as 1,500 people boogie down on the expansive multi-tiered dance floor during the 2am – 5am peak. Many special music events, from Marlboro Racing Nights that feature Jakarta DJ talent to the popular Sunday "Rainbow Night" that caters to alternative lifestyles, also take place at the venue, thus providing for a wide demographic.
Double Six underwent a renovation 3 years ago that completely refurbished and modernized the nightclub. Under a massive, traditionally constructed wantilan (pavilion) alang-alang roof, the club's 2,500 pax capacity interior boasts modern minimalist touches, world-class sound and lighting systems, as well as multiple air conditioning units that keep the open sided room cool when things get really hot. Just outside of the main club room is a sizeable swimming pool that is open in the day as well as during club hours and is the deepest pool in Bali at 5 meters, the reason being it is the landing pad for a 44 meter bungee jump, an official A.J. Hackett bungee (founder of the sport and most reputable and safest in the business) and the tallest one in Southeast Asia, making Double Six the only club in the region where you can disco, dunk, and dive with death-defying daring.
Connected to Double Six, but with a separate entrance and style is Paparazzi Lounge, an upscale version of it's larger and more accessible sister club that is open from 10pm – 3am. Paparazzi's interior is perhaps most reminiscent of a South Beach, Miami hot spot with its warm, deep red interior, modern and comfortable furnishings, minimalist décor, design and lighting, and outdoor terrace that over looks the beach area and Bali Strait, all the while allowing a constant cool ocean breeze to waft through. The music at Paparazzi is slightly tamer than Double Six, leaning more towards house and soulful progressive with a retro sound on Thursday spun by international and local acts, but the venue packs it in just the same, especially on Fridays and Saturdays when consummate hipsters flock to the spot in a see and be seen frenzy. A dress code at the door that prohibits casual wear (flip flops, singlets, etc.) ensures that the clientele at Paparazzi is never sub par and always classy. After the extended closing time at 4am on weekends, most of the diehard revelers left behind venture over to Double Six to test their stamina for another couple of hours.
The final addition to the triple club extravaganza will be Bacio (Kiss), slated for a soft opening in mid-August and a grand opening on August 25th. Pak Kadek's idea behind the new two-story venue is once again a lounge concept similar to Paparazzi's, but will be almost twice as big at 550 square meters, will encourage even greater exclusivity then its prototype, and will be suited towards an older, more sophisticated crowd of ex-pats and tourists. The second floor mezzanine will feature a strict members only policy complete with privileges, while the ground floor will present a broader, more eclectic musical selection that will range from down tempo to lounge to retro to chill house, all set to the modern comforts one would find in cosmopolitan locales. This venue will cater to more of a pre-club crowd and will shut doors at 2:30am so that customers can choose to call it a night or move on the party next door.
As Pak Kadek has said of his many projects, especially in light of Bali's previous post-bomb downturn, "What do people expect me to do? Where do they expect me to go? I am Balinese and I must never give up. I have to continue to build to set an example to others that Bali remains strong." Driven by this type of conviction and with 19 years behind the Double Six vanguard, it would appear that Paparazzi and Bacio should be well assured of sharing the same successful fate while continuing the vibe that has made Double Six an internationally recognized nocturnal institution.
Double Six/Paparazzi/Bacio
Jl. Double Six Seminyak, Bali
TEL: 0361 731 266 Doublesixclub
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