Bars and Cafes in Bandar Seri Begawan

  There are no bars in Bandar Seri Begawan, as it is a strict Islamic state. Nonetheless, there are a few cafes where you can get coffee. If you need a drink you have to cross the border and enter Malaysia, where they are used to serving tourists from Bandar Seri Begawan. You can also bring in two bottles of wine or spirit each time you enter the country. They make no distinction between hard liquor and wine. So visitors can go ahead and bring in their favorite tipple. Just make sure that you drink it discreetly.

de Roy@lle C@fe

This place serves real espresso coffee late into the night. It is a hangout for the young people among the locals. You can entertain friends here far into the night. It is lively and friendly with a cheerful atmosphere. The coffee is priced a bit high but worth it because of its quality and the ambiance of the place.

Internet Cafes

There are a few Internet cafes in town where you can have coffee and surf the internet at leisure. These too are places where the youth of Brunei hang out. As such, they are a bit on the noisy side. If you want some peace and quiet you need to visit one of the restaurants in the more up market hotels of this city. If you want a drink you have to bring your own bottle to the country. Non-Muslims over the age of 17 can bring in two bottles of spirits or wine. These can be consumed discreetly in hotel rooms or private residences.

Atrium Cafe and Bunker Café

These cafes are located in the Hotel Empire and Hotel Country Club respectively. While the Atrium Café offers a casual dining experience, the Bunker Café is more suitable if you are looking for a formal night out. It is better for dining with business colleagues, while the Atrium Café is more suitable for families.

As there are no bars in the strict sense in Brunei, make the most of the cafes. This is the only place to hang out in for people used to staying up late into the night. Brunei has very strict laws about alcohol consumption in public places, so do not attempt to drink in public. They are very strict about this rule in some hotels too, so make sure you check with your hotel as well.