Dusk settles over Mataram and the roadside warungs begin to light up. On Jalan Udayana near the airport, food stalls line both sides of the road, couples stroll through the low-lit linear parks, and vendors sell satay, small meals, soft drinks and bottled water. Elsewhere, tenda eating venues set up at dusk and trade into the later hours.
Mataram's nightlife is not a bar-and-club scene. It is an evening of street food, roadside eating tents, fruit juices, tea and local coffee, with cold beer available at some restaurants and hotels but no expectation of a wine list outside a large, substantial hotel. Public drinking of alcohol and drunkenness are not condoned anywhere in Lombok, including Mataram. This suits visitors who want an easy, low-key evening of grazing and strolling rather than late-night venues.
Where to go out in Mataram
1. Jalan Udayana
A long strip of warungs and small food stalls lines both sides of the road near the airport, between Jalan Gilli Gede and Jalan Adi Sucipto. It is very popular at night, especially on weekends, and draws couples who appreciate the lack of bright lighting and the chance to stroll or sit in the linear parks along both sides of the road. Many outlets sell snacks such as satay or small meals, and most food vendors sell soft drinks and bottled water.
It is not really worth an outing in itself, but if you are in the area it makes a pleasant rest stop. Parking is available along the road, and a park attendant will request a small parking fee as you depart. The very low lighting can seem intimidating, but the area is not a threatening place.
2. Jalan Pejanggik
West of Mataram mall, near Ruby supermarket and Rumah Sakit Risa (Risa Private Hospital), this very informal night-time strip has many street food vendors and tenda roadside eating venues that set up at dusk and trade until later in the night. It can get quite busy on some evenings, and there is a cake shop in the strip.
How a night out unfolds
The sources describe the evening rhythm rather than fixed hours: the tenda venues on Jalan Pejanggik set up at dusk and trade until later in the night, and Jalan Udayana is at its most popular at night, particularly on weekends. Eating and drinking are the main evening activities, with snacks, small meals, soft drinks, bottled water, fruit juices, tea including ginger tea, and local coffee (kopi biasa or kopi lombok) available at moderate prices. Some restaurants and hotels serve cold beer.
Festivals and events worth timing a trip around
- Christmas Eve Joint Holiday — December
- Christmas Day — December
- New Year's Eve — December
- New Year's Day — January
- Ascension of the Prophet Muhammad (tentative) — January
- Chinese New Year Joint Holiday — February
- Chinese New Year's Day — February
- Ramadan Start (tentative) — February
- Bali's Day of Silence and Hindu New Year (Nyepi) — March
- Idul Fitri Joint Holiday — March
- Idul Fitri (tentative) — March
Frequently asked questions
Can you drink alcohol in Mataram?
Some restaurants serve cold beer, as do hotels, but do not expect a wine list outside a large and substantial hotel. Public drinking of alcohol or drunkenness is not condoned in any part of Lombok, including Mataram.
What is there to drink if you are not drinking alcohol?
Many restaurants and eating houses have an excellent range of local fruit juices, tea including ginger tea, and local coffee (kopi biasa or kopi lombok) at very moderate prices. Soft drinks and bottled water are sold by most food vendors.
When do the food strips get busy?
Jalan Udayana is very popular at night, especially on weekends. The tenda venues on Jalan Pejanggik set up at dusk and trade until later in the night, and that area can get quite busy on some evenings.
Is Jalan Udayana safe at night?
The very low lighting may seem a bit intimidating, but the sources describe it as not a threatening place, more one of subtle and discreet romancing by many of the visitors.
Plan your evening around a dusk start on one of the food strips, and keep the later hours for strolling and grazing.