Le Pirate Beach Club is a small hotel with a beach club in Nusa Ceningan, one of the three Nusa islands in Bali Province.
But is it worth making a trip to both Nusa Ceningan and Nusa Lembongan to spend some time chilling by the pool at this beach club?
We sent out our team to brave the choppy waters to discover if it was and this is what they learned on their trip.
Introduction – Getting To Le Pirate Beach Club
Getting to Le Pirate Beach Club is a fairly involved process if you’re coming from mainland Bali. You will need to get a boat to Nusa Lembongan and then either navigate the Yellow Bridge or get another boat to Nusa Ceningan.
Most people find it’s worth the trip, mind you, as these islands are very attractive places with excellent sea views.
Where Is Le Pirate Beach Club? Jalan Nusa Ceningan, Klungkung, Lembongan, Nusa Penida, Klungkung Regency, Bali 82218, Indonesia
Website: Le Pirate Beach Club
Opening Hours: 7.30 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day except Nyepi (Last orders for the kitchen are at 9.30 p.m. each day).
What’s Inside Le Pirate Beach Club?
This is a fairly tiny beach club and Le Pirate Beach Club has a pool, a pool bar, an open-concept restaurant, various seating options and a great view of the crystal clear waters of the Indian Ocean.
Our Review Breakdown For Le Pirate Beach Club Nusa Ceningan
All of our reviews are conducted in the same fashion to ensure fairness to all the beach clubs that we review.
The team is sent to a beach club, where they grade it from 1 (worst score) to 5 (best score) in a series of 20 criteria (as seen below).
They then vote on their return to the office on a final score in each category, this ensures a representative view from the whole team rather than allowing a single voice to dominate the conversation.
Finally, a team member writes up a review and it’s published on our site, where it will remain for, at least, a year before we revisit the club and revise as necessary.
By the way, if you’re not going to Nusa Ceningan – you could check out these two Bali-based beach clubs – Azure Beach Restaurant or Komune Beach Club or our list of the best beach clubs in Bali.
Pre-Club Advertising
None, in fact, their website isn’t even very good. The Le Pirate Beach Club Nusa Ceningan is part of a larger chain and it’s also part of a hotel.
There’s no facility on the website to book a bed at the Le Pirate Beach Club and, in fact, when we clicked the book now button, we couldn’t even book rooms in the hotel due to a website error.
Given that this beach club is tiny, they probably don’t need to advertise for it to feel full, but we feel that beach clubs should be looking to be full all of the time to ensure a great vibe and Le Pirate Beach Club isn’t.
Location
Nusa Ceningan is a small island off the coast of Bali and it’s a reasonable trek to get out to the Nusa Islands (which includes Nusa Ceningan, Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan).
You also can’t get directly to Nusa Ceningan, you have to get to Nusa Lembongan and then either cross the famous “Yellow Bridge” or you have to get a boat.
Once you get to Le Pirate Beach Club, you will find there’s not much there except the beach club and the beach boxes of the hotel (a beach box is what the hotel calls its bungalows on the beach).
It’s a good location for people on snorkeling trips in the Blue Lagoon and other popular spots on the islands.
Booking Process & Seating Options
We don’t think it’s acceptable in 2024 to be told “walk-ins only” but this is really your only option at Le Pirate Beach Club unless you want to try the contact form on the website and negotiate a reservation.
While this location is great for solo travelers (the beach boxes are cheap accommodations and they do have air conditioning) and couples, the beach club is tiny.
That means you need to get there very early in the day to be sure of a seat by the pool.
Entry Fee
There is no entrance fee at the Le Pirate Beach Club and you can walk in and grab a seat without a problem.
We approve of this and think every beach club should allow you to see what you’re paying for before you commit to paying any money at all.
However, there is a minimum spend associated with the very limited seating near the pool.
Minimum Spend
It’s worth noting that most seats in this venue for outsiders are free to use and there’s no minimum spend attached to them.
This earned Le Pirate a place on our list of beach clubs in Bali with no minimum spend.
However, if you want to use the pool, only 6 outside guests may be in the pool area at a time (this allows people in the beach box accommodation to have unlimited access) and they must spend 150,000 IDR per person.
This isn’t an onerous requirement, even at these prices, a couple of cocktails will see you past the limit of the minimum spend with ease.
If there are no seats at the pool, they put up a sign to tell you that you can’t use the pool but you can still sit in their restaurant and bar area and get the awesome views.
Welcome And Security
You will get a cheerful Balinese welcome at Le Pirate but otherwise, there’s no security check which is something we would rather be subjected to (security is important in Bali).
However, given how small this club is, it’s unlikely to be a target for any real naughtiness, either.
Inclusions
If you have agreed to the minimum spend you will be allowed to use the pool and be provided with a towel for the day. If you’re not in the pool area, you can’t use the pool at all.
This is very standard for clubs in Bali. However, there’s no premium tier service or VIP service, but given the size of this club, they may feel it’s not worth the effort of implementing.
Service
The service is generally good but not exceptional and we find that they will take orders from guests quickly and fulfil them quickly too.
We did witness some pushy behaviour from management on one visit, but nothing to be unduly concerned about – we all have our bad days.
Entertainment
There’s no entertainment at Le Pirate except some piped music. Mind you, given how small it is, that’s probably all you can really expect.
Pool Quality
The pool at Le Pirate is carefully managed to ensure that you can have a relaxing time there with enough room to swim and have fun with friends.
The water is very clean and we’d be happy to jump in the water any time. However, there are only 6 seats near the pool open to non-resident guests and you may have to get there very early to secure one.
Menu/Drinks Pricing
The food and drinks at this beach club are generally very reasonably priced and are, in fact, much lower than you will find in many other beach clubs in Bali.
This might seem odd when you think that the raw materials mainly have to be shipped in from the mainland but the overall cost of running a business in the Nusa Islands, for now, is much lower than running one in Canggu or Nusa Dua.
The restaurant here has an amazing reputation and it’s open from breakfast when the hotel guests are getting set up for the day to dinner.
Food And Drink Quality
While the prices are very low, the portions are often very small at Le Pirate and we’d rather they put up their prices a bit as small portions just mean ordering a second meal when you’d rather have just had a little more with the first.
The cocktails are excellent, however, and it’s all too easy to run up a fairly substantial bar bill at Le Pirate without trying too hard.
Sunset View
The sunset view here is OK, it’s not equivalent to the best sunset views on the mainland but you do get a decent light show in the sky which reflects well on the water.
However, the sun drops below the horizon around the corner of the headland and you can’t see it properly.
Music And Ambiance
The music inside Le Pirate was not particularly memorable but it also wasn’t annoying in anyway. It’s all piped in and it may change on a regular basis, or it may not.
Payment Options
You can pay by cash or card in this club but there are no facilities to pay by QRIS or e-wallet. However, this may be changing as there is talk of converting the Nusa Islands to a unique e-wallet system which will be the only payment system on the islands – watch this space for updates.
Exit Process
This is a tiny club and you can walk out the way you came in and will be wished a cheery farewell as you head out the door.
Transportation
Most people who come to this club will have their own transport, if not the club staff can help you arrange a pick up without any real hassle. However, you may have to wait a while before a driver can come to you.
There is no taxi mafia in this area.
Social Media Presence
The group has a social media presence that is sparingly updated, however, it’s hard to tell which photo on their Instagram matches which beach club.
Other/General Comments
This is a cute place that’s really meant as a spot to take a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, it’s not for partying or big groups.
And as long as you bear that in mind, you will probably have a pleasant and relaxing time at Le Pirate.
Our Overall Opinion Of Le Pirate Beach Club Nusa Ceningan
As much as we admire the charm and quirkiness of this little club on the Nusa Ceningan coastline, we wouldn’t make a special trip just for this spot.
However, if you’re coming to Nusa Lembongan or Nusa Ceningan, we’d definitely recommend that you find this place near the Yellow Bridge and spend a couple of hours soaking up some rays by the pool.
The sunset vibe is particularly pleasant and you’ll have a nice time as you explore this little island that most visitors to Bali will never see.
A Quick Aside On Accommodation At Le Pirate
The beach boxes are absolutely tiny – 6 sqm and there’s barely room to store your luggage and get some sleep. There’s an open-air bathroom outside the box and a hammock for your use.
They’re quite pricey but the room rates do include the cost of breakfast in the restaurant.
We would also note that several recent visitors haven’t been happy with the proximity of barking dogs and crowing roosters to the rooms.
FAQs
Can You Swim At Le Pirate Beach Club?
Yes, there’s a small pool at Le Pirate where you can swim (only 6 people are allowed in the pool area at any one time). You can’t swim in the sea at Le Pirate though, not even at high tide.
What Can You Do At Le Pirate Beach Club?
You can swim, drink, eat and relax in the sun at Le Pirate. This is a very small venue, there’s no live music, DJs, etc. and a party would consist of about 30 people having a few drinks.
Is Le Pirate Beach Club A Family-Friendly Venue?
No, this is an adults-only venue and children are now allowed inside Le Pirate.
Who Owns Le Pirate Beach Club?
The Le Pirate group of companies owns this beach club as well as several other hotel and beach club properties in various locations.
Final Thoughts On Le Pirate Beach Club Nusa Ceningan
Nusa Ceningan isn’t on every Bali holidaymaker’s itinerary but if it’s on yours, then calling in at Le Pirate while you’re there is a great idea.
It’s a cute place on the ocean where you can also get a bed in the resort for the night (and don’t mind the lack of amenities). It’s a great place for relaxing while you explore the island too.
