ENTERTAINMENT

Brunei is a bit of a bore on the entertainment front, mainly due to the outright ban on alcohol as well as the distinct lack of bars, pubs and clubs. The main emphasis is on shopping and dining, and if you’re not particularly big into drinking and clubbing, Brunei can be positively refreshing.
Foreigners can, in fact, bring in alcohol and drink in the confines of their hotel room, or indeed head for one of the BYO (‘bring your own’) restaurants. There is also the odd cultural show, along with cinemas in mega malls and plenty of sporting events.

JERUDONG PARK PLAYGROUND

THE CINEMA MALL

RADIO TELEVISION BRUNEI

WATER SPORT AT SERASA BEACH

THE MALL SHOPPING COMPLEX

BRUNEI MUSEUM

THE ARCADE 

JERUDONG PARK 

Bars and pubs

With a ban on alcohol there are few bars and pubs as such that are available to tourists. One exception is the Tagz Lounge at the Sheraton Utama Hotel in the capital, Bandar Seri Begawan. While they cannot sell you alcohol, you can take in your own (purchased from duty-free at the airport), have them serve it to you and buy mixers.

Cinemas

There are cinemas in various places around the country. The Mall Cineplex in Gadong, Bandar Seri Begawan is the best with its multiple screens. In Jerudong, the Empire Hotel & Country Club has the Empire Cinema, while nearby Seria has the OGDC Theatre (Oil & Gas Discovery Centre), and the Seri Qlap Cineplex is at Seri Q-Lap Mall in Kiulap.

Cultural performancesContemporary art festivals go off at various times of the year, displaying Brunei art traditions from the Kenyah and Kayan civilizations with traditional music and dance. Many of the higher-end restaurants in Bandar Seri Begawan also put on low-key dinner shows where guests bring their own alcohol.

Live music

There is the odd live band but the lack of bars, pubs and clubs makes it tough to know where to look. Some of Bandar Seri Begawan’s large hotels have the odd live gig, while Jerudong Park, in the southwest of the country, sometimes puts on shows with local talent.

Museums

Brunei is not big into museums but there is one or two worth checking out. The Royal Regalia Museum near downtown Bandar features a selection of gifts received by the sultan, while the Brunei Museum, farther afield on Kota Batu Road, is good for Islamic art. Nearby is the Tomb of Sharif Ali, Brunei’s third sultan.

Nightclubs and discos

The only real discos are in Bandar Seri Begawan, located out of the way in backstreet shop houses. They are inconspicuous from the front and are out of the way for tourists. Expats and oil workers who know the lay of the land have been known to gain entry to these places where beer is served at a premium, despite what the guidebooks say.

Shopping

Shopping is the biggest deal in Brunei. There are several massive shopping malls in the capital city and other major cities, and most also come with a measure of entertainment. The YSHHB mall and the Tamu night market are the main places to shop in the capital, while the nearby mall in Gadong is also popular. Silverware and handmade baskets are popular items to buy.

Sporting events

Football, tennis, and golf are all big in Brunei and there are many sizeable tournaments held here throughout the year. Polo is especially popular, owing to the sultan’s love for horses. There are studs and polo grounds all over the country and facilities are usually top-notch owing to massive funding by the government.

Theater and dance

Despite the country’s rich past, theater and dance in Brunei is limited and there is a distinct lack of cultural venues. Cinemas appeal to the average Bruneian, although the Radio Television Theater in Bandar plays host to the odd cultural show.