Where to drink

Motion Bar

Motion Bar is as good a place as any in Dili to eat, drink and be merry. If you’re traveling along Avenida Bispo De Madeiros with Dili Stadium on your right, turn right at the market roundabout and Motion Bar is just down the road.

For what it lacks in size it makes up for with character. Motion has an outdoor area with seating and space for a band, while the bar is inside complete with a DJ booth and dancefloor.

Thursday night is the big night at Motion, with dinner-time salsa lessons rolling into an all-out party for the masses, with live music outside and usually a DJ playing indoors. DJs also play on Tuesday, with a loose kind of open decks policy for anyone who happens to be in Dili with CDs or a laptop powered up with DJ software.

The live band is always a safe bet, with local guys playing anything and everything from Coldplay to Metallica. The real draw of Motion Bar is the wide range of people who frequent the jaunt. Everyone from school teachers and journos to NGO and aid workers seems to end up at Motion at some point.

The drinks are reasonably priced with beers coming in at $3.50. There are also spirits and wine, as well as a couple of cocktails. The owner of Motion is a decent chap and always up for a chat if you’re new in town.

The food is decent, with meals priced about $5 to $8. Motion is open for dinner and lunch. If it’s not Thursday, you’ll usually only find a handful of people hanging out there, but don’t let that put you off, because it’s a great place to chill with a few drinks and some good company, and if you bring your own music, there’s a good chance you’ll be allowed to put it on over the PA.