I was disappointed with Yogyakarta nightlife. As a city famous for attracting students and tourists, I was expecting a fun party atmosphere with busy bars and nightclubs.

On the contrary, Yogyakarta is quite conservative: Most girls wear the jilbab and you can see all over the city some aggressive banners against gays or Shia Muslims. I've read also about some incidents against a feminist group just a few days ago. This gave me the impression to be in Saudi Arabia more than in "tolerant" Indonesia.

In spite of this, I still had fun but I had to try quite many venues before figuring out which ones were crowded and which ones were boring.

The objective of this guide is to save you some time and give you the best tips to enjoy Yogyakarta nightlife if you are a single traveler there. If new bars and clubs open, please mention them in the comments to help me keep this review up-to-date.

Hotels in Yogyakarta Near the Nightlife:
I guess you are not going to Yogyakarta for the nightlife only and you are also interested in visiting attractions like Borobudur, the beaches in the South (like Gesing), the Keraton, etc.

If you want to do all that, plus go to bars and clubs in the evening, the best place to stay in Yogyakarta is near Jalan Malioboro, the most famous street in the city. It is lively, especially at night, and it is also walking distance to the main train station.

If you are on a budget, an alternative is to find a guest house near Jalan Prawirotaman, about a kilometer south of Jalan Malioboro. The price range goes from 10$ to 50$ a night. Be careful with small, family-run hostels though as they may not accept unmarried couples. To avoid any issues, it is better to book in larger, chain hotels such as the ones below:

Expensive:
Inna Garuda Malioboro
Melia Purosani

Those are chain hotels in Central Yogyakarta. They don't have as much charm as small properties but at least you won't be the center of attention.

Best Bars and Clubs in Yogyakarta:
There are not that many venues for partying in Yogyakarta. My favorite spots are listed below, starting with the most recommended.

Dress codes are generally not enforced. I saw people wearing flip-flops, short pants and t-shirt almost everywhere except in Boshe and Sugar.

The best days to go out are Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. You can check on the Facebook pages of the venues below for special events during the week (for instance Student Campus Nights).

During July and August, the bars in the tourist areas are more lively with Western tourists, particularly in the backpacking streets Jalan Sosrowijayan and at the corner of Jalan Parangtritis and Jalan Prawirotaman.

Platinum
This busy restaurant, bar, and nightclub is the best place for partying in Yogyakarta at the moment. It is large, crowded almost every night, and it features the best DJs. The crowd is mostly Indonesian, including students from the nearby UGM. Few tourists can be spotted as well.

Check their Instagram for events: Platinum Jogja.

Busy beer garden with a young expat and Indonesian crowd. Owned by a mixed couple Indonesian and Belgian, it is relaxed, friendly and cheap. You can get a local beer for just Rp30,000. Nicely designed. Service can be clumsy. 

It is in a residential neighborhood, 10 minutes away from Jalan Malioboro. Probably the best place to meet "normal" girls in Yogyakarta. They have DJs and live bands occasionally.

Address: Jalan Pakuningratan 34, Yogyakarta 55233
Phone number: +62 274 523723

Taphouse Beer House
It is a brand new beer house in an old house. Trendy and happening on Wednesdays, Fridays (hip-hop) and Saturdays.

Jalan Jlagran 18, Yogyakarta
Phone number: +62 812 2444 2225

Liquid Bar and Kitchen (not to be confused with Liquid Next Generation reviewed below) is a large warehouse filled with picnic tables where people come as a group for beers/wine and snacks. 

The area near the DJ can be considered a club, especially later in the night on weekends. They also have live music. Open until late (from 5pm to 5am), it's a fun place, often messy, where you'll probably find something you'll like. There are about 25% of girls and I didn't see any foreigners.

Address: Jalan Magelang KM 4,5
Phone number: +62 274 589611

Taj Lounge
This bar and club had just opened when I visited. It is already a popular choice among expats above 30. Most of them seemed to know each other already.

It is a good place to meet people if you are living in the city. If you are a tourist you might get bored. Music changes every night from hip hop to EDM and techno. Ladies night on Wednesday with free shots for girls. Open every day from 7.30pm to 3am.

Address: Jalan Urip Sumoharjo No.103H
Phone number: +62 822 4277 6766

Boshe VVIP Jogja
Boshe VVIP is just in front of City Mall. If you have been to the one in Bali, you will notice it looks almost the same. There is a Rp70,000 entrance fee (free for ladies). You generally have a local live band or sexy dancers before midnight, and then a DJ.

Since the prices are higher than the average for Yogyakarta (small local beer is Rp50,000), it attracts an older crowd, mostly male. The sound system and the lighting are great. It is famous for its karaoke where pretty lady companions (LC) are available. Many girls but most of them are working there and they are only looking for money. From reports I've read, you can actually have sex inside some of the bigger karaoke rooms.

The staff is rock n' roll. Every night they do a dance together on stage:
Address: Jalan Magelang KM 6,5
Phone number: +62 274 543477

Cubic Bar
A modern bar and restaurant on 2 floors with live music or DJs on the weekend. Hip crowd with some expats and young travelers. Good electronic music. The dance floor can get crowded for special events. It is a bit further away from the tourist areas. Free cocktails for their ladies night on Friday.

Address: Demangan Square Ruko 2, Jalan Demangan Baru
Phone number: +62 (0) 27 45 40 252

Sugar KTV and Nightclub
Sugar is one of the most exclusive KTVs and nightclubs in Yogyakarta. It is popular with the Chinese community, in particular guys as you have lots of high-class prostitutes. It also has some normal girls but they are always with male friends or boyfriends.

It is within the hotel Indoluxe, about 15 minutes from the center. It's worth going there only if you are planning to book a table and open a bottle at least. If you come alone, the entrance fee is Rp50,000 but you won't have anywhere to stand or sit.

The nightclub is pretty happening with events every night: Sexy dancers, fashion show, DJ, live bands, etc.

Address: Jalan Palagan Tentara Pelajar No.106
Phone number: +62 274 8722 388

Terrace Café and Karaoke
Terrace is located in Jalan Raya Seturan, an interesting street with many cafes and restaurants that stay open until late. Terrace is the busiest of all. It is a small club on two floors with either live music, a DJ or sexy dancers on stage. It wasn't so crowded when I visited and most of the guests were guys. The entrance was Rp40,000, a large Bintang costs Rp75,000. They play EDM, Hip Hop and Top 40 music.

Address: Jalan Raya Seturan No. 4
Phone number: +62 274 4332931

Liquid Next Generation
Liquid Next Generation is one of the oldest nightclubs in Yogyakarta. Opened in 2006, it has the same concept as Terrace and Boshe. You have a stage with live music or DJs, and most people watch the show from tables and sofas. It is still popular, especially for special events. It does not look as modern though and it has a more underground vibe (dark, noisy, smokey). I wouldn't be surprised if people took drugs inside. Entrance fee is Rp35,000. Open every day from 10pm to 4am.

Address: Jalan Magelang KM 5,5
Phone number: +62 274 622 020

Oxen Free is a beer garden, popular with expats, foreign students and tourists. Smart and educated crowd. They have live traditional music (keroncong) every Tuesday and jazz every Wednesday. When they don't have live music, they put some easy going tunes like the ones you would hear on a Buddha Bar playlist.

The prices are cheap and the food is supposed to be decent (I didn't try it). Price for a large Bintang is Rp50k and for a main course (International or Indonesian) between Rp50,000 and Rp100,000.

Address: Jalan Sosrowijayan No.2

Lucifer
Lucifer is a small bar/café/restaurant in the backpacker street Jalan Sosrowijayan. They have live rock and reggae music, cheap food and a crowd made of mostly Indonesian men in their 20s. Some of the waitresses are pretty.

Address: Jalan Sosrowijayan no 71
Phone number: +62 274 554377

Easy Going Restaurant and Bar
This is one of the most famous backpacker hangout in Yogyakarta. There is nothing really special except that it is popular. If you are traveling alone it's a good spot to make new friends.

Address: Jalan Prawirotaman No.12
Phone number: +62 274 384092

Other Bars nearby:
At the corner of Jalan Prawirotaman and Jalan Parangtritis, you have a strip of cheap bars with live music such as Cuba Libre, Ruis Cafe, Beatles Pub, Banana Café and South Side Café.

Palms Karaoke and Executive Club
Palms is the only nightclub/bar on the list that I didn't visit. From what I understand, they have good EDM and electro DJs every night until 3am. Lots of pretty girls as well in their karaokes.

Address: Jalan Batikan No. 9
Phone number: 08170251111

Agenda Rooftop Restaurant & Vibes
This is one of the few rooftop bars in Yogyakarta. It is located on top of the artsy/hipster hotel Greenhost in the tourist street of Prawirotaman. It has a more alternative crowd, including students and some expats. Jazz night every Wednesday, Acoustic on Thursday, Rn'B/Soul on Friday, House music on Saturday.

Address: Jalan Prawirotaman II No.629
Phone number: 08 78 38 90 60 88

13 comments to '' Yogyakarta Nightlife: Bars, Clubs, Karaokes and Spas "

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  1. Will you update the info about Pro Spas in Yogjakarta?
    I'm considering to visit there this year.

    Thank you

    ReplyDelete
  2. That is a "MODERATE" Muslim country for you lol.

    ReplyDelete
  3. The Presidents Executive SPA and Karaoke Purwokerto, Relaksasi dengan suasana yang nyaman plus therapis cantik dan asik, pokoknya pelayanannya oke laah dan ada room karaokean nya juga looh.... highly recommended in a town!!!
    http://www.thepresidentspa.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. The President Executive SPA and Karaoke Purwokerto is the best way to get away from STRESS! Stay awake ... Happy Relaxation and Enjoy With Us let's Now www.thepresidentspa.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm an Aussie traveller going to be there for 3 nights are these places within the backpacker area or out further , would be looking for a massage everynight

      Delete
  5. For coke, casino, or high class prostitute go to neo+ B7 (secret basement) ask and pay the piano guy (i don't know how much he want, but last time i pay Rp.700.000, id, and my firearm. Even you need to change your clothes, this is some kind of mafia deep shit, but worth it.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I went to Mansion Spa last week, excellent massage and a HJ for 300,000 id. Totally worth it

    ReplyDelete
  7. Wow what a pathetic article by what sounds like a pathetic person who has no cultural awareness and thus has to resort to booze and hookers wherever he goes. Generally the more cultured among us look down and laugh at people like you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wow I didn't know they had internet in pesantren...

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    2. Agreed! Only an idiot would say Jogja is "quite conservative"! And just look at the places that he/she recommended!!! And then "As a city famous for attracting students and tourists, I was expecting a fun party atmosphere with busy bars and nightclubs." So a city famous as a student town must have "a fun party atmosphere with busy bars and nightclubs"! Please don't return to Jogja. We don't need you!

      Delete
    3. Maybe instead of insulting me, you could tell me why you think Jogja is not conservative? Would you agree that it is more conservative than Bandung, Surabaya, Bali, Jakarta, or Manado?



      Delete
  8. Thibaud (Jakrata100bars), please take less pictures of transgenders in clubs, maybe you are a gay or just walk around blindfolded!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Glad Jogya is conservative. Indo is a muslim country. The immoral and filthy can go elsewhere.

    ReplyDelete