The Best Nightlife in Jakarta - Jakarta's Best Bars, Clubs & Restaurants

Good Japanese Restaurants in Jakarta

noreply@blogger.com (Thib Jkt) — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 16:36:00 +0000

In four years of blogging, this review about the best Japanese restaurants in Jakarta was probably the hardest I ever wrote. I wanted to give the most accurate information as possible, so I did a lot of research, some visits, many phone calls, and spent a week on it. I hope you can help me with your comments if you find any errors (wrong phone number, restaurant closed, etc...). It would be great if you can share your best venues as well.

Almost all the good Japanese restaurants in Jakarta are listed here (as of November 2011), by alphabetical order. I will also post separate reviews about the best shabu-shabu, best sushis, most expensive restaurants, best all-you-can-eat, etc... Here are all the Japanese restaurants you should know about in Jakarta:

Ajihara (Jalan Melawai "Little Tokyo", Blok M ; Tel: +62-21 7201340): Authentic izakaya, popular with expats, with a karaoke above. Big portions, do not hesitate to share. Recommended dishes: Sashimi, teuchi soba (buckwheat noodles), soba sushi. Around Rp150-200k per person for a meal with beer.

Ajisen Ramen: Chain originally from Japan, with branches all over Jakarta and Asia (more than 200). Cheap, well-marketed, but disappointing taste.

Akane (Crowne Plaza, Gatot Subroto ; Tel: +62-21 522 0735): Modern Izakaya, regularly listed as one of the best Japanese restaurants in Jakarta. Tokyo-style, creative cuisine, yet unpretentious and not too expensive. Same owner (Ueda-San) as Boci-Boci, Konoha, Tsukinofune, Sumiya. Recommended dishes: Sushi, yakitori, bento boxes...

Aoki (Gran Mahakam Hotel, Blok M ; Tel: +62-21 7209 966): Reputed all-you-can-eat buffet shabu-shabu with grade 9 wagyu beef (Rp159++).

Asuka (Marriott Hotel, Mega Kuningan ; +62-21 5798 8898): Modern interior, with strictly authentic Japanese cuisine.Headed by a Japanese Chef. The omakaze will cost you above Rp1,5 million per person. Cheaper, you can try their buffet on Sunday Buffet for Rp300k without drinks. Voted Jakarta's Best Japanese restaurant a few times.

Aya restaurant (Jalan Mahakam 11A ; Tel: +62-21 7279 5184): Authentic restaurant, omakase for Rp1 million or more. Japanese chef.

Basara (Summitmas Tower, Jalan Sudirman ; Tel: +62-21 520 1233) Old, but underrated restaurant, popular with Japanese expats and executives. About Rp200,000 per head, rather old, - popular with japanese expats and businessman

Blowfish (Same building as the eponymous nightclub, Gatot Subroto ; Tel: +62-21 5297 1212): Chic venue, with prices higher than average. Creative fusion sushi.

Boci Boci (Ambai Building, GF, Jl. Melawai 8 No. 4 ; Tel: 7279 8463) : Great Izakaya in Blok M, excellent Japanese bistro-style cuisine, affordable. Recommended dishes: Ramen, Yakitori. Popular with Japanese expats.

Bushido (Grand Sahid Jaya Hotel, Jalan Sudirman ; Tel: +62-21 570 4444): Set lunch or à la carte. Affordable but needs to be improved both in taste and atmosphere.

Caza Suki (Mahakam ; Tel: +62-21 724 6375): Famous for its affordable, all you can eat buffet (Rp110,000++). 2 kinds: Shabu-shabu and Barbeque. Decent, popular with Indonesians. Also in Kebon Sirih, 200 meters before Jalan Jaksa, since 2008 (Tel: +62-21 344-7912)

Ebeya Steak House (Ritz-Carlton Pacific Place ; Tel: +62-21 5797 3661): Modern Japanese cuisine. Probably one of the most expensive restaurants in Jakarta: 2,5 million per person for teppanyaki. A la carte, expect to pay Rp400,000 for lunch, and Rp800,000 for dinner excluding drinks. More than just good food: Great service, atmosphere, originality and presentation of the dishes. Note: It used to be near Mid-Plaza, in the Plaza Residences but it has changed location since 2010.

Edogin (Hotel Mulia ; Tel: +62-21 574 7777 ext 4719,4720): Good for Teppanyaki. Also, rather good value-for-money all u can eat: For lunch between Rp109,000++ and Rp189,000++, and for dinner between Rp189,000++ and Rp200,000.

En Dining (Plaza Indonesia EX ; Tel:+62 21 3199 0203, and Crystal Lagoon, SenCi Tel: +6221 7278 1603) - Stylish, bright venues, more expensive than average (Rp150,000-200,000 à la carte). Specializing in Okinawa cuisine (Chinese-influenced Japanese food)

Esina (Plaza Senayan ; Tel: +62-21 5785 2767): Upscale Yakiniku/Japanese BBQ. Excellent but pricey (Rp1 million for full meal per person).

Fukuten (Plaza Senayan Arcadia ; Tel: +62-21 5790 1271): Classy restaurant specializing in Kushiyaki and Katsu. A bit too expensive.

Goemon (Wisma Kyoei Prince L. 3 ; Tel: +62-21 572 3343): Authentic Japanese restaurant, not too expensive, among the best value for money in Jakarta. Popular with Japanese expats for lunch.

Gyu-Kaku (Pacific Place ; Tel: +62-21 5140 0617, Plaza Indonesia ; Tel: +62-21 3107 196): Similar with Toranomon, well-designed, upmarket Japanese BBQ restaurant. Good quality meat, around Rp500,000 per person if you go for the grill.

Hachi Hachi Bistro (Taman Anggrek ; Tel: +62-21 5699 9527): Cheap fusion sushi. Purist will not like it, but it is crowded with Indonesians. Also in Central Park (Tel: +62-21 5698 5592).

Hakata Ikkousha (Rumah Bahagia Pertama, Jl. Muara Karang Raya 85 ; Tel: +62-21 6660 0255): Buzzing Japanese restaurant serving what some people consider the best ramen in Jakarta. So packed you may have to wait before seating, it is rather cheap (gyoza for 35k, pork ramen for 38k) and basic (you sit next to other customers).

Hanamasa (locations all over Jakarta): Maybe the most popular all-you-can-eat shabu-shabu/yakiniku restaurant in Jakarta. Less than Rp100k. Average quality, especially the meat, but worth it for most customers.

Hanei (Grand Indonesia ; Tel: +62-21 2358 0535, Senayan City ; Tel: +62-21 7278 1395, Pondok Indah ; Tel: +62-21 7592 0890): Rather affordable (around Rp70,000 per person) but the quality is not consistent. Specialties: Sushis, sashimis, shabu-shabu.

Honoka (Jalan Panglima Polim Raya, Perfect restaurant for lunch, authentic food with interesting set lunch menu ranging from Rp65,000 to Rp125,000.

HonZen (Intercontinental Hotel MidPlaza, Jalan Sudirman ; Tel: +62-21 570 7796): Contemporary Japanese restaurant, with Japanese Chef. It has a sushi bar and a kushiage bar. Very good, probably underrated.

Ippachi (Plaza Senayan Arcadia ; Tel: +62-21 5790 1461): Nice, authentic setting and good sushis/sashimis. Japanese chef. A bit pricey.

Ippeke Komachi (Mall Kelapa Gading 3 ; Tel: +62-21 4585 3722): A decent Japanese restaurants for North Jakarta. Affordable menu set 80k. Good takoyaki.

Joobu Sushi (Jl. Kelapa Gading Boulevard, Blok WD2 No. 19 ; Tel: +62-21 450 8551): Sushi bar, opened by a mixed Indo-American. Received mixed reviews so far.

Kahyangan (Hotel Nikko ; Tel: +62-21 230-1122): Supposedly the best shabu-shabu in Jakarta. Also the most expensive. Great view and romantic. See my review on Jakarta100bars.

Kaihomaru (Jalan Melawai VI ; Tel: +62-21 739 8741): This authentic restaurant has it all: great atmosphere, freshness, presentation of the dishes. The only problem is the price: Expect to pay more than Rp300,000 per person. In my Top 3 of the best Japanese restaurants in Jakarta. Also opened in Pondok Indah.

Kamogawa (Pavilion Apartment Retail Arcade, Jl. K.H. Mas Mansyur Kav. 24 ; Tel: +62-21 574 1988): Upscale restaurant serving good sushi, tempura, gyoza, udon, shabu-shabu. All-you-can-eat on weekends for Rp200k++.

Katsura (Plaza Senayan ; Tel: +62-21 5772 5226): Elegant design, it serves teppanyaki, shabu-shabu, sukiyaki. Affordable set menu for lunch (under Rp100k).

Katsusei: See my review posted on Jakarta100bars .

Kawana Sushi (Jl. Melawai IX no. 18, Blok M ; Tel: +62-21 722 0291/8842): Expensive sushi restaurant. Owned by a Japanese, their fish is imported from Japan every 2-3 days. Authentic.

Keyaki (Hotel Sari Pan Pacific, Thamrin, Tel: +62-21 2993 2752): Their sushi is recommended. You have an all-you-can-eat buffet for Rp180k/pers excluding tax. Also available: Robatayaki, Sukiyaki, Teppanyaki.

Kihana (Plaza Indonesia ; Tel: +62-21 310 7596): Same owner as Kiyadon. More expensive than better restaurants, but still decent taste with nice atmosphere and service. Recommended for sushis.

Kikugawa (Jl. Cikini Raya IV No. 13, Menteng +62 21 3150668): Old-time favourite Japanese restaurant in Jakarta, but now average compared to the best ones in the city.

Kinokawa (Menara Thamrin, Jalan Thamrin ; Tel: +62-21 315 8877): One of the best Japanese restaurants in Jakarta, it serves the best sushis and the best omakase (up to Rp1,5 million per person). The chef Tate-san left in 2011 for Tatemukai though so I don't know if the quality is still the same. Reservation necessary, it is better to visit on Tuesday and Friday, when the imported fish arrives from Japan.

Kira-Kira Ginza (Jl. Melawai IX No. 30 ; Tel: +62-21 726 2611): Specializes in katsudon (katsu with pork, rare in jakarta). Also excellent takoyaki, gyoza and okonomiyak. Good value, around Rp80k per person.

Kirishima (Gran Melia, Kuningan ; +62-21 526 8080): Teppanyaki, decent and not too expensive compared to other Japanese restaurants in 5-star hotels (not to be mixed with Kirishima Kitchen, much cheaper, in Pondok Indah)

Kiyadon (Usually in high-end malls): Rather expensive, similar to Sushi Tei (rp100k/pers). Good tempura. Even wider choice of sushi (fusion and traditional) in some branches called Kiyadon Sushi.

Konoha (Melawai 2 ; Tel: +62-21 720 6906): Authentic, good yakitori, affordable

Kushigin (Melawai IX No.10F ; Tel: +62-21 723 4289): Izakaya with good value yakitori and ramen.

Le'zzzaat (Permata Bank Tower, Jalan Sudirman ; Tel: 021-250-0528): Japanese-Italian restaurant.

Marufuku (Jl. Melawai 6 no. 11, Blok M ; Tel: +62-21 726 7777): Affordable restaurant owned by a Japanese. Rather basic but excellent food, in particular the shabu-shabu and sushi.

Marutama Ramen (Sentral Senayan 1 ; +62-21 572 4050, eX Plaza Indonesia ; Tel: +62-21 316 0705, Pluit ; Tel: +62-21 669 1199, Puri Indah Mall ; Tel: +62-21 582 3193): Chain specializing in ramen and nabe. Good service and food, but Ramen 38 may be a little better.

Midori (Kebayoran Baru ; Tel: +62-21 726 7249, Pondok Indah ; Tel: +62-21 769 2737, Kelapa Gading ; Tel: +62-21 451 3920, Puri Kencana ; +62-21 582-6855, Jl. Wahid Hasyim ; +62-21 314 8957). Authentic and unpretentious, good value-for-money. Recommended Sushis.

Misticanza (Sahid Sudirman Residance, Jalan Sudirman 86 ; Tel: +62-21 2902 2837): Italian food à la Japonaise, similar with Le'zzzaat.

Miyama (Hotel Borobudur ; Tel: +62-21 380 5555): Modern Japanese cuisine with Japanese chef. Affordable for a fine dining restaurant.

Nippon Kan (Sultan Hotel, ex-Hilton ; Tel: +62-21 570 3600). Beautiful design but not reputed.

Nishimura (Shangri-La Hotel ; Tel: +62-21 3048 8565) Replaces Nadaman. Fine dining Japanese, specializing in preparation with Wagyu Beef (Teppanyaki/Shabu-Shabu). Expensive for dinner, reasonable for lunch (with set menu and a non-alcoholic drink, less than Rp200k).

Ootoya (Senayan City, 5th floor ; Tel: +62-21 7278 1552, Pacific Place Mall 5th floor ; Tel: +62-21 5797 3858, Plaza Indonesia ; +62-21 3983 8252). Huge chain of family restaurant, originally from Japan. Best for Donburi (rice dish bowl). Rather good quality and healthy. Set menu for lunch for around Rp80k++.

Origami (Nikko Hotel, Jalan Thamrin ; Tel: +62-21 230 1122): Fresh sushis and sashimis. All-you-can-eat at Rp250,000 . The chef is Japanese chef.

Poke Sushi (Crowne Plaza Hotel, Jalan Gatot Subroto ; +62-21 522 0733): Reasonably priced quality sushis, all-you-can-eat for under Rp150k (also located in Dharmawangsa Square). Check their facebook here as well.

RA Sushi: (Bellagio Boutique Mall, Mega Kuningan ; Tel: +62-21 3002 9970): Creative, fusion sushis in a modern setting. Relatively expensive.

Ramen 38 Sanpachi (Main branch in Kamome Bldg, 2nd Floor, Jl. Melawai Raya 189B ; Tel: +62-21 7280 0268): Originally from Japan, it is a pioneer chain of Japanese noodle in Jakarta (Ramen). Good and affordable (less than Rp50k net). Famous for its spicy jigoku ramen.

Rakuzen (Pacific Place, +62-21 5140 0499): All-you-can-eat at Rp188,000++, nice atmosphere and design. The chef is Japanese and so is the fish (imported). Rakuzen is part of a chain with branches in SGP and KL. Pricey.

Sakana (MidPlaza Basement Floor, Jl Jend Sudirman ; Tel: +62-21 570 6200): Izakaya serving one of the best takoyaki in Jakarta. Authentic and affordable. Good sushis too.

Sakura (Graha Niaga, Financial Club Jakarta Sudirman ; Tel: +62-21 5296 0070, Lebak Bulus ; +62-21 751 1193, and Sakura Cikampek ; +62 264 350665). Provides buffet, bento lunchbox, sushi bar. Great ramen too.

Sekai (Jalan Suryo 30, Senopati, Tel: +62-21 7278 8750 ): Cheap all-you-can-eat sushis or shabu-shabu (Rp125k net). You get what you pay for.

Sekitei (Dharmawangsa Hotel ; Tel: +62-21 725 8181): Among the top Japanese restaurants in Jakarta: Perfect service, perfect food and atmosphere. Dinner could cost you around 1 million, but you can get much better deals if you come for lunch (set lunch menu Rp100,000). Serves sushi, sashimi, shabu-shabu, sukiyaki among others.

Shabu Nobu (Dharmawangsa square ; Tel: +62-21 7278 6650, Plaza Indonesia ; Tel +62-21 310 7710, Kemang Raya no17 ; Tel: +62-21 719 5246, The Bellezza Permata Hijau ; Tel: +62-21 2567 5874): Affiliated with Sushi Nobu, around Rp100k for shabu-shabu (more or less depending on the type your order). Average taste.

Shabu Shabu house. See my review here on Jakarta100bars.com.

Shabu Tei (Various locations in Jakarta, usually middle class malls): Affordable shabu-shabu and sukiyaki. Not great but decent considering the price (less than Rp100,000).

Shabuya (Central Park Mall ; Tel: +62-21 5698 5585): Shabu-Shabu/Sukiyaki, with all-you-can-eat at Rp115++ (with Angus beef). Good but the prices should go up.

Shima (Aryaduta hotel ; Tel: +62 21 2352 1234): Old restaurant, decent teppanyaki, not too expensive.

Sumibian (In two locations, Mangga Dua Square (Tel. (62-21) 6231 0002), and Chase Plaza (Tel : +62-21 2512888 the best one, with great view): Authentic Japanese BBQ or Yakiniku): Best in Jakarta for authentic Japanese BBQ (Yakiniku). . Expensive, Rp400,000 per pers, all you can eat Rp700,000

Sumire (Grand Hyatt, Plaza Indonesia, Tel: +62-21 390 1234): Very, very expensive, in the top 3 of the best Japanese restaurants in Jakarta, teppanyaki at Rp1,5 million per person .

Sumiya (STC Senayan ; Tel: +62-21 5793 1826): Izakaya serving delicious, authentic Japanese food. Excellent value-for-money (normal spend: Rp100,000). Popular especially after work, pub-like atmosphere. Must-try restaurant.

Sushi Groove: See my review on Jakarta100bars.

Sushi Nobu (Dharmawangsa square and other location ; Tel: +62-21 7278 6650): More expensive than average, fusion sushi.

Sushi Sei (Plaza Senayan ; Tel: +62-21 572 5510): Excellent sushis and sashimis, but not good value, at least Rp200,000k. If you are on a tight budget you can find cheaper options with similar taste.

Sushi Tei: (All over Jakarta): Slightly overrated (surprisingly, it is the best Japanese restaurant in Jakarta on TripAdvisor), Sushi Tei has a good marketing team, but the sushis are not impressive, nor authentic. It remains a decent venue, in particular for the service and atmosphere.

Sushi Tengoku (Jl. Radio Dalam Raya ; Tel: +62-21 739 6940): Good, traditional sushi at affordable prices.

Taichan (Plaza Senayan ; Tel: +62-21 572 5262, Jl. Melawai VI/No.5 Blok M ; Tel: +62-21 726 1281 (Izakaya Taichan)): 20 years-old, authentic restaurant. Recommended for its Stamina Ramen (Rp50,000).

Takemori (Senayan City (Sencity), 5th Floor ; Tel: +62-21 7278 1177): Mid-range shabu-shabu and grill restaurant with decent food. Meat imported from Australia. Around Rp150,000 to Rp200,000 per person, which is quite expensive. Also in Grand Indonesia (Tel: +62-21 2358 0368)

Takigawa: See my review on Jakarta100bars.

Tarakagima (Menteng ; Tel: +62-21 316 0359, Kelapa Gading ; Tel: +62-21 3281 7866): Previously called Sumo Sushi. Cheap sushi restaurant with weekend all-you-can-eat for Rp 120k++.

Tatemukai (Grand Indonesia, East Mall 3A ; Tel: +62-21 2358 1807): Reservation only, amazing dining experience, at least Rp1 million (but probably more) for Omakase . By famous Chef Tate-san

Toranomon (Grand Indonesia ; Tel: +62-21 2358 0061): Franchised from Japan (though I could find the main branch in Japan on Google), it specializes in Yakiniku (Japanese BBQ). Upmarket atmosphere, nice view on Hotel Indonesia Roundabout, but pricey (Rp500,000 for full meal). Check for discounts with some credit cards.

Torikatsu (Jalan Melawai 9 ; Tel: +62-21 723 0159): Authentic, specializes in yakitori.

Tsukinofune (Hotel Ambhara, Jl. Iskandarsyah Raya ; Tel: +62-21 270 0709): Expensive, but must-try sushi and sashimi. Well-presented Bento at Rp160k. Top Japanese restaurant in Jakarta.

Umena Dori (Plaza Senayan ; Tel: +62-21-5793 9710): People visit this restaurant for its "satay" (yakitori and Kushiyaki). More expensive than average, around Rp150,000 per person.

Yakoya (Menteng, Jalan Imam Bonjol ; Tel: +62-21 391 6337): Affordable shabu-shabu with all-you-can-eat at Rp150,000 net. Similar to Paregu/Hanamasa, maybe slightly better in terms of taste and atmosphere.

Zhuma Japanese (Crystal Lagoon, Senayan City ; Tel: +62-21 727 81 237): Stylish restaurant, with fusion sushi, (too) expensive.

I'm still missing a few, namely ShioSai, Ryoutei Aoi, Paregu, Senryo, etc... I'll add them in the following days (or weeks)..

Bar Hopping in Jakarta: 10 Great Routes

noreply@blogger.com (Thib Jkt) — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 12:38:00 +0000

Jakarta nightlife, as I mentioned in previous posts (Jakarta Nightlife Tips), is best enjoyed if youexplore a few venues on the same night, and it is preferable if those are closeto each other (to avoid traffic). If you don't know Jakarta very well, I giveyou below 10 great bar-hopping routes. Some are famous, some are chic, some aredirty, and some are still unexplored... Anyway, follow one of them and Iguarantee you a great time!

Blok M - For the Beginner

Difficulty:Easy, but be careful when you leave Jalan Falatehan, most taxis will overchargeyou.

Transportation:Walking only

Places to see:D's Place, Sportsman, My Bar, Oscar, Highway to Elle, Top Gun, Maxi, Everest

Highlights: Hecticstreet life on Jalan Falatehan, with a mix of beggars, prostitutes and fakeblue bird taxis; Secret backroom in D's, Live band in Top Gun

Don't arrive too late and drink plenty of water beforehand.Start at 8pm, during the week (Wednesday or Thursday), with the bars that arelocated in the end of the street (Oscar and Maxi). After a few beer in thosedeserted joints, visit My Bar, Highway to Elle and D's Place, have a pause inEverest and Sportsman, then finish in Top Gun.

Jalan Jaksa - For the Tourist

Difficulty:Easy

Transportation:Walking only

Places to see:Dyna Pub, Domares, Embassy 21st, Melly's Garden, Ocha & Bella, Obama Bar, Pappa Cafe, Ali's Bar, Venus, Cocktail and Friends, Equal Park, Memories

Highlights: Livebands in Equal Park and Memories Café; Cheap beers; Friendly backpackers;Street food; Chatting with Paula, owner of Dyna Pub; Ladyboy spotting on JalanWahid Hasyim

The base camp for the Jalan Jaksa trail is actually on JalanWahid Hasyim: Dyna Pub, which has been around for ages, is not crowded but itis pittoresque. After that, you can have a quick look at Domares, 20 metersfrom it, and Embassy 21st (in front of Akhmani hotel). This bars are far fromhappening, but they are interesting because you will hear live bands playingold Indonesian favourites. On your way to Jalan Jaksa, you will see Melly'sGarden on your left, with a nice crowd of young Indonesians, but stopping isoptional.

Further east, at the crossing between Jalan Jaksa and JalanWahid Hasyim, you may stop in D'Consulate, a lounge popular with arabs. Theelegant "Ocha & Bella" in Morrissey Hotel is noteworthy too ifyou want to meet some higher class Indonesians.

In Jalan Jaksa, most busy places are located around MargotHotel: 3 bars should be on your to-do list: Equal Park, Memories Cafe, andCocktail and Friends. If you still have time and/or need a drink, you may go toAli's Bar, Venus, Obama Bar, and Pappa's Café.

The Jalan Jaksa trip can be undertaken any day of the week.

Kemang - For the below 21

Difficulty:Easy. Many venues have a First Drink Charge (FDC).

Transportation:Walking, but if you take a cab for a few short rides, you can extend to somecool bars.

Places to see:Within the "walking distance perimeter": Eco 365, Monaco, Elbow room, Tipsy, The Green, Attics, Nu China, 999. Optional, with a car: SHY, Beer Garden, Bremer, Eastern Promise, Venue (all of these to begin the evening), SF Club and Barcode (for clubbing, on weekends), Dim Sum Festival (to close the night)

Highlights: Theirrespirable atmosphere in smokey Tipsy; Hearing electronic music until youbecome deaf; Watching the Indonesian youth getting hammered.

You should do this route on weekends since the clubs mightbe empty on weekdays. There is a vibrant nightlife in Kemang, but one area hassuch a high concentration of bars and clubs that you may spend a whole nightthere without taking a cab. You could follow this trail:

Start eating and drinking in Elbow room at approximately10pm. At 11pm, walk about 200 meters to the right, and go to Eco 365 nearAksara. At this time it should still be quiet and "loungy", so don'thesitate to have at least a couple drinks. Around midnight, move to Tipsy,which should be already packed with students. If you cannot stand the smoke, goto Monaco, then head for Attics, Nu China, and finish in 999. Those venuesusually close around 4am.

Senayan: "Hookers and Socialites"

Difficulty:Moderate. Expensive, you will have to pay at least Rp500,000 in entrance fees.Dress appropriately: No T-Shirts or torn jeans.

Transportation:Walking + Car

Places to see:Union, Red Square, X2, Domain, Portico, CJs. Optional: Hyu, Black Cat, Hacienda, KTV Boutique

Highlights: Oneof the best bar hopping trail in Jakarta because of the diversity of the faunayou will encounter.

Start with a karaoke in Hyu or KTV Boutique (optional), thenhave a drink in Union, or alternatively Portico. At 11pm, head to Hotel Muliawith a car (5 min ride) and stay in CJs until 1am. Then go to Domain (5min withcab) until 2.30am, then Red Square (walking 10 min or with cab, 3 min) and atlast X2 (just in front of Red Square) which closes at 5am. In the same area, ifyou need more bars to warm up, you may visit Hacienda or Black Cat in SenayanArcadia.

Sudirman to Hayam Wuruk: "From One World toAnother"

Difficulty:Moderate, once in the North, you should be careful with taxis. Girls shoulddress with skirt and high heels if you plan on going to Immigrant.

Transportation:Mostly by car

Places to be seen:Face Bar, Social House, Paulaner Brauhaus, Hard Rock Café, Immigrant, Malio, Millennium, Stadium

Highlights: Veryinteresting route as it takes you from some of the hippest bars in Jakarta tosome of the worst places the city has to offer.

Start in a classy venue such as Facebar or Social House,perfect to warm up. At 11pm, go to Paulaner Brauhaus or Hard Rock Café to enjoylive music. At 00.30am, Immigrant should start being busy... You can stay anhour or two because clubs in North Jakarta stay open very late. Before 3amthough, head to Malio Club (not Malioboro Spa). Warning: This is a place with"sexy dancers" so anyone may not feel comfortable inside. Maliocloses at 4am, so after that you should go to Millennium, only 300 meters fromthere. If you take a cab, try to get a Blue Bird or Ekspress, or pay Rp20,000without hargometer.

Millennium is interesting because it is one of the largestdisco in Jakarta, with an incredibly loud sound system. Inside the club, askfor the room with "western music" (music barat). When you're sick ofMillennium, and depending on the time (if it is before 5am), you may still havethe chance to visit a few places such as Illigals, Monggo Mas (scary), ML Disco (even scarier). There is also the veryfunny Mandarin singing hall De Volvo.

Stadium always closes very late (and it doesn't close at allon Sundays), so it is the best place to finish your route.

Lokasari-Glodok-Mangga Besar: "Holy Sh*t! Where AmI?"

Difficulty: Hard.You need to feel confident visiting club with almost no foreigners, full ofdrugs and prostitutes, sometimes dirty, dark and trashy. You will also need to walkat night in a reputedly unsafe area to go from one place to another and/or tofind good taxis.

Transport: Walking+ Car

Places to see:Golden Crown, Sydney 2000, Diamond, Sun City, Club 36, Super, Nuansa Permai, Siera, Exotis, Mille's, Mn'B
Highlights: Most venues you will discover are incredible and arehighlights of their own.

You can start with a drink in the lounges of Sparks Hotel (Mn'B) or GoldenCrown at 9pm on almost any nights. It is North Jakarta so expect some dancersbetween breaks. At 11pm, move to Sydney 2000 (walking distance from GoldenCrown, 5 min taxi ride from Sparks). Sydney 2000 is pretty much hell on earth,and its nickname is the "ectasy factory": It will be so dark and loudthat you won't stay more than 10 minutes. Once done, you can walk 5 minutes toDiamond Club, where you have live music again, and plenty of workinggirls.

More fun, Sun City is worth spending at least an hour, from midnight to 1am.Many foreigners from other Asian countries there, and a fun atmosphere most ofthe time. Don't stay too long though because you still need to visit 2 verylocal entertainment venues: Super Club and Nuansa Permai, both on Jalan Labu,to where you can just walk from Sun City. These venues are a bit old-fashioned,but very friendly: Do not hesitate to take the mic and sing some dangdut. Whenthey close, you can stay in Jalan Labu and visit one of Jakarta nightlife'sicons: The Club 36. This coyote bar features sexy dancers non-stop all nightlong until 5am, and it is always lively and crowded.

After such easy fun, you're ready for more hardcore stuff: Head to the crossingbetween Jalan Mangga Besar and Jalan Hayam Wuruk and ask for a club called"Siera". Locals should know about it (my review about Siera is notonline yet). If you are walking, it should not take you more than 10 minutesfrom Club 36. It is a horrifying disco, with at least 500 persons high on drugsinside. Bring a torchlight because it is impossible to see even your hand. Onceyou are out of Siera, if you want to see another club just like that, you cantake a taxi and go to "Exotis" (less than 5min). If not, then head toMille's, the best nightclub for afters in Jakarta. Mille's rarely closes, so you'refree to party there forever.

Pen-J: The Blok M of North Jakarta

Difficulty: Medium(Hard to find, very local, mostly bad taxis)

Transport: Walkingonly

Places to see:Sari Ayu, DV, LA bar, Astro, Royal, M Karaoke, MTR Club
Highlights: For those who wish to experience Indonesian-style maleentertainment.

I must say I went to Pen-J only to take pictures from outside the bars, so itstill needs to be explored. From what I could understand, many of these venueshave live music or club music with working girls, and some rooms upstairs. Onceyou find the street with all the bars, it is extremely easy to go from oneplace to the other by foot. Here are some photos I took in July 2011:

Astro Massage and Bar

MTR Disco

L.A. Bar

Pen-J is not easy to find: You need to go to the main road,Jalan Pangeran-Jayakarta, in North Jakarta, and from there you should ask aboutthe places mentioned above.

Mega Kuningan: Meet some fellow expatriates

Difficulty: Easy

Transport: Mostlyby car with some walking if you know your way around

Places to see:Sports Café, Tempus (ex-Mistere), Loewy, Cazbar, Poste, Blu Martini, Apollo (Gay)

Highlight:Avoid the traffic.

Mega Kuningan is a bit like an island isolated from thecontinent: Because of the crazy traffic on Jalan Gatot Subroto and Jalan Casablanca,it is almost impossible to get out of it (or into it) at peak hours. So ifyou're stuck there, the good thing is that you'll find a decent number ofdrinking options. It never gets crazy though, but it is always friendly andperfect to meet other expatriates.

I would start the evening with Sports Café, with its funcrowd of regular patrons, for a couple of beers at 6pm. Then visit Cazbar at8pm because they will often have events, and if not you can always play pool.Not later than 10pm, go to Poste (optional) or Blu Martini (optional) only ifyou are curious. If you want to meet other people, then head for Loewy, makefriends there, and take the whole group to Tempus (Ritz-Carlton) to enjoy thelive band. There is also a fantastic karaoke in Ritz-Carlton. At last, when thewhole troop is intoxicated, head to Apollo, the most popular gay club inJakarta. When you're done, there shouldn't be much traffic, allowing you to gohome fast.

Little Tokyo: The Japanese Karaoke Experience

Difficulty: Easy,once you've found Jalan Melawai VII, near Blok M, South Jakarta
Transport: Walking only
Places to see: Tokishirazu, Flamingo, Geisha, Jawa-Jawa, Himeragi,U-Zou, Cantik Jakarta, Chameleon, Club J, Don Sancho, Genji, Gokurakucho,Junko, M21 International Club, Maimu, Matsuri, Mitsubachi, Q-RI, Studio 21,USA-G1, Yujiro, ZII (all the Japanese karaoke in Jakarta available here)

Highlights:More than the karaoke, the atmosphere of the street is very amusing with allthe Japanese signs and customers. You should also try the Japanese restaurantsof the area such as Aji Hara, among the best in Jakarta.

The problem with Little Tokyo is that if you are not interestedin karaoke, you will get very bored since there isn't a pub or a lounge. If youdo like karaoke, you can probably do a 24-hour karaoke marathon in JalanMelawai, changing venues every hour.

Indo girls in Japanese costume in Blok M

Having fun in Little Tokyo

Grogol/Daan Mogot: The unchartered Territory

When I came back home from the airport the other day, mytaxi drove to a street with at least 10 bars and clubs next to each others... Iwas in a hurry so I couldn't stop, but the driver told me it was Daan Mogot, inGrogol. It is a bit far so I didn't have time to visit yet, but when I havetime I will make a report for Jakarta100bars.com.

Ladies' Nights in Jakarta (Updated List)

noreply@blogger.com (Thib Jkt) — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 08:50:00 +0000

To prepare this list of Ladies' nights in Jakarta and to make sure that the information is accurate, I've called directly all the bars and clubs listed below, one by one (on October 21st, 2011). Hopefully there won't be too many changes soon, and in case you know something, please leave me a comment or send me an email: thibaud@jakarta100bars.com.

So, lucky ladies, if you go to the following bars on their Ladies' night, you will get the following discount or promo:

Everyday, Ladies' night in:

-De Burse
50% off all drinks except wine, starting at 7pm till 9pm.

Every Tuesday, Ladies' night in:

- Mandarin Oriental
Free selected drinks from 8pm to 1am

Every Wednesday, Ladies' night in:

- Liquid Exchange
Buy one, get one (cocktail) from 8pm to 12pm

- CJ's
Free entrance for ladies

- Luv's Bar

Free entrance + one free welcome drink

- Tribeca

Free entry all night long

50% off selected drinks from 6pm to 9pm

- X2

Free entrance + one free welcome drink all night long

- Tin Pan Alley
Free flow on selected cocktails from 7pm to 9pm

- Immigrant

Free entry for ladies all night long

- Domain
Free entry all night long
1 free drink voucher from 10pm to 12pm (can be used anytime on the same night)

- The Venue
R n'B nights with free entrance for ladies (Rp40,000 for men)

- Nu China
Free entry all night long

Every Thursday, Ladies' night in:

- Cazbar
Free flow lychee martini from 8pm to 11pm

- Aphrodite
Free selected drinks from 8pm to 12pm

- Fez
Free selected drinks (vodka, gin, bintang) from 6pm to 10pm

- De Hooi
50% off selected drinks and cocktails starting 7pm

Every Friday, Ladies' night in:

- Tempus (Ritz-Carlton):

Free entrance all night long + Welcoming drink

Every Saturday, Ladies' night in:

- Aphrodite
Free selected drinks for ladies from 10pm to 12pm

Do not have ladies' night: Dragonfly, Blowfish, Eastern Promise, BATS, 30, Satu Lagi

If you think I forgot something, let me know!

The Best Restaurants for Dim Sum in Jakarta

noreply@blogger.com (Thib Jkt) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 03:50:00 +0000

In this post, I will give some recommendations about the best places to eat Dim Sum in Jakarta. Since the offer is plentiful, I made small categories to help you choose which restaurant is the one for you:

The "Top 5": The following restaurants are generally regarded as serving the best Dim Sum in Jakarta:

1) Ah Yat Abalone in Golden Boutique Hotel Angkasa (Tel: +62-21 6220 2388) and in Mid Plaza 2 (Tel: +62-21 570 7333) with non-halal available.

2) May Star (Halal) in Central Park Mall LG (Tel: +62-21 5698 5422), in Gandaria City GF (+62-21 2905 2922), in Hotel Le Grandeur Mangga Dua ( Tel: +62-21 612 7880), in Mall Pluit Emporium (Tel: +62-21 6667 6280). The ones in Pluit and Mangga Dua have non halal available.

3) Samudra Seafood Restaurant in BRI Tower, Jl. Sudirman (Tel: +62 21 571 3600) and in Living World (Alam Sutera)

4) Taipan in WTC Mangga Dua (Tel: +62-21 3001 8877). Non halal available. All you can eat for Rp108,000++.

5) Sun City in Mall Lindeteves, Jl. Hayam Wuruk (Tel:+62-21 6220 1900). Non halal available.

Chinese restaurants located in Jakarta's 5-star hotels: Usually more expensive, though not always tastier, but with better design and atmosphere. They are non-halal.

Table 8, Hotel Mulia Senayan (T: 021 574 7777)

Shang Palace in  Shangri-La ( Tel: +62-21 570 7440) with a very famous "All You Can Eat" (AYCE) lunch for Rp138,000 all taxes included.

Xin Hwa, Mandarin Oriental (Tel: +62 21 2993 8888) with AYCE at Rp128,000 all included.

Pearl, JW Marriott (Tel: +62-21 5798 8888)

Teratai, Hotel Borobudur (Tel: +62-21 3805555) with AYCE at Rp141,000 all included.

Lai Ching, Four Seasons Hotel (Tel: +62-21 252 3456) with AYCE at Rp118,000 all included.

Tien Chao in Gran Melià Kuningan (Tel: +62-21 5268080) - Currently under renovation.

Large Chinese restaurants chains:

Crystal Jade: Under different names, it can be found in Grand Indonesia, Pacific Place, Plaza Senayan. Halal.

Duck King, halal, and its non-halal branch Imperial Chef

Din Tai Fung (Halal)

From the Tung Lok group (behind Taipan and Sun City), you also have:

Ming Village in Senayan City (Tel: +62-21 7278 1627) (Halal)

Ming Seafood in Setiabudu Building I (Tel: +62-21 521 0505)

Ming in Kelapa Gading (Tel: +62-21 4585 0039)

Other restaurants with decent and affordable all-you-can-eat Dim Sum buffets:

Eastern: In Lippo Karawaci, Tangerang (Tel: +62-21 558 4288). Used to be in Permata Hijau, not great but very popular for its all-you-can-eat Dim Sum (Rp60,000 all included). Halal.

OenPao: In many different locations across Jakarta. All you can eat Rp60,000 all included. Halal.

Clover Palace: In Central Park Slipi (Tel: +62-21 5698 5318): All you can eat for 49,999++. Halal.

Sands Restaurant: In Mangga Dua Square (Tel: +62-21 6231 2888), all you can eat for Rp49,000++. Non-halal.

Golden Ming in Acacia Hotel on Jalan Kramat Raya (Tel: +62-21 390 3030): All you can eat for Rp76,000 all included. Non-halal.

The prices and conditions are given as indications only. You should call the restaurant first to make sure their offer is still valid. If possible, leave me a comment with the updated price. Thanks a lot! Idem with the mention halal or not, I didn't check for every restaurant.

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/shanghaidaddy/

The Best Indian Restaurants in Jakarta

noreply@blogger.com (Thib Jkt) — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 04:16:00 +0000

Indian restaurants are relatively easy to find in Jakarta, and their overall quality is decent. The most authentic and cheapest options are usually located where the Indian community lives (mainly in Sunter and Pasar Baru), while in the the Center and in the South, where expatriates live, you have some more expensive and stylish restaurants.

Here is my list of Jakarta's best Indian restaurants, by category:

- Indian restaurants with both excellent food and atmosphere (Fine Dining):
1) Kinara (Kemang Raya No. 78-B, Phone number: +62 21-719 2677)
2) Hazara (click to read my review on this blog)
3) Ganesha Ek Sanskriti (BRI II Building, Jl Jend Sudirman Kav 44-46., Phone number: +62-21 5719415 / 5713567)
4) Ganesha Ek Sanskriti (Kemang Square Lt 2, Jl Kemang Raya No 5., Phone number: +62-21 7196837)

- Indian restaurants with good food and average atmosphere
1) Queen's Tandoor (click to read my review on this blog)
2) Queen of India (Sunlake Hotel, Jalan Danau Permai Raya Blok C, Sunter, Phone number: +62-21 6583 1477): Same owner as Queen's Tandoor, same opinion.
3) Namaste Hindustan (click to read my review on this blog)
4) Komala's (Sarinah Building Jl. M.H. Thamrin No.11, Phone number +62-21 3903 533): 100% Vegetarian.
5) Royal Kitchen (Bellagio Boutique Mall, GF 16 Kawasan Mega Kuningan, Phone number: +62-21 3002 9975): Great brunch on Sundays for Rp69,000++.
6) Koh-e-noor (Pasar Festival GF, Jl. HR Rasuna Said Kav. C-22, Phone number: +62-21-527-6531): Moderately priced, serves Indian and Pakistani favourites
7) Man Aur Tan (Manhattan Hotel, Jalan Prof. Dr. Satrio, Phone number: +62-21 3004 0888): I didn't try it yet, and there hasn't been a lot of buzz about it so far.

- Cheap Indian restaurants with decent food:
1) Taj Mahal (click to read my review on this blog): Must-try, cheap, friendly and authentic.
2) Bombay Tandoori (click to read my review on this blog): Slow service, but cheap and decent.
3) Martabak Har (Jl. Hayam Wuruk No.19, Phone number: +62-21 3506 094): Cheap, but limited choice of food.

4) Restaurant Pakistan (Jl. Fatmawati 23, Phone number: +62-21 7504 037): Mainly Pakistani food, around Rp60,000 for a meal.
5) Rumah Makan Rasa Sayang (Jl. Paradise Barat Raya Blok K-31 Sunter, Phone number: +62-21 6450 367): I once went to Sunter's "Little India" just to eat in Rasa Sayang, but I wasn't able to find the restaurant. Since Sunter is quite far from where I live, I'll try again but not soon. Your comments are welcome.

- Restaurants serving a mix of continental and Indian food:
1) Satoo in Shangri-La Hotel (click to read my review on this blog)
2) Eastern Promise (click to read my review on this blog)
3) Frontpage (click to read my review on this blog)

I've called each places before posting this review, so on October 2011, all the Indian restaurants listed above were operating. If you hear about any changes, please let me know.

Top German & Dutch Restaurants in Jakarta

noreply@blogger.com (Thib Jkt) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 03:38:00 +0000

After ranking the best Italian, French and Arab restaurants in Jakarta, I have a much easier task listing German and Dutch food in Jakarta. Let me know if I forgot one, but the only ones I can think of are:

Paulaner Brauhaus (click to read my review)

Die Stube (click to read my review)

Imbiss Stube (Cilandak Town Square) - Same owner as Die Stube, Patrick Widjaja, born and raised in Germany.

Metro Sky Garden, owned by Andreas Stokowy, from Germany.

Ya Udah (click to read my review), owned by a Swiss from Zurich

The Tavern in Aryaduta Hotel

I've only tried Die Stube, Ya Udah and Paulaner. Among those three, Die Stube seemed like the best, followed by Paulaner (which is too expensive) and at last Ya Udah (which I recommend because it is affordable).

To complete this review, and even though the food is different, I'm also listing some restaurants serving Dutch food:

H.E.M.A. (various branches in Jakarta)

Dijan's Pannekoeken & Poffertjes, famous for its desserts, on Jl. Kemang Selatan, no. 102A, Kemang, Tel 021 7179 3538

Dutchman Bartele Santema's pubs often have a few Dutch specialties: Check Eastern Promise, De Burse, De Hooi, Cazbar.

Photo Credit: Die Stube/Imbiss Stube

Top 10 Arab & Middle Eastern Restaurants in Jakarta

noreply@blogger.com (Thib Jkt) — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Surprisingly for the capital of the largest Muslim country in the world, the number of Arab or Middle Eastern restaurants in Jakarta is quite low. I've counted about 25 of them, and I've tried 15. It may seems like a lot, but since Jakarta is so spread, you're not likely to have more than just a few near where you live.

The good thing is that within these, most of them are decent and affordable. In particular, I advise you to try one of the Yemeni restaurants which offer the best value-for-money and the most authenticity.

As of October 2011, here is my Top 10 for my favourite Arab or Middle Eastern restaurants in Jakarta (you can click on the link to read my personal review):

1) Maroush (Morrocan Restaurant)

2) Al Nafoura (Lebanese)

3) Anatolia (Turkish)

4) Samarra (Middle-east)

5) Al-Jazeerah (Yemeni)

6) Turkuaz (Turkish)

7) Sinbad (Syrian/Yemeni) - Review not posted yet, the restaurant is located Jl. K.S. Tubun Raya No. 2 in Slipi (Tel: +62-21 530 8366)

8) Beirut Lebanon (Lebanese)

9) Hadramout (Yemeni)

10) Diritna (Lebanese)

You may see more reviews of Arab restaurants in Jakarta on this blog by clicking on the label "Middle East".

As usual, I will update this list as I discover new restaurants. You're welcome to comment as well. Also in case you are looking for Arab bars and clubs, there are two very popular places (especially among Saudis): Tiga Kuda in Menteng, and De Leila on Gatot Subroto.

My Favourite French Restaurants in Jakarta

noreply@blogger.com (Thib Jkt) — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 12:04:00 +0000

The overall quality of French restaurants in Jakarta has improved over the past few years, particularly with the openings of Lyon, Amuz and Orient8.

Still, I think the options are limited, and most of the best venues are too expensive: Take the first six restaurants of my list, they will all cost you around Rp1 million for a 3-course meal.

Some more affordable options exist, for instance Java Bleu, Le Bistro or Escargot. In those restaurants, the cuisine and the setting remain simple, but it is authentic and you eat well. A full meal in those should cost you less than Rp450,000.

At last, you have a third category of French restaurants, in which you have great design and atmosphere, but average food. Among those, Bistro Baron, Loewy or SHY are the most happening. A full meal will cost you almost the same as in fine dining restaurants.

So far, if I had to advise someone on where to find the best French food in Jakarta, I would give them the following places, in this order (you can click on each venue to read a full review from this blog):

1) Riva

2) Lyon

3) Cassis

4) Amuz

5) Orient8

6) Sriwijaya

7) Emilie

8) Java Bleu

9) Le Bistro

10) Loewy

11) Escargot

12) SHY

13) Epilogue

14) Coquelicot

15) Boka-Buka

16) Bistro Baron

17) Rive Gauche

I will update this list of the best French restaurants in Jakarta regularly. If you think I'm missing one, please send me a mail or comment.

24-Hour Restaurants in Jakarta

noreply@blogger.com (Thib Jkt) — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 10:38:00 +0000

In this article, I will give a short description of restaurants opened non-stop 24 hours in Jakarta. I will update it regularly with new venues I discover.

It is well-known that Jakarta never sleeps, and this is particularly true in nightlife areas such as Sarinah, Senayan, Kuningan, Hayam Wuruk, Lokasari, or Kemang. If you are clubbing there and feel hungry, you may find the following places open 24h, 7 days a week (click on the link to see the full blog review).

In Kemang: Dim Sum Festival is THE meeting point for everyone once the clubs in the area close. They serve Chinese and Indonesian food at affordable prices, but no alcohol. People in Dim Sum Festival are usually quite young, in their twenties.

Another famous 24-hour restaurant in South Jakarta is Aneka Bubur, near Pondok Indah, on Jalan Radio Dalam Ujung no123 (Phone: +62-21 720 0175). I did not try it yet, but I know it is popular for its "Bubur Ayam". They also have some Pakistani dishes.

Thanks to a comment, we also know that near Pasar Festival in Kuningan, we have Al-Tahrir restaurant and Warung Tekko.

In Central Jakarta, you have Garuda restaurant which stays opened all night, about 200 meters from Sarinah Mall. The food is Indonesian and quite basic, but inexpensive. In the same jalan Sabang, you have other restaurants which do not close on weekends, in particular Ampera and Warung Desa.

North Jakarta is the best place to find 24-hour restaurant in Jakarta: There are many warungs and street food stalls that will not close along Gadjah Mada and Hayam Wuruk streets, but two places are the best in my opinion:

Kamseng, near Jalan Mangga Besar is a very famous restaurant, both for its bubur (rice porridge) and for its clients (many prostitutes from nearby joints). A lot of people love the food there, but for me, it is fine only after clubbing. Prices are low: Less than Rp50,000 for a meal.

Café Batavia also stays open non-stop, and it is without any doubts the most classy venue of this list. It is located in the Old Town of Jakarta, Kota, and if you've never visited it, you should. The prices are on the high side, at least Rp100,000 for a meal.

Bubur Kwang Tung is harder to find but it is worth it according to many reviewers. They are located on Jalan Pecenongan, not far from Red Top Hotel.

In general, fast food chains like McDonald's, KFC or Burger King are also open 24 hours. McD and BK in Sarinah are usually busy anytime of the night, and the same applies with those in Hayam Wuruk. You don't even have to move actually since they have an efficient and cheap home-delivery service. For that, you can call:

McDonald's: 14045 or online here
Burger King: 500025
KFC: 14022

International chains of convenience stores often have some hot snacks and drinks. Not all of them are hang-out spot, but I know that the 7eleven in Jalan Wahid Hasyim (near Jalan Jaksa) and the Circle K near the BCA tower (on Jalan Thamrin) are popular with late-night clients.

If you know of more places, please let me know and I will add them to this list.

Lac Mei Che Huo Kuo (Chinese Restaurant)

noreply@blogger.com (Thib Jkt) — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 13:58:00 +0000

It may seem like an obvious thing to say, but if you are looking for the best Chinese food in Jakarta, you should go to its Chinatown, in Glodok.

I had already tried a few weeks ago Hunan Kitchen, and I had promised myself to come back to try some of the other popular Chinese restaurants in that area. Lac Mei Che Huo Kuo is also specializing in Sichuan cuisine, but with a focus on seafood. It was full when I entered, and apparently the customers are mostly Indo-Chinese, from the upper-class.

The main room is pretty basic, just some boring tables and decoration. The only thing you will notice is the aquarium, with live fishes, turtles and some weird, huge oysters I had never seen before.

Unfortunately, I didn't write down the names of the dishes we ordered, and our bill was written in Chinese so I cannot tell you precisely what we ate. There was some sea snails, frog legs, 2 of the big oysters, grilled duck and fried rice. At least I have the pictures:

Grilled duck

Frog legs

Huge, weird oysters

Attack of the sea snails

The total was Rp258k and there was enough to eat for 3 people, including soft drinks. Compared to Hunan Kitchen, the food seemed a little less satisfactory. The frog legs, the duck and the oyster were excellent, but the rice average. Concerning the sea snails, the dish was probably too big. After eating 50 of them, there were still so many, and it became disgusting...

Overall: I still highly recommend Lac Mei Che because they serve authentic, affordable Chinese cuisine. The service was very friendly also: Before ordering, we had the waiter for at least 10 minutes to explain us what the dishes were and he was quite fun to talk to.

Opening Hours:

Daily, from 11am to 4.30am (yes, it's opened until 4h30 in the morning)

Lac Mei Chei Huo Kuo

Jalan Mangga Besar 1 No. 63K

Phone number: +62-21 7078 3892

Mobile: +62 (0) 813 106 35833 or +62 (0) 819 326 12777

Blok M (Jalan Falatehan)

noreply@blogger.com (Thib Jkt) — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 07:41:00 +0000

My previous visit to Jalan Falatehan was 3 years ago, during a memorable pub crawl, the Blok-M-thon. Last week (June 2011) was more healthy, but I still managed to visit each venues (except Highway to Elle). My objective was to see if there was any update that could be made to this blog.

For those unaware of the name, Jalan Falatehan is one of the two main red-light areas in South Jakarta (the other one being "Little Tokyo"). It is not very long, about 200 meters, and you'll find less than 10 bars, usually owned by foreigners.

Here is a quick list, by order of appearance:

Sportsmans: A sports bar, no girls, only for chatting, drinking beer, and watching sports

Everest: An easy-going bar, with a few girls and few clients. Mostly regular customers

D's place: The most trashy place in Blok M, with usually a lot of girls, striptease and gogo dancers, just like in Pattaya

My Bar: A bar packed with girls of all ages and shapes, at least 50 of them, and less than 10 male customers, all expats (double those figures during the weekend).

Maxi Bar: Empty but good food, they have about 6 waitresses/hostesses, dressed to kill. It stands where the now defunct One Tree Bar used to be.

Oscar's Pub: Live music, mostly Indonesian crowd, they have some house music now but it was empty at the time of my visit. For regulars only.

Guitar String: Not bad, there was a good live band and the waitresses were extra-friendly. A dozen girls there and Indonesian customers only.

Top Gun: The best bar in the street, with a lot of people, a party atmosphere and live music. Your best choice if you are a newcomer to Blok M.

In three years, the only changes I noticed were:

Oscar and D's Place were renovated
One Tree bar closed down and was replaced by Maxi
M Bar closed
Highway to Elle opened
The girls are three years older

Generally speaking, it isn't much different: You have that same old disturbing mix of prostitutes, beggars, children, street sellers, crooked taxis and security guards waiting for you outside every bars to ask something from you. The street is still dirty, and so are most of the bars.

The only big advice you need to hear is to not take a taxi directly right on Jalan Falatehan, they cannot be trusted. Instead, walk 50 meters until you reach the main road, then take a Blue Bird or an Express taxi.

I wished I had more to talk about, I'll be back in three years for a new review. For any questions you may have, please leave a comment.

Guitar String (G-String) - CLOSED

noreply@blogger.com (Thib Jkt) — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 07:39:00 +0000

Update October 2011: CLOSED

Guitar String (or G-String) is a girlie/live music bar on Jalan Falatehan (Blok M). I find it one of the nicest joints on the street, even though it isn't so crowded. They have live music everyday, with a mix of Top 40, classic rock and Indonesian pop songs. If the customers feel like it, they can make a song request and take the mic. Cheap (Rp30,000++ for draught beer), laid-back, and the waitresses are really friendly. I have a video of the live band on Guitar String on Youtube:

They also have a dozens girls waiting for customers. Few expats.

Guitar String Bar & Resto
Jalan Palatehan I No. 37
Blok M - Jakarta Selatan
Phone number: +62-21 727 97078 / 7131 / 7237
Fax: +62-21 7220 347

Facebook: G-String Bar Jakarta

Read more about Blok M nightlife on my blog review: Jalan Falatehan.

Seribu Rasa (Indonesian Food)

noreply@blogger.com (Thib Jkt) — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 10:18:00 +0000

Seribu Rasa is one of the most famous Indonesian/Malay restaurants in Jakarta. Located near the Plaza Indonesia roundabout, it is popular with locals and expats, and it is a good venue to experience some of the food specialties from the different islands of Indonesia.

I didn't find that the atmosphere inside was exceptional, except if you choose one of the private dining rooms around the fountain. The main room was actually completely full and noisy when we arrived, and I thought it lacked coziness. Also, we had to wait a few minutes before sitting so do make a reservation if you can (Phone number: +62-21 392 8892).

They have a great menu with a picture for each one of their dishes, making the picking easy. The prices are high for Indonesian food, but by international standards it is very affordable. You should not pay more that Rp130k (11 euros) per person for a large meal with drink.

I had the following:

Hokkien Spring Rolls (Rp30k)

Malay Kerabu Mangga (Rp29k)

Lamb Curry Bengalis (Rp82k)

Semilir Brastagi (Rp31k)

Overall: Both the appetizers were great, but I found that the lamb curry was too mild. It isn't the best Indonesian food I've had, but it is rare to have such a variety of dishes in one restaurant. This is the main reason why I recommend you to visit Seribu Rasa, and why I think it is OK to pay a premium.

Also, I usually don't talk about drinks, but the Semilir Brastagi is a must-try. It comes from Sumatra, and it is made with Strawberry, Mint leaf, Cranberry juice and Monin grenadine.

Opening Hours:

Every day, from 11am to 3pm and from 6pm to 10pm

Seribu Rasa Restaurant

Jl. H Agus Salim 128, Jakarta, Indonesia

Phone number: +62-21 392 8892

Website: http://www.seriburasa.com

Facebook: Seribu Rasa

Riva (Park Lane Hotel)

noreply@blogger.com (Thib Jkt) — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 08:54:00 +0000

Opened in 1998 in the Park Lane Hotel, Riva is one of the best French restaurants in Jakarta. It is a fine dining venue with mostly classic dishes: Steak au poivre, Foie gras, Salmon, Boeuf Bourguignon, etc.. Nothing experimental, you should not be too surprised by the food you will eat.

The restaurant looks old-fashioned, but it feels charming and unpretentious. I really enjoyed the open kitchen, which allows you to spy on the chef while he cooks. It is always impressive to see for yourself all the efforts that come with your meal.

The menu is not very long, and it changes regularly. I saw that they have it on their website here, but it isn't updated. You can still have a look to get a general idea about their food though.

I chose as an appetizer the Baby Organic Spinach Salad (with Parmesan, Lemon extra virgin oil dressing, and Truffle boursin crostini) and for my main course the Steak au Poivre (Seared wagyu beef rump rolled in crush white pepper, pomme dauphine, spinach, flambé with cognac).

Baby Spinach Salad

Wagyu beef steak with Pepper

Everything was delicious, way above any standard meal you could eat in a casual restaurant. The dishes were rich with distinctive flavors, melting just perfectly in your mouth. Consequently, such satisfaction has a cost and it isn't surprising that Riva is extremely expensive. An average appetizer is Rp300k, and an average main course Rp500k. A full meal with drinks will easily cost you more than a million rupiah... You can avoid that bloodbath by checking for promotions on Riva's twitter or facebook. I actually got myself an excellent deal: Rp208,000++ for a two-course set lunch menu (it will last all summer 2011).

Overall: Highly recommended, but I must say I would not have visited if I had to pay the full fare. If you can afford it, you should not hesitate. For the others, Lyon (click here for my blog review) is also an excellent venue, but with lower prices.

Opening Hours:
For lunch: Only from Monday to Friday - 11.30am to 2.30pm
For Dinner: From Monday to Saturday from 6pm to 11pm
Closed on public holidays

RIVA French Restaurant Jakarta
The Park Lane Hotel
Jalan Casablanca Kav.18

Jakarta 12870, Indonesia

Phone number: +62-21 828 2000 

Fax: +62-21 828 2222

Email: riva@parklanejakarta.com

Website: www.rivafrenchrestaurant.com

Read about my favourite French restaurants in Jakarta on this blog: Jakarta Restaurants (French)

Fashion Pasta (Jakarta)

noreply@blogger.com (Thib Jkt) — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 10:01:00 +0000

Fashion Pasta is a famous Italian restaurant in Bandung, and they opened their first franchise restaurant in Jakarta in the middle of 2011. The owner is Italian, but the management and the cook for the Jakarta branch are Indonesian.

Located in Citywalk Sudirman, it is easily one of the best restaurant in this mall, and I predict it will expand soon to other venues.

The menu, the quality of the food and the prices are very similar to that of Trattoria or PEPeNERO. The main difference I found is that the interior design of Fashion Pasta is cozier and more modern. In that sense, it looks like Sopra, in Pacific Place (much less expensive though).

We tried the following dishes:

Brushetta Pomodoro e Basilico (Rp28k++)

Pizza ai Funghi (Rp45k++)

Minestrone soup (Rp35k++)

Spaghetti Aglio, Olio e Tonno (Rp46k++)

The food was good considering the price. I would have liked my pizza to be a little more crusty, but it was fresh, and much better than in other restaurants in Jakarta. I had only one bite of the pasta, which seemed a bit dry, but tasted fine. Nothing to complain about concerning the minestrone and the bruschetta.

Overall: Recommended. Fashion Pasta is not a fine dining restaurant, but they serve very decent food at a fair price. They use fresh (organic when possible) ingredients in all their preparation and their dough is home-made, I only wish more venues in Jakarta could adopt the same principles.

Opening Hours:
Everyday from 10am to 10pm (midnight on weekends). It is quite small so make a reservation if you come with a large group during peak hours.

Fashion Pasta
City Walk 1st floor unit 5.
Jl. KH Mas Mansyur No. 121
Tanah Abang
Central Jakarta 10220

Phone number: +62-21 2555 8972 or +62-21 2555 8973

Do you like Italian food? Check my article Italian Restaurants in Jakarta on this blog.

Hunan Kitchen (Chinese food)

noreply@blogger.com (Thib Jkt) — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 08:31:00 +0000

Hunan Kitchen is one of the best value-for-money Chinese restaurants I found so far in Jakarta. It specializes in Sichuan cuisine, best known for its use of spices, herbs and plants.

Located in Glodok, Jakarta's Chinatown, in a gloomy street full of massage parlours, bars and karaokes, it is also walking distance from Jayakarta Hotel and Hotel Mercure Kota. It is quite authentic I thought. Actually, there are a few other Chinese restaurants in the area, and after my positive experience in Hunan Kitchen, I intend to come back and try some of them.

Hunan Kitchen looks new from the outside, and it seems quite popular with the Indo-Chinese community. Inside, there isn't anything fancy, but it is clean. You also have an army of waiters, efficient and friendly.

The menu contains a great variety of dishes, and you would have to be very picky if you don't find something you like. Apart from the usual dishes made of chicken, beef, pork, fish or duck, you also have turtles, jellyfish, frogs, etc... We decided to try a few things:

Angsio Bebek Xiang Xi (Rp88k): A full duck red-cooked in a pot with spices

Ubur-Ubur Saus Pedas (Rp29k): Jellyfish in spicy sauce

Tumis Kodok Kuali (Rp49k): Stir-fried frog legs

Sayur Lokal Baby Kailan (Rp27k): Baby Chinese brocoli (Kai-lan) pan-fried

We were all extremely satisfied with our food, which is very rare. I am normally not a fan of spicy dishes, and it was the first time I tried jellyfish or frog legs, but the cooking was so great that we finished everything up in no time. This restaurant is a top address in Jakarta.

Overall: Hunan Kitchen serves authentic Chinese food at a very moderate price (less than Rp100k for a meal including drinks). It is recommended for anyone interested in the food more than the atmosphere. For clubbers, it stays open until late (4am), so you can visit it just before you go to home.

Opening Hours:
Everyday from 11am to 4am

Hunan Kitchen
Jalan Mangga Besar 1 St. No. 61 (crossing with Jalan Labu)
Mangga Besar Village, Taman Sari District, Jakarta

Phone number: +62-21 6252666

TeSate (Jakarta)

noreply@blogger.com (Thib Jkt) — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 09:56:00 +0000

TeSate is an Indonesian cuisine restaurant located in the malls Plaza Senayan and Pacific Place. It is usually very crowded, even though it is quite expensive in my opinion.

I visited the TeSate Pacific Place, where I ordered the Jimbaran Grilled Fish (Rp180k for 400 grams!). The food looked delicious and the recipe seemed creative, but I found it lacked freshness (see the lemon on the picture for instance). For this particular dish, I recommend you to try Baruna Seafood restaurant in Menteng instead.

In spite of that, I recommend TeSate to Indonesian food lovers who are looking for dishes more elaborate than those they can find in warungs or street food stalls. Their menu features an interesting variety of dishes and it is indeed a culinary journey through Indonesia. Expect to pay around Rp200k per person for a full meal + drinks.

Latest news about TeSate Indonesia on Facebook: Click here.

Opening Hours:

Every day from 10am to 11.30pm (2am on weekends)

TeSate Senayan
Plaza Senayan, 4th Fl Bl CP Unit 414
Jl. Asia Afrika No. 8, Jakarta
Phone: (021) 572-5521
Fax: (021) 572-5521

TeSaTe Pacific Place
Mall Pacific Place level 5 unit 62-63
Jl. Jend. Sudirman Kav. 52 - 53, 12190, Indonesia
Phone number: +62-21 579-73653

Jalan Jaksa Nightlife

noreply@blogger.com (Thib Jkt) — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 11:11:00 +0000

This review will give you tips about the recommended nightlife around Jalan Jaksa, the backpacker street of Jakarta. Click on the names of the venues to see the full review.

For those staying in Jalan Jaksa, there is a fair number of bars available walking distance. None of them are high-class, but some can be fun and laid-back, perfect for meeting people or having a beer.

There are three places that are usually the most lively, with a healthy mixed crowd of locals, expats and tourists: Cocktail and Friends, Equal Park, and Melly's Garden (a bit further on Jalan Wahid Hasyim). They are quite similar, with an open-air space (bring mosquito repellent!), cheap beer (around Rp25K for large bintang) and basic food (western snacks and street food dishes). Equal Park is more of a live music venue, with reggae or rock bands every night. If you are looking for a bar with no frills to spend the night, these are the best spots.

Memorie's Café is busy also, but there are a few working girls among the clients, making the atmosphere more trashy. It has live music too and quite many tourists so it is easy to meet someone there if you are alone.

If you need AC, Absolute Café is another favourite of Jalan Jaksa nightlife, but most of its customers are regulars: English teachers, journalists, etc.. They have a pool table with TV screens showing English Premier League the more often.

Ali's bar is one of the oldest bar in the street, and it is a meeting point for the African community in Jakarta. Pappa Cafe is getting old, and I wouldn't be surprised if it closed soon. Late at night, you'll always find a few people there though.

A few venues are very quiet: Obama's Fan Club bar, with AC and big screen TV, and Joker, a bar with working girls, Indonesian live music and older clients.

There are a few surprising venues near Jalan Jaksa, particularly on Jalan Wahid Hasyim. The most interesting is the Dyna Pub, with a funny interior design. It has air-con and the owner is very friendly but it's not a happening place. On the same street, you have some prostitute/girlie bars, such as Baku Pada, Embassy 21st or Baby Dolls Café which have live Indonesian pop songs from the 70s and 80s. It's an experience, but you'll probably die of boredom after 10 minutes.

For eating out, all the cheap venues in Jalan Jaksa offer value for money but average quality. If you are ready to spend a few extra rupiah, you could try those restaurants, still walking distance: Tiga Nyonya (for traditional Indo-Chinese cuisine), Abuba Steak (best-value steaks in Jakarta), Beirut Lebanon (Lebanese food), Samarra (awesome setting but average middle eastern food), Ya-Udah Bistro (German food, but the quality decreased recently) or Garuda (open 24h).

You can find more information about Jakarta on these blog posts: Preparing a Weekend in Jakarta and Jakarta Nightlife Guide.

Pesto (Italian Restaurant)

noreply@blogger.com (Thib Jkt) — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 08:39:00 +0000

Pesto is a stylish Italian restaurant specializing in pastas and pizzas. Its vintage, industrial design is quite similar to other venues in Jakarta such as Loewy, Potato Head or Immigrant. If you enjoyed the theme of those places, you should be delighted in Pesto.

I visited the restaurant in the middle of the afternoon, at a quiet time, but there were a few customers still. I imagine it is popular, even though its location is not so busy for Jakarta. At night, they organize special events occasionaly, you can check their twitter, Pesto, for more information.

I was not really hungry that day so I only had a Margherita pizza (Rp52k++). It is a simple dish, yet ideal for comparison since I've tried it in many Italian restaurants. I must say that the pizza in Pesto tasted below average: The one in Trattoria, PEPeNERO or Sopra is better and cheaper for instance. It wasn't too bad, but the crust was not crispy enough, and there was too much cheese (which didn't taste like good mozzarella).

I cannot comment on the rest of the food menu, but from what I've experienced, Pesto is great for the atmosphere, and average when it comes to taste. If you've tried another food item there, please share your experience on this blog by leaving a comment.

Overall: I liked Pesto, even though my pizza was unexceptional. I think the design and atmosphere is worth making the trip, especially if you get a window table, which have a great view on Jalan Thamrin.

Opening Hours:

Everyday, from 11am to 10.30pm (12pm on weekends)

Pesto Italian Restaurant

ANZ Square, UG Floor

The Podium, Thamrin Nine

Jl. Thamrin No. 10

Central Jakarta

Phone Number: +62-21 299 37320

Website: Pesto Autentico Jakarta

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pesto.autentico

South Beauty (Chinese Restaurant)

noreply@blogger.com (Thib Jkt) — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 10:27:00 +0000

South Beauty is a chain of Chinese restaurants, very popular in China for their Sichuan food. They opened their first international branch in Jakarta at the beginning of 2011 and positioned it as an upmarket venue.

I visited South Beauty at lunch time, but i think it is the kind of restaurants you should go to during the evening as the atmosphere is cosy and dim-lighted. As you can see on the pictures, the interior is quite spectacular, with lights and furniture selected to impressed the visitors.

The menu is very long, and interesting to read as many of the dishes are not usually seen in restaurants (at least the ones i go to): Sea cucumber, shark's fin, abalone, etc... But choosing was difficult since everything was extremely expensive: Only the accompanying dishes cost less than Rp100,000... I tried a few things: The spicy and sour black fungus (Rp35k++), the braised e-fu noodles with mushroom in abalone sauce (Rp38k++) and the stewed beef with pickled bamboo sauce (Rp108k++).

Stewed Beef with Pickled Bamboo Sauce (Rp108k++)

My first surprise was that it was very spicy! It was difficult to finish the mushrooms for that reason, even though the taste was perfect. I enjoyed the rest, but I've had better Chinese food before at much lower prices.

Overall: South Beauty serves excellent food in a stylish venue. I recommend you to try it once at least, but you must be ready to spend a lot of money. I paid Rp250k for my meal and I didn't even try any of their specialties. If you want to do South Beauty the right way, expect to pay at least Rp400k for a full meal.

Opening Hours:
Everyday, from 11.30am to 3pm and from 6pm to 10.30pm

South Beauty Restaurant Jakarta
Thamrin Nine-Podium, Upper Ground unit E, F
Jl. M.H. Thamrin 10
Central Jakarta
Phone number: +62-21 29937227

Twitter: http://twitter.com/SouthbeautyJKT
Website (global): South Beauty Chinese Resto Group

PEPeNERO (Jakarta and Bali)

noreply@blogger.com (Thib Jkt) — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 08:18:00 +0000

PEPeNERO is a chain of Italian restaurants in Bali and Jakarta. They are almost copies of the Trattoria restaurants, so you can read my review about it also.

I visited the PEPeNERO in Menara Karya, during lunchtime, and it was packed with both locals and expats. If you come with a group of people, I think you should always book in advance.

The menu is large, written in Italian and English. Prices for a starter is around Rp50,000++, for main dish around Rp80,000++, and for a pizza around Rp50,000++.

I went for one of their 40 pizzas, all with thin crust. It tasted great for the price, and so far I haven't found better value pizza in Jakarta (ex-aequo with Trattoria). The service is very fast, professional and friendly.

Overall: Recommended if you are looking for good-value European food in Jakarta. PEPeNERO is not a fine-dining restaurant, but it is adequate for dates, business lunches, celebration, etc.. There is a non smoking area as well.

PEPeNERO Pondok Indah
Plaza Pondok Indah 2, Blok BA 25 - 26
Jl. Metro Pondok Indah (near Citibank), Jakarta
Phone number: +62-21 750 0959

PEPeNERO Sudirman
The Energy Building, Mezzanine Level
Jl. Jend Sudirman Lot 11A, Kawasan SCBD, Jakarta
Phone number: +62-21 5296 4006

PEPeNERO Rasuna Said
Menara Karya, Ground Floor
Jl. H. R. Rasuna Said, Block X-5 Kav.1-2, Jakarta
Phone number: +62-21 5794 4727

Website: http://pepenerobali.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pepenerobali

Twitter: http://twitter.com/pepenerobali

Finding Your Best Spa & Massage in Jakarta

noreply@blogger.com (Thib Jkt) — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 12:38:00 +0000

Half of the people emailing me are usually just dropping the same sentence: "Hey, love your blog, where can I find the best spa/best massage parlour near my hotel?"

As I'm getting tired of replying to the same question almost every day, I'm writing this blog post hoping that it will answer it once and for all. I'll update the list regularly, in particular with the comments you will be kind enough to leave. You can click on each venue, it will redirect you on this blog if there is already a review, or on an external website with more detailed information.

Note: Next each venue, I put a sign: $ (cheap), $$ (moderate), $$$ (expensive).

First part: If you are looking for a clean, family massage, I advise you to go to Bersih Sehat ($) first. They are the best value-for-money massage parlours in Jakarta: Clean and basic but very affordable. You will find them in the following locations:
- Near Sarinah or Jalan Jaksa: On Jalan Wahid Hasyim, in front of Ibis Hotel
- Near Menteng, Cikini or Jalan Rasuna Said: On Jalan Diponegoro
- Near Sudirman, Plaza Indonesia, Grand Indonesia, Midplaza: In Sahid Jaya Hotel
- Near Mall of Indonesia, Sunter, Kelapa Gading: On Jalan Bukit Gading Raya
- Near Pondok Indah: In Pondok Indah Plaza 2
- Near the Airport (20 minutes) or near Taman Anggrek: On Jalan Puri Kencana

If you are looking for a more upmarket venue, the best thing to do is to go to the nearest 4 or 5-star hotel. From what I heard, the best ones are in Four Seasons Hotel ($$$), in Ritz-Carlton ($$$), in Dharmawangsa Hotel ($$$), in Nikko Hotel ($$$), in Hyatt ($$$), in Shangri-La ($$$) and in Marriott ($$$).

There are also a plenty of other independent salons, spas and massage parlours, but many are only for women:

Near Sudirman/Setiabudi/Rasuna Said: Lumiere spa ($$), Samsara Spa ($$), Sanctum Spa ($$), Gaya Spa ($$$), Harnn and Thann ($$$), Zen Living Boutique Spa ($$)
Near Sarinah: Taman Sari Royal Heritage ($$$), Az-Zuhra ($$, women only)
Near Senayan: Yasuragi ($, call +62-21 5794 0884), Harnn and Thann Sanctuary ($$$)
Near Tebet: La Baiza Beauty Centre ($, +62-21 829 0294), Lavender Spa ($)

Near Kemang: Thann Sanctuary ($$$), Kupu Kupu Spa ($$$), Javana spa ($$), Nujaniv ($$), Lellidewi ($$, women only)

Near Mega Kuningan: JaSpa ($, in Ambassador Mall: +62-21 576 0480), Poise spa ($$, in Bellagio, +62-21 3001 9921)

Near Cipete: Puri Santi ($$$), Hareem Spa ($$), Jamu Traditional Spa ($$$), Bale Bale ($$, women only), Itje Her ($, women only)
In Pondok Indah: Mitra Sehat ($), Puri Santi ($$$)

Near Dharmawangsa: Zaiken ($), Life Tree Spa ($$), Sari Mustika ($$)
Near Gandaria: Cozy Spa ($$), Bale Bale ($$, women only)

Near Kebaryoran Baru: Mitra Sehat ($), Reggia Spa ($$), House of Relax"Hore" ($$), Q Day spa ($$), Gaya Spa ($$$), Elements ($$, women only), Zen Family Reflexology ($$), Svana ($$)
Near Pluit: Roseberry Spa ($), Yu Yuan Tang ($)
Near Permata Hijau: Laxo ($$)
Near Kelapa Gading: Clique Spa ($$, +62-21 458 55327), Yu Yuan Tang ($)
Near Harmoni/Hayam Wuruk: Sien Cuk Thang ($)
Near Mangga Dua: Lotus ($)

At last, if you are a girl, check the spas of the Martha Tilaar group, among which Dewi Sri Spa ($$). Usually located in Central and South Jakarta, they provide excellent service but most of them do not accept men.

Second part: If you are looking for a massage parlour for men only, I advise you to go to Delta Spa ($$) first. As with Bersih Sehat, they can be found a bit everywhere (Harmoni, Gatot Subroto, Wijaya, Kelapa Gading, Kebon Jeruk, etc... check my review for all the locations and phone numbers).

My Place ($$) is also a popular chain, with branches all over Jakarta (Kelapa Gading, Senayan, Kebayoran Baru, Gunung Sahari/Pasar Baru, Bekasi, Tangerang/Serpong, Kebon Jeruk).

There are tons of other independent venues. Some are mild (plus plus massage), some are much hotter (Thai massage, Body Massage, Nuru Massage, Soapy massage, etc...). Click on the review first to learn more about each one:
In Mangga Dua: Forte Spa ($), Comfort Spa ($$), M-star ($$), Puri Sehat ($), Sands ($$)
In Glodok: Pegasus Spa ($), Golden Crown ($$), Sun City ($$$)

In Lokasari: Oukup ($), Olimpic Hotel ($), Oasis Spa ($), Cherry ($)
Near Mangga Besar: Orchardz ($$), Laluna ($), Sparks ($$)

On Jalan Gadjah Mada: V2 ($$$), Malioboro ($$$)
On Jalan Hayam Wuruk: Stadium ($$), Berlian Panti Pijat ($$), Kartika Panti Pijat ($$), Illigals ($$$)
Near Pasar Baru: Classic ($$), Golden Boutique Hotel Pecenongan ($$), Emporium ($$$)

Near Rasuna Said/Sudirman/Mega Kuningan: Mayzo ($), Fortune ($$$)
Near Kemang/Dharmawangsa/Fatmawati/Blok M/Melawai: Golden Boutique Hotel Melawai ($$), Fortune ($$$), and many more in Little Tokyo.
Near Pondok Indah: Rizz ($$)

In Kelapa Gading: Sumo ($$) King Cross ($$), Second Home ($$), Comfort Spa ($$), MTR2 ($$)
In Ancol: Alexis Hotel
In Pluit: Golden Hands spa ($$)
Near Roxy: Tropical Spa ($), Imperial ($)
Near Jalan Pangeran Jayakarta (PangJay or Pen-J or Panjay): MTR ($), Kimochi ($), Sari Ayu ($), DV Shiatsu ($), Royal Bar and Massage ($)
Closest from Jakarta airport: Blue Print ($$), FM1 ($)

As you can see, most of these men massage parlours are in North or West Jakarta, plus a few near Dharmawangsa square. If you live in the South or Central Jakarta, your options will be limited: You should go to the places near Jalan Melawai/Dharmawangsa OR Fortune OR Delta. If you decide to go North, the closest ones from Jalan Sudirman are V2, Malioboro, Emporium and Classic

To finish, there might be some of you interested in gay massages, with a male therapist. I don't know many venues, but there are already two mentioned on this blog: 9M (near Plaza Indonesia/Tanah Abang) and Turkish Bath (Kemang).

Feel free to comment if you find some mistakes in this review. Thanks!

Imperium Club Karaoke (Ex-Kampus)

noreply@blogger.com (Thib Jkt) — Fri, 27 May 2011 17:10:00 +0000

Imperium Club is the new name of Kampus club. The management and the name changed, but so far inside it is the same.

For now, the place doesn't need a new review so you can read the old here: Review Kampus Club Jakarta. If I feel there are some important changes in the club, I will write about it.

Our temporary recommendation (based on Kampus):

Opening hours: Everyday, from 1PM to 6AM

Imperium Club & Karaoke Jakarta
Menara Imperium on floors 35, 36, 37
Jl. H.R. Rasuna Said Kav.1
Jakarta Selatan 12980, Indonesia

Phone number: +62-21 837 86015
Email: imperiumjakarta@ymail.com

Facebook: Imperium Club
Blackberry Pin : 22852C39
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/imperiumjakarta

Ali Baba Steak & Iga Bakar

noreply@blogger.com (Thib Jkt) — Fri, 20 May 2011 11:52:00 +0000

Self-proclaimed "the best value steak in Jakarta", Ali Baba is indeed a cheap, but clean restaurant. At the time of my visit, the prices were Rp38,000 for a New-Zealand tenderloin, and Rp75,000 for Australian tenderloin. It should be noted that the NZ steak tasted pretty much the same as a local one. If you want to eat something decent for western standards, you have to choose the Australian beef.

Ali Baba is all new, with some vintage decoration. It doesn't look high class, but it is far better than competitor Abuba Steak in terms of design. Regarding taste, if you choose the imported meat, I think it also tastes similar. But for those who know it, I would rate Suis Butcher in Bandung a bit higher.

Overall: Recommended for lunch or any informal meal, especially if you live/work near Sarinah Mall.

Opening Hours: Every day from 10am to midnight.

Contact details:

Ali Baba Steak & Iga Bakar (Kelapa Gading)

La Piazza, Blok B, Jl. Raya Boulevard Kelapa Gading, Jakarta
Phone number: +62-21 45864950

Ali Baba Steak & Iga Bakar (Menteng)
Jl. KH. Wahid Hasyim No. 112, Jakarta
Phone number: +62-21 3143501/3143469

Note: I tried the one in Menteng

Tree House (Kemang)

noreply@blogger.com (Thib Jkt) — Thu, 19 May 2011 15:30:00 +0000

Tree House café is an "alternative" hang-out venue in Kemang. It is the kind of bar you are usually more likely to find in Europe than in Indonesia. As such, it isn't surprising that the two young owners, Anton Massoni and Francois Heirbaut, are respectively mixed Indonesian-Italian and mixed Indonesian-Belgian.

Tree House is small and deliberately messy, but it probably helps the guests feel more comfortable. On the walls, you have paintings from local artists and it is expected that new exhibitions will take place regularly. There isn't a fixed live music schedule yet, so be sure to check their facebook/twitter for updates.

It is still new but I predict it will become a very popular spot. Tree House is trendy and it is in the mood of our times: eco-friendly, artsy and original. It is similar with 365, one of the best bars in Kemang.

Food and drink: The menu features Italian dishes (pasta) and snacks, as well as a selection of cocktails.

Opening hours: Open everyday (except on Monday): From 4pm to midnight (3am on weekends).

Tree House Jakarta

Jl. Kemang 1 No. 72, Kemang, South Jakarta

Phone number: +62-21 7179 1168

Email: info@treehousekemang.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/treehousekemang
Facebook: Tree House Kemang
Website (with the menu): http://www.treehousekemang.com

Photo credit: Nick Easton