COVID-19 is (hopefully) behind us and Jakarta nightlife is as vibrant as ever. Dozens of exciting new clubs and bars have opened this year, including H SCBD, the largest nightclub in Asia.

I wrote this article to give you a concise overview of Jakarta nightlife. I'll answer all the questions you may have about the best areas for partying, the most recommended hotels, the best venues, as well as plenty of tips to help you have a great time. If you still have some questions, don't hesitate to leave me a comment below.

Want to know more about Jakarta nightlife? Read Jakarta's Best Bars and Jakarta's Best Nightclubs. If you are a first-time visitor, you might also be interested in my Jakarta Travel Guide.

Nightlife Areas
There are so many nightlife areas in Jakarta that it can be confusing even for residents.
The following neighborhoods are the most happening:

Mega Kuningan: This area, close to the embassies and the business district, is popular with young expatriates and businessmen. There are dozens of bars and restaurants that are within walking distance from one another. If it is your first time in Jakarta, it is a good idea to stay nearby, for instance in Oakwood Cosmo. You could, for instance, start your night out in Loewy then move to Basque by foot.

SCBD: This business district is similar to Mega Kuningan, but the crowd is more Indonesian. There is a trendy nightlife complex called Fairgrounds which is always busy. The current hotspots there are Lucy in the Sky (bohemian chic), Swillhouse (Rn'B), Bengkel (large events), and Zoo. Elsewhere in SCBD, you can also try the Beer Hall (live music), the Beer Garden (cheaper prices), Hard Rock Café, Chao-Chao Rooftop, Embassy Club, and Cork & Screw (for Indonesian-Chinese in their 30s).

The H Club, that I mentioned above, is also in SCBD. With a capacity to host 2,000 clubbers, it is now the main nightclub in Jakarta. They have an exciting schedule with regular top international DJs and live bands. More info on their Instagram: @h.scbd.

H Club in SCBD

Senopati: Senopati nightlife consists of the bars and nightclubs on Jalan Senopati, Jalan Suryo, and Jalan Gunawarman. It is an affluent residential neighborhood with exclusive venues that cater to the elite, particularly Indonesian-Chinese. The popular venues in Senopati tend to change every 6 months so it's hard to stay up-to-date. Currently, the ones that are the busiest are Hush (young, trendy vibe), Zodiac (alternative music), Valhalla (mainstream music club), Brotherhood (beer, grill, live music), Ms Jackson (live music) among others. What you can also do is just drive or walk around and stop wherever you see that many cars are parked.

→ Kemang: This mostly low-rise residential area of South Jakarta is popular with foreign residents, especially families. As a result, you have a few expat bars and restaurants, such as Eastern Promise, the most famous of its kind in Jakarta. There are also some cheap nightclubs targeting teenagers (Nu China, Brexit, Second Floor). The Hotel Monopoli is quite trendy as well with its basement club and its rooftop. Other venues you can try: FOS (techno), Ding Dong Disko (alternative) or Tiger Club (live music and DJs).

Near Kemang, Blok M is a growing nightlife area as well. You can visit the M Blok M complex that has several restaurants, cafés and bars. Walking distance, Little Tokyo is a fun area with many Japanese eateries, some KTVs, and the underground bar Nebula.

Thamrin/Menteng: Nightlife is more spread in this area but still interesting. There are fancy bars in the malls (Plaza Indonesia and Grand Indonesia), in the 5-star hotels (Hyatt, Mandarin Oriental, Kempinski), some nice rooftops as well (SKYE and Cloud), and even some cheap hangout spots like Camden Cikini or Melly's Garden.

=> Thamrin is a strategic location in Jakarta with a large choice of hotels. If you are on a budget, you have some excellent options on Jalan Wahid Hasyim, for instance, Holiday Inn Express

Pantai Indah Kapuk: This is the upcoming nightlife destination in Jakarta. I rarely go there because it is far from the center, but it has at least 30 bars, a few nightclubs (including the brand new Tiger Club and Phoenix), and hundreds of restaurants. The majority of customers are young Indonesian Chinese.

Glodok/Kota/Hayam Wuruk: This is an older part of Jakarta, less modern, but cheaper and more authentic. It is also considered a red-light district as you have several large complexes for men, such as Malioboro, Classic, Emporium, 108 or 1001 Hotel (home to Colosseum club). 

Luckily for you, I wrote a detailed article about all these areas: Where to Party in Jakarta: Nightlife + Hotels.

When to Party?
Jakarta nightlife is great all year round, with a pause during Ramadan.

Nightclubs generally start from midnight to 3AM, with few exceptions. As elsewhere in the world, they are busiest on Friday, Saturday, and, to a lesser extent, on Wednesday. After closing, you can still party if you rent a karaoke room. The best ones look like small nightclubs, with laser lights and top-notch sound-systems. Some are open 24-hour, for instance 108 Club (for more info: Karaoke in Jakarta).

Weekdays can be quiet, but you can still have fun in places like Loewy, Social House, Skye, Cork & Screw. 5-star hotel bars are also an option (CJs and BATS).

Budget to Party in Jakarta?
Nightlife in Jakarta is expensive as it targets almost exclusively foreigners or rich Indonesians (particularly Indonesian-Chinese). 

For a good night out on weekends, I would say that you will easily spend IDR 900,000. The best clubs will have an entrance fee of IDR 200k-300k, and drinks will cost you IDR 75k for a beer or IDR 150k for a cocktail. Don't forget that you usually have to add between 15% and 21% of tax and service charge to your final bill.

If that's too expensive for you, check Cheap Bars in Jakarta. And don't forget to bring a bottle of spirits from the duty-free before flying to Jakarta (alcohol is taxed 200% here).

If you party in groups, it is a good idea to open a bottle in bars/nightclubs. It will get you a free entrance for you and your friends, a table/sofa, and better service from the staff. In the end, the cost is reasonable, especially when the bill is split between a few persons. If your bottle is not finished, you can ask the bar to keep it until your next visit. In a typical high-end club, you can get a bottle + a sofa for 4 persons if you spend around IDR 3-5M (that's about 2 bottles of liquor with the mixers).

Also, taxi bills can pile up quickly, especially if you go from North to South and vice versa. A 15-minute ride costs about IDR50,000. You can save some money by using transportation apps like Grab and Go-Jek though. Uber is no longer operating in Jakarta.

Hotels in Jakarta Near the Nightlife
When readers ask me where to stay near Jakarta nightlife, my answer is always the same: "Find a hotel within 500 meters from Jalan Sudirman".

Booking.com has a list of hotels in the area that you can check here: Hotels Near Jalan Sudirman Jakarta.

My personal recommendations are:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (more than 100$/night)
Shangri-La and Mulia both have busy live music bars
Oakwood Premier Cozmo has a great location in Mega Kuningan and I recommend it if you plan on having dates (you can have them downstairs in Loewy).

⭐⭐⭐⭐ (between 50$ and 100$/night)
Fraser ResidenceFraser Place, and Ascott Kuningan are new, centrally located, and near the nightlife. Near Sarinah, ArtotelMorrissey and Kosenda have their own bars.

⭐⭐⭐ (under 50$/night):
Harris FX (very popular due to the location within a lifestyle mall)

Best Bars in Jakarta
I already wrote a long article about the best bars in Jakarta so I won't repeat myself here. Instead, I will just summarize it as follow:

Lively Bars to Meet People
→ Boca Rica, Basque, Loewy, Eastern Promise

Cheap Bars
→ Camden, Melly's Garden

Trendy Bars:
→ For young expats: Basque, Léon Goldstein, Loewy, Caspar, Zodiac
→ For rich Indonesians: Léon Goldstein, Cork & Screw, Phoenix PIK
→ For young people: Lucy in the Sky, Hush, Nebula
→ For good cocktails: Pantja, The Cocktail Club, St Regis Bar

Best Expat Bars and Sports Bars
Eastern Promise, De Hooi, Cazbar, De Hooi, Loewy


Best Bars for Live Music
→ Western music: BATS, CJs, Eastern Promise, Hard Rock, Paulaner Brauhaus
→ Popular with young Indos: Duck Down Bar (rock/pop), Ms Jackson, Tiger Club
→ Jazz: Motion Blue

Best Rooftops for Chilling
→ Henshin, Cloud, SKYE, Chao Chao, Café Cali

Best Nightclubs in Jakarta
As for the best bars, I also wrote a ranking of my favorite nightclubs in Jakarta: Top Nightclubs in Jakarta. Below is a quick overview:

Note: If you are young, trendy and looking for the hottest spots to party, you can follow the Instagram account Jakarta Uncensored

Nightclubs that are the most popular with foreigners:
Dragonfly, Boca Rica, Basque, H Club, Caspar


Nightclubs for younger people and with cheaper prices:
Brexit, Nu China, Tipsy Monkey

Nightclub with techno:
Apart from FOS, I don't think there is another nightclub dedicated to techno music in Jakarta. That said, there are techno events every week in venues like Zodiac, Hush, Nebula, or Colosseum. You can follow the Instagram page @technopartyjkt for more information.

Nightclub with Hip-Hop
Swillhouse

Nightclubs in the Red-Light District*
→ Upmarket: Colosseum (1001 complex), 108 Club (ex-Illigals), Malioboro, Tease Club (Emporium complex)
→ Mid-range: Classic (also a hotel), King Cross, Sumo, Travel, B'Fashion (also a hotel)

*Note that all of these venues mentioned are located within large "one-stop entertainment" complexes that feature a spa and a karaoke. They are de facto brothels with their own prostitutes, sometimes even foreign ones (Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese, Uzbek, etc.).

Online Dating in Jakarta
Online dating works very well for foreigners who are living in Jakarta. Those who are just traveling for a few days may find it harder as many girls will assume that they are not looking for a long-term relationship.

Some of the dating apps that are commonly used are Bumble, OkCupid, Tinder, Happn, Skout, and Badoo. Hinge is growing in popularity too. Younger guys between 18 and 40, who live in Indonesia, will get plenty of matches on those.

Another website, more controversial, is extremely popular in Indonesia. Seeking.com specializes in sugar dating, meaning the girls using it expect to meet older guys who will take care of them financially.

If you are not living in Indonesia, I suggest using IndonesianCupid. For some reason, this website is full of girls who want to marry foreigners and who don't mind long-distance relationships. You can use it to make some contacts a few weeks before coming to Jakarta. It's a paying site but the price is reasonable.

You can read a more detailed article on this topic here: Best Online Dating Apps in Indonesia and 15 Best Dating Apps in Asia.

Frequently Asked Questions:
These are some of the most common questions I receive from readers:

Do I need an ID to visit a club in Jakarta?
Some clubs may ask for an ID if you look less than 21 years old. Personally, I never carry one and I've only been asked once, in Camden Bar Cikini. A photo of your passport should be enough.

Upmarket nightclubs can be very strict with age requirements. Dragonfly does not allow anyone under 21. If you are under 18, you can try some clubs in Kemang, like Nu China, Venue or Brexit (famous for accepting underage clubbers).

What is the dress code in clubs in Jakarta?
You cannot enter a nightclub in Jakarta with flip-flops and short pants. Make sure you are wearing a shirt, long pants and shoes. Avoid torn jeans, even if they cost 500$ a pair.

Women are often required to wear a dress and high heels. H Club, Boca Rica, Dragonfly, and Blowfish all enforce this rule strictly.

Is it allowed to smoke inside nightclubs in Jakarta?
Unfortunately, yes

Are any drugs allowed in Indonesia?
It is still illegal and severely punished to consume drugs in Indonesia. In spite of this, they are not that uncommon among clubbers. It is just that they are not so easy to get and they are very expensive.

If you have questions, you can ask them in the comment section below or send me an email: thibaud@jakarta100bars.com.

67 comments to '' Jakarta Nightlife: Best Bars and Clubs (Updated 2024) "

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  1. Nice Summary. Keep up the good work.

    ReplyDelete
  2. For Hip Hop you could also try O2 Sky Club on Sudirman. They do play other music on some nights but seem to have 2 or 3 Urban/Hip Hop music nights a week. They also claim to be the highest club in Jakarta currently which could be true as you are on floor 59. Be aware they aren't open on Sundays unlike Sky and Cloud Bar.

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  3. Which KTV with LC you suggest? Im going to jakarta from 9 till 13. Which club to go on a wednesday?

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  4. Where would you recommend I go if I'm with a girlfriend?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Basque, Dragonfly, Blowfish, Immigrant

      Delete
  5. According to a recent Indonesia newspaper article in - Kompas - the following Jakarta clubs are on their final warning from the BNN (National Narcotics Agency) for being caught with illegal drugs on their premises:

    1. Illegals
    2. Diamond Club
    3. Classic
    4. Fashion

    Just be aware of that if you plan to visit any of this places.

    ReplyDelete
  6. which club has great latin songs?

    ReplyDelete
  7. I've heard that the new government has stopped nude dancing at all the clubs in Jakarta. Can anyone confirm?

    If this is true, does anyone know how long this will last?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. yes I went yesterday to Malioboro and didn't see sexy dancing as it used to be. It was on a Friday night indeed.

      Delete
    2. 36 also have no nude dancing anymore :(

      Delete
  8. So if I’m going to be there for a bachelor night for 8 person and wanna make sure we have fun and girls, where is the most ideal?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If you have money, Malioboro, Tease Club, Illigals, 1001... If not, maybe Classic or King Cross...

      Delete
  9. Does any one has any update on strip dancing being re-open.

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  10. Any recommendation for luxury hotels in Jakarta with classy therapists providing plus plus service in Room?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Maybe try Mercure Harmoni... You can take girls from their Sparadise Spa... but I wouldn't call it classy, just a 4-star...

      Delete
  11. After my first visit to Jakarta /4 days/, first comments - it is a great city, diverse and dynamic. Traffic is worst of the worst, and the pedestrians national enemies. Nightlife - depends. Wednesday was not that great, and not that many ladies. Clubs in the north part /Colloseum, Golden Crown too dark, too noisy and too many guys around/. Thursday at BATS - great /I dont know about the other nights, but this was more than enough/. Friday at CJ great, and Dragonfly - exceptional. But I do not think that majority of girls are working girls, maybe a minority. Maybe I was not able do detect or some of them are aiming too high, for guys in corners with champagne bottles. Saturday - Classic hotel, altogether very very good, much better than expected. Only mamasans are way to aggressive, difficult to handle and treating girls like slaves. Prices reasonable, and not necessary to buy drinks. Would go back again. In front of Classic stalls selling Viagra and Cialis of very dubious quality and origin.
    I am white European, and was well received everywhere and without unnecessary special attention which can be bothering in Thailand or in Bali. IN clubs that is obviously a plus, but needs to be justified with spending and similar.
    Would definitely go there again, and combine with Bali, maybe 5+5 days. For living I am not so sure, the infrastructure is totally inferior to Bangkok or even Manila and Kuala Lumpur. It is difficult to understand for a capital city, especially for a beautiful country which not poor in terms of GDP

    ReplyDelete
  12. Has the nude dancing started in places like classic and Malio or still not happening ?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's still happening in a few places... Tease Club has topless dancers...

      Delete
  13. I am thinking it is time to revisit Indonesia. I remember Today Country with fondness...lol...any place like that nowadays?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Not to my knowledge, the closest would be Starmoon in Kota Indah...

      Delete
  14. I read X2 is closed ...
    https://www.rooshvforum.com/thread-40116-page-19.html?highlight=jakarta

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for the info, I didn't know about that...

      They are closing for renovation and will reopen under a new name... here is a message they left on their instagram account:

      Dear X2 Lovers,

      Because all good things must come to an end, we would like to thank you for the marvelous 11 years with us!

      Since 2007, X2 has been the first and foremost clubbing destination in Jakarta, Indonesia.

      Two (2) times - we are in the World's TOP100CLUB Ranking by DJmag.

      We are going to come back with a new concept and a new name, soooo... Don't be sad!

      We are going to miss each other but it's time to move on and make a new leap forward!

      IT'S NOT GOODBYE, IT'S SEE YOU AGAINNN!!!

      Delete
  15. stop using drugs at jakarta clubs, everywhere.. its too dangerous now..
    please think about it, before you go.
    Information : sense karaoke & exotic already close.
    SOURCE : http://www.tribunnews.com/metropolitan/2018/04/13/pemprov-dki-cabut-izin-dan-tutup-sense-karaoke-dan-diskotek-exotic
    (use translate if you can't read bahasa)

    ReplyDelete
  16. I'm planning to drink alone. What's the best bar for a single woman who wants to drink alone?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. my home. Seriously. email me at markbocci@gmail.com. I have got a reasonably good bar :)

      Delete
  17. nice post. do you know any clubs or place in Jakarta where I can buy some weed?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There are none where you can buy weed. It's very unsafe to buy it in Jakarta. If you are here on a short holiday, just abstain for a while.

      Delete
  18. Any recommendations for club with R&B music? X2 was good, but still no news about the reopening..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. For Hip Hop or RnB, the best place is Swillhouse in SCBD. Jenja also has one or two dedicated nights every week.

      Delete
  19. Replies
    1. WeChat full of prostitutes and ladyboys... not recommended unless you are looking for that...

      I recommend using IndonesianCupid instead

      Delete
  20. what is the best dancing club right now. ? i want something similar to golden crown. Why ? because its kinda cheap and full of working girls. They have closed it down few months ago so i need new dancing club where i can drink and have fun with girls.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Are you sure Golden Crown is closed? I went there in November and the lounge was still open.

      Try the bars in Kota Indah.

      Delete
  21. Where is the best place to go Thursday night??

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Léon, Fable, Lucy in the Sky, Camden, Hotel Monopoli, Pao Pao...

      Delete
    2. Which one is best for picking up women?

      Delete
  22. Since Jan 2019 Immigrant is closed forever. Also Cloud is closed for 4-5 months for refurb.

    And regarding Mega Kun, Oakwood is very expensive to stay, maybe on Agoda there is a deal per night, but for monthly its about $4,000 for a 1bed, total ripoff, better to stay in JWMarriott across the road, 5* but 4* prices less than $200 a night

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I guess it depends on the day of the week, but you can get one night in Oakwood on Agoda
      for about 110USD. For monthly, I once asked and you can get a 1-bedroom for $3,000. It is indeed a rip-off considering you can get a 3-bedroom in District 8 for the same price.

      Delete
    2. Yes for one night it's ok but for one month 42jt is a total rip off and they don't do deals because they are always full of Jap and Korean clients

      Delete
  23. hi i wanna ask where is best place in Jakarta to find girl for one night stand i went to classic hotel second floor i want anther place like classic
    i wa

    ReplyDelete
  24. I am going to Bangkok from Yogya via Jakarta. Have a 6 hour wait between flights late in the night (midnight to 6:00am). Any massage plus plus that are open so late at night? Any other fun place or am i better off spending the time in airport?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It all depends how fast you can exit the airport and grab a taxi. At 00h30, it's still worth it as you won't have much traffic.

      The spa in Orchardz Hotel Bandara might still be open. It's 10 minutes from the airport.

      If not, you can go to the north of Jakarta until 2AM (3AM on weekends). Check 1001 Hotel (Colosseum), Malioboro or Classic.

      If your flight is next month, it will be ramadan so just stay in the airport.

      Delete
  25. Thanks.. I will be there on a Wednesday this month. Will try Orchardz first, if closed, will move to N. Jakarta.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Hey, a veteran Indo hooker in Hong Kong just told me that she has it on good authority that Alexis spa will soon be operating like it used to. She's aged enough to have experience here, but she could just be talking out of school. What do you think?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I heard that it would reopen in Lokasari under a different name... Not sure about these rumours... What is for sure is that the girls who were working in Alexis are now working in 1001 and Emporium...

      Delete
    2. Alexis has reopened under the name Kabuki in Lokasari.

      Delete
  27. I am going to Jakarta in 2 weeks. Staying in South Jakarta. Where would you recommend going for a good time.

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  28. Hi bros, i wanna bring my girlfriend to a kinky club where we may see others making out and maybe have enough privacy to make out as well, any club to recommend pls? Also if any recommendation for a small van rental with privacy at night? Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Hey guys, is there any Spa, Karaoke, bar provide a foreigner girl in Jakarta?

    ReplyDelete
  30. Hey bros, I will be staying in westin Jakarta. Any recommendations around that area that I can explore?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's very central. They have a rooftop bar called Henshin, and u can go almost walking distance to Bluegrass. In 10 minutes by car, you can check Basque and Loewy. 15 minutes, go to Boca Rica.

      Delete
  31. Hi guys, i'm arriving on Jakarta on wed 04-12 and will stay till 10-12, 6 nights. I'm planning to visit clubs at probably every night, and play a bit of Tinder. As i catch here on blog, wed is best ladies night in city, and def great night to go party. What would be perfect scenario, for this 6 nights, clubbing where about? I'm not looking for pro girls, just regular, and 30+ would be my target, places with mostly under 25 crowd is not my thing, and what i mean by that is like crazy teens places, i don't mind 50% under 25, and rest over that age, just not place where 90% are under 25. Anyone with 5 minute of spare time and experienced in Jakarta night life, please shoot some suggestions. Thanks in advance. ps. will take accommodation most probably in central Jakarta.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My suggestions:

      1) Stay near Mega Kuningan area. At the moment, the brand-new Ascott Sudirman is well-priced (around 90$) and less than 5 minutes by taxi from all the best bars in Jakarta. It's my number one choice. If you want something cheaper, check the Favehotel Gatot Subroto which only costs like 35$.

      2) Match with girls on Tinder or IndonesianCupid BEFORE arriving in Jakarta (change your location), then invite them directly for drinks at a rooftop like Henshin, Cloud or Skye or in a bar like Loewy/Cork & Screw/Bluegrass/The Dutch. Alcohol is very pricey in Indonesia so girls love to be invited. If you don't have too much money, go to McGettigan's on wednesdays as they have free drinks for girls.

      3) If you want to party, bars and clubs that have a more mature crowd (generally speaking) are Loewy, Basque, Dragonfly, Eastern Promise, ...

      Delete
  32. Guys, what about dress code? Jeans and shoes are must, i believe, i don't plan go clubbing in shorts with sneakers or flip flops, but what worries me is shirt vs t-shirt. Is there places where they refuse you entrance with regular t-shirt?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. T-shirt will be ok in most venues, but it may be refused in Dragonfly or Blowfish. Polo or shirts are better.

      Delete
  33. Beside than classic and traver any else place offer similar service like this two places ?

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  34. Hello Guys I want visit Jakarta which place I can get for full day girl mean the girl coming with us in morning and go next day morning last time I am visiting to batam and Thailand I book girls like one full day and how much the price in Jakarta to book girl
    how much the price the mamasan give to book the girl full day?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. About 5jt Rupiah for a high quality, can be as low as 2jt for bar girl

      Delete
  35. Hi guys, Colosseum is now open but you can only enter through backdoor with a password, or if you know who to contact to get in. Can anyone help with this?

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  36. Any places on Sunday?

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  37. FYI, Holywings is now closed due to an issue and will be changing its name, such as Atlas in Bali (who they say that the biggest beach club in the world / Asia). Another one is Helens, Gold Tiger, Gold Dragon, Garison, etc.

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  38. What place is good to pick up a nice girl on a Sunday night?

    ReplyDelete
  39. What are the best night places for a foreigner to meet local girls? Both working and regular girls?

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  40. Jaya Pub is open again for business and roaring. Small and cosy it gets hot though. I was there last night and it was packed till closing time with luve music right up till the end.

    ReplyDelete