Updated in April 2021.

Palembang is the second largest city in Sumatra after Medan. It does not receive a lot of foreign visitors apart from Malaysians and Singaporeans.

As with most provincial towns in Indonesia, its nightlife is limited. Most clubbers are guys, and the few girls who accompany them are often professional. There is usually no dance floor: Customers book tables and they just stay within the same group, without trying to mingle with other people.

The DJs are pretty much always playing the same famous EDM or Rn'B tracks. Most often, they are women who are chosen mainly for their looks.


Hotels near the Nightlife
I found the nightclubs to be quite far from each other. For this reason, I strongly recommend you to book a hotel in the city center.

The best ones in terms of quality of service and location (near the nightlife/bars/clubs) are the following:

Budget Hotels (under $30): Amaris PalembangRed Planet PalembangFavehotel Palembang
Expensive Hotels ($50-$80): Aston Hotel and Conference CenterNovotel PalembangThe Arista Hotel 


Best Nightclubs in Palembang:

If you are traveling or working in Palembang, here are my nightclubs recommendations:

Arena 9
The bar in Arena 9 is just below the podium for live music
This is my favorite place to hangout in Palembang. It is a complex with a café, a restaurant, a beer house (Bierhaus), and a skygarden. The crowd is quite young and more trendy than elsewhere. It seems that this is where students go for partying in the city.

Instagram: Arena 9

Selebriti Entertainment Center
Probably the most famous nightlife spot in Palembang at the moment, this complex features a KTV and a bar (S' Lounge).

The space is medium-sized, with a slightly elevated podium for live performances (most songs in Indonesian with some international hits). During breaks, a DJ will mix very loud techno and house music.

Not so crowded unless they have a special event.

Open every day until 2am.

Address: Jalan Veteran No.1243, Palembang, South Sumatra
Phone number: +62 711 323 333

Mansion Executive Club
Mansion is a luxury night club, popular in the Indonesian-Chinese community. They have regular live bands followed by DJs. Most people go there with a group of friends before or after visiting their KTV. There are some girls around but they are almost all lady companions.

Address: Jalan Soekarno Hatta, Palembang, Ilir Barat I, Palembang
Phone number: +62 711 445557

Instagram: Mansion KTV and Club

Venus Bar, Club and KTV
This address is quite new and it is pretty much the same concept as the previous two.

Address: Jalan R. Sukamto No. 41, Palembang
Phone number: 07113 60014
Instagram: Venus Palembang

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