If you are wondering where you can party in Jakarta, this review will guide you through all the most famous nightlife areas in the city. You can also read Jakarta Nightlife and Where to Stay in Jakarta for more detailed information.
I've circled in blue two main areas: South Jakarta and North Jakarta. Each has its own characteristics:
• South Jakarta is the most modern part of the city, with plenty of skyscrapers, luxury malls, and upmarket houses. Naturally, this is where you will find the most high-end nightclubs and bars in Jakarta. Expats and rich Indonesians will normally party there.
• North Jakarta, or Kota Tua (Old Town) is the historical part of town. Most of the buildings are only a few floors high, and they may look shabby. The nightlife there is often within large one-stop entertainment complexes comprising of a club, a restaurant, a massage parlor, and a karaoke. This area is infamous for its prostitution and drug scene. Few foreigners go there.
South Jakarta Nightlife
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| Where to Party in South Jakarta? |
SCBD
SCBD, which stands for Sudirman Central Business District, is a mixed-use development with many prestigious offices, a luxury mall and high-end residences. It has been the most happening party area in Jakarta for a few years already, especially among hip Jakartans and younger expats.
The best location to party in SCBD is the Fairgrounds complex where Lucy In The Sky, Fable Nightclub, The Pallas and Swillhouse are located. Other popular nearby venues include Beer Hall, Beer Garden, and the restaurants on the Ground Floor of Pacific Place Mall (Hard Rock Café, Cork & Screw).
Best Hotels Nearby:
→ 5-star: Ritz Carlton Pacific Place
→ 4-star: Harris FX Sudirman
Senopati
Just a kilometer South of SCBD, Senopati is the most expensive residential area in Jakarta. There, you'll find smaller clubs, lounges, and restaurants catering to the elite. The trendy places change every year, but currently, you can go to Pao Pao, Lola, Zodiac, Kilo Lounge, Sofia.
Best Hotel Nearby:
→ 4-star: The Gunawarman (Boutique hotel, 120$/night)
Mega Kuningan
It is also a mixed-use development, similar to SCBD, but with more residences and hotels. This is where many single expats in their 30s choose to live.There are no nightclubs but several busy bars and restaurants like Loewy, Basque, Moonshine, J. Sparrow. All of these are within walking distance from each other and they are great for meeting other foreigners.
Mega Kuningan is bordered to the South by Jalan Gatot Subroto on which two famous nightclubs (Dragonfly and Blowfish) are located.
Read also: Best Bars in Mega Kuningan
Best Hotels Nearby:
→ 5-star: Ritz Carlton Mega Kuningan or Oakwood (near Loewy)
→ 2-star: Favehotel Gatot Subroto or Amaris Satrio (35$/night both)
Sudirman-Thamrin
The axis Jalan Sudirman-Jalan Thamrin is the most important thoroughfare in Jakarta as it connects the South and the North of the city. It is lined up with skyscrapers, many of which have a lounge, a rooftop, or a restaurant.
Around the iconic Bunderan HI (or Hotel Indonesia roundabout - see photo above), you have some of the most exciting nightlife venues in Jakarta: SKYE, Cloud, and plenty of bars like Cork&Screw, Social House and Paulaner Brauhaus.
At the other end of Jalan Sudirman, in Senayan, you can check Union Lounge (for a date/drinks), CJs (for live music if you don't mind freelance prostitutes) and the bars in the complex Senayan Arcadia.
Along Jalan Sudirman, two relatively new places are popular: Boca Rica (one of the busiest nightclubs in the city) and Caspar, a Spanish restaurant/lounge with a cool whisky bar.
Best Hotels Nearby:
→ 5-star: Kempinski (Grand Indonesia), Grand Hyatt (Plaza Indonesia), Mulia Hotel (with CJ's bar) and Fairmont (connected to Plaza Senayan)
→ 4-star: Pullman Thamrin, Harris FX Sudirman
→ 3-star: Holiday Inn Express
→ 2-star: Favehotel Wahid Hasyim
Kemang:
Kemang is a residential expat area with many of the best-value Western restaurants in Jakarta. The bars and nightclubs are affordable, some catering to foreigners (Eastern Promise) and some to Indonesian teenagers (Nu China, Dronk).
Read more: Kemang Nightlife
Best Hotels Nearby:
→ 4-star: Grand Kemang Hotel
→ 3-star: Amaris La Codefin
North Jakarta Nightlife:
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| Where to Party in North Jakarta? |
Gajah Mada - Hayam Wuruk
Gajah Mada and Hayam Wuruk are actually the same street but bizarrely, the left side is called Gajah Mada and the right side Hayam Wuruk.
On this 2 kilometer road, you will find almost all the high-end 'one-stop entertainment" venues in Jakarta (Malioboro, Malio Club, 108 Club, Paragon, Club 36).
Best Hotels Nearby:
There are affordable mid-range hotels in this area, only 15-30 minutes from Grand Indonesia.
→ 2-star: Yello Hotel
Pecenongan
Pecenongan is just a few streets away from Hayam Wuruk. It is famous for just two properties: Emporium Spa (with Tease Strip Club) and the gigantic Classic Hotel bordello.
Best Hotels Nearby:
Note that you can actually book a room inside Classic Hotel. If sleeping inside a brothel is not what you are looking after, you can go instead to the Alila Pecenongan.
Kota Tua, Mangga Besar, Glodok
This is also a red light area, but more middle class compared to Hayam Wuruk. Dozens of brothels, lady bars, karaokes, discos and massage parlours are spread around. You will find most of them in the Lokasari complex, on Jalan Mangga Besar Raya, or on the smaller street Mangga Besar VIII.
Glodok and Kota nightclubs have a high number of drug users (ectasy, crystal meth). Since Stadium and Mille's closed down, the go-to venues are Exotis, Puja Sera, Golden Crown and Old City.
Colosseum, a more luxurious nightclub within the 1001 one-stop entertainment complex is also located there, just 200 meters from Taman Fatahillah.
Best Hotels Nearby:
This area has a bad reputation so you can get cheap prices for budget hotels. I once lived there and it was not as bad as it seems. I really enjoyed the authenticity and the hundred of street food stalls around.
→ 2-star: Hotel 88 Mangga Besar 62
Ancol Beach
Ancol has two sides. A "clean" one with laid-back live music cafés by the sea, and a more dirty one with dangdut bars and a naughty one-stop entertainment complex (the infamous Alexis).
Best Hotels Nearby:
→ 4-star: Discovery Ancol
Mangga Dua
Mangga Dua is a cheap shopping destination with several budget hotels. There are some massage parlours and some karaokes as well.
Best Hotels Nearby:
→ 5-star: Le Grandeur (maybe the cheapest 5-star hotel in Jakarta)
→ 4-star: Novotel
→ 3-star: D'Prima
Kota Indah/Pang-Jay
Sometimes referred to as the Blok M of North Jakarta, Kota Indah is a small street with 5-6 "massage bars", a euphemism for brothels. It is local and cheap.
Read More: Kota Indah Nightlife.
Best Hotels Nearby:
→ 3-star: Zuri Express or Orchardz (with a spa ++)
Kelapa Gading
This is a residential area for middle to upper class Indonesians. You have several bars and coffee shops in and around Mall Kelapa Gading, Mall of Indonesia and La Piazza. There is also a red light district with 5-6 massage parlours and strip clubs (Sumo, King Cross).
Best Hotels Nearby:
→ 4-star: Grand Whiz or All Sedayu
→ 3-star: Whiz Prime
Pantai Indah Kapuk
The trendiest area in North Jakarta, PIK (for Pantai Indah Kapuk) is made of two roads with 30-40 restaurants, bars, cafés and nightclubs. It is popular with rich Indonesian-Chinese living in the upmarket neighborhood of Pluit.
If you are an Asian tourist craving for Taiwanese desserts and soju, you may enjoy it.
Read more: PIK Nightlife - Best Bars and Clubs
Best Hotels Nearby:
→ 3-star: Ozone
Grogol
Grogol is a middle-class area strategically located between Jakarta and Tangerang (the airport). There are normal bars and clubs inside the malls Taman Anggrek/Central Park, but also many brothels, massage parlors and dirty discos (Bandara, Top 1, etc) in smaller nearby streets.
Best Hotels Nearby:
→ 5-star: Pullman Central Park
→ 4-star: Ciputra
→ 3-star: Grand Tjokro
→ 2-star: Hotel 88
Hotels Near Jakarta Nightlife
For those looking for the best hotel near the nightlife, you should consider the following rules:
• If you are interested in South Jakarta nightlife only → Stay between Plaza Senayan and Plaza Indonesia not too far from Sudirman street.
• If you are interested in North Jakarta nightlife only → Stay in Hayam Wuruk (3-star and 4-star) or stay in Mangga Besar (budget)
• If you are interested in both South and North Jakarta nightlife → Stay near Sarinah (2-star to 4-star) or near Grand Indonesia (5-star)
Where is Colosseum? The biggest nightclub by capacity and arguably getting the hottest DJ's playing at any club in Jakarta at the moment and it doesn't rate a mention?
ReplyDeleteIt seems you work for Colosseum right?
DeleteHi Thibaud, I'm not a Colosseum employee, I just thought it was a big omission to leave out what is currently the most popular club in North Jakarta for expats from an article about where to club in Jakarta aimed at expats? I would do the same if you didn't mention other popular clubs for expats e.g. Dragonfly, X2 or Immigrant in the article as well. To be fair I would not recommend for anyone to bother going to Colosseum on a normal night, the atmosphere is not fun when it's half empty but when a big international DJ is playing with a full house it definitely worth a look with in my opinion the best lighting and sound system in Jakarta and great atmosphere (with the potential to meet 'normal' party girls too) as well as late closing times sometimes as late as 9am in the main room on big nights. Even Ismaya Group which have their own venues are now booking some top DJs to appear at Colosseum i.e. Diplo just last week as they are too big for smaller clubs now.
DeleteYes I guess you're right... the article was more a general review of nightlife areas that's why I didn't really think of including every clubs... But I've added Colosseum now... thanks for your feedback...
DeleteIs it possible to find rolls/ikan in Colosseum?
DeleteIf by rolls/ikan you mean drugs, I don't think it's as easily available as in Exotis/Crown/Puja Sera...
DeleteYou can purchase inside Colosseum and I have done a few times but they are much more discreet then any other North Jakarta club I've been to and the price is higher then Illegals or Golden Crown. It is also not as consistent as other places either, sometimes nothing is available. Just ask the security inside, waiters or table PR and see what happens, worst is they will say no.
DeleteAnonymous, i need to identify you, can i get ur email as well as Tibs,
DeleteGreat article as usual. Would you be able to expand on the Ancol "dark side" a bit more? I wasn't aware of that
ReplyDeleteHaha thanks... Apart from Alexis, you have on Jalan Martadinata quite a few dangdut bars... some can be seen from the streets, and for the other ones you need to go inside the smaller streets...
DeleteHi,I think you forgot to mention Cikini - Menteng - Kramat - Pramuka area as Jakarta nightlife spot! There are so many middle to low grade clubs and hotel in this area, popular hangout places for middle eastern and local patrons.
ReplyDeleteI also want to give correction on Cilandak nightlife section.. Yes it's not that alive as many other area in South Jakarta but now there are some interesting hotels to stay after clubbing. Notably Aston, they have a nice rooftop bar which I think you should mention on next review.
Thanks
Yes it's true... For Cikini there is also the TIM Cultural Center which is often busy at night... In Menteng, I wonder if the clubs Tiga Kuda (Three Horses) and Iguana are still open...
DeleteKramat and Pramuka I'm not so familiar with the area...
Never checked the rooftop in Aston but I will when I'm back to Jakarta in March... Thank you for the suggestion...
Are there any massage places with mature ladies in south Jakarta?
ReplyDeleteEastern Promise
DeleteHi, I'll be visiting Jakarta next year. I like having decent accommodations (4-star range) and I'm in my early 40's, so I'm not really a fan of the loud clubbing scene. My last trip out that way was to the Philippines, where I really enjoyed the girly bar scene of sitting down, chatting up the ladies for a bit, buying a few lady drinks, then barfining the girl(s) of my choosing and bringing them back to my room for the night. I'm also ok with attractive freelancers as long as they are semi-approachable and can somewhat carry a conversation in English. What area would you recommend for that type of entertainment? Thanks in advance!
ReplyDeleteHi there, what you are looking for does not really exist in Jakarta. The closest would be Blok M, but there are only 3 bars and they aren't particularly interesting. It's better to go to the 5-star hotel bars like CJs or BATS. If I were you I would stay in the South of Jalan Sudirman, near Senayan, so you can try all these places rather easily.
DeleteI see some dangdut bars were mentioned here. Is there anything with a more Indonesian flare that is worth visiting?
ReplyDeleteFrom my limited experience it seems like local and expat life are quite separate here.
I am staying in the north right now, and it has surpassed my expectations. It seems like there are quite a few high value for money accommodations here, and the seedy side doesn't seem too off putting.
-Mr. Win
I'm not a big dangdut fan but it's worth trying once... In North Jakarta, maybe you can try the area of Tanjung Priok... I had written a review about the bars there, they are very local, with mostly seamen customers... http://www.jakarta100bars.com/2014/04/far-away-nightlife-tanjung-priok-jakarta.htm
DeleteThanks for the insight, great article. Why do you have pondok indah marked as - do not sleep here unless you live in Jakarta? Just curious
ReplyDeleteHi, thanks for your comment... I think that Pondok Indah is too far from the most interesting tourist attractions in the city... For a tourist, it's better to avoid it... (for an expat, especially with kids in International Schools it's fine though)
DeleteHi There... You must visit BINTANG MAWAAR in Manga Besaar its a small pub with DISCO. but you can get much more there with pretty girls...
ReplyDeleteHi there. Very interesting article. I'll be spending the end of the year in Jakarta with 2 guys. Havent settled on accomodations yet. Any reccomendations on which nightclubs to head to in terms of the girls or the overall crowd? Any rough estimate on the amount I'd be spending per night would also be helpful.
ReplyDeleteIf possible it is the best to divide number of days by 2 and stay half in north, and half in south, since traffic is completely unbearable in every sense and walking extremely discouraged and downright dangerous.
ReplyDeleteGenerally speaking, I found north perfect for "clubs" like Classic, but not for Colloseum, Illigals and Golden Crown. Also, it a lively area and old historic part is great for a short walk.
Places around Grand Indonesia do not avoid a traffic problem, even there it is difficult for a visitor, or anybody. Malls are really great, but you have absolutely everywhere, so did not lose time.
Cloud is sort of OK for starting a night out, but that can be short. BATS and CJ have very good and precise review on this site, nothing to add but that I liked them very much and was even pleasantly surprised with the music, atmosphere and of course, girls. Immigrant was a total fiasco on Wednesday, almost empty.
Dragonfly is even better than expected for design, music and atmosphere. Little bit complicated for girls, not that easy, and sometimes hard to distinguish between working and other girls.
Harbour is really great experience, including Batavia Marina, during the day
Just stay anywhere between Grand Indonesia, Senayan, or Kota Casablanca.... by the time the nightlife starts the traffic will have died down
ReplyDelete