Bandung Nightlife: Bars and Nightclubs (Updated 2021)
By
Tibs
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Bandung nightlife is constantly changing and it can be hard to keep up with it. This is the fourth time I update this article and I'm pretty sure that within a couple of years, most nightclubs on this list will have disappeared. For this reason, I recommend you to check the hastag " Bandungclubbers " on Instagram as it is usually where you can get updates on the latest parties. Because Bandung is a vibrant student city, its nightlife caters mainly to young people in their late teens and early 20s. There are dozens of affordable cafés, restaurants, bars and clubs that are specifically targeting them, especially in areas like Jalan Setiabudi or within trendy malls such as Cihampelas Walk, Paris Van Java, and Trans Studio Mall. Note that for a majority of these students, the nightlife is alcohol-free and consists mainly of hanging out with friends at a coffee shops. There is also another nightlife scene, focused on domestic tourists who flock from Jakarta on the weekend
9 Square is a popular bar, restaurant, and café in Bandung. It is located just in front of Shelter nightclub, on Jalan Sulanjana. There is nothing fancy inside: You'll just find sofas and small tables where people hang out with their group of friends. Avoid it if you are alone.
The new Southbank opened in 2016. It moved from Jalan Aceh to Jalan Sumatra, a street with several other nightlife venues. It is central and trendy location that I recommend if you are not familiar yet with Bandung. You can stay nearby in the Crowne Plaza Hotel , one of the best in the city. Southbank intends to keep the same concept as before. It is a bar/lounge that turns into a nightclub on weekends and for special events. More classy than its competitors, it is popular with an upmarket crowd that includes a lot of Indonesian-Chinese.
Update 2021 : F3X Club has replaced Braga Rave Club (which used to be called Caesar's Place). It is one of the popular nightclubs in Bandung at the moment, with mostly EDM and House music.
Shelter is a nightclub located in Bandung on Jalan Sulanjana. It is not far from ITB Bandung and the hotels Holiday Inn and Luxton .
The Peak is a very famous high-end restaurant in Bandung, quite distant from the town center. If you decide to visit it, you will need at least 1 hour, and you have to make sure you have a ride back home. The restaurant has a panoramic dining room with floor-to-ceiling glass windows. From there, you can get a stunning 360° view of the surroundings. The only problem is that the weather is not always good so in case of rain, you might not see so many things. Don't come at night also. The Peak is clearly upmarket and touristic. A meal will cost you at least Rp100,000 if you order local dishes, but much more if you go for western meals with imported ingredients. For instance, steaks cost from Rp68,500++ to an incredible Rp688,000++ for the Kobe beef! You can also choose to have a drink only, and it is very reasonable, for instance Rp21,000++ for a strawberry juice.
Sierra Café is a big restaurant in Dago Pakar, with a nice view over the hills of Bandung. There are different dining areas, on four floors, with a total capacity of 700 clients... It is not the place to go for an intimate dinner.
The Valley restaurant is part of a huge touristic resort located on the upper hills of Dago. I didn't count but there must be over 100 tables, and most clients are "pariwisata", tourists on a day-trip to Bandung. I can also imagine that they have their share of weddings, corporate gatherings, business lunches or friends' reunions, etc..
Quite a popular spot of Bandung nightlife, North Sea bar is usually lively with some expats or travelers among the clients. Similar to bars you could find on Jalan Jaksa/Blok M in Jakarta. They also serve some very average Western/Indo food. If you are new to the city you may want to start your evening there, it is one of your best chances to meet someone to talk to.
Dago Panyawangan is a Sundanese restaurant in Bandung catering mostly to tourists, who come by dozens in Pariwisata buses. This is the kind of venue that local people probably never visit. The restaurant is a copy of what other touristic places in Bali are like, with bamboo walls, a small pond and gamelan music. If you ask me, it is too big and it definitely lacks charm.
Korean House is an address worth checking for anyone who loves authentic Japanese/Korean food. The design of the place is simple, with only a few posters on the walls and some furniture, but I found it very charming. The waitress was very nice, especially to explain how the dishes were made. The menu had photos, which proved very helpful to help us make a decision on what to order.
Located not far from Istana Plaza in Bandung, Warung Suluh is decorated to resemble a traditional Javanese warung. Actually, more than just a theme, the design is the main attraction there, making the place a sort of fantasy land. I’ve been long enough in Indonesia to know that Indonesians love that, probably as much as the food in their plate. My theory is that it is easier to find a good interior designer than a good chef. I know some of you are allergic to those places, but for the others, you will probably enjoy Warung Suluh. It is a well-organized business and a great attention has been paid to details: The design as we said, but also the menu, the marketing, the website, the service, etc..
Winner Bratwurst is the most serious competitor to Rumah Sosis, the self-proclaimed King of Indonesian Sausage. It is very small, with only a few tables, and some transparent decoration. As I said for Rumah Sosis, the taste is far from being what you would expect normally from a bratwurst. It’s fine for a take-away to eat in front of the TV, but not a for a proper meal. Loud house music inside, a bit rough. You can also buy fresh sausages and cook them at home.