Best Bars in Jakarta
By
Tibs
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This is my updated ranking of the best bars in Jakarta (2022). Because of COVID-19, many venues have closed down, permanently or temporarily, but the majority of them are still open. Even better, I have added quite a few names here such as Caspar, Chao Chao, Holywings, and Black Pond Tavern. I'm sure there are plenty more that I forgot so don't hesitate to drop me a message/comment with your recommendations. For more information about where to party in Jakarta, you can also read: 10 Best Nightclubs in Jakarta Jakarta Nightlife Guide Best Beer Garden and Beer Houses in Jakarta Best Expat Bars in Jakarta Currently, the top bars in Jakarta are:
Update 2021 : Baxter Smith is currently closed due to COVID-19. You may want to check their Instagram page below for any updates about their reopening date. Baxter Smith is a bar and restaurant that opened in Senopati mid-2016. I only went there once for a special event on a Friday night, so I'll keep my review short until I can try again. The bar is on the 3rd floor and it was quite busy, with an all-Indonesian crowd. It seemed people where visiting for the first time, out of curiosity. The DJ was playing good, non-commercial tunes between progressive and tech-house. The bartenders were fast and the drinks cheaper than the average for Senopati.
Cazbar is a long-standing expat hangout in Mega Kuningan. If you are a newcomer in the city, above your thirties, you may want to try going there to meet other people. It isn't as busy as it used to be, but there are many regulars who come for the laidback atmosphere, the friendly waitresses, and the decent pub food. Also quite many Indonesians among the customers. Upstairs of Cazbar, there is a area dedicated to watching sports, with mainly (each time I go there), English Premier League + Rugby. The bar also have free wifi and some imported newspaper titles.
Here are a few of the most popular bars in Jakarta to drink beer. If you think I forgot a place, please add a comment below!
De Leila is an Arabic nightclub located on the 8th floor of FX Sudirman. It is a popular party spot for tourists from the Middle East and particularly Saudis, Qatari and Emiratis. You have a few other nationalities such as Egyptians, Iranians, Turkish and Omanis. Even though most customers are Muslims, alcohol is served. The new De Leila was opened in 2015 (the previous one was on Jalan Gatot Subroto). It is still partly owned by the Ahmad Fahmy family (also behind Tanamur ). It is now more modern and spacious, with an upmarket feel. I have to warn you though that is a place of prostitution, with at least 50 freelance working girls from Indonesia, China, and Morocco. The music in De Leila is Arabic, either from their live band or from the DJ. It is best to book a sofa so you can enjoy the show with the best possible view. You can order shisha as well. There is also a mezzanine with pool tables and a smaller bar area. The entrance fee is Rp150,000 and it incl
Boca Rica is an upper-class restaurant/bar/club located on the ground floor of the Crowne Plaza Hotel , which is inside Mangkuluhur City. The latter is a high-end mixed-use complex belonging to Tommy Soeharto and named after his son, Darma Mangkuluhur Hutomo (who happens to be the owner of Boca Rica). Since its opening at the end of 2018, it has become one of the hotspots of Jakarta nightlife. Its crowd is a mix between that of Léon (high-class, socialites, celebrities) and that of Basque (expats, travelers, businessmen). Because the entrance is free on most nights, it has also attracted a younger crowd who can't afford more established clubs like Dragonfly or Blowfish. I haven't tried the restaurant, so I won't comment on that. I just know that it serves a Spanish-inspired menu with around 20 types of Tapas (costing between IDR 75,000 and IDR 250,000 each). They also have the usual burgers, grilled chicken, steaks and fish. Drinks are pricey, like everyw
Robot & Co is a new bar/restaurant replacing the famous Potato Head Café . It is located on the ground floor of the luxury mall Pacific Place, in a corner that has become one of the hotspots of SCBD nightlife . Indeed, just next to Robot & Co, you will find more popular bars like Cork & Screw, Chambers, Odysseia, Hard Rock Café, and Osteria Gia. Robot & Co has kept some similarities with Potato Head. It still has the long, central bar, and the mezzanine above it. However, the iconic vintage windows have been replaced by neat bamboo walls, giving the space a more modern vibe. Another important change is that the outdoor area has been closed with glass panels. It is still a relaxing spot to hang out, surrounded by leafy plants, but at least you won't suffer from the heat anymore. They've also added some comfortable sofas in the back and in the mezzanine, perfect for starting a night out with a small group of friends (minimum spending of
Le Bridge could have been a great place for having a romantic dinner or for hanging out with friends, but the food there is so bad that I will never go back there again. Also, but this is not the fault of the restaurant, the sea in this area is quite polluted and smelly, so it isn't always pleasant, especially during the day. At night, it is better though since we cannot see the litter floating on the water. From the outside, Le Bridge looks like an upmarket café, located on a bridge right in front of the beach of Ancol. It is a nice sight since it seems to be on its own island, away from the shore.
Note: I wrote this review 10 years ago but it is still up-to-date! Everybody was telling me about a place called "Louis" in Mega Kuningan, but I couldn't find where it was or what it was. It took me two months to realize that people were actually talking about Loewy, that you should pronounce like Loui (English speakers) or Louis (French speakers). Loewy is a retro-chic French bistro, with a cosmopolitan vibe: Half the customers are foreigners, and the other half Indonesians, usually between 30 and 45 years-old. Most of them are from the upper-class. It is owned by some of the folks behind Potato Head , from which they took the idea to partially open the restaurant to the air. This is quite bold for Jakarta, and you may feel hot inside when it is packed. Since it opened in 2008, Loewy has always been a happening venue, anytime of the day. People go there for lunch, for brunches, for an after-work drink, and finally to party. They have decent European food (i
A relatively new-comer in the Jakarta nightlife scene, MO Bar is an elegant yet rarely busy 5-star hotel bar. It looks quite similar to the bar in the Hyatt, Burgundy , with its cozy and dim-lighted atmosphere. But I still prefer Burgundy because from there you have an incredible view over the Hotel Indonesia roundabout.
H&S Swillhouse is a hip-hop and R&B club that replaces Hide and Seek , in Fairgrounds SCBD. In the same complex, you also have popular venues such as Fable , Lucy in The Sky and The Pallas . I visited on a Friday night around 1AM. I was warned at the entrance that all the tables were occupied and that I could only stand at the bar. I was fine with it so I went inside, free of charge. The design is as minimalist as it can be. It is basically just a mid-size rectangular room with concrete walls and floors, neon lighting and sofas on the side. Positioned at the entrance, the bar is quite large and it wasn't too crowded. On the contrary, the narrow dance floor was packed all the way from the bar area up to the DJ booth. It was almost impossible to move, let alone dance. Something particularly annoying was that there is only one toilet at the back which is quite difficult to reach. While the music in Hide and Seek was often electronic/techno, the Swillhouse is f
Update July 2018 : Illigals just changed its name to 108 The New Atmosphere . I haven't visited yet as I'm not in Indonesia at the moment. I will write about it around August/September. From what I've heard, it's pretty much the same as before. I think the change is only a way for Illigals to keep a lower profile. Contact details: Illigals Hotel & Club Jl.Hayam Wuruk no.108 Jakarta Barat, 111620
The Barrels is one of the few decent beer-drinking joints you will find in Serpong/Tangerang. It is inside Summarecon Mall, on the downtown walk, and it is basic but lively. You have a big poster of a cave with barrels on the walls, some high tables and chairs in line, and the barrels... For a little above Rp250k, you can order a small barrel of Bintang to share with your friends. They also have local live music bands on weekends. Opening Hours: 10am to 1pm The Barrels Summarecon Mall Serpong (Downtown Walk #DGF-3), Tangerang Phone: +62-21 4586 4959 Instagram: The Barrels 1767 & The Wine Place
The area near the malls Grand Indonesia and Plaza Indonesia, around the iconic Bunderan Hotel Indonesia (Hotel Indonesia roundabout) is one of the most strategic to meet friends for drinks and party in Jakarta. It is also an ideal location for inviting someone on a date. The main reason for that is that it is positioned in the center of the city, along Jalan Sudirman- Jalan Thamrin, its most important thoroughfare. It is therefore easy to reach, either by private car or by public transportation (Transjakarta and soon, the MRT). It is no surprise that I rated it the best area to stay in Jakarta . Naturally, you can find plenty of activities and businesses there, including 5-star hotels, luxury malls, prestigious office buildings, and, of course, a lively nightlife. In this article, I will review my top 10 favorite bars and clubs in Grand Indonesia / Plaza Indonesia. Please don't hesitate to leave a comment if you think I forgot an important venue. Cloud Rooftop Bar