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!
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
I had been to Camden bar in Bandung , but never to their two branches in Jakarta. I corrected this mistake last weekend by visiting both Camden Gandaria and Camden Cikini in one evening. Both bars are very popular, almost any day of the week with a clientele of Indonesians in their early 20s. Cikini's crowd is more upper-class (including a few foreigners - backpackers and interns) while in Gandaria you have mostly young students. Typically, they will buy a beer tower (IDR250,000) and share it at a table with some snacks.
Beer Brother Bar + Kitchen is located in Taman Kemang, a residential area of Kemang which has seen a recent surge in bars and restaurants. This new nightlife area comprises Umbra, Cowboy Bar, Parc 19, and the Colony Building. Beer Brother opened about a year ago and it has managed to become successful rapidly. It is quite similar with other joints such as Bremer or Beer Garden , but there are a few notable differences: The design and marketing of the bar is more sophisticated and original, the music louder, and the choice of food and drinks really extensive (the menu must have 25 pages). The prices are not that cheap though except for basic beer. I was there just before a Champion's League quarterfinal, on a Tuesday, and it was full with a crowd ranging from young expats to hip Indonesians and high school kids. Most people come with a big group.
Beer Garden is currently one of the busiest bars in Kemang. Even on a Sunday night you should find it full. Nothing too fancy inside but it looks clean and cozy. Recommended for the easy-going atmosphere though it can get hot sometimes. If you go clubbing right after spending an evening in Beer Garden, chances are you will be all sweaty. It is not the cheapest place in Kemang, but the prices are very affordable. You can also try the nearby Bremer bar if you are into beer gardens.
Café De Burse is the latest bar opened by Bartele, probably Jakarta's most famous expatriate. He is also the owner of Eastern Promise , De Hooi and Cazbar . De Burse is different from his other venues, though the concept remains similar: It is a restaurant and bar with an international menu, friendly and cute waitresses, and a regular schedule of events and promos. So far, it is still quiet, probably because the location is only busy during working hours. I had a caipirinha (Rp68k) and I was disappointed as they used ice cubes instead of crushed ice. But it is common in Indonesia so it wasn't a big deal. I didn't order any food, but considering what I had in his other venues, you can expect good-value for money, even with western dishes. An average meal will cost you less than Rp80k, and a pint of Bintang Rp53k, including taxes.
One of the favorite expat restaurants in Jakarta, Die Stube manages to serve excellent German food at a reasonable fare (less than Rp100,000 for a meal with drinks). The design is very simple, nothing too fancy. Highly recommended . It is also a popular drinking joint as it offers a wide selection of beers. The crowd is a mix of locals and long-term expatriates (all age groups, but mostly above 35). They organize a special event for Oktoberfest every year and put a wide screen when the German team is playing. Live music occasionally. You can check their latest news on its facebook page: Die Stube . The owner of Die Stube, Patrick Widjaja, opened a similar restaurant in Cilandak called Imbiss Stube (Citos). Other German restaurants in Jakarta are Paulaner Brauhaus (more upmarket) and Ya Udah Bistro. Opening hours: Every day from 11.30am to midnight (1am on weekends).
Eastern Promise is a friendly, laid-back expat pub with several rooms, each with a particular atmosphere. You have a quiet bar in the entrance, then a dining room for eating British and Indian food , and in the back a beer garden with live music for partying. Also on the side, a billiard/darts room, and a sports-watching room. Eastern Promise is usually very crowded, especially on weekends, with a lot of expatriates mostly above 35.
A newcomer in Jakarta's nightlife , Murphy's Irish Pub& Restaurant is the first of its kind in Kemang and it is actually owned by an Irish expat. Compared to other places in Kemang, Murphy is a little more "mature", not only attracting youngsters but a wider crowd of expats and locals from all ages. The warm interior and the friendly staff will make you feel comfortable upon entering the doors. Food is served all day, and I recommend you to try the house specialties: The Guiness Casserole, the Handut Chip and the Irish stew. If you come on Friday or Saturday night, a live band is playing starting 10pm. The rest of the week, you have a mix of Irish songs and classics.
Pizza e Birra, owned by the Ismaya group , is re-inventing the wheel and proposes you an alcoholic version of Pizza Hut. The name is self-explanatory: Pizza e Birra has mostly pizzas (+ appetizers & soups) and beers (all kind, among which some fruit-flavoured) in its menu. The quality of the food is better than in any fast food but it’s far from being great cuisine. The beers, except for a few names are those that can be found in any other restaurant or bar. A good reason to go there is for the live music band on Friday and Saturday, and for the Beer Pong tournament that takes places once in a while. The big drawback is that of course, it is very expensive. I’m always amazed to see with how much confidence the Ismaya Group manages to transform everything it touches into something funky & modern. I would never have bet that eating junk food with Bintang, in a Muslim country, could ever be seen a hot thing to do. My opinion is that Pizza e Birra is a marketing concept that targe
Kemang had the reputation of being a place for high school kids, but with more pubs and expat hangouts opening, it is no longer true.
