Palembang Nightlife: Best Nightclubs and Bars (Updated 2021)
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Jakarta100bars
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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 dancefloor: 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.
Updated in April 2021: I removed Babyface (+ several other venues) and I added Blackroom. Semarang is the 5th largest city in Indonesia with almost 2 millions inhabitants. Yet, its nightlife is not very developed apart from a few male-oriented bars and clubs. As a friend from Semarang told me, the problem is that most young people fall into one of these categories: - They are single but they still live with parents - They are conservative or not interested with clubbing - They married young and already have kids - They left Semarang for Jakarta, Surabaya or Bali - They cannot afford partying In the end, the few people you see in clubs are local businessmen/government employees, some Indonesians on business trips or traveling, very few expats and occasionally, students.
I have always enjoyed Surabaya nightlife even though the options for nightclubs and bars are limited and somewhat provincial. 3 million people live there, making it the second largest city in Indonesia. Compared to Jakarta, it still feels laid-back and unsophisticated. The streets are rather clean, you can walk on the sidewalks and the traffic is not horrible. There are several modern malls, but none of them as chic as Plaza Indonesia or even Grand Indonesia. Few expats live in Surabaya and even fewer tourists visit it. As a result, you may get more attention than usual from locals. I remember being at McDonald's and people were pointing at me as if I was some sort of curiosity. Since COVID happened, a lot of places have closed down in the city and the opening times may be shorter now. It can be a good idea to make a phone call to the venue you want to visit beforehand. If you are completely new to Surabaya, the best way to start your night out is to go to a mall li
This article was last updated on September 14th, 2019. I removed X2, Immigrant, Empirica, and Level II (Foundry 8) that have closed down and added Boca Rica, Loewy, Beer Hall, and Eastern Promise. Going to nightclubs or bars is one of the best ways to meet Indonesian girls. It is a bit more challenging than online dating because you need to know what are the best venues and the best days to be successful. You must also be careful to differentiate between the "normal" girls, the prostitutes, and the professional girlfriends ( sugar babies ). The latter category are all the ladies who make a living from having one or several boyfriends. Depending on what you are looking for, they can be either a great target or something to avoid. Don't like Meeting Girls from Nightclubs? Read 10 Best Dating Sites and Apps in Indonesia . Tips for Meeting Girls in Clubs in Jakarta When to Party? Wednesday is the absolute best day for partying in Jakarta. It is chea
Note: I updated this Bali nightlife review in October 2019. I removed the nightclubs that have closed down like Jenja or Pyramid and I added the Vault, Lost City, and Red Ruby. I just stayed in Bali for a month and I visited all the happening nightclubs and bars from Kuta to Canggu. The venues I chose on this list are the busiest and most happening spots for partying. They are not ranked in a particular order as each of them targets a different crowd. If you don't know where to start your night out, I generally recommend the following: → Kuta : Go there if you are a basic tourist who wants crowded clubs with mainstream music → Seminyak : Go there if you want more sophisticated and expensive venues → Canggu : Go there if you are young or if you are staying in Bali for a few months on a budget You can also read 10 Best Nightclubs to Meet Girls in Bali . Please feel free to comment if I forgot an important nightclub! Best Hotels Near Bali Nightclubs I recommend
Bali is a fantastic destination for single guys who want to meet girls. As soon as you'll arrive, you can download some popular dating apps and you'll be surprised by the high number of matches you will get. To be fair, there are also many prostitutes - especially on specific websites like SeekingArrangement - so be aware of it. Another great way to meet girls in Bali is to visit bars and nightclubs, especially if you are staying around Kuta, Seminyak and Ubud. I wrote extensively about the nightlife in those areas, most recently two weeks ago with my guide: Where to Party in Bali? In the following article, I will focus on the most recommended spots to meet girls. I've made sure to mention a diversity of venues so you are certain to find exactly what you are looking for - be it a rich student from Jakarta or a 200-pound Australian tourist (nothing wrong with that). Review last updated on February 20th, 2020 (I added Shishi)
This Jakarta nightlife review is an update this article and it should cover any questions you may have about partying in Jakarta in 2019. If you are a first-time visitor, you might also be interested in my Jakarta Travel Guide . Note : I last updated this review on September 13th, 2019. Nightlife Areas There are so many nightlife areas in Jakarta that it can be confusing even for residents.
Note: I updated this review of Jakarta's best nightclubs on September 13th, 2019. I added Boca Rica, The Pallas, Swillhouse, Hotel Monopoli and removed X2, Immigrant, Empirica (all closed). The following is a ranking of the most happening nightclubs in Jakarta. If you are a newcomer to the city, I recommend you to go to the Fairgrounds complex first. There, you will find 3 venues that are listed below: Fable, The Pallas, and Swillhouse. This is an exciting and trendy party area where you will find plenty of other popular bars as well (BeerHall, Cork&Screw, Lucy in the Sky, The Dutch, Hard Rock Café, The Fools, etc). If you think I forgot to mention a venue, please let me a comment at the end of the article. Tips About Clubbing in Jakarta: Here are a few things you should know before heading for a night out: - All the nightclubs in Jakarta are expensive . Expect to pay IDR150,000 for a cocktail and up to IDR300,000 for the entrance fee (or FDC - First Drink Cha
I've partied in all the major cities in Indonesia (as well as in much smaller ones!) so I thought it could be useful to summarize everything I've learned in one article. Hopefully it will give you ideas for your next trip! Without further ado, please find below the 12 best cities/regions for nightlife in Indonesia: Jakarta Jakarta is without any doubt the best city for partying in Indonesia. There are at least 20 decent nightclubs, more than 100 bars, and thousands of restaurants. The mindset is also quite liberal (at least in the upper class) and you'll find some wild venues like no other in the country (strip clubs, luxury massage parlors, etc). Since most of the clubbers are expats or wealthy Indonesians, you'll need to dress up and to spend quite a lot to have fun. If you are looking forward meeting beautiful women , Jakarta is fantastic too. → Most recommended venues: Jenja , Immigrant , Dragonfly , X2 , Basque → Where to stay near the nightlife