Jakarta Nightlife: Top 10 Nightclubs
By
Tibs
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Note: I updated this review of Jakarta's best nightclubs on May 2021. The following is a ranking of the most happening nightclubs in Jakarta at the moment. If you are new to the city and you don't know where to start your night out, I recommend going to either one of two areas with clusters of bars/clubs: The first one is in Mega Kuningan, with popular venues like Basque/Moonshine/Flow/Loewy and the other one is in SCBD, within the Fairgrounds complex (home to Fable and Swillhouse). The line between a club and a bar can be thin. Some places are great for dancing and drinking but I didn't include them here because I considered them to be bars. Check my guide of the Best Bars in Jakarta for more party recommendations. If you think I forgot to mention a venue, please leave me a comment! 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
Celebrating your New Year's Eve in Jakarta is actually not a bad idea, especially if you compare it with the alternative of going to Bali. Bali during New Year is crazy expensive (expect hotel prices in Kuta to triple at least), overcrowded even by Jakarta standards, and worst of all: Rainy. In the past few years, for all the reasons above, I've decided to stay in Jakarta for the holiday season, including Christmas and New Year. I find the city to be much more livable than usual during the day (much less traffic) and there were great parties almost every night before and after New Year. The city also organizes several fireworks that you can watch from your hotel room, from the street, or from a rooftop restaurant . If you are in Jakarta for New Year, voluntarily or not, these are the best ways to celebrate: Things to Do in Jakarta for New Year's Eve Watching the Fireworks Fireworks in Ancol on 31st December The official locations for the NYE fireworks a
This Jakarta nightlife guide was updated in May 2022. I removed many bars and clubs that have closed down because of COVID-19, and I added a few as well. If you are a first-time visitor, you might also be interested in my Jakarta Travel Guide . Nightlife Areas There are so many nightlife areas in Jakarta that it can be confusing even for residents.
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:
Perfectly located in the center of the city and with an underground vibe, Fable is one of the most famous nightclubs in Jakarta. It is part of the group All In, which also manages Mirror Club in Bali. The best thing about Fable is that it is part of a nightlife complex called Fairgrounds (known previously as "Bengkel"). There, you have several popular bars and clubs such as Lucy in the Sky, The Swillhouse, and The Pallas so it's easy to switch from one place to the other. If you are a newcomer to Jakarta, I would really advise going there for your first night out as you are certain to meet new people and have fun. Fable itself is popular with younger Indonesians in their early 20s (or even younger) and some foreigners. It is usually full during the weekend but quieter on weekdays unless there is a special event. There is an entrance fee on weekends only (around IDR 150k) that includes one free drink. Beware that the security will refuse anyone who is wearing shorts, sanda
15 years after it opened (and after several renovations), Dragonfly is still one of the top nightclubs in Jakarta. It is also one of the most exclusive, with a very strict door-policy: No torn jeans, no shorts, no t-shirt, no flat shoes for ladies, and you must be over 21 to enter. The entrance fee is also ridiculously high, up to IDR300K without any drink provided.
This article was last updated in May 2021. Please note that due to COVID-19, Dragonfly, Colosseum, and Blowfish are currently closed. The other ones are still open but closing early (around 1 AM). Going to nightclubs or bars is one of the best ways to meet Indonesian girls in Jakarta. 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 includes 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 Jakar
I recently wrote about the best things to do in Jakarta . In the following review, I will be more specific and focus on night-time activities. A cliché used to describe Jakarta is that of "a city that never sleeps." While this could apply to any major capitals in the world, I think it is particularly accurate here. There is always some kind of life in Jakarta, whatever the time and whatever the location. It is quite logical considering the city has one of the highest population densities in the world. Another reason is that there are a lot of Indonesians working long shifts or night shifts, especially small business owners and independent workers. As long as money can be made, they won't close shop or go home. This is why you can always get food, cigarettes, or a taxi ride at any time of the night. For the traveler, the advantage of this situation is that there are a lot of things to do at night. Even better, if you go out after 9pm, you'll also enjoy less t
You would be surprised to know that 90% of Jakarta's main clubs, bars, spas and karaokes are in the hands of less than 50 persons and only about 30 groups. It is quite difficult to know precisely who owns what because there are usually several partners in each business venture . This is a way to minimize the investment cost, to spread the risks and to help with the promotion. Each of the owners brings his network of friends, family, strategic connections and partners to support the business and to make it grow. Within the same group, it is also not uncommon to have several companies (PT) with different shareholders each. Another difficulty is that the real owners are sometimes hidden behind a nominee. This is especially true when the venue is reputed for hosting illegal activities such as drugs, prostitution or gambling. The best illustration for that is Tommy Winata who has the particularly of being a nominee who uses other nominees: He owns stakes in multiple compan
Inside the Borobudur Hotel , this is one of the oldest bars in Jakarta though it has been renovated since I first visited in 2007. It's mostly a place with Indonesian people, including government employees. The live band will play a mix of international and local songs everyday from Monday to Saturday night. You will also find a KTV.
Tiga Kuda is a popular bar for middle easterners/Arabs inside Hotel Menteng II on Jalan Cikini Raya. It is pretty run-down and sleazy. Mostly Arab music with some popular hits (Indonesian or global). Entrance fee is 60,000 rp.
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.
Indonesians are really crazy about sports, and particularly football and MotoGP racing. Even in remote locations, you will meet taxi drivers and shopkeepers who know about your favorite team more than you do. Most of all, they love to cheer together or "nonton bareng" as they call it. This is why you will find at least a TV with sports in almost every bar in Jakarta (and even inside nightclubs sometimes). If you are interested in watching sports that are more popular among the expat crowd (Rugby, AFL, NFL, NBA, MLB, etc...), it is probably best to visit a proper sports bar. There are several in the city, many of which are located in the South (Kemang, Mega Kuningan). My 6 favourite venues for watching sports in Jakarta are the following: Masters Sports Bar (Bellagio Mall) Opened in 2015, Masters is one of the newest sports bars in Jakarta. It is owned by a group of expats (and one Indonesian) that you are likely to meet at their bar on weekend nights.
Updated on September 10th, 2018 The Djakarta Warehouse Project (DWP) is an electronic dance music festival happening every December. It is normally in Jakarta, but the 2018 edition will be set in Bali's GWK cultural park (Garuda Wisnu Kencana) on the 7th, 8th and 9th December. The relocation is a way to celebrate the events' 10th anniversary. GWK is a fantastic venue for a music festival and a perfect match for DWP. The park recently got the spotlight after a massive 121-meter high Vishnu/Garuda statue was completed. As it turns out, the mythical Garuda bird has often been the main theme of the previous DWP editions. The setting of DWP in GWK The DWP is organized by Ismaya, an Indonesian lifestyle group behind some famous nightclubs and bars in Indonesia like Dragonfly, Skye, Blowfish or Social House. It is also heavily sponsored by all kinds of brands and particularly cigarette manufacturers. It is a mainstream festival featuring mostly commercial DJs who pla
This article is an update on all the promotions (Happy Hours, Ladies Nights, All-You-Can-Drink) that the best bars in Jakarta are currently offering. The deals may change over time so I added the Facebook or Instagram of each venue for you to double check. In general, Wednesdays and Thursdays are the best nights to drink cheap in Jakarta (especially if you are a woman). If you are on a really tight budget, you can get a few bottles delivered to your home too (Read: How to Buy Alcohol Online in Jakarta ). Here are some of the best happy hours, free flow deals and ladies nights in Jakarta:
Important Notice: Since November 2017, all nude dancing has temporarily ceased in Jakarta. Therefore, in all the venues listed below, there will be sexy dancers, but they will be wearing lingerie. Yes, even in self-righteous Indonesia you will find more strip clubs and sexy dancers than in most other Asian countries. Sure Bangkok has its fair share of gogo bars, but women there rarely go full nude in public. In Jakarta, you have dozens of places with daily naked shows for a male public, obviously, to enjoy. Remember that you are in Jakarta, not in Hollywood. Don't expect a spectacular striptease show with pole dancing, synchronized choreographies, and splits, it is usually pretty basic. In all those places, the dancers usually try to get customers to buy them ladies' drinks after they've finished their routine. The price for a drink is between 50k and 100k. If you buy one, you will just get a thank you. If you buy at least 3, you will get a short lap dance. If
Home to 5-star hotels ( Ritz-Carlton , Raffles , Marriott ), foreign embassies, luxury apartments and prestigious offices, Mega Kuningan is easily one of the most exclusive areas in Jakarta . As it was recently built from scratch, it is very different from the rest of the city. There are no warungs, no street sellers, no poverty and barely any traffic jams. Instead, you will see large streets lined with palm trees and a dozen of skyscrapers (with a few more still under construction). Though Mega Kuningan does not have a proper nightclub yet (apart from the gay club Apollo ), it has a vibrant nightlife almost any day of the week. You can walk in any towers and you are almost guaranteed to find a restaurant, a lounge or a bar. While each of them is unique, they generally target the same clientele: Expats, upper class Indonesians and businessmen. The following article will give you a quick overview of my 10 favorite bars in Mega Kuningan. They aren't far from each o
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
SCBD is the most happening nightlife area in Jakarta at the moment. This is where you will find the hippest bars and clubs, especially those that are popular with young (and rich) Indonesians in their early twenties. The main reason for this success is the central location of SCBD, combined with the presence of a high-class mall (Pacific Place), prestigious offices (banks and financial institutions especially), and 5-star hotels ( Ritz-Carlton ). Another factor is that all the land in SCBD belongs to the Artha Graha group. This conglomerate is owned by the controversial Tomy Winata who is known to have a keen interest in nightlife. As such, he probably has shares in most of the bars listed below, particularly those located in the Fairgrounds complex (Lucy in the Sky, Fable, etc). Back in the 1980s, this spot was already a huge party destination called Bengkel Night Park, said to be the largest one-stop-entertainment complex in the world. Older expats would tell you that anyth
Clubbing in Jakarta is almost always expensive, especially if you are a heavy drinker. For most high-end nightclubs and bars, the prices are approximately as follow (on weekends): - Entrance fee : Between IDR200,000 and IDR300,000 (usually waived if you book a table or a sofa) - Beer Bintang : IDR70,000 net - Classic cocktail : IDR150,000 net - Bottle of Whisky with 2 mixers: IDR1,500,000 net - Standing round table for 4 people : You must spend a minimum amount between IDR2,000,000 and IDR4,000,000 on drinks and food. - Sofa for 4 people : You must spend a minimum amount between IDR3,000,000 and IDR5,000,000 on drinks and food. Typically, when I go out in Jakarta, I spend about IDR2,000,000 ($140) per night from dinner until sleep. And I don't consider myself a big spender, on the contrary. If you are a backpacker, an expat on a budget, or a student, you are probably wondering how you can party without emptying your bank account. In this article, I will give you