Eastern Promise Pub and Live Music (Kemang)
By
The Jakarta Team
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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.
After 8 years living in Jakarta, I finally visited Jaya Pub, the oldest expat bar in the city (since 1976). It is really a shame I never came before because the place would have deserved a review on this blog a long time ago. Owned by Rima Melati and her husband (also behind Le Bistro and La Bodega), Jaya Pub looks like a survivor. Not only has it been around for 35 years, it also hasn't changed during that time: Toto for instance, one of their employees, has been working here since the beginning. He is now 70 years-old, probably the oldest bartender in Jakarta. The decoration is nothing but the accumulation of all the souvenirs and photos gathered over time. You cannot help but feel nostalgic in Jaya Pub, especially if you've been an expat for a while already.
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.
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.
Old-style expat bar, one of the most popular in South Jakarta with De Hooi . Very similar actually but a little less funky in my opinion. Food is ok, mostly greasy/hard to digest stuff. Good atmosphere with many loyal customers playing pool or watching sports. There is live acoustic music on Wednesdays and Fridays. No more ladies night though.
Star Deli is a popular venue for snacks and beer in Kemang, with a Hollywood theme. American owned and American food (burgers, sandwiches, etc.). You'll notice that they usually hire friendly and sexy waitresses... Recommended for an easy-going early night out. It is also a good place to meet other expats. They have a pool table as well and live music on weekend nights (Top 40). Prices are more expensive than the average for Kemang, but still reasonable: Around Rp30,000 for beer and Rp50,000 for hard drink. Happy hours from 5pm to 7pm. Open every day.
T.I.M (Taman Ismail Marzuki) is the most famous art center in Indonesia. It is quite a large complex with different auditoriums, cinemas and theatres. There are performances almost daily, ranging from Balinese dancing to contemporary music. You will find quite a nice atmosphere all-around TIM, in nearby foods stall especially, which are popular with artists and students. T.I.M Jakarta Jalan Cikini Raya 73 Menteng, Jakarta
Bar with live band full of old prostitutes, a bit more hip-hop than CJ's and Bats. The crowd is more older and less funky than those of Bats and Cj's. Expensive and not really worth it for me but it has many fans both among expatriates and local people. An old favourite of Jakarta's nightlife.