CJ's is the bar of the Mulia Hotel . No entrance fee but you have to buy a first drink, which costs over IDR200,000 (free for hotel guests). They have a foreign live band playing international hits, and a DJ taking over when they are on break. Very entertaining. Beware lots of prostitutes.
An excellent bar, De Hooi was not in our listing until now only because it is located a bit far from the center, in Pondok Indah, where we seldom venture. In this part of town however, it is easily the most popular and the most happening bar, attracting a good mix of both expats and locals, in an easy going and welcoming atmosphere. Many regular customer crowd the bar and it seems like most patrons know each other already.. Live music , free-wifi, and a good menu featuring American, Indian, Dutch, Indonesian food (you can take a look at it here: De Hooi menu part 1 , part 2 , part 3 , they do delivery). If you live in Pondok Indah, this is the place where you want to go to have fun.
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.
Flirt Bar & Lounge is on the 10th Floor of the Fashion Hotel. It has a live band every day of the week except on Sundays. Quiet. In Fashion Hotel, you will also find a KTV and a Spa. Open from 7PM to 4AM from Monday to Thursday and from 7PM to 5AM on Friday and Saturday. Contact Details: Flirt Jakarta 10th Floor Fashion Hotel JL Gunung Sahari 12 No 2A Phone: (021) 649-0808
Dangdut bar... You may want to go there if you like or if you want to discover Dangdut music... if you are a single male looking for love, you may also find 40 something woman eager to teach you how to dance in rythm. "Deco is OK outside with a strange balcony, tables under umbrella, breathing the polluted air of a big street. The inside is quite surprising, as a basic dangdut club". SZ We have more photos of this perfect illustration of the variety of Jakarta's crazy nightlife on our very special french blog, click here ! Iguana Dangdut Bar
The Jaipong or Jaipongan is a traditional West Java dance. It is a fantastic show with beautiful traditional women dancers and music players who will carry you in another world, far from reality. To my knowledge, Jatinegara, near the train station and below the highway, is one of the only places in Jakarta where we can still watch traditional Jaipong shows. The audience (Mikrolet and Bajaj drivers) try to seduce the beautiful girls dancing smoothly on this strange music. Just drink a Bintang on a dirty seat, and enjoy the fun. More infos about Jaipongan in this article of the Miami News Time: Gamelan and Jaipongan Live .
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.
The Salihara complex was inaugurated in October 2008 and it consists mainly of a black box theater (when artists and spectators stand at the same level) and an art gallery. It is the new meeting point for the young generation of Indonesian artists and many cultural activities are organized there.
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.
Shanghai Blue 1920 is a chic restaurant and bar owned by the Tugu Group, who possesses various hotels and restaurants in Indonesia. The objective of the bar is to bring you back to the golden era of Shanghai (apparently in 1920 was the time to be there…). I give a 10/10 for the settings, really beautiful and impressing. The food is a mix of Chinese , Betawi and Peranakan, that of the first Chinese migrants who came to Indonesia. It is excellent and creative, but very expensive: At least Rp. 150,000 per person with wine. There is a live band playing old jazz tunes almost every evening, with a focus on Mandarin Jazz. Occasionally, you also have guest singers and musicians. You can check their website for more information.
SHY Rooftop is an elegant bar located on the top floor of the Papilion Building in Kemang. It is just upstairs of SHY restaurant and offers a comfortable area for chilling. They have a live band on most evenings, playing acoustic songs... nothing too loud.. Good atmosphere that reminds me that of Public in Taman Ria Senayan. A recommended place to have an early drink. They have a very extensive list of Martini cocktails but they are all very expensive, around Rp 100,000. But if you come on Wednesday night, they have a buy one get one deal that makes it look more affordable.
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.
Zen is an expensive karaoke for rich Indonesians/Chinese and discreet Expats.
