Classic Club Karaoke & Massage Parlour (or Bunker) (Classic Hotel, Jl. K.H. Samanhudi 43-45, Pasar Baru Jakarta)
By
The Jakarta Team
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I went to Classic Club after hearing of a club named "the Bunker"... enough to arouse my curiosity. It took me two months of investigation to find it. The bar is in Classic Hotel and it is actually called Classic Club. It is a one-stop entertainment nightclub with spa/karaoke/massage, a bit like Malioboro , with lots of girls from Uzbekistan also. 100% prostitutes. The patrons are mostly Indonesians (no european/american expats but a few Indian and Arab) in their 30s or 40s, so the music is not the hippest you will hear in Jakarta. On the second floor, there is a room called Terminal Classic , where you can see full nude sexy dancers, and lots of them. Famous because you can ask for a threesome. On the 5th floor, there is an even larger room, with more prostitutes and more sexy dancers. In case you are wondering, YES it is possible to sleep in the hotel. The best way is to book through Agoda at the following address: Book Classic Hotel Jakarta .
Nasty place... Emporium is a massage parlour with extra services. They have girls from Thailand, Uzbekistan, China working as prostitutes. The place was raided by the police in December 2008 - See article . Update March 2011: I walked by Emporium the other day and I saw it was closed for renovation. Here are a few pictures, if anyone goes there when it opens again, please leave a comment.
Small nightclub and karaoke in Pecenongan (North Jakarta) with a Formula 1 theme. They have live music or DJs, usually with progressive house. You can request a lady companion while you drink. There is no entrance fee and it's free to sit at a table. If you want a VIP sofa you must spend a minimum of 7,5M. They also have sexy dancers (topless) occasionally. Overall : It's a middle class venue for Indonesians so you can expect cheaper prices and average standards. The crowd is underground, including many clubbers on drugs. They organize Sunday parties in the afternoon from 1pm to 8pm. Similar to Mille's in Lokasari.
Visiting the Sikh Temple Gurdwara, just a few hundred meters away from Pasar Baru market, is one of the most interesting and original things you can do in Jakarta. Indonesia has approximately 15,000 sikhs, most of whom live in Jakarta or Medan. I was told that there is a slight difference in the origin of the two communities. Most Sikhs in Medan came to Indonesia as warriors for the Dutch army in the 19th century, while Sikhs who came to Jakarta were mostly traders and businessmen. Built in 1955, the Gurdwara Sikh Temple in Pasar Baru is the largest in Jakarta. There is another one in Tanjung Priok (built in 1925) and two smaller ones in Ciputat and Tangerang. All were built by Sikhs families from Medan who migrated to the capital. To enter the temple, you must obey certain rules such as taking off your shoes, washing your hands and feet, and wearing something to cover your head. You can borrow a hat or a veil at the entrance if needed.
Bubur Kwang Tung is an institution in Jakarta, especially for late-night clubbers. Open 24-hour and located in Pecenongan, not far from many nightlife venues, it is similar with Kamseng , located on Jalan Mangga Besar. It is mostly popular for its rice porridges (bubur in Indonesian) but it serves also a complete menu of Chinese (Cantonese) dishes. We visited it well after midnight after a fun evening of exploring live dangdut café, and we were both very happy with the taste of our porridge. I was even surprised I liked the food so much as I'm normally not a fan at all of it. Overall : A must-try in Jakarta, especially after a night of clubbing. If you are a celebrity, you'll eat for free and you can have your picture on the wall too... Bubur Kwang Tung - Open 24/7 Jalan Pecenongan No 671 (near Red Top Hotel) Central Jakarta
Delta Spa is probably the most famous men spa in Jakarta and also the best. It is not a sex spa though: You will always get a plus-plus, but nothing more... Another similar chain of men spas in Jakarta is My Place . The masseuses in Delta Spa are usually experienced and skillful, much more than in many other more expensive massage parlours. Yet, the prices have almost doubled in the past five years, and it is no longer a cheap venue. It will cost you around 600,000rp for a 3 hour massage + the possibility to use the facilities for the whole day (jacuzzi, sauna, swimming pool, fitness equipment). Perfect way to end up a week-end of clubbing on sundays. Opening Hours: Depending on the branches, but usually everyday from 11am to 11pm. Call them first to make sure. List of Delta Spa branches in Jakarta: Delta Spa Harmoni Harmoni Plaza, Bl B 12 - 12 A unit 36 - 38 Jl. Suryopranoto No. 2, Jakarta Phone: +62-21 6358-3777 Fax: +62-21 6386-6079
I didn't go to Goldmine, but I went briefly to the karaoke in Golden Boutique Hotel (Studio 21), open until 5am). Also, a friend was working for the firm auditing the company, so i have a good insight of what's going on inside these walls. The Hotel compares with Hotel Alexis as a one-stop entertainment with the rooms being there mainly for short term transactions rather than family trips to Pecenongan. The decorum is that specific North Jakarta style, with roman statutes, marble and big paintings on the walls and ceiling, that we can find in all the somewhat luxurious nightclubs in Kota. There are two similar hotels, with the other one in Blok M (the one on the picture). My Place Spa has a branch within Golden Boutique Hotel Angkasa (Pecenongan). GBH Angkasa Jalan Angkasa 1,
The bar in the Hotel Borobudur. It's mostly a place with Indonesian people. The live band will play a mix of international and local songs everyday from Monday to Saturday night. I find it a bit dark but I love the retro decoration (i don't think they did it on purpose though), much nicer than a lot of more modern places in Jakarta. "Has a good live band on Friday evening and a very friendly atmosphere, mix of chinese, hotel customers, prostitutes, Indonesians and expats. Sometimes empty, sometimes full. Bar as surprising as unpredictable". Review from SZ. Grand Manhattan Club Hotel Borobudur Jakarta
Grand Odiseus is a company owning various spas et fitness clubs in Jakarta. Massages are all traditional (no plus plus) and the quality is slightly lower than that of Jakarta's best spas like Taman Sari/Four Seasons. A little something is missing to make them perfect in my opinion. Anyway, you shall pay around 250 to 300 thousand rupiah for a 90 minutes massage + access to the facilities, which is always money well-spent in my opinion. If you want a good massage in a relaxing atmosphere, without to much fuss, this is the place to go. Similar to Odiseus, you have Martha Tilaar Spa as well. I'm not a member of the Grand Odiseus Fitness centers, but from what I could see from outside, they have what seems to be expensive machines + some free weights. The one located in Nikko Hotel has the reputation of being a gay hangout. Lots of different locations spread in Jakarta: The Spa The Aryaduta Hotel Jakarta Jln. Prapatan 44 - 48, Jakarta 10110 Phone : 021 - 23518672E-mail : odi
Maybe one of the worst places I've been to in Jakarta and in my entire life. It is hard to believe a place can be so bad! All the above photos were taken when the club was still open. We were the only customers, but the band was there, plus the waiters, plus some prostitutes, plus the DJ. The karaoke VIP rooms are just amazing, with one small TV and no seats but a concrete floor with a pole for striptease in the middle. You definitely have to check the pictures we took when we were there. Just click on the link to our french blog. It is dirty, gloomy and so cheap! My dear friend SZ, who loves this kind of dirty night spot wrote the following about KSC 17: "A wonderfull low-class dangdut-disco-karaoke. The place is under renovation but it is still opened during the maintenance. Enjoy a warm Anker while listening to bad dangdut in an enormous empty room with no aircon." SZ.
My Place is a chain of spas similar to Delta Spas . The facilities are clean and the service is excellent. It is reserved for men and most of the time, the girl will provide you with an extra service (massage plus plus). My Place is a great venue to relax for a few hours, and it is not limited to the massage only: You also have a bar, a restaurant, gym facilities, a sauna, jacuzzi, a cold/hot swimming pool and a large screen TV. The treatments provided are: Shiatsu (Japanese technique using finger and palm on particular areas of the body), Reflexology (feet massage.. not as bad as it sounds...), Herbal massage (relaxing massage with herbal oil), Hot stones, Body scrub (to exfoliate the skin) and traditional massage. If you need more information, check their website: My Place Spa The locations of My Place spa and massage in Jakarta are:
Pondok Laguna was one of my worst dining experiences in Jakarta. I may have been unlucky, but from what I've seen, I can only recommend you to avoid it. It was a big disappointment because Pondok Laguna is actually extremely popular with Indonesians, some of whom consider it as one of the best Indonesian restaurants in Jakarta. Most of the time, it is hard to get a table even though there is enough room for at least 200 persons. The place looks touristy, with a giant fish sculpture towering above it on the outside, and a Balinese-like atmosphere inside. Most of the restaurant is in the open-air, and on each side there is a fountain with tropical plants. The main room does not allow for an intimate or cozy meal. It is extremely noisy, with people entering and leaving all the time. On top of that you have that annoying Balinese music, which reminds me of the worst venues in Kuta. Most tables can accommodate 20 to 30 people so you might also sit next to random customers.
Puri Sehat is a small massage parlour located near Gunung Sahari, and 10 minutes from Pasar Baru and Mangga Dua. Rather cheap but I read a few complaints about the cleanliness and service. I would say that unless you leave very nearby, go to Delta Spa or My Place instead. Service plus plus provided but negociation needed. Puri Sehat Spa and Massage
Taj Mahal is the most authentic Indian restaurant I've been to in Jakarta so far. I found it while I was walking around in Pasar Baru, one of the two areas in Jakarta with strong Indian communities (the second one is Sunter). After visiting a Sikh temple, I asked the guards what was the best Indian restaurant around, and they drove me straight to Taj Mahal. From outside, it is very easy to miss because it is not bigger than a warung. The inside looks old, with some Indian decoration, but nothing fancy. It was 3 in the afternoon when I entered, and apart from me, there was a Pakistani and an Indian. They were quite surprised to see a westerner so it was not long before we started to chat.
Velvet means purple Velvet is the bar located in the Red Top hotel. It has live music during the week and DJs on week-ends. Clients are mostly Indonesians staying in the hotel. Some prostitutes working there. Plays International and local standards on request. Not a bar I would go back to as it is too quiet.