The Swillhouse - R&B and Hip Hop Bar - Jakarta
By
Tibs
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H&S Swillhouse is a hip-hop and R&B club that replaces Hide and Seek , in Fairgrounds SCBD. In the same complex, you also have popular venues such as Fable , Lucy in The Sky and The Pallas . I visited on a Friday night around 1AM. I was warned at the entrance that all the tables were occupied and that I could only stand at the bar. I was fine with it so I went inside, free of charge. The design is as minimalist as it can be. It is basically just a mid-size rectangular room with concrete walls and floors, neon lighting and sofas on the side. Positioned at the entrance, the bar is quite large and it wasn't too crowded. On the contrary, the narrow dance floor was packed all the way from the bar area up to the DJ booth. It was almost impossible to move, let alone dance. Something particularly annoying was that there is only one toilet at the back which is quite difficult to reach. While the music in Hide and Seek was often electronic/techno, the Swillhouse is f
Blowfish is one of the most popular club among the Jakarta elite, with Dragonfly and now Immigrant , and a classic of Jakarta's nightlife. Lots of Chinese people, some expats as well, and many beautiful girls with expensive dresses and perfect hair. It's glam until 3am, then everybody is drunk. It seems most people don't really go to Blowfish to have fun, but rather to be seen, a glass of Champagne (mixed with Sprite to make it more sweet) in the hand. The music is good though, usually Rnb and on weekends it's always crowded. The club has foreign DJs regularly, and good ones, making it a very happening night club. Apart from the bar and the club, there is an excellent italian restaurant , Puro, with a modern but expensive Italian menu.. It is owned by Ismaya group, who's also behind Dragonfly, Sushigroove, Social House and the future Ministry of Sound Jakarta . You can check their website for all events related to this nightlife spots: Ismaya Group Indonesia
Update 2018: X2 is now closed. They will reopen shortly with a new name and new concept. Check their Instagram for more information: https://www.instagram.com/x2clubjakarta/ This review about X2 was updated in July 2011: The X2 club is South Jakarta's biggest night club complex, featuring in the same building one restaurant and four different party areas, each with a different theme and a different music. To me it is a more acceptable version of Kota’s big one-stop entertainment nightclubs, without the naughty side, but with the very same all-in-one concept and the same appeal among Indonesians. It is owned by the Lifestyle Unlimited Group, also the owner of the clubs Vertigo and X-Lounge (now closed), of the karaoke X-KTV, and of the restaurants Shabu Tei and Charcoal.