Surabaya Nightlife: Best Nightclubs, Bars and Spas (Updated 2021)
By
Tibs
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I have always enjoyed Surabaya nightlife even though the options for nightclubs and bars are limited and somewhat provincial. 3 million people live there, making it the second largest city in Indonesia. Compared to Jakarta, it still feels laid-back and unsophisticated. The streets are rather clean, you can walk on the sidewalks and the traffic is not horrible. There are several modern malls, but none of them as chic as Plaza Indonesia or even Grand Indonesia. Few expats live in Surabaya and even fewer tourists visit it. As a result, you may get more attention than usual from locals. I remember being at McDonald's and people were pointing at me as if I was some sort of curiosity. Since COVID happened, a lot of places have closed down in the city and the opening times may be shorter now. It can be a good idea to make a phone call to the venue you want to visit beforehand. If you are completely new to Surabaya, the best way to start your night out is to go to a mall li
Desperados Bar is one of the few expat bars in Surabaya. If you are on a business trip, it is a convenient place to have a few drinks and kill your boredom. The concept is similar to BATS in Jakarta , though it is much less happening. Located in the basement of the Shangri-La, it has a daily live band (Indonesian playing Top 40 songs from the past 40 years), some working girls, and a grill/Mexican restaurant attached to it. Most of the action is around the circular bar where you can easily meet other expats.
Surabaya nightlife is centered around a few areas: The most strategic one is Tunjungan Plaza , where you have nightclubs like Coyote or Coyote Clubs: Hotels Near Tunjungan Plaza Surabaya . Another option is to stay near Surabaya Town Square (Sutos) This mall is about 10 minutes away from Tunjungan Plaza by taxi. Inside, there are several nice bars, and particularly Eclectic Pub, one of the most happening in the city. There is also a nightclub called Foreplay popular with students. The Sutos area is more suitable if you are a younger traveler. You can see a full list of nearby properties here: Hotels Near Surabaya Town Square Surabaya .
Update 2021: Club 360 was closed for some time but they are currently looking for staff. It might reopen soon. Club 360 is part of the Renaissance Royal complex in Royal Plaza in Surabaya. It is next to the massage parlour Celsius and the KTV Rhythm. Everything belongs to the Top Ten Group, the owner of Coyote . The club is not always very crowded. Most often, you only have a few groups of guys drinking with lady companions from the karaoke. If you come alone, you may have a GRO (Guest Relation Officer) coming to chat with you.
Colors Pub is one of the most famous bars/clubs in Surabaya. Centrally located on Jalan Surabaya (next to the Society Complex), it is part of the same group behind Eclectic and Our Bar. It is mostly a live music venue with a large performance stage and tables all around it. They are opened every day of the week, with a different event each night (see their Instagram below for the updated schedule).
Despite its kinky name, Club Foreplay is a normal nightclub with a crowd of students and executives. It is actually one of the rare venues in Surabaya without any hookers or lady companions. It is located inside the popular mall Sutos (Surabaya Town Square), one of the favourite hang-out place for young Surabayans. After midnight, as the cafés become empty (among which Eclectic ), Foreplay gets more crowded. Foreplay is oddly L-shaped, with two massive pillars in the middle. For this reason, you cannot see everything at once inside, which is not usual. It feels more like a bar than a nightclub. The dance floor below the podium is also tiny as most of the space is occupied by tables.
Coyote Club in Surabaya is one of the most infamous party spots in the city. It is owned by a group that owns several other clubs, bars, and spas in the city.
Kowloon International Palace is a one-stop entertainment complex in Surabaya. It features C-bar (live music), Kowloon (nightclub) and a Chinese restaurant. They also do weddings and concerts in their function hall. It is located on the 5th floor of the mid-class mall Plaza Surabaya. The first time I went there, the taxi dropped me off at the lobby, but there is no lift so I had to walk through the parking to get there. Make sure you get dropped on the 5th floor.
Eclectic Pub and Lounge is a bar located in Surabaya Town Square mall (Sutos). It belongs to the owner of the mall, who also opened Eclectic Pub (now closed) in Cilandak Town Square and Seminyak Town Square. Eclectic is one of the best nightlife venues in Surabaya because it is always crowded. In fact, when I'm in Surabaya I often start a night out in Sutos because I'm always sure to find a busy bar or café. It is also where the Foreplay nightclub is located.