Colosseum Club (New 1001, Ex-K7)

Very interesting opening this year with the new Colosseum Club, which used to be part of K7 and is now managed by the same group behind Alexis hotel and Emporium Spa. Colosseum is actually the relocation of the 1001, which closed two years ago and was replaced by Illigals... Still following?

I went to Colosseum a few years ago and it was unfortunately a dying club (see my review here). Too bad because the place is really massive (2,000 persons capacity), one of the biggest in Jakarta and it has a huge potential.

With the new management, we can expect the place to become really popular: The music is now retro and house, with good sound system and spectacular lighting show. Being a part of Alexis group, it goes without saying that they have sexy dancers, fashion shows, and rooms...

Colosseum Club Jakarta (1001)
Jl. Kunir No.7
Jakarta, Indonesia 11110
Phone number: 0822-7000-1001

Open on Friday and Saturday until 4am

Email: Colosseum.jakarta@facebook.com
Website: http://1001jakarta.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/colosseum.jakarta/info
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Colosseum1001

Alibi Bar / Club (Rasuna Said)

Alibi bar/club replaces Jackrabbit, which was buzzing a few years ago but failed to find its crowd (to know why, read the review I wrote about it here).

The team behind Alibi combines the owners of some of the most popular clubs in Jakarta (X2/Domain, Embassy (already closed)). It is a rather beautiful venue, impressive with a dark vibe and high ceiling. The bar is long, with sofas and tables occupying all the way to the DJ, which is slightly elevated from the crowd. It should be a nice venue for special DJs performance, much more intimate than X2 in particular.

The sound system is brand-new and top quality: same new speakers than in Stadium. Excellent sound delivery, that's Indonesia's at its best.

Music that night was Vintage Rn'B/Hip Hop from the 90s, which seems to be the new fashion with the mature crowd (30-40). It brings something different from the usual dance/house music played in clubs with a younger crowd. Unfortunately, there were more waiters than clients the night we went there - even though it was a Saturday night. That was a pity.

Staff was extremely kind overall. Food was good and not so expensive: The Club Sandwich@70K for instance. Local crowd only. Sophisticated, and mature as mentioned before: above 30yrs old. I suspect that the crowd that night were acquaintances of the owners though.

Overall:
Major turn-off: The place was empty and had no party vibe at all. I hope Alibi won't meet with the same fate as its predecessor, but if they do not improve the marketings and events, I don't see how they could survive very long... I see that they had a few good DJs coming since they opened and I think they need to keep them coming until the place is established...With a solid group behind it, I'm confident they will succeed.

Contact details:

Alibi Bar and Club
Cyber 2 Tower (BTPN) Jalan HR. Rasuna Said Kav. X-5 No. 13
Phone number: 082138620093 or +62-21 2902 1357
Blackberry: 29F10EF
https://twitter.com/ALIBI_Jakarta
https://www.facebook.com/AlibiJakarta

Opened until 4am from Wednesday to Saturday night.

Altitude (Gaia, Salt Grill, Enmaru) @ The Plaza

Altitude is a group of 3 restaurants located on the 46th floor of the Plaza tower, one of the most expensive office buildings in Jakarta (also home the the Keraton hotel). 46th floor, yes: Great view of course, but make sure to book in advance and ask for a table near the window (if possible in the angle of the building).

Luckily for my wallet, I only tried one of the three restaurants, Gaia, the Italian. The food was good, but not spectacular for the price: 550k for one appetizer and one main course. The quality of the service and the attention that we got, not only from the waiters but also from the managers, including 3 foreigners, may have been what we are really paying in the restaurant.

One thing felt very wrong: The music was clubbing style and they only had one CD. So we had Gangnam Style and Party Rock Anthem twice each in one evening. That's twice too much.

In Altitude, there is also an Australian Steak House (Salt Grill) and a Japanese (Enmaru) that I haven't tried but visited. Salt Grill Jakarta is actually owned, or partially owned, or managed by Luke Mangan. If you don't know who he is, then you are just like me. Wikipedia will tell you that he is a celebrity chef from Australia, and probably a great business man too.

By visiting Altitude, I could not help but think about how the level (and the prices) of the restaurants have improved in Jakarta. We still don't have a Michelin-starred restaurant, but we are going there in a couple years I'm sure.

Altitude is trying to do that, with imported management, imported food & wine, and imported concepts. Altitude is saying: Jakarta can be just like Singapore or Hong Kong. I like down-to-earth restaurants so for sure Altitude restaurants are not what I prefer, but if what you are looking after is more sophisticated dining venues, then you will be happy in either Gaia, Salt Grill or En Maru.

Overall: Recommended if you have the money and/or if you need to impress a date. You can also try the bar area, (officially Cloud Lounge & Living Room) which was rather crowded during my visit (on a Saturday night), and it had a DJ.

Tips: Dress up and book in advance.

Altitude: Gaia (Italian Restaurant), Salt Grill (Australian Grill Restaurant), En Maru (Japanese Restaurant)

The Plaza, 46th floor
Plaza Indonesia
Jl. M.H. Thamrin
Kav. 28 - 30, Jakarta 10350, Indonesia

Phone number: +62-21 2992 2448

Facebook: The Altitude @ The Plaza

Twitter: Altitude

Website: Altitude Jakarta

Opening Hours:
Sunday to Thursday from 11am to 11pm
Friday from 11am to 12pm
Saturday from 11am to 2am

 

Potato Head Garage (SCBD)

Potato Head Garage is the new branch of Potato Head, opened where the huge one-stop entertainment complex called Bengkel used to stand (Bengkel means Garage by the way). This area has now some of the most popular bars and nightclubs in Jakarta, including Lucy In The Sky and Fable. Probably the hippest location for nightlife in Jakarta as of today (June 2013).

For this reason, the area has become very crowded at night on Fridays and Saturdays, and it should be a stop for anyone who wants to mingle with the upper Jakartan class. For now there aren't too many foreigners as the availability of easy girls is limited... 

Back to Potato Head Garage: It is not my style but at least it is different from any other venues in the city. It is a huge warehouse-style room, with a 20 meter ceiling, many sofas on the side and a massive bar in the middle. The theme is a bit eccentric, with a sort of chapel next to the bar, a huge classical piano, and dozens of chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. Should be visited once.

I noticed the crowd is mostly groups of friends, Indonesians and Indo-Chinese, sitting together and hanging out very casually... The atmosphere reminds me of SHY Rooftop in Kemang... It doesn't get too wild, a bit like a warm-up venue. The most interesting area is the main bar, where you have people who came just alone or by two, and they seem more interested to interact with other people. The music is a bit loud also, not proper for talking when you are in a group. I imagine (I hope) it is different during day time.

I didn't eat in Potato Head Garage, only had a cocktail which costed around 10 USD. This is standard for venues like that in Jakarta.

Overall: Recommended for groups of friends. If you are alone or just with another friend, or on a date, I would avoid. Very trendy place today, but my prediction is that it will not last more than 2 years.

Also, the aircon is extremely cold. We were all freezing inside.

Potato Head Garage
SCBD Lot 14
Jl. Jend Sudirman Kav 52-53




Jakarta South

Telephone: +62-21 5797 3330
https://twitter.com/pttgarage
Facebook: Potato Head Garage (from where I took the pictures)

Opening hours:
From monday to sunday: 11 am - 2 am

MooVina (Plaza Indonesia)

MooVina was opened by the same team (Svarna Group) behind Ocha & Bella, the popular Italian restaurant on Jalan Wahid Hasyim. The concept of MooVina is similar with long wooden tables and a lot of plants and flowers surrounding the restaurant. There is also a special attention to design with a few surprising items, and most important of all, good food prepared by an imported chef from France.

MooVina is not a copy of Ocha & Bella though. It is inspired by a romantic idea of France for the atmosphere, and the food combines French favourites with Vietnamese grill specialties.

It opened at the beginning of October 2012 and I'm sure it will be quite popular during the next few months. Please do not hesitate to share your thoughts about MooVina on this blog after you've experienced it.

MooVina Restaurant & Bar
Plaza Indonesia 3rd Floor #119 and 4th Floor #06
Jalan M.H. Thamrin Kav. 28-30
Jakarta, Indonesia 10350


Phone number:
Le Jardin +62-21 299 24567
Mezzanine +62-21 299 23999

Email: whatsup@moovina.com
Website: http://www.moovina.com
Twitter: Moovina Jakarta
Favebook: http://www.facebook.com/moovina/

The photos of MooVina on this blog review were taken on the twitter account of the restaurant.

Prive Club & Mezza9

Privé is the nightclub replacing Indochine. It is a mid-to-upper class venue, popular mostly with Indonesian but you'll always find a few foreigners there. The new management has been rather successful compared to the previous one, and the club has a good image and decent crowd on weekend. Expect mostly commercial music unfortunately.

Also comes with 2 restaurants, Mezza9 and Privé Kitchen Cosmopolitan.

Operational Hours : 


Mezza9 : Everyday 11am – 11pm. 


Prive Club : From Wednesday to Saturday (9pm to 3am, 4 am on weekends). 



Privé Club & Mezza9


fX Lifestyle X’enter 8th floor


Jalan Sudirman, Senayan, 
Jakarta

Reservation & Info : +62 877 822 89045


Phone number : +62-21 2555 4489 


Fax : +62-21 2555 4490


BB PIN : 21FB5A10 



Facebook (where I took the pictures): Prive or Prive Club Jakarta

Twitter : @priveJKT
Web Site: www.privejakarta.com
Email: marketing@privejakarta.com / herard@privejakarta.com

Fable Club @ Fairgrounds (Jakarta)

Fable is a new club opened in Fairgrounds (ex-Bengkel). Perfectly located in the center of the city and with an underground vibe, it has the potential of becoming a favourite of Jakarta nightlife. 

They've already had some interesting events in the past few weeks, with soul & hip-hop music as the main genre.

February, a reader of this blog sent me this interesting review that I'm sharing with you (Thanks to her!):

"I went to Fable on a Friday night. After reading the comment on this blog, I was prepared for the hostess to be rude and dress up to the nine. To my surprise, they were very nice and friendly and what more...free entrance.

I recommend the club goers to come after midnight because that’s when the party started. The music is mainstream R&B and hip hop. A little bit cheesy but the ambience is really nice: hardwood floors, sunroof top ceilings and cosy outdoor area.

It is definitely the place to go for those who like the friendly crowd of X2 but would prefer less-smoky and fancier club.

The crowd is mainly upper class Indonesians within young to very young demographic (early 20s). One guy told me he’s 18 (!) although I doubt it; he seems way younger than that.

Waitresses give away glow bracelets and necklaces to early birds and right after midnight, a number of hot and friendly hostesses swarm the dance party and make the party livelier. They pour shots of unknown liquors for those who don’t mind swapping bodily fluid with strangers (I keep thinking about the many mouths that shot pourer touches...but then again, it’s just me).

My friends and I ordered 1 bottle of gin and it cost us around 1.2 million rupiahs. I praise the waitresses and bartenders who are very helpful. The service is prompt and just right, not too intrusive. Based on my experience, one does not need to wait long to be served at the bar either.

Pet peeve: Wouldn’t it be nice if they actually make smokers smoke in the outdoor area? It’s just a couple of steps away. One can only hope.

Recommendation: dress up and be friendly.

Conclusion: I would definitely go back to Fable on a Friday night. "

 

Fable Club
Kawasan SCBD
Jl. Jend Sudirman Kav 52-53 Lot 22
South Jakarta, Indonesia
Phone: +62 21 515 5008 or +62 8119590668  or +62-21 5151 501
 

More information (I took the pictures of these sites):

Twitter: Fable_ALLin
Website: http://www.fable.co.id/ 

Facebook: Fable Jakarta

SKYE Bar & Restaurant (Menara BCA)

SKYE is the latest venue opened by the Ismaya Group, and for this reason, we can guess it will be the place to be in Jakarta for at least the next 3 months. 

The Menara BCA has 57th floor and is 230 meters high. Located on its 56th floor, SKYE's main attraction will obviously be the view over the city's skyline. The history of rooftop bars and restaurants in Jakarta has shown mixed results, with most places now closed (Vertigo, Kampus, Pure, Cilantro, etc...). I wish more success for SKYE.

At the time of writing, SKYE is probably the most spectacular venue in Jakarta and this is why I recommend you to try it. Expect a fancy crowd, and of course sky-high prices...

SKYE Jakarta
Menara BCA - 56th Floor
l. M.H. Thamrin No.1, Jakarta
Phone: +62-21 2358 6996

More information (this is where I got the pictures):

Website (not working yet): http://www.ismayagroup.com/skye
Twitter: SKYE 56
Facebook: SKYE MENARA BCA

Lucy In The Sky (Bar & Restaurant)

Located near Jalan Sudirman, in Fairgrounds (ex-Bengkel), Lucy In The Sky  is a rooftop restaurant/bar with an open-air garden terrace and a laid-back, close-to-nature atmosphere. The location of LITS is probably its best assets as it gives the feeling of escaping the city. Though in the heart of Jakarta's business district, it is surrounded with plants and flowers, which makes it relaxing, and a perfect spot to look at the skyscrapers around. Similar ambiance than SHY Rooftop but less expensive (80k for main dish) and with a better view.

Regarding the taste of the food though, there is still large room for improvement. For now, I advise you to stick with the drinks.

Opening hours:
Everyday from 3.30pm to 1am (2am during the weekend)

Lucy in the Sky
Kawasan Central Business District
 Kav 52-53

Jakarta Selatan 
Indonesia, 12190

Phone: +62-21 515 2308 / 09

E-Mail: info@lucyinthesky.co.id
Website: http://lucyinthesky.co.id/
Facebook (source of the photos): Lucy In The Sky Jakarta

Tree House (Kemang)

 

Tree House café is an "alternative" hang-out venue in Kemang. It is the kind of bar you are usually more likely to find in Europe than in Indonesia. As such, it isn't surprising that the two young owners, Anton Massoni and Francois Heirbaut, are respectively mixed Indonesian-Italian and mixed Indonesian-Belgian. 

Tree House is small and deliberately messy, but it probably helps the guests feel more comfortable. On the walls, you have paintings from local artists and it is expected that new exhibitions will take place regularly. There isn't a fixed live music schedule yet, so be sure to check their facebook/twitter for updates.

It is still new but I predict it will become a very popular spot. Tree House is trendy and it is in the mood of our times: eco-friendly, artsy and original. It is similar with 365, one of the best bars in Kemang.

Food and drink: The menu features Italian dishes (pasta) and snacks, as well as a selection of cocktails.

Opening hours: Open everyday (except on Monday): From 4pm to midnight (3am on weekends).

Tree House Jakarta

Jl. Kemang 1 No. 72, Kemang, South Jakarta

Phone number: +62-21 7179 1168

Email: info@treehousekemang.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/treehousekemang
Facebook: Tree House Kemang
Website (with the menu): http://www.treehousekemang.com

Photo credit: Nick Easton

BrewHouse Beer House (Senayan)

Concepts working well in Jakarta at the moment: 1) Feel-like-home lounges and restaurant with acoustic guitar 3 times a week, and 2) Beer Houses serving flavoured drinks from various countries.

Brewhouse bar & restaurant is in between the two concepts. First, it is a simple restaurant with OK taste, mainly some commonly popular dishes from all over the world. So far, not incredible.

The best part of the BrewHouse is actually the beer house: The bar area is a little tiny but it has an intimate feel. The owners wants you to get wild here if I believe that the stairs leading up to the central elevated table are an encouragement for people to dance on them. Music is Top 40, with acoustic live music from Wednesday to Saturday. It's not so original but it works well..

The bar has all kinds of different beers, but it is also brewing its own beer, some of them flavoured with fruits.

Opening hours:
From Sunday to Thursday 11am to 2am
From Friday to Saturday 11am to 3am

Happy hours everyday until 7pm.

BrewHouse Restaurant & Bar
Mall Senayan City, Lower Ground L99
Jl.Asia Afrika Lot 19 Jakarta Pusat

Tel: +62 21 - 97777677
Email: brewhousejakarta@hotmail.com
Twitter:@brewhousejkt
Website: Beer House Jakarta BrewHouse
Events and promos: See its facebook profile here.

Bloeming Bar and Restaurant (FX Plaza)

Bloeming could be a nice bar if it was located in Scotland, or at least in Blok M or Jaksa. But to have it here in a mall makes me feel this is just another marketing concept. The design is original though, it looks like the interior of a pirate ship, with some beautiful wooden tables and furniture.

The main reason to go to Bloeming is for drinking beer. They have 32 kinds of beer from all over the world, many that you cannot find elsewhere in Jakarta. They also have flavoured beers, which are usually a way to have girls coming too.

For around Rp.200,000, you have an all you can drink promo lasting three hours.

Happy hours from 11am to 8pm, buy one get one. Acoustic nights and ladies nights on Thursday. Food is served also, not tried, but they advertise a lunch promo at Rp.55,000.

Bloeming Beer Bar fX Lifestyle X'nter
FB floor #12
Jl. Jendral Sudirman
Pintu I Senayan
Jakarta Selatan

Phone: +62-21 9692 1000
Opening hours: Weekdays: 10.30am to 2am. Weekends: 10.30am to 3am.

Website: Jakarta Bloeming Beer House
Facebook group with events, parties and promotions here
Twitter: @BLOEMINGBar