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

The Barrels (Summarecon Mall Serpong)

The Barrels is one of the few decent beer-drinking joints you will find in Serpong/Tangerang. It is inside Summarecon Mal, on the downtown walk, and it basic but lively. You have a big poster of a cave with barrels on the walls, some high tables and chairs in lign, and the barrels... For a little above Rp250k, you can order a small barrel of Bintang to share with your friends.

They also have local live music bands on weekends.

Opening Hours: 10am to 1pm

The Barrels - House of Bintang
Summarecon Mall Serpong (Downtown Walk #DGF-3), Tangerang
Phone: +62-21 4586 4959

There is also one branch in La Piazza Mall:

The Barrels Kelapa Gading (near Harmiones Barrack)
La Piazza, Ground Floor Unit # G 2A,
Jl. Boulevard Kelapa Gading, Jakarta

Website: barrels1767.com
More pictures and infos on their facebook fan page: The Barrels SMS

Beer Garden (Kemang)

Beer Garden is currently one of the busiest bars in Kemang. Even on a Sunday night you should find it full. Nothing too fancy inside but it looks clean and cozy.

Recommended for the easy-going atmosphere though it can get hot sometimes. If you go clubbing right after spending an evening in Beer Garden, chances are you will be all sweaty. It is not the cheapest place in Kemang, but the prices are very affordable. You can also try the nearby Bremer bar if you are into beer gardens.

Open from 6pm to 2am (3am on weekends). Live music on Wednesdays and Weekends (Acoustic).

Beer Garden Kemang
JL. Benda No.7, Kemang
Tel: +62-21 789 1145

More information about events and promotions: Facebook Beer Garden Kemang.
Twitter: http://twitter.com/beergarden_kmg

Birdie (Kemang)

Birdie, a "beer warung" is a small café, partly in the open-air, serving cheap beer and food. If i was younger this is the kind of bar I would like, with a friendly, laid-back atmosphere and low prices. The food is not excellent, but for a snack it is ok.

Opening hours:

Everyday from noon to midnight.

Happy hours from Monday to Thurday (4pm-6pm): Beer starts at Rp10,000 a bottle.

Birdie Warung Bir
Jalan Kemang I no3
Phone number: +62-21 9127 9207 or +62-21 9222-8666

Facebook fanpage: Birdie Beer House Kemang

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/BirdieWarungBir

Bremer (Kemang) Jakarta Beerhouse

Bremer Beer House is a friendly, tiny bar in Kemang with a beer garden and live performances occasionaly. Very popular at the moment, it's a good address to try in Kemang and it's not particularly expensive. The crowd is quite young though so you may want to avoid it if you are anything above 25 years-old.

You can have more infos about events here: Bremer Kemang Jakarta Facebook group.

Bremer Jakarta (opposite Splash)
Jl. Kemang 1 No. 8
Mampang Prapatan, Jakarta Selatan
Indonesia 12730

Phone number: +62-21 7199304

Opening Hours:
From Sunday to Thursday until from 4pm to 2am, and until 3am on weekends.

Café De Burse (Jakarta)

Café De Burse is the latest bar opened by Bartele, probably Jakarta's most famous expatriate. He is also the owner of Eastern Promise, De Hooi, Cazbar, and One Tree.

De Burse is different from his other venues, though the concept remains similar: It is a restaurant and bar with an international menu, friendly and cute waitresses, and a regular schedule of events and promos. So far, it is still quiet, probably because the location is only busy during working hours.

I had a caipirinha (Rp68k) and I was disappointed as they used ice cubes instead of crushed ice. But it is common in Indonesia so it wasn't a big deal. I didn't order any food, but considering what I had in his other venues, you can expect good-value for money, even with western dishes. An average meal will cost you less than Rp80k, and a pint of Bintang Rp53k, including taxes.

Overall: Recommended venue, but not too happening so far. It is perfect for an after work drink if you work close from the Jakarta stock exchange. My favorite part was the interior design, very neat. It is a copy of a Dutch bistro, with some interesting Indonesian antiques.

Practical details:

Wide screen TV, Free Wifi, International newspaper, daily promotions on drinks
Ladies' night is every night with 50% off on all drinks (excluding wine).

Opening Hours:
Every day from 7am to midnight

De Burse Café
Equity Tower, LG Unit E, SCBD lot 9,
Jl. Jenderal Sudirman Kav 52 - 53

Phone number: +62-21 290 35451
Email: info@deburse.com

Website: http://www.deburse.com/
Facebook: De Burse Jakarta
Twitter: http://twitter.com/DeBurse

Die Stube (Kemang)

One of the favorite expat restaurants in Jakarta, Die Stube manages to serve excellent German food at a reasonable fare (less than Rp100,000 for a meal with drinks). The design is very simple, nothing too fancy. Highly recommended.

It is also a popular drinking joint as it offers a wide selection of beers. The crowd is a mix of locals and long-term expatriates (all age groups, but mostly above 35). They organize a special event for Oktoberfest every year and put a wide screen when the German team is playing. Live music occasionally. You can check their latest news on its facebook page: Die Stube.

The owner of Die Stube, Patrick Widjaja, opened a similar restaurant in Cilandak called Imbiss Stube (Citos). Other German restaurants in Jakarta are Paulaner Brauhaus (more upmarket) and Ya Udah Bistro.

Opening hours: Every day from 11.30am to midnight (1am on weekends).

Contact details:

Die Stube

Plaza Bisnis Kemang
Jl. Kemang Raya 2 Jakarta 12730
Telephone : +62-21 71793486

E-mail : diestube@cbn.net.id
Website: http://www.diestube.com/

More German restaurants in Jakarta on this post: Top German Restaurants in Jakarta.

Eastern Promise Pub and Live Music (Kemang)

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.

Surprisingly, many Indonesian girls go there to hang out and I would put it in the OK bars to meet single women in Jakarta. I don't know if they met there, but there are always quite many mixed couples in EP.

There are special promos or events almost everyday, so be sure to check:
Facebook pages: Eastern Promise or EP (the latter one is more updated)
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/easternpromise
Website: http://www.easternpromise-jakarta.com/ (new site - April 2011)

Eastern Promise
Kemang Raya No. 5
Jakarta Selatan
DKI Jakarta - Indonesia

Phone number: +62-21 7179 0151
Email: lens.ep@bugilsnews.com

Harmiones Barrack café (Kelapa Gading)

A bar/restaurant, Harmonies Barrack is more popular for its discounted prices on beer than its food (Rp25k for draught Carlsberg). Not very pretty but easygoing atmosphere, especially among the shisha smokers. Mostly young, local crowd.

I think the Barrack is for Barrack Obama but I'm not 100% sure... Another similar beer drinking joint in La Piazza is The Barrels.

Harmiones Barrack
La Piazza, Ground Floor
Jl. Raya Boulevard Kelapa Gading Blok M

Phone number: +62-21 458 64998

Hops & Malt (Beer House)

Hops & Malt is a fun place to drink cheap beers in Pantai Indah Kapuk. Popular with young Indonesians, it is similar with other recently-opened beer houses in Jakarta (Barrels, La Bière, etc..). It is the beginning of a new trend actually, since until a few years ago, beer drinking was not so common outside of the main bars in Kemang and the Golden triangle (except in dodgy venues).

The main originality is that Hops & Malt have a few beer drinking games available, such as Beer Pong, Beer Dart and Beer Roulette. They also serve some western dishes that may be OK for Indonesians but will probably not suit a demanding expat's palate...

Hops & Malt

Pantai Indah Kapuk (PIK) Boulevard, 

Ruko Garden House blok B no. 17-18a,

Jakarta, Indonesia

Phone number: +62-21 290 33210/+62-21 290 33217 

Email: Hops.Malt@yahoo.com

Facebook: Hops and Malt Jakarta
Twitter: HopsMalt

Photo credit: Hops and Malt Jakarta and BudweiserIndonesia

La Bière Restaurant Beer House

La Bière (the beer in French) is a restaurant with Indonesian and Western food, and more importantly, a late-night hangout spot in the Central Park mall (Tribeca).

I didn't try the food, but from what many food blogs are saying, it is rather good, though more expensive than average.

To have a beer, it is perfect especially on Friday and Saturday as it doesn't close before 3am. It isn't extraordinary, but you don't have so much choice if you live in the area anyway.

Opening hours:
Everyday from 11am to midnight (and 3am on weekends)

La Biere Restaurant and Beer House
Central Park Tribeca GF 09-10
Jl. Letjen S. Parman Kav 28
Taman Anggrek, Jakarta 11470

Phone number. +62 21 292 000 43

Facebook: La Bière Jakarta

Photo Credit: Budweiser Indonesia

Minus 2 (Senayan)

Update October 2011: Minus 2 is closing at the end of the month but it should open again in another location soon.

Minus 2 is a bar who came with the concept of serving extremely cold beer to its customers... Sounds very marketing-ish to me... Average prices for a mall.

The bar is quiet apart from that, and past the amusement of getting your beer, quite boring. One good thing, the sofas are comfortable and you can look at everyone passing by in the mall.

Update November 2010: The bar is becoming nice since I wrote this, there are now quite many customers, and at least it is the loudest place to go to in Fx Mall. Music is house/rnb. Some expats are there.

 

Minus 2
fX lifestyle X'nter Second floor
23-25 Jl Jenderal Sudirman
Pintu Satu Senayan

Phone number : +62 21 2555 4099
Fax: +62 21 2555 4088
Twitter : @Minus2
Blackberry : 20E504DD
Email: info@minustwo.com

Opening hours: From 11am to midnight (and 3am during the weekend)

Facebook group with updated events and photos: Minus Two Bar, Resto, and Live sports

Murphy's Irish Pub & Restaurant (Kemang)

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.

Murphy's Pub is also a great place to watch sporting events thanks to its 150 inch screen TV + 5 other large plasmas. At last, they have a cold room, which I think is unique in Jakarta, in order to enjoy your beer cold all the time.

Contact details and practical information:
Murphy's Irish Pub Jakarta
Kemang Raya No. 11
South Jakarta

info@murphysjakarta.com
Tel: +62 21 718 3382

Open every day from 11am to 2am. Happy hours: Until 8pm.

Website of Murphy's Bar: Irish Pub Jakarta
Photos taken on Murphy's facebook fan page here. Check it for more information about promos, special events and the sports schedule.

Ne Mare Restaurant & Bar

Ne Mare is a restaurant serving fusion Asian Cuisine that has DJ and live band on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Not a dancing spot but a good warm up before heading somewhere else. Not too expensive, especially with discounts on Wednesdays (free flow for 3 hours at 150,000rp) and Thursdays (buy 1 get 1 draught beer). Food is below average (snacks).

Happy hours: Every day from 5PM to 9PM (only 20% off on all drinks).

Ladies' Nite on Wednesday.

Opening Hours:
11am to 1pm from Sunday to Thursday
11am to 2am on Friday and Saturday

Ne Mare Restaurant & Bar
Graha Codefin Building (Ex Tira Building)
Ground Floor, JL. HR. Rasuna Said Kav B3, Setiabudi, Kuningan 12920

Email: nemarejakarta@yahoo.com
Twitter : @nemarejakarta
Phone number: +62-2157933736

Pizza e Birra Restaurant

Pizza e Birra, owned by the Ismaya group, is re-inventing the wheel and proposes you an alcoholic version of Pizza Hut. The name is self-explanatory: Pizza e Birra has mostly pizzas (+ appetizers & soups) and beers (all kind, among which some fruit-flavoured) in its menu. The quality of the food is better than in any fast food but it’s far from being great cuisine. The beers, except for a few names are those that can be found in any other restaurant or bar. A good reason to go there is for the live music band on Friday and Saturday, and for the Beer Pong tournament that takes places once in a while. The big drawback is that of course, it is very expensive.

I’m always amazed to see with how much confidence the Ismaya Group manages to transform everything it touches into something funky & modern. I would never have bet that eating junk food with Bintang, in a Muslim country, could ever be seen a hot thing to do.

My opinion is that Pizza e Birra is a marketing concept that targets perfectly the young, urban Jakarta crowd. It is also a nice place for having an expensive snack after a movie, but there is way to much fuss about it.

The website looks nice but it’s difficult to access (slow to load): Pizza e Birra. You can try its facebook fanpage instead, from which I took the pic.

Pizza e Birra Plaza Indonesia
Lantai 5, Unit E 22
Jl. MH Thamrin

Pizza e Birra Setiabudi
Setiabudi Building
Jl. H.R. Rasuna Said II

Open from 11AM to 11PM (1AM on weekends)

Pride Bar & Dine (Kebayoran Baru)

Pride is owned by the 7 Sins group, which belongs in part to the much talked-about Luna Maya.

It is a very basic bar, only decorated by a few posters, focusing on very low prices and friendly atmosphere. A draft beer will cost you about Rp 20,000 and cocktails start at Rp 45,000. They also have some food, pizzas, soups, sandwiches, nasi goreng, etc, not so expensive but not recommended for a proper dinner (around Rp25k).

It is quite popular and the crowd is made of loyal customers, which adds to the friendly atmosphere. Yet, if you do not live nearby, I don't think it's worth going so far from Jakarta nightlife's main areas (Golden Triangle, Kemang, Menteng, etc..).

Opening hours:
Every day from 11am to 1am (2am on weekends). Happy hours from 5pm to 7pm: 1 free beer if you buy 3 bottles. Live Music on Wednesdays (acoustic).

Pride Bar & Dine Kebayoran Baru
Jl. Suryo No 24, Senopati, Jakarta
Phone number: +62-21 7278 7808

Email : pridejkt@gmail.com

Facebook : Pride Bar Jakarta (I took the pics from there) - Good information about events and promotions.
twitter : @PrideJKT - Very active