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

Athena Executive Club and Bar (Kota Tua, near the canal)

Surrealistic club in Kota Tua, Jakarta's old town, on the border of the canal. Loud Music, very dark and apart from the waiters and the usual working girls, no customers. They probably have a karaoke and a spa, or some sort of massage parlour, because that's the way people party in Kota.

Contact details:
Athena Jakarta
Jl. Kali Besar Barat 22
(6221) 6916688

Chasio Garing ACC (Chinese Restaurant)

I came all the way from Sudirman to Jalan Pangeran Jayakarta, in Glodok, because I was told this street had some of the best Chinese street food stalls and warungs in Jakarta.

When I arrived, it was already late but some venues were still crowded. I chose one of them, Chasio Garing Acc, for a simple reason: They had air-conditioning. It turned out their unit was not functioning very well, so I had a chance to sweat a little, and also to get a few mosquito bites.

There isn't much to say about the inside as it looks like any typical warung: 4 walls with kitschy ornaments and posters, basic chairs and tables, and uncertain hygiene.

I had eaten the best Grilled Duck ever a week earlier in Liyen, and the one in Chasio Garing Acc was quite disappointing. Since it is twice as cheap in the latter, there wasn't much to expect anyway. I also tried the Beef Kwetiaw: The ingredients were not very fresh and the meat low quality. I only had a few bites and couldn't finish.

Kwetiaw Sapi Kuah (Boiled Kwetiaw with Beef, Rp22k)

Hainan Peking Bebek Panggan (Grilled Duck à la Hainan, Rp38k)

Overall: I was hoping I would find a gem in Jalan Pangeran, and it didn't happen. Chasio Garing Acc is fine if you love Chinese food and live 50 meters from the restaurant. If not, I don't think it is worth it.

 

Opening Hours:

Everyday from 10am to midnight

Chasio Garing Acc (Chinese restaurant)
Jalan Pangeran Jayakarta (Pang-J) 

No. 34 DD (Panca Warna), Jakarta
Phone number: +62-21 659 7263 / 625 0767

They also have two other branches:
Jalan Danau Agung Utara,
Blok G3 No. 12 (Satu Arah Sunter Mall)
Phone number: +62-21 913 02 943 / 6400 974/5

Jalan Boulevard Raya TB2/30
Kelapa Gading
Phone number: +62-21 452 0575 / 451 4331 / 96 445 222

Café Batavia (Taman Fatahillah, Kota)

Cafe Batavia is a classy, distinguished bar, in one of the most beautiful colonial buildings of Jakarta. A must-do for any tourists or newly arrived expats, it should also provide you with a good opportunity to visit Kota Tua, the historical center of Jakarta.

Nearby buildings include Old Batavia's Townhall and the VOC Governor office which can all be reached by foot. The area is currently being renovated as the government has finally come to realize its cultural importance and, though not much has been done yet, a stroll around the (polluted) canal back to the Stasiun Kota is something I really enjoy.

For those who are bold enough, I advise you to make a stop in Stadium on the way back, as a way to enjoy another monument of Jakarta!

Interesting fact: Churchill was ranked amond the World's best bars in 1996 by Newsweek.

Cafe Batavia
Taman Fatahillah, Kota
Tel.: (62)(21) 691 5531

If you fancy this bar, you might also like Bistro Boulevard (ex-Buddha Bar) (also in an historical building, but more hip and modern) or Lara Djonggrang.

Golden Crown night club, disco, karaoke and massage spa (Glodok Plaza)

Most popular disco in Kota these days for many Indonesians. There is one huge Techno Kota room and one lounge with live music and house/progressive DJ. Only serves Anker beer. Very mixed crowd, making it an interesting place to go: rich Chinese, Indian, middle class indos, some bules.... One of the few "safe" place to go in Kota if you don't know the city. It will be crowded most days from wednesday to saturday night. Since it's a one-stop entertainment, they also have a spa, karaoke, panti pijat plus plus, dan lain lain...

Contact details/Address:
Golden Crown Jakarta
Glodok Plaza Lt7-9
Jalan Pinangsia Raya No1, Jakarta
Phone number: 021 6230 28888

Very complete website with all the events and info about the facilities: Golden Crown Club Jakarta

Here are some shots of Golden Crown of the small and large room during concerts (it is a popular venue for Indonesian and chinese famous singers):

K7 (Jalan Kunir 7, near Stasiun Kota)

Update May 2011: I think that K7 is closed, but I need to check it... I will confirm this when I have time to visit again. If you have the information, please leave a comment.

A very good place but unfortunately often empty. Good house music and techno in the 2 rooms, Ibiza and Colisseum. The Colisseum is a really huge, impressive room, that looks just like... well, the Colisseum.. It might be one of the biggest club in Jakarta, with 6000 people maximum among which 3000 for the Colisseum. The music in this room is more for indonesians though, namely funky house. Foreigners will probably enjoy more the Ibiza room. No so many girls for a Kota nightclub, I think it's an exception, showing that nightlife in Kota can be about something else than sex and massage parlours. And people don't seem so high also, at least in the Ibiza room.

They have international DJs once in a while: Armin Van Buuren, Christopher Lawrence...

A good address to know for those who like Kota. It is Be careful though when you are outside the club: There seems to me a Taxi mafia that will force you to pay ridiculously high price for a ride. I think the best thing to do to avoid them is to walk a little and try to grab a blue bird or express cab. Or to order one and wait in the lounge.

Contact details:
K7 Jakarta
Jl. Kunir No. 7
Jakarta 11110

Phone (62-21) 690-7575
Website: K7 Hotel & Executive Club
Facebook: K7

The following pictures of K7 club (Colisseum room) were taken during the concert of a famous Indonesian singer, Mulan Jameela:

LIYEN (Authentic Chinese Cuisine)

Liyen is an authentic Chinese restaurant located in Kota. It is not very far from the Bank Mandiri Museum, maybe 3 minutes by foot. They specialize in Hakka cuisine (from Southeast China), with some recommended dishes like the Salted Chicked, the Grilled Duck, or the Fried Prawn with Salted Egg.

We went for half a grilled duck (Bebek Panggang Liyen, Rp100k), the grilled eel with vegetable (Lindung Cah Fumak, Rp55k) and the Fried Prawn with Salted Egg (Udang Goreng Telo Asin, Rp88k). As you can see, the prices are quite high for Kota (usually about 30% cheaper).

The service was very fast, and we had our plates full only 5 minutes after ordering.

Bebek Panggang 1/2 (Rp100k)

Lindung Cah Fumak (Rp55k)

Udang Goreng Telor Asin (Rp88k)

The duck was probably the best I ever had, and when I think about how it tasted in Duck King, I realized how bad it was there. In Liyen, the meat is juicy and tender, with the skin perfectly crispy. A must-try dish.

We took more risks with the eel, but it was worth it. The fish is quite dry, but with the vegetables it becomes much smoother to eat. By the end though, it became more difficult to finish the plate because I was starting to realize eels are some very ugly creatures.

At last, I only tried a tiny portion of the Prawn, but since I'm usually not a fan of seafood I won't comment. My friends said they liked it.

Overall: I had a great time in Liyen and I want to come back soon to try more dishes from their menu. From what I had, I can say it is one of the best authentic Chinese restaurants in Jakarta.
Concerning the atmosphere, it is pretty basic but it looks fine and they made an effort to put some Chinese decoration. The hygiene of the toilets could certainly be improved.

Liyen Restaurant
Authentic Chinese Cuisine
Jl. Asemka Raya no. 168A
Jakarta Kota 11110

Phone number: +62-21 693 0108 - 693 0208
Fax: +62-21 693 0189

Raja Mas or Rajamas Diskotik Jakarta Kota & Karaoke (Jalan Hayam Wuruk, near Golden Crown Club)

Once a shitty kota disco, the place has just been renovated and I believe it’s now one of the most "classy" Techno Kota* discos in Jakarta, before Millenium, 1001 or Golden Crown. Don't expect something amazing, but for me who went to the old place, it was quite a shock to see that it's now clean and redecorated.

Raja Mas has one medium size disco, very loud, there are 4 5-meters high speakers that will make you feel high even if you only had coffee. It has all the usual stuff for a one-stop-entertainment, including spa, karaoke, restaurant, etc... Beware because from the outside, the club looks terrible, but it isn't as bad inside.

Update January 2011: One of the owner of Raja Mas was arrested by the police following a shooting in Pluit. The man, Niko (28) seemed to belong to a powerful drug syndicate. In his house, the police found among other things 11,693 ecstasy pills, 965.2 grams of shabu-shabu (methamphetamine) and a gun.
(News article about the Raja Mas owner's arrest: Kapolres Jakut: Kemungkinan Nico Terlibat Mafia di Jakarta).


*Techno Kota = also called Funky House, is the hardcore techno remixes of popular hits that you can hear in some of North Jakarta's nightclubs. Much liked by Chinese and people high on drugs. If you are a westerner, you will hate it.


Neo Rajamas Jakarta
Gedung HWI Lindeteves Lt. 5
Jl. Hayam Wuruk No. 100
Reservation: +62 21 62 42 526
Email: Neo_rajamas@yahoo.co.id

Royal Pub (Mangga Besar)

Royal bar and massage is one of the joints located in Peng-J, in Mangga Besar. Some girls, live music, and a massage parlour.

Royal

Jl. Pangeran Jayakarta 

Kompleks Kota Indah Blok C 25 - 26 Jakarta

Sydney 2000 Disco and Executive Club (Plaza Glodok Jaya 9th Floor)

Another seedy, huge one-stop entertainment in Kota, with pumping Techno Kota, girls and complete obscurity. I call it the "ectasy factory". Go there and you'll figure why... Very agressive I thought. It's a nightmare to get out because the taxis are all crooks. So better you walk your way out until Hayam Wuruk...

There is a karaoke and massage parlour, politely called "Hotel Sydney 2000". Dirty .

Sydney 2000 Jakarta
Jl Hayam Wuruk Pert Glodok Jaya Lt 9
Phone number: +62 21 625 0686