Airman Planet Lounge... What a name for a venue in a five-star hotel! The Sultan, ex-Hilton, doesn't have the reputation to be a rocking place, but this new lounge may bring some excitment.. Airman Planet Lounge is open every day of the week until 00h30 (1h30 during weekends), and it has a live band every evening at 9PM. Expensive, but great sound system and service.
An all-time favourite of Jakarta's nightlife. Very, very popular bar among expatriates, especially those who are already married. Easy to know why, considering the number of pretty, sexy girls. But the place isn't just about finding a partner. You can have a lot of fun partying there, because you will easily meet people in a relaxed atmostsphere.
BATS has a live band, imported from Quebec the more often and playing Top 40 songs. A bit annoying because it's hard to talk and hard to find a place to seat though, but at least you will be pushed in the crowd and on the dancefloor. The entrance fee is quite expensive, around Rp. 100,000, but they will serve you a very large beer. Good to go on Sunday or Monday because it is one of the few places still crowded. Very tasty steaks at the restaurant.
I shot a video of the live band:
Opening hours:
5pm - 2am (Sunday - Thursday)
5pm - 3am (Friday and Saturday)
Dinner: 7pm - 10pm
Happy hour from 5pm - 7pm
BATS Jakarta
Shangri-La Hotel (Level 1) Kota BNI JL. Jend. Sudirman Kav. 1
Phone: +62-21 570 7440 ext. 6401 Official website here: BATS Jakarta
Blu Martini is the stylish bar of the 5-star Marriott. It is non-happening, and most customers are guests from the hotel. Not a ton of hookers like in BATS or CJ's, but still a few, plus some older women who might be looking for gigolos. Live jazzy music playing from Monday to Saturday.
Overall: I've been to Blu Martini once only, on a Thursday for Ladies Night. It was so quiet that we didn't stay more than 10 minutes. Not worth it if you don't stay in Marriott. Rather expensive, but as long as you're there, you should try one of their 88 kinds of martinis.
Opening hours: From 7am to 1am everyday.
Blu Martini bar & lounge In the lobby level of JW Marriott Hotel Jl. Lingkar Mega Kuningan Kav. E1.2 No. 1 & 2 South Jakarta 12950, Indonesia Kuningan
Expensive drinks (Beer = Rp 60k), but classy bar with live music everyday (including Jazz) and businessmen talking. Not a hotspot of Jakarta nightlife and rather quiet, it attracts the capital's most upmarket crowd. Definitely not a girls' bar comparing with BATS in Shangri La hotel or CJs bar in Hotel Mulia, but unexpected meetings are not impossible since some rich, older indonesian women come here. There are a few working girls as well that always hang out in Burgundy and I suppose they are up for grab.
Awesome view on Plaza Indonesia, making the experience quite enjoyable.
Starting on March 5th, 2010, the Las Vegas style show "Mister Moonlight" will be in Burgundy at 21h30. You can read more about it in this article of Jakarta Globe: Mister Moonlight. The same show used to be in Gaudi.
Contact details: Burgundy Jakarta Grand Hyatt 4th Floor Jl. M.H. Thamrin Kav. 28-30 Jakarta 10230
Opening hours: From Sunday to Thursday - 4:30 pm to 1:00 am From Friday to Saturday - 4:30 pm to 2:00 am
Hotel bar, with mostly expats, prostitutes and business travelers. No entrance fee but you have to buy a first drink, more than Rp100,000 usually (large beer is Rp130,000). The bar underwent renovation, and became a bit more classy than it used too. Kind of Red Square-esque, but "normal girls" don't really go there as they do in Red Square. There is always a good band playing top 40 songs, with a DJs taking its turn during the breaks. I like to go there regardless of the bar girls scene because there's always quite a crowd and it's very lively, even during the week.
You can check its facebook fan page here for events: CJ's Jakarta
Update March 2011: I've been there twice this week and it was packed both times, with expats from all over the world (mainly Asian). There are lots of girls in CJs, but only a few are really pretty. The band was very fun, making the night very entertaining. The only problem would be the cost of the hangover since most drinks will cost you way over $15. As I said in my first review, I recommend you to try it on week nights, when all the other bars are quiet (Check also BATS).
I have a video of CJs live music act + some pictures from those 2 nights out:
Contact and details of CJ's:
Hotel Mulia Senayan Jalan Asia Afrika
Phone number: +62 21 574 7777
Opening hours: Mon - Thurs: 5:00 pm - 2:00 am Fri - Sat: 5:00 pm - 3:00 am Sun: 5:00 pm - 2:00 am
The bar in the Hotel Borobudur. It's mostly a place with Indonesian people. The live band will play a mix of international and local songs everyday from Monday to Saturday night. I find it a bit dark but I love the retro decoration (i don't think they did it on purpose though), much nicer than a lot of more modern places in Jakarta.
"Has a good live band on Friday evening and a very friendly atmosphere, mix of chinese, hotel customers, prostitutes, Indonesians and expats. Sometimes empty, sometimes full. Bar as surprising as unpredictable". Review from SZ.
Grand Manhattan Club Hotel Borobudur Jakarta East Wing Lapangan Banteng Selatan Jakarta10710, Indonesia Tel. : + 6221 384 2223 Fax. : + 6221 3835097
Opening hours: Monday to Thursday 03.00pm to 02.00am Friday to Saturday 03.00pm to 03.00am
Nice classy wine bar, popular with businessmen, expats and wealthy locals. The decor is inspired by the town of Kudus, in Central Java, to make its interior Jakarta's first "Javanese wine lounge".
The beautiful furniture and artefacts gives Kudus an elegant feel, without being too pompous. You also have an interesting selection of live music, from jazz to acoustic, every day from 8pm to midnight (you can check the schedule here: Sultan Jakarta Kudus Bar).
Kudus is quite expensive, but you have some interesting discounts if you come during the happy hours, from 5pm to 8pm, with 30% off on beers and soft drinks and 15% off on wines.
At last, the list of wines and champagnes is very complete, with the possibility to take away some bottles. If you want to eat in Kudus, you have the possibility to bring food from Taman Sari, the famous restaurant of the Sultan Hotel.
Address details: Kudus, in Sultan Hotel (ex-Hilton) Jl Jend Gatot Subroto Hotel Jakarta Hilton Internasional; Jakarta; Dki Jakarta
Mistere is the bar of the Ritz-Carlton Mega Kuningan. It features two different areas: One is similar to a nightclub with a scene for live bands and one less dark with Latin nights on Thursdays (Salsa) and Saturdays (Tango).
The crowd is what you would except from Ritz-Carlton, high-class with many expatriates and businessmen. You also have many ladies above 30 years-old (and some much older) that come for the latin nights and also, I suspect, to look for gigolos. I always see some odd couples in Mistere of old girls/young studs and it doesn't seem like big love to me. There are also some escorts, mainly in the live bar. It is very subtle but I observed one guy is always there with a few girls and he seems to be the pimp. He chats with customers and introduce them to one of the ladies, some of them are quite beautiful I must admit.
In the salsa room of Mistere
Mistere is one of my favourite venues in Jakarta, even though I don't dance salsa. I think the bands playing live are always quite entertaining and the sound system is great. The entrance fee is Rp100,000 and you will pay about the same price for any drink. That is not so much more expensive that other bars and clubs in Jakarta with similar standards.
It has a very expensive karaoke also (package start at Rp3.5 million) with great equipment and excellent service.
Following bombings in July 2009 of the Ritz Carlton and Marriott Hotel, the places have been closed for an short period of time.
Update March 2011: Salsa night do not happen on Tuesday anymore, only on Thursday. You also have a tango night on Saturday.
The room in Mistere for salsa and tango is now known as the Champagne Lounge to differentiate it from the live music room, the Live Bar.
Opening hours: From 6pm to 2am (later on weekends). Closes on Sunday and Monday)
Contact details: Mistere Ritz-Carlton Jakarta JL. Lingkar Mega Kuningan Kav. E.1.1 NO.1, Mega Kuningan Phone Number Ritz Carlton Jakarta: (62-21) 2551 8888
Be careful, there are TWO Ritz-Carlton in Jakarta, on in Mega Kuningan, and the other one in One Pacific Place. Mistere Club is in Ritz Carlton Mega Kuningan.
A relatively new-comer in the Jakarta nightlife scene, MO Bar has become quite popular for its ladies' night on Tuesday, especially with the few single expat women living in the city*.
MO bar is not very big but it is elegant. It looks quite similar with the bar in Hyatt, Burgundy, for its cozy and dim-lighted atmosphere. But I prefer Burgundy because from there you have an incredible view over Jakarta.
The prices are expensive, around Rp120k for a cocktail, in line with similar venues. You can also have some snacks (tapas) or bring food from Mandarin Oriental restaurant's Lyon.
MO Bar a bit empty on a Monday night...
Like absolutely any hotel bars in Jakarta (from Mistere to B.A.T.S.), there are some working girls any night of the week, most of them not looking very fresh. And as the night goes on, the cuties tend to go away, leaving very few options for the late customers.
Event schedule: The live DJ plays only on Tuesday and Thursday, so any other night should be quiet. On Saturday, they have live blues music.
* If you happen to be an expat women living in Jakarta, you can check out Jakarta Nightlife for Women for information about the best party spots for girls.
Opening hours:
5pm to 2am (Monday to Saturday) 5pm to midnight (Sunday) Happy hours from 5pm to 8pm Contact details: MO Bar Mandarin Oriental Hotel Jalan MH Thamrin PO Box 3392 Jakarta 10310
Oak Room is quaint lounge located inside Nikko Hotel. I went there to have a quick drink after eating in the Olive Tree restaurant, and even though I would not come back, I thought it was a nice place to relax. Since the bar is quite small, almost all the sofas were taken on that evening.
I guess most clients are Nikko Hotel guests since there isn't anything special to make anybody else visit. Some pop music in the background, a lot of cigarette smoke, free magazines/books, old furniture, that's about all for the atmosphere.
Oak Room has a decent selection of wines, liquors and cigars, with prices slightly inferior to that of a 5-star hotel bar (Rp80,000 for a cocktail).
Opening hours: Everyday from 11am to 1am.
Oak Room Nikko Hotel Jakarta, Ground Floor Jl. M.H. Thamrin No. 6 Jakarta Pusat 10350, Indonesia
Phone number: +62-21 230 1122 ext 22423 Website: Oak Room Jakarta
Pleasant hotel bar, unfortunately not very happening. They have a decent live band on week-ends, and the crowd is mixed indonesian/expats, most of whom are guests from the hotel.
The day I set foot in Pitstop was a very special one, as it was the 100th bar I had been to in Jakarta. I finished the night early morning in Emerald Disco, which became my 107th.
Operating Hours Everyday except Sunday: 5pm to 12pm (until 3am on Friday and Saturday night)
Contact details: Pitstop Bar & Lounge Hotel Sari Pan Pacific Jakarta Jalan M.H.Thamrin 6, Jakarta 10340, Indonesia Phone number: +62-21 39831926
Airman Planet Lounge... What a name for a venue in a five-star hotel! The Sultan, ex-Hilton, doesn't have the reputation to be a rocking place, but this new lounge may bring some excitment.. Airman Planet Lounge is open every day of the week until 00h30 (1h30 during weekends), and it has a live band every evening at 9PM. Expensive, but great sound system and service.
