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Nha Trang Nightlife (Vietnam)

March 28, 2016, 10:55 am
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If you are into beach bars, cheap drinks and hooking-up with drunk tourists, you might find that Nha Trang nightlife is the best in Vietnam.

I spent about a week there on holiday, during low season, and that gave me plenty of time to party in every single bar and nightclub in town.

The best thing about Nha Trang is that compared to other cities in Vietnam like Saigon or Hanoi, the rules are more relaxed. Venues stay open late, dress codes are rarely enforced, and it's more easy to find girl-friendly hotels. Prices are also very cheap, especially during low season. With a $50 budget, you should have enough to book at least a 3-star hotel, eat in nice beachfront restaurants and drink plenty at night.

The drawback of Nha Trang, as you've probably read elsewhere, is the huge proportion of Russian, Chinese and Vietnamese tourists compared to other nationalities. I really don't have anything against them, but I noticed that they tend to stay together, maybe because of the language or culture, and rarely mix. As a result, visiting a nightclub in Nha Trang can become quite a social experiment. You'll look at other people party but you won't always feel part of the action. Of course it depends where you go.

The objective of this review is to give you the best advice on where to go for nightlife in Nha Trang if you are like me, a single guy, Westerner, in his 30s.

Hotels in Nha Trang Near the Nightlife
Nha Trang is a medium-sized city with almost 400,000 inhabitants. Most of the tourists are logically staying near the beach front.

The area with an active nightlife is limited to the city center. If you want to be walking distance from nightclubs AND the beach, I recommend you to book one of the following hotels:

High-End:
If you book in advance, you can get a 5-star hotel in Nha Trang for 100$-150$. The best one is probably the brand new Intercontinental Nha Trang, from which you can walk to most nightclubs in Nha Trang (Zima Nightclub and Havana Club are across the street). There is also the stylish RuNam Bistro on the ground level, perfect for a date.

Sheraton Nha Trang is just next to it, but it is more expensive and older. It has a quiet rooftop lounge called Altitude.

The nearby Best Western Premier Havana is another excellent choice. It has one of the most amazing nightlife venues in Nha Trang, the Skylight 360° Rooftop Bar.

Novotel Nha Trang is great 4-star beach front property, usually less expensive (100$ for the cheapest room).

Mid-Range:
Liberty Central Nha Trang is just 100m from the beach and close from the busiest area for cheap bars and restaurants. It is also walking distance from the Sailing Club and Louisiane Brewhouse, the two nicest beach clubs in central Nha Trang.

Budget
There are hundreds of small guest houses and backpacker hostels in Nha Trang. To be near the nightlife and the beach, you can check any property located near Booze Cruise Bar or Why Not Bar.

Girl Friendly Hotels / Sex Hotels
The hotels above may not be girl-friendly. It is better to ask a receptionist whether it is ok for you to bring your "girlfriend" to your room.

If you want certainty, you can book a room in one of the two hotels below. Both have a massage parlours where sexual services are provided so you can expect them to be open-minded regarding who you stay with.

Quoc Te Hotel and Sauna is the most famous. Rooms are decent for about 20-40 dollars per night. It is also central, just 5 minutes away from the beach by foot and 10 minutes from good bars.

Hoa Dao Hotel, Karaoke and Spa is a bit further from the action but cheaper. You can get a room for less than 20$.


Best Bars and Nightclubs in Nha Trang
Most of the best bars and nightclubs in Nha Trang are within a few hundred meters from each other, on Tran Phu Street. It's very easy to do a pub crawl just by walking. Here are my recommended nightlife spots in Nha Trang:

Sailing Club
Sailing Club is one of the most famous F&B venues in Nha Trang, day or night. It is the equivalent of Potato Head in Bali. During the day, it is your typical beach club, not luxury but definitely upmarket. You can get a beach cabana/lounger without any minimum spending. Prices are higher than elsewhere: Cocktails cost between VND160,000 and VND200,000 and local beer VND70,000. For the food (curries, pizza, pasta, burgers, wraps, salads, sandwiches), you'll spend on average VND250,000 for a main course. The crowd is really mixed. You have families, couples, young people, etc. Most are Russian and Vietnamese.

In the evening, it become a hot party spot with live music or DJ. You'll see more backpackers then. Saturday nights are the best with their weekly beach party. Other days can be quiet and you'll only see a few people dancing. It's a good place to meet girls but beware as there are also some freelance prostitutes.



Louisiane Brewhouse is a similar venue but more quiet and relaxed. Both belong to the same group.

Address: 72-74 Tran Phu Street
Phone number: +84 58 3524 628
Open everyday from 10am to 2am

Havana Club
Vietnamese club, similar to the kind you would find in Saigon. Loud dance music, people getting drunk until they pass out. They have events like sexy dancers and singers. If you live in Saigon, it's not really worth visiting as there is nothing new here. Dress code: Avoid shorts and flip-flops. They have some sort of sexy lady companions.

Address: 38 Tran Phu Street (in front of Best Western Premier Havana)
Phone number: 093 585 54 42

Zima Club
While Havana is the best club for Vietnamese, Zima is the favourite for Russians. Guys must pay a cover charge of VND50,000 with one free drink. Many Russians girls are alone but they aren't the prettiest. The main dance floor is quite small and surrounded by tables/sofas. Second floor is more private. The music is house music from the 90s and 2000s with some Russian EDM tracks. Quite loud. Its not that sophisticated but it has a pleasant holiday feel. They have sexy Russian gogo dancers.

Address: 26 Tran Phu Street (E-Land)
Phone number: 0126 763 6888
Website: www.zimaclub.com
Facebook: Zima Nha Trang
Open every day from 8pm to 3am

Pool Pub - PP
Pool Pub is a beer garden/bar near the beach front, 100 meters before the Best Western Premier Havana. It's packed starting 9pm with a crowd mostly Vietnamese. They play loud house music that can be heard from the street. People cannot really talk to each other so they just smile all the time and keep cheering. Funny! They have some sexy waitresses and bikini hostesses.

If you like Pool Pub, you can also check Ulike, ILike and Rocky Beer Clubs. All are noisy venue with cheap beer and an all-Vietnamese crowd.



Address: 40 Tran Phu Street
Phone number: 090 511 63 56
Facebook: Pool Pub NT
Open everyday from 5pm to 2am

Lodge Club
Your typical Vietnamese nightclub. Guys drinking directly from the bottles with hot Vietnamese chicks who look 16. They have some special "hostesses".

Address: 42 Tran Phu
Phone number: 090 195 29 99
Facebook: Lodge Club Nha Trang

Yasaka 008 Night Club
Located in Yasaka Saigon Resort and Spa, this is another Vietnamese-style nightclub. It's very loud with aggressive lighting. It's supposed to be luxurious but feels a bit dodgy. Sexy dancers.

Address: 8 Tran Phu Street
Phone number: +84 58 382 0090
Open every day from 9pm to 3am

Best Rooftop Bars in Nha Trang
With several high-rise building, Nha Trang has some great rooftop bars. They are generally crowded from sunset until 10pm. They are not party places unless there is a specific events. It's best to visit them in the late afternoon when there is still day light as the view can be disappointing at night.

Skylight 360° Sky Deck & Rooftop Beach Club
One of the most popular spots in Nha Trang, Skylight is well-worth visiting at least once. You have a VND100,000 entrance fee for the beach club (VND150,000 on weekends) that comes with a free drink.

They have a swimming pool but the lounge chairs around it are often taken. It's more pricey than average so expect to pay VND150,000-200,000 for cocktails. There is a DJ playing lounge/chill out tunes on normal days. Weekends are more happening, you can check for events on their facebook page.

Address: 38 Tran Phu Street
Phone number: 058 3528 988


Open everyday from 8am to 2pm and from 4.30pm to midnight

The Rooftop Bar @ Ha Van Hotel
On the 5th floor of the Han Van Hotel, the Rooftop Bar is quite unique in Nha Trang. It is managed by a multicultural team: Nicolas, the Canadian owner, Arnaud, Annie and the Chef Marc-André. Since it opened in 2007, it has become the best expat bar in the city. You'll also find many backpackers and some locals.

It is almost always busy, and particularly on Friday during their ladies night (1 free cocktail for girls from 9pm to 12pm). The food is excellent, burgers are a must-try. There is also a Vietnamese restaurant downstairs (same owner) called Yen's.

The ambiance at night is bit psychedelic: It is dark, with predominantly red lights and electronic music. It reminded me of beach bars in Koh Phangan or Goa.

It is a good spot for meeting normal girls. Some Vietnamese girls seemed to be looking for boyfriends. Cheap if you go during happy hours from 5p to 9pm = Buy 1 Get 1 Free. 10 shots for VND500,000. Shisha available.

Open daily from 5pm to 2am
Phone number: +84 58 3525 454
Ha Van Hotel, 3/2 Tran Quang Khai Street
Facebook: Rooftop Bar 

Above Sky Bar
Above is the newest rooftop bar in Nha Trang. It opened in December 2015 on top of Liberty Central Hotel. If you are familiar with Saigon nightlife, you will notice the bar look very similar to Chill Sky Bar. The concept is also almost the same: Lounge music during the day, DJ later in the evening.

Ladies night on Wednesday: Girls get free Mojitos from 9pm to 11pm.

Address: 7-9 Biệt Thự
Phone number: 058 3529 555
Facebook: Above Liberty Central
Everyday from 5pm to 1am

Altitude Bar
On the 27th floor of the Sheraton Nha Trang, the design of Altitude suffers from the comparison with Skylight. It is expensive (5$ a beer) but you can visit it from 5pm to 7pm daily to enjoy their happy hours (buy 1 get 1 free). Ladies night on Saturday will get girls free signature cocktails from 8pm to 9pm. Live Music Wednesday and Thursday.

26-28 Tran Phu Street
Phone number: 058 3880 000
Facebook: Altitude Bar
Open from Tuesday to Sunday from 5pm to 11pm (closed on Monday)

Lunar Lounge
Lunar Lounge is a recently renovated rooftop bar and restaurant in Nha Trang Center building. It is Canadian/Vietnamese owned. They have a beautiful lagoon-shaped pool, live music (English and Vietnamese songs) and an International menu ($8-$12 for a main course). Modern design. Not so crowded.

20 Tran Phu, Nha Trang Center, 4th Floor
Phone number: 096 869 00 00
Website: www.lunarbar.vn
Open everyday from 7am to 1am

Backpacker / Cheap Bars in Nha Trang
Nha Trang is such a cheap destination that it attracts many backpackers doing their Southeast Asia tour. As usual, they gather in just a few streets, namely Nguyễn Thiện Thuật and Tran Quang Khai.
90% of the backpacker bars in Nha Trang are within the green area


There are at least 20 bars there, with little to differentiate one from another. My advice would be to just walk around and pick the most crowded. Apart from the ones I'm reviewing below, you can have a look at Patrick (wine bar - French food - live music), Far East Rock Bar (they have 2 - cheap beer), Hole in The Wall (English-owned pub with bar girls), Crazy Kim (sports bar), La Mancha (salsa - Spanish food), Pankoff (German beer), After the Beach (empty but pretty Russian hostesses) and Connection (good location at the angle of the street).

Why Not Bar
Why Not Bar is one of those shitty places that still get to exist due to the lack of alternatives. You'll hear terrible stuff about it, yet it is the most busy bar in the city past 1am. 

There are many reports about customers being stolen valuables or scammed. If you plan on getting drunk there, just don't bring too much cash with you and no passport, no papers, and no phone. The place is so cheap that you can probably drink all-night for less than $10. Hard drinks (VND15,000 for a rum coke) are most likely done using fake alcohol. It's better to stick to beers (VND10,000 for a local beer).

Why Not Bar can be a lot of fun though, and a good place to meet other tourists, particularly Western girls. Local prostitutes are lurking around too. The music is an Itunes playlist with any song that was in the Top 40 in the past 20 years.

Address: 24 Tran Quang Khai
Phone number: +84 58 3522 652
Facebook: Why Not Bar
Open everyday from 6am until 3am

Booze Cruise Sports Bar
A bit more expensive compared to other places nearby, the American-owned Booze Cruise is nonetheless one of the busiest bars on the street. Many regulars among the customers, mostly guys in their 30s and 40s. The crowd of Booze is the pretty much the opposite of the crowd of Roofop Bar in Ha Van Hotel.

They serve pub fare from breakfast to dinner. You can play pool and table football.

Address: 110 Nguyen Thien Thuat
Phone number: +84 90 571 9519
Facebook: Booze Cruise Sports Bar
Open everyday from 7am to 3am

If you like the testosterone atmosphere of Booze Cruise, you may also want to try Cheers Bar (good food and live sport). It gets quite crowded when there is a big AFL game on. The owner is Australian.

Quan 69 Bach Dang
This is the place to go if you want to tell your friends that you literally got drunk for a buck. 2 liters of local beer will cost you less than VND20,000. They also serve some good Vietnamese food (duck soup).

Many older expats seem to be spending most of their days over there.

Address: 69 Bach Dang Street
Phone number: 35 15 725

Prostitution in Nha Trang: Massage Parlours, Spas and Karaokes

Spas and Massage Parlours Plus Plus
Therapists in Hoa Da Massage Parlour
Like all major Vietnamese cities, Nha Trang has its fair share of massage parlours and spas. The best ones have a similar pricing: Around VND300,000 for the "normal" treatment, and then if you want more you must add a tip to the girl (VND300,000 for handjob, VND500,000 for full sex).

The most famous "naughty" massage parlour in Nha Trang is Hoa Da. It's a chain with 4 locations in the city. From the information I could get, only handjobs are available. You can get two girls at once if you ask.

Hoa Da 1
10/1 Lý Tự Trọng Street
Phone number: 0583.826.877

Hoa Da 2
115A Hoàng Văn Thụ Street
Phone number: 0583.816.028

Hoa Da 3
39 Mê Linh Street (a bit far from center)
Phone number: 058.35.12.303

Hoa Da 4
14 A Trần Văn Ơn Street 

Phone number: 0583.561.277

You can check the prices and photos of the room on their website: Hoa Da Massage Plus Nha Trang. The same group also owns Hoa Dao Hotel, Karaoke and Spa which is a good option if you are looking for a girl-friendly hotel with massage parlour.

Another massage parlour plus plus located inside a hotel is Quoc Te. Full service is available there. They have a sauna and steambath. Prices are higher than elsewhere. If you are on a budget, you can go to the "Seagull" hotel instead: Hai Au Hotel.

Karaokes
Nha Trang is filled with karaokes. They range from the cheap places in local neighborhood to upmarket venues on the beach.

If you want to find one with pretty lady companions and hostesses, you can go to Four Seasons Karaoke in E-Land (in front of Best Western Premier Havana) or in Yasaka 008 in Yasaka Saigon Resort and Spa.
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25 Best Massage Parlours and Spas in Saigon

February 16, 2016, 6:02 am
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Saigon/Ho Chi Minh City is full of naughty massage parlours and spas where you can get "extra service" (also referred to as "happy ending", "rug and tug", "plus plus", or simply by what they are, handjobs).

I enjoyed Saigon nightlife several months when I was living there, but I had actually been to one of these massage parlours/spas. Nevertheless, as I am a sucker for web traffic, I'm listing here all the places that provide such services in Saigon. Most of the information below comes from tips from friends who are expats in Saigon, completed with research on internet forums and blogs.

Many of the spas are located inside hotels. If you are looking for a girl-friendly hotel in Saigon, it is a good idea to book one of them. I included a direct link to Agoda to help you. I make a small commission on every booking so if you like this review and value the hours I spent writing it, please book your hotel using one of the links!

Spa Etiquette in Saigon

Ticket and Tipping
Apart from a few local places, there are no "full service" massage parlours in Saigon. This means that on top of paying for the room (entrance ticket), you must always negotiate a tip with the girl depending on what you want. In most of the venues listed, only a HJ (handjob) is allowed, but if BJ (blowjob), DATY (cunnilingus), BJ (full sex) are available I will mention it.

The good etiquette is to give a tip at least equal to the price of your room. I read many comments about guys who tip low not to "ruin the market". But if you have enough money to ruin the market, why would you care? There is no secret that the bigger the tip, the bigger the motivation of the masseuse.

Rooms
The kind of room you book has an influence on the type of service you will receive:
Standard room means a normal massage with potentially more depending on the tip you give.
Vip room means that you will get a bathtub or a jacuzzi. As a result, you will normally be bathed naked by the therapist. The therapist will keep her clothes on. Then you get a normal massage + whatever you negotiate to get.
Super VIP means you will have two girls massaging you for 2 hours in a room with jacuzzi/bathtub. Again, the girls will not be nude, only you.

Choosing Your Masseuse
There are no fishbowl or aquarium in Vietnam. Each girl has a number that you can request. Many Vietnamese share the "good" numbers on private forums or private Facebook groups. Foreigners don't have as much luxury and they will often get a random girl.

To increase your chances of being with a pretty girl, you can make special requests to the mamasan or GRO (Guest Relation Officer). If you don't like the girl who is brought to you, you can always ask for another one too.

Foreigners and Vietnamese
Most massage parlours where foreigners go to are located in District 1. They are pricier but you will probably feel more comfortable in such places. If you feel adventurous, the best ones are actually in District 3, District 5 and District 10. In those places, it is likely that girls will ask you for a bigger tip because you are a foreigner. Expect to pay 30%-50% more.

The area known as "Little Tokyo" in Le Thanh Ton Street and Ngô Văn Năm street is even more pricey. Most guests are Japanese and Korean who will pay up to 5 times the normal rates.

Some brothels are forbidden to Vietnamese and you will be asked to show your passport to get in. Apparently this is to avoid troubles with the police.

Massage Parlours in District 1

Spa Viên Dông - Open 24 Hours
275A Pham Ngu Lao Street, District 1
Phone number: 08 3836 8941
Book this hotel with Agoda (I get a commission if you book here): Vien Dong Hotel

This famous spa is open 24 hour. It is in the heart of the backpacker district of Pham Ngu Lao, yet prices are quite high. The standard room is around VND300,000 and the VIP room with jacuzzi VND680,000. The tip is usually between VND400,000 and 1,000,000VND. Stunning girls, lot of choice. Facilities include a sauna.

Dai Nam Massage
79 Tran Hung Dao Street, District 1 (5 minutes from Bui Vien)
Phone number: +84 8 8 242 525
Book this hotel with Agoda (I get a commission if you book here): Dai Nam Hotel

This spa/sauna has the reputation of having some of the most beautiful girls in Saigon. Standard room is VND240,000, then tipping between VND300,000 and VND700,000. You can often fool around with the girls.

Liberty Hotel 2 - Open 24 Hours
129 Ham Nghi, District 1 (3 minutes from Benh Thanh market)
Phone number: Tel. +84 8 3822 4922
Book this hotel with Agoda (I get a commission if you book here): Liberty 2 Hotel

Part of Odyssea group, owner of the luxury Liberty Central brand. VIP room cost VND420,000 and tipping VND500,000. Complete facilities with steambath, jacuzzi and sauna.

Tokyo Spa
15B/22 Le Thanh Ton Street, District 1
Phone number: 0123 479 9777

This massage parlour is one of the most famous in "Little Tokyo". You can get a BJ for VND1,300,000 (inclusive with room) and full service for VND2,000,000. Very pretty girls.

Hai Son Hotel
88 Le Lai Street, District 1
Phone number: +84 8 3832 2926
Book this hotel with Agoda (I get a commission if you book here): Hai Son Hotel

Standard rooms available. Referred to as a "sex hotel" on TripAdvisor.

RoNa Massage - Open 24 Hours
69 Huỳnh Thúc Kháng, District 1
Phone number: +84 8 38 21 5377

This massage parlour is located near famous nightclubs like Apocalypse. It welcomes a fair share of horny guys past 3am. Standard room is VND200,000 and VIP room VND600,000. Tip between VND200,000 and VND600,000. Depending on the girl you might get more than just a HJ (but you'll have to pay more).

Hotel Bloom - Open 24 Hours
27-29 Truong Dinh Street, District 1
Phone number: 08 3822 2255
Book this hotel with Agoda (I get a commission if you book here): Bloom Saigon Hotel

Good spa with sauna. Few girls but they are pretty with good technique. Open 24 hours. VND300,000 for standard room and VND500,000 for tip.

152 Massage
152, Tran Quang Khai Street, District 1

This massage parlour is also a short-time hotel. Standard room for VND150,000. VIP Room for VND300,000. Super VIP massage for a threesome-like experience (2 girls) for VND600,000. Sauna and steam bath available.

Tip from VND200,000 to VND300,000. Some girls will take off their bras or even go full nude for an additional VND200,000.

Bui Vien Spa Scam
In District 1 (and particularly in Bui Vien or near Hai Bai Trung), some massage parlours run a well-known scam: A staff opens your locker while you're being treated and takes some of your money. Avoid places where sexy girls are aggressively trying to pull customers away from the street with the promise of a "cheap massage".

If you are in Bui Vien and need an honest massage parlour, you can go to Kaka Spa (138 Bui Vien). The room starts at VND180,000 and the tip is between VND250,000 and VND400,000.

Girlie Bars 13, 35, 37, 49, 51, 91 and Smiley Bar
Around Hai Bai Trung street, you have several hostess bars with a naughty side. They don't have a name, only a number. Some have been shut down by the police but I know that 91 (on 91, Hai Bai Trung) and Smiley are still open. Smiley is the nicest one and it is easy to spot with its huge yellow smiley above the entrance.

On the first floor is a normal hostess bar: You buy a drink at an inflated price and a girl will come sit next to you, trying to get you to buy her ladies drinks. At one point, they will offer to play a game of pool. If you win, you see her naked. If you lose, you give her VND500,000. They will generally offer to do a blowjob as well whoever wins.

Few of these girls are pretty. They will also tend to be pushy for more and more tips.

"Clean" Beauty Salons
If you walked near Benh Thanh Market, you may have noticed some beauty salons with very pretty girls inside, usually wearing skirts and high heels. Those places do not provide anything more than beauty treatments, but many guys enjoy being aroused there. You can also easily get a phone number. 

The famous one is Le Duyen 4 (72 Trương Định).

"Naughty" Beauty Salons
If you go further away from the city center, you can find what Vietnamese call "Hot Tocs Goi Dau" or "HTGD" (hairdressers) which are quite unique in Saigon's prostitution scene. Most people visit them for blowjobs.
The most famous one among foreigners is Benny or Ben Ny (110 Điện Biên Phủ, 17, Bình Thạnh) because it is relatively clean and the girls are skilled. The entrance fee is VND200,000 and the tip between VND200,000 and VND300,000.

An alternative is to go to Nguyen Phi Khanh street (often called NPK), on the northern end of District 1. You have 4 "Hot Tocs' in which you can ask for 2 girls if you pay double entrance and two tips.  Prices are similar to Ben Ny. Full sex is also available for a tip of VND1,000,000.

Massage Parlours in District 2

Nature Massage Parlour
04 Trúc Duong, Thao Dien, District 2
Phone number: 097 703 17 97

This spa is well-hidden in District 2 but convenient for expats living nearby. On Google Maps look for Nature Mile or Nature Mild. Standard room is VND300,000. Some girls offer full prostitution services for VND1,000,000. HJ only is around VND300,000-500,000.

Massage Parlours in District 3

Saigon Star Hotel
204 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, District 3
Phone number: 08 3930 6290
Book this hotel with Agoda (I get a commission if you book here): Saigon Star Hotel

On the 9th floor, you only have standard rooms costing VND225,000, then tipping VND500,000. Pretty girls. Sauna and Steam room available.

Massage Minh Tam (sometimes shortened MT LQD)
2 Lê Quý Đôn, District 3
Phone number: +84 8 3930 5885
Facebook: Massage Minh Tam

This standalone massage parlour has young and pretty therapists. Standard room is VND250,000 and VIP room VND550,000. Tipping from VND300,000 to VND500,000. It is mentioned on their Facebook that they are open 24/7. They have another branch in Tan Binh called Minh Tam 2.

Boss Palace Hotel
306 - 308 Nguyen Thien Thuat Street, District 3
Phone number: +84 8 3938 1818
Book this hotel with Agoda (I get a commission if you book here): Boss Palace Hotel

Good rooms and facilities. Standard room costs VND200,000. Most girls willing to do BJ for VND200,000 to VND500,000.

Festival Hotel and Karaoke
31 Cao Thang Street, District 3
Phone number: 08 3839 0704
Book this hotel with Agoda: Festival Hotel

Standard room for VND220,000 and VIP room for VND500,000. Tipping between VND250,000 and VND500,000.

Massage Parlours in District 5

Thai Binh 3
22, Ngô Quyền street, District 5

Cheap massage parlour in District 5. Not luxurious but good value. VND300,000 for VIP room. Tip VND300,000. Mouth services available for an extra.

Phuoc Loc Tho 1 Hotel
192 - 194 Su Van Hanh Str, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
Phone:+84 8 3924 5091
Book this hotel with Agoda (I get a commission if you book here):  Phuoc Loc Tho Hotel 1

Old rooms and facilities. The main interest is the cheap prices and the fact that girls can perform a BJ at the end of the massage. You can request two girls to service you. Standard room price is VND120,000 to VND240,000 (for two). Tip is VND250,000 to 500,000 for each girls.

Phuoc Loc Tho Hotel 2 also has a massage parlour plus plus.

Hanh Long 1
1115 Trần Hưng Đạo, District 5
Phone number: +84 8 3838 1173
Book this hotel with Agoda (I get a commission if you book here): Hanh Long 1 Hotel

Standard room is VND200,000, VIP room VND350,000. Tip for happy ending between VND200,000 and VND500,000. Blowjob available depending on the girls and the tip.

Dong Khanh Hotel - 24 Hours Massage
2 Trần Hưng Đạo, District 5
Phone number: +84 8 3923 6404
Book this hotel with Agoda (I get a commission if you book here): Dong Khanh Hotel

Clean facilities. Most people go for blowjobs. Standard room VND200,000. Locals pay a VND200,000 tip but foreigners will probably be charged more.

Massage Parlours in District 10

Massage Phuong Anh - PA Relax 
383 Su Van Hanh, District 10

This massage parlour is clean with brand new rooms. They have Standard Vip Rooms for VND200,000 (70 minutes), Japanese VIP Rooms for VND300,000, Thai VIP Rooms for VND400,000 (90 minutes), and Super VIP service for VND600,000 (100 minutes). Open from 9.30am to 3am. 

You can get a blowjob if you book the Japanese VIP Room (+ tip of approximately VND500,000), and a nude/topless blowjob if you book the Thai VIP Room (+ tip). You can also get it with Standard VIP but it will last shorter.

Minh Minh Tam Hotel
707-709 Le Hong Phong Street, District 10
Phone number: +84 8 3868 3856

One of the best massage parlours in HCMC. Standard room for VND250,000. VIP room for VND550,000. Excellent quality massage and very pretty girls. HJ only for a tip between VND300,000 and VND700,000.

China and Hai Yen Bordellos
Hai Yen: 815 Le Hong Phong
China, 801 Le Hong Phong

Those are two brothels located in the red-light area of Su Van Hanh and Le Hong Phong. It is a local prostitution area but more foreigners are starting to visit it for the KTVs and the "hot tocs" (salons).

Hai Yen and China are one of those salons. You pay VND300,000 for a room, then you can get full service for VND1,000,000. Both are considered high-end by Vietnamese standards and therefore the girls are rather pretty.

Massage Parlours in Other Districts

Massage Minh Tam 2 (Tan Binh District) - Open 24 Hours
512 Ly Thuong Kiet, Tân Bình (next to the hotel Thanh Binh 2)
Phone number: 08 3606 2827

Shortened MT LTK, this is the sister property of Minh Tam massage in D3. It is a big massage parlour with nice rooms. Prices are the same: VND250,000 for Standard room and VND550,000 for VIP room. Tipping between VND300,000 and VND500,000.  You can also get a foot massage for only Rp110,000. Great looking girls.

Massage Hồng Hà (Bình Thạnh District)
157/28 - 157/28B, Khu Văn Thánh Bắc, Bình Thạnh
Phone number: +84 - 8 3899 63 17 

Private standard room for VND160,000. Tip VND200,000.

Conclusion
In case you are wondering, prostitution is actually illegal in Vietnam. And yet you could find hundred more venues, not even including the KTV, the freelancers, online prostitution and high-class escorts! The list above is only the tip of the iceberg. If you think I forgot an important one, please leave a comment below. If there is a mistake in the information provided, just let me know and I'll correct it.
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Palembang Nightlife: 7 Best Nightclubs

April 15, 2016, 3:39 am
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Palembang is the second largest city in Sumatra after Medan. It does not receive a lot of foreign visitors apart from Malaysians and Singaporeans.

As with most provincial towns in Indonesia, you'll remark the following features when partying in Palembang:
- Most clubbers are males who either take drugs, get hammered drunk or look for paid sex
- The music program management consist of selecting pretty singers or pretty DJs, regardless of their skills
- The concept of a dance floor is non-existent. Instead, you have high tables that are available if you take at least a bottle (or less when the club isn't crowded)
- If you are hoping to meet a girl in a Palembang club, your chances are slim as most girls are either working (as GROs/LCs) or the girlfriends of the other guys
- Alcohol is always expensive, even in lower-end places. If you go somewhere with abnormally cheap alcohol, you're probably drinking methanol.
- The police does occasional "razzias" on clubs when they need some cash

To meet normal girls in Palembang, day-time action is much better, in particular though dating apps. Check Indonesian Online Dating Apps and Websites for more information.

Some Hotels Recommendation:
I found the nightclubs to be quite far from each other. For this reason, I strongly recommend you to book a hotel in the city center.

The best ones in terms of quality of service and location (near the nightlife/bars/clubs) are the following:

Budget Hotels (under $30): Amaris Palembang, Red Planet Palembang, Favehotel Palembang
Expensive Hotels ($50-$80): Aston Hotel and Conference Center, Novotel Palembang, The Arista Hotel 

NB: I get a commission if you make a booking using one of these links (the price is the same for you).

Best Nightclubs in Palembang:

If you are traveling or working in Palembang, here are my nightclubs recommendations (honestly, only the first 4 are suitable for most people):

CenterStage
Center Stage is one of the most famous and expensive nightclubs on the Palembang nightlife scene. It is rather simple: You have a main large room with an elevated podium for the DJ and a large screen behind it. 

The music is progressive house and EDM. The kind you want to hear if you are drunk or high. They have regular sexy dancers, but no striptease. They love to have pretty female DJs. You usually have a band playing at the beginning of the evening.

It is part of Novotel Palembang and you'll also find an executive karaoke inside named Papillon. Open from Wednesday to Saturday Night starting 9pm until 3am. Free for ladies. Rp100,000 FDC for men.

Address: Jalan R. Sukamto No.8A, Novotel Palembang
Phone number: 0711-369777
Blackberry: 276ECD1D

Twitter: CSNovotel

Neo PC (Princess Club, Hotel Princess)
This is the best nightclub in Palembang in my opinion. It is located on the 5th floor of the Princess Hotel and it was just renovated in 2015. Contrary to CenterStage, it attracts more young, normal people and particularly students. The best day to visit is on Thursday night for their Campus Night.

They have a DJ every night from 7pm to 2am (4am on weekends) and a live band playing famous songs from Monday to Friday. Many special events (check their facebook or instagram below). Sexy dancers (called Devious Angels). Entrance fee Rp75,000 to Rp100,000 on weekends only (1 free drink).

Address: Princess Hotel, 5th Floor, IBP District D2 No. 608, Palembang 30134
Phone number: +62 7113 13131
Email: clubpc@princess-hotel.com

Instagram: NeoPc Palembang

Mansion Executive Club
Mansion is a luxury night club, popular in the Indo-Chinese community. They have regular live bands followed by DJs. Sexy models/dancers between breaks. Most people go there with a group of friends before or after visiting their KTV. If you see hot girls in the club, they are either with one of those groups or lady companions. If they are LCs, the prettiest ones cost Rp600,000 for 3 hours (this does not include sex or anything, they just sing with you and make you drink more).

Address: Jalan Soekarno Hatta, Palembang, Ilir Barat I, Palembang
Phone number: +62 711 445557

Website: Mansion Palembang
Facebook: Mansion KTV and Club
Twitter: twitter.com/MansionPlmbg

S-Lounge in Selebriti Entertainment Center
Selebriti is famous for its karaoke. It's a clean place where you can go party with your colleagues after work. They also have a lounge/bar called S-Lounge with a different theme every night. The best one is the Campus night on Wednesday. Many pretty GROs. Live music and DJ. Sexy Dancers occasionally on weekends. Open every day from 10am to 2am.

Address: Jalan Veteran No.1243, Palembang, South Sumatra
Phone number: +62 711 323 333


Darma Agung Disco

Darma Agung is a "diskotik". If you are familiar with Indonesia nightlife, you may know that it is the term used for any drug-oriented nightclub. They play "funky house", fast-paced remixes of famous songs. They have a spa, needless to say the therapists are prostitutes. They were raided by the police several times but they must benefit from strong protection as they've been around for 20 years!

Address: Jalan Kol. H. Burlian No.45 KM7,5, Palembang
Phone number: +62 (0) 711 417 267
Facebook: DA (Darma Agung) Palembang

I saw something funny on the way out, I'm not sure if it is intentional or not. Instead of "In" and "Out", they wrote "In" and "Ex" on the doors. Inex is a well-known slang word meaning ectasy.

B'Nice Luxury Club and Karaoke
Very local place. Live band and prostitution. Friendly.

Address: Jalan Letkol Iskandar No. 1, Palembang
Phone number: +62 81958 782835

Venus Club and KTV
This is more a KTV than a club. You have a small lounge though open from 8pm to 2am with live music and lady companions.

Address: Jalan R. Sukamto No. 41, Palembang
Phone number: 07113 60014
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10 Types of Indonesians Girls Who Never Date Foreigners (and How to Date Them)

April 16, 2016, 5:15 am
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If you think that as an expat in Indonesia you can be with any girls you want, you're wrong. Many of them would never date a foreigner for a whole variety of reasons.

As I love to do some generalizing and stereotyping, I've listed below 10 types of Indonesian girls who never date foreigners and what you can do to date them nonetheless.
Why would some girls refuse to date foreigners?

The Ones Who Don't Want To Have Sex Before Marriage
A 2014 study from the Pew Research Center found that 97% of Indonesians considered pre-marital sex to be morally unacceptable. On the other end of the spectrum, only 6% of French agreed with that statement.

The 2010 Greater Jakarta Transition to Adulthood Survey asked 3,006 Indonesians between 20 and 34 years old about their sexual activity. 5% of women had had pre-marital sex and 16% of men.

Let me rephrase: Only 5% of unmarried Indonesian women between 20 and 34 living in Greater Jakarta were sexually active in 2010.

Since the population in the area is so large, it still represents over 300,000 girls. The 6,700,000 remaining girls will most likely not date foreigners as few of them can accept a sexless relationship.

How to date them:
Abstinence.

The Ones Who Are More Attracted to Indonesian Men and Culture
Many Indonesian girls just prefer the Indonesian type of men. Not everyone is a fan of our hairy legs and big nose. They also feel more connected with someone with the same background, the same culture, the same values and the same objectives. They will like typical Indonesian traits better.

I also think that if you grow up watching local actors, singers or models, you will probably want a boyfriend who look like them and behave like them.

How to date them:
Shave, groom well and immerse yourself in Indonesian culture (i.e. watch sinetrons).

The Ones Who Think the Choice of Foreigners is Too Poor
I met a few girls who don't date Jakarta expats and I don't blame them. They find the choice of good guys available to be poor. As a friend explained me, most serious expats are married or in a relationship. Among the ones available for dating, very few actually want any kind of commitment.

She also feels the pool of expats is so small that it seems everyone knows each other.

How to date them:
Tell them you "just arrived" in Jakarta and criticize the behaviour of other expats.

The Ones Who Are Afraid of What Society Might Think
When an Indonesian girl is dating a foreigner, it's just as if she was wearing a big sign saying "I'm not a virgin anymore".

Indonesians are obsessed with virginity. To work in the Police or the Military, women must pass a virginity test. Inspector General Moechgiyarto justified it saying that girls who are not virgins might be "prostitutes". The equation non-virgin equates prostitutes is deeply entrenched in the Indonesian psyche unfortunately.

Many Indonesian girls who date foreigners complain that they are called names when walking the street with their foreign boyfriends, or that they must face derogatory comments. Considering this, I can really understand why some girls would avoid dating expats.

How to date them:
Don't flirt with them in public. Take their numbers and chat with them through Line or WhatsApp.

The Ones Who Are Conventional
The Indonesian society is conservative. Most people are told from an early age about what should happen to them in the future and they stick to the plan. For instance, their is a huge consensus among Indonesians that husbands are the head of the household and that the wives should serve them (over 95% - see page 30 here).

Dating or marrying a foreigner is rarely part of this narrative. It is an abnormality on many levels that require some thinking outside the box. For this reason, some Indonesian girls may feel that they should date an Indonesian guy because it is natural and less complicated.

How to date them:
Wait until they get a reality check. Among Indonesian girls who date foreigners, many used to be conventional. They "switched" to bules because they became disappointed with the narrative they were served when they were younger.

The Ones Who Are High Maintenance
Many Indonesian girls expect that their boyfriend will provide for them. I had a Sundanese girlfriend for several years and all her friends were getting some benefits from their respective boyfriends. Some would get a monthly allowance, pulsa on requests, or nice gifts like phones, clothes, perfumes and trips to Bali. A few were even getting cars and nice apartments in downtown Jakarta (those who were dating married men).

If you look closely, the most beautiful Indonesian girls are rarely dating foreigners because they know that most of them would never pay for those things.

How to date them:
Work harder and make more money.

The Ones Who Only Date Muslims
The law regarding interfaith marriage in Indonesia is complicated. As of today, the Indonesian Office of Religious Affairs forbids Muslims to marry people from different faith but allows it for Catholics, Protestants, Buddhists and Hindus.

It is therefore quite natural for a girl who is a devout Muslim to look for a companion of the same faith so that she can actually marry him. She will feel that there is no point in dating someone who does not share the same religious beliefs.

How to date them:
Convert to Islam.

The Ones Who Only Date Indo-Chinese
Rich Indonesian-Chinese girls are probably the hardest to date in Jakarta. They are very careful about their image in their community and they wouldn't ruin their reputation for a random guy. They will choose a boyfriend who will give them a better status.

They also tend to summarize some of the points mentioned above: Many will stay virgin until marriage and they are high-maintenance.

This is also true about the top 5% Indonesian political elite. Its members will often marry within that small community with motivations that are related to status more than love.

How to date them:
Mingle with the Indo-Chinese community and become accepted. Once you belong, you will date any girl easily. Avoid being poor though.

The Ones Who Don't Dare
Many Indonesian girls do not dare dating foreigners because they are shy. Most often, they cannot speak English and feel embarrassed. They don't know the codes of dating someone from another culture: What to say, what to do, how to behave, etc. The fear of being judged is often greater than the fear of death in Indonesia.

Some may also feel they are not "worthy". Surprisingly, some girls who have a whiter skin think they won't be attractive to an expat who, they heard, prefer tanned skins (or this might be another case of humble bragging).

How to date them:
Learn Indonesian. It's the easiest language in the world you have no excuses. Smile all the time and repeat "tidak apa apa".

The Ones Who Only Date Friends
Some Indonesian girls, particularly the younger ones in their late teens will only date guys from within their group of friends. They stick to the same closed group when they party, they do not use dating sites and they politely turn down any outsider trying to flirt with them. They will see a relationship with a foreigner as a threat to their belonging to the group.

How to date them:
You need approval from the whole group of friends. Or you wait until they grow up and start to think for themselves (it usually happens after they graduate and start working).
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Phnom Penh Nightlife: Best Bars and Nightclubs

April 23, 2016, 4:33 am
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Phnom Penh has one of the most bizarre and interesting nightlife in Asia. In terms of development, the city is still far behind Bangkok, Saigon, Jakarta or Manila: There are almost no skyscrapers, few modern malls, fewer cars, etc. This also translates into more poverty, poor public services (bad road maintenance, garbage) and average infrastructure (bumpy roads, slow internet, occasional power cuts).

These characteristics reflect onto the nightlife. In the absence of a large middle class, you'll find it rare to meet normal girls in clubs. The most popular ones are packed with prostitutes, but many will play the girlfriend card if you are willing to take care of them. The rules are relaxed: Several clubs close late in the morning and a few bars stay open 24/7. Hotels are generally girl-friendly. You can get around without helmet on a rented motorbike. Drugs are everywhere.

Alcohol prices are low: 4$ will get you a cocktail and 2$ a draught beer in most venues (and half that price during Happy Hours). The level of English is good so you can communicate easily with most people unlike in Vietnam.

Phnom Penh is also a pleasant city to visit as long as you can handle the rats going through the garbage in the streets. You have a relaxed riverfront where you can stroll in the evening, several authentic markets, colonial architecture, great palaces and pagodas, good food and a genuinely nice population.

As a result of all this, the city attracts a mix of tourists (mostly backpackers but also many older people on group tours), low-budget expats (from guys on retirement to English teachers and NGO workers), small business owners and probably a few sex offenders. I noticed it is particularly easy to meet other foreigners in Phnom Penh. It seems people are used to talk to each other and mingle.

I only spent a week there so this review will only scratch the surface of the things to do at night. Still I managed to visit all the most popular bars and nightclubs, and discover a few that aren't on everyone's map. If you feel I forgot something, please share your own experience by leaving a comment.

Few Things to Know
Best Time to Visit
The ideal time would be from November to March but be careful to avoid Christmas, New Year and Khmer New Year.

Avoid in April. When I was there, the temperature reached 40°C (104°F) several times. May and October are hot as well. June to September is rainy season which is both hot and humid.

Visa for Cambodia
As of 2016, almost everyone can get a visa on arrival. The cost is 30$ but you may have to pay 35$ if you cross by land (it's a scam but hard to avoid). If you arrive by plane, you won't have any issues. Bring 2 ID photos or pay 2$ extra.

You can get the visa in advance with the e-visa procedure, which costs 7$ extra. I don't really see the benefits of doing so though.

To make sure this information is up-to-date, check Visa Requirements to Cambodia before your trip.

Money
Cambodia uses two currencies, the US dollar and the riel. As of today, 1$ = 4,100 riels. You will end up with riels when your change is under a dollar. If you don't have any, it's ok. I used dollars for 99% of transactions, except small payments.

Internet Access and Mobile Phone
For just $5 you can get a local phone number and internet access from your mobile. Don't spare this expense. You need internet for so many things including to help you get around.

Recommended providers are Cellcard and Smart. Both have special 30-day tourist packages.

Getting around
I always use Google Maps to estimate the time I need to get to my destination. Then I negotiate the price based on this estimate.

Tuk Tuk: 2$ for 10 minutes ride.
Motorbike: 2$ for 20 minutes ride
Taxis: I tried to get the meter but it's not always possible. If not, I give same price as Tuk Tuk. A taxi from the airport to the city center costs from $8 to 12$.

Renting a motorbike is convenient but dangerous. Beware of dishonest renters. You can rent one here starting $6 per day.

Apps like Uber or Grab were not available during my visit but I'm sure this is just a matter of time before they enter the market. 

Girls
If you are only staying in Cambodia for a short time, it can be challenging to find normal girls. In tourist clubs, expect 95% of pros and semi-pros. Some may stay with you for free if they expect a relationship. In upscale clubs, girls won't be very interested if you are not an expat living in Cambodia. It is better to use dating apps like Badoo, Tinder and Skout.

If you are a fan of elephant pants and sun-burnt white skin, you have plenty of Western girls in Phnom Penh as well.

Recommended hotels near the nightlife
If you want to be walking distance from the main bars/clubs AND from most tourist attractions (riverside, Royal Palace), I recommend you to stay near Street 136 or Street 130. You can also stay in Street 51 to be closer from Pontoon (the major nightclub in Phnom Penh).

Another area you might consider is Boeung Keng Kang 1 (BKK1) which is south of Sihanouk Boulevard. This is where most expats live and it is more clean and less dodgy. Most "normal" bars are there, particularly in Street 278.

The hotels listed below are girl-friendly. If you plan on bringing back a girl to your room, always avoid family-run guesthouses, backpacker hostels and upscale boutique hotel/charming villas that target 50+ years old rich European couples.

Near Street 136 and 130
You can choose between 136 and 104 street which are 300m apart from each other. 136 is much nicer I think as it is closer from the riverside. Pontoon is less than a kilometer from there.

Around 25$ per night: Lance Court Hotel
Around 35$: Ohana Hotel

Near Pontoon nightclub
This is the second best area in Phnom Penh for nightlife as you can walk to several bars, clubs and restaurants that stay open late (Street 51) The area is not the most pretty though and you will be about 500-1000m from the Royal Palace, the riverside and the Gogo Bars streets (136 and 104).

Around 25$ per night: Richly Boutique Hotel or Hotel Zing
Around 40$ per night: Town View Hotel
Around 70$ per night: Cardamom Hotel and Apartments

For more suggestions of hotels with good location in Phnom Penh, see Hotels Near the Royal Palace.    

Westernized Nightclubs in Phnom Penh
There are not that many Western nightclubs in Phnom Penh, but the ones available are really fun and they are open (and busy) almost every night.

Each of them caters to a different type of clientele. Read carefully the description of each to make sure you're not in the wrong place.

Pontoon
It is the Phnom Penh equivalent to SkyGarden in Bali. It consists of 3 separate areas: Pontoon Club, Pontoon Pulse and the new Pontoon Vibe.

Pontoon Club is the main room and where most people go to. It is a large square with a bar in the middle and a decent dancefloor. Music is commercial, including R&B, House, EDM, Top 40. The crowd is really mixed, mostly freelance prostitutes and tons of random western guys aged between 20 and 60. Closes at 4am (5am on weekends).

Pontoon Pulse has a smaller room with non-commercial music and more grown-ups and expats.

Pontoon Vibe is an after-hour club closing at 7am every night. As any after club, the crowd is an odd mix of both splendid clubbers and human trash.

Overall, a really fun place to go, especially if it is your first time in Phnom Penh. It is easy to find, Western-friendly and rather cheap. No dress code.

The second most famous nightclub in Phnom Penh among tourists after Pontoon (which is across the street), it is also mostly crowded with freelance prostitutes, gays and ladyboys. Open everyday until 5am. Music is commercial, sometimes retro. Similar to Apocalypse in Saigon.

The happening disco for rich Cambodians and younger expats trying to hook-up with upper class girls. Sleek design, luxury feel, attentive service. The music is good though mostly commercial. You'll enjoy it if you don't mind partying with spoilt teenagers. Most busy on weekends. Open everyday from 9pm to 5am. 50% discount for girls on their lady's night on Thursday. Dress code is enforced: Wear shoes, pants and at least a polo. 

Nova used to be the most popular nightclub for rich Cambodians before Epic opened. You still have beautiful people inside though, including some expats. You have a tiny chance of getting a normal Khmer girl there if you play your cards right (it happened to my friend). In general the crowd is older than the one in Epic. Hip-Hop and R&B music. Modern design, lighting and sound system. Don't wear shorts and sandals. Ladies night on Wednesday (1 free cocktail). Open every day from 9pm to 4am.

This two venues are in the same building in the expat area of BKK1. Duplex is a live music bar and vegetarian restaurant. Kind of hippy crowd who likes to discover new cultures, read books and listen to alternative music. Large choice of Belgian beers available. Salsa. Open everyday until 2am.

Upstairs Club Love has a DJ which plays not-too-commercial music. Crowd is very Western (Backpackers, volunteers, NGOs), including girls. Ladies night on Wednesday (1 free shot when you arrive + buy 2 get 1 free). Open everyday from 11pm to 4am.

Meta House is not a club per se (it is the German Cultural Center) but they organize DJ parties every Thursday with German electronic. Great music. Expat crowd. The entrance is free and it's cheap (1$ for beer).

Darlin' Darlin' is your typical luxury hotel prostitute bar. It is located within Naga World Hotel and Casino and features live Top 40 music and DJ every night. Usually crowded with mostly Asians, including Japanese, Koreans, Singaporeans and some rich Cambodians as well. Avoid flip-flops and shorts. 6$ for a beer.

They have pretty and well-groomed Vietnamese, Cambodian and PRC freelance prostitutes who ask 100$ for a short time and 200$ for long time. No lady's drink, direct to business. The luxurious club 88 KTV is also located in Naga World.

This is a alternative to Pontoon or Heart of Darkness if you need a more laid-back nightclub without the dozens of freelancers. The crowd is more sparse, especially during the week.

Not really my style but if you are a fan of music from the 70s and 80s, you might enjoy. It is mostly crowded with French.

Cambodian/Chinese-style Nightclubs and KTV
There is a huge segment of Phnom Penh nightlife that few foreigners know about. Those places are generally outside of the immediate city center and take the form of KTVs and Chinese-style nightclubs.

Older Cambodian men are big party-goers but they do things differently. Most of the times it involves sitting with a group, ordering bottles, singing, flirting with lady companions, and claiming the expenses as a part of "entertainment". The party may also end in a nearby hotel with one of the girls.

KTVs are open and crowded in the afternoon since many of their customers are married men with a family life. 

Rock Entertainment is a big one-stop entertainment complex with a club (Zeus), a KTV, a hotel, a restaurant and a massage parlour. You probably guessed it: It's a hidden bordello.

This is a luxury local club, with a heavy "Chinese" influence, meaning over-the-top luxury setting, glitters, loud house music, no dance-floor (replaced with tables and sofas), a karaoke and sexy companions everywhere. Lady's night on Tuesday (1 free cocktail). Open everyday from 8.30pm to 3am. Not a pick-up place unless you have $$$.

Casa Club, KTV and Hotel
Casa is another upscale local club and karaoke. Mostly for finding high-class freelance prostitutes, particularly Vietnamese. Main lounge has a lot of pretty girls, a live band then house music. Similar with Boss: Chinese oriented. Luxury karaoke rooms start $70.

This is the only Thai nightclub in Phnom Penh. Sexy Thai dancers and models.

Popular middle class Cambodian disco. Friendly and cheap.

There are dozens more local nightclubs and KTV. These are a few of the most famous ones: MIP (Midnight in Phnom Penh), True Face Club, Beliza Club, Tonite Lounge, GL, Holiday Club and the brand new 55 Club and RCA.

Cocktail Lounges and Stylish Bars
One of the upmarket and trendy bars in Phnom Penh, catering to a more sophisticated expat crowd. 

The Phnom Penh branch of Oskar Bangkok on Sukhumvit 11, it is the new favourite hangout place for trendy expats and locals. Stylish with excellent food and cocktails. They have a live DJ playing progressive house.

Speakeasy lounge/cocktail bar recently opened. Next to Nova nightclub. Tapas and live music on Wednesday and Friday.

Considered the best wine bar in the city with live jazz every Wednesday.

The Foreign Correspondent Club is mentioned in every guidebooks but it is really average and expensive. Ok for first-time visitors.

Bars and Restaurants in Bassac Lane (Street 308)
This small street in the expat area of Phnom Penh has several hipster-like micro-bars and eateries. I think they are all owned by two Kiwi brothers. The current line-up consists of Cicada, Seibur, Hangar 44, The Library Daiquiri Bar, Meat and Drink and Harrys. The owners of these bars are also behind the popular Sito (on Street 240).

Other bars worth checking are Chez Rina, Che Culo and Doors.

Backpacker Bars

Open-air backpacker bar on top of the Top Banana Guest House . Very cheap (0.75$ for beer during happy hour). In front of Club Love. For those who are alone and want to meet other travelers. Nightly events (live music, DJ).

Live Music Bars

One of the famous live music bars in Phnom Penh. Older crowd of regulars and freelancers. Unsophisticated but popular.

Zeppelin
Taiwanese-owned. The new location is in Street 278. Live classic rock.

I'm not sure if the customers here are low budget expats or backpackers. Next to S21 museum, this punk dive bar is cheap, serves good food and it has live "alternative" music. Free beer every day from 6.30pm to 7pm. 1$ after that. Hipsters would say it's rad.

Expat Bars/Sports Bars

Self-proclaimed "Rock'n'Roll Dive Bar". Small, near the riverside, with a regular crowd of expats over 40. Good burgers. Simon the owner is usually inside.

A bar popular with American expats. Far west/saloon theme. Good Tex-Mex food and burgers. NFL/NBA/MLB on screens.

Tamed hostess bar on Street 51 (near Pontoon). Pretty, numerous girls but you cannot take them home with you (no barfines allowed). Live music. Family friendly on Sundays for their weekly roast.

A bit more upmarket compared to other expat bars. American-owned, famous for its pizzas. Pool tables. Hot waitresses will play against you to try to get a ladies' drink.

For watching sports, you can also try The Gym Sports Bar (Rugby), Score and Pickled Parrot.

Rooftop Bars and Lounges
Highest roofop bar in Phnom Penh with 360° view (only 23rd floor though). Modern, classy, always busy for sunset. 6$ for a cocktail.

On top of Amanjaya hotel (which is not part of the Aman Resort group). If you are looking for a nice view of the riverside, this is where you'll get the best one. Cocktails start at 4$.

In spite of their name, the upstairs terrace has DJs playing electronic music. Monthly underground nights.

After Hour and 24/7 Bars
As I mentioned before, after 5am you can go to Pontoon Vibe. Once it is closed, you have several options, none of which are really ideal.

One of the most famous freelancer bars in Phnom Penh, it is quite a dump when you compare to the other options available. Old prostitutes who may or may not be meth addicts. The only reason to go there is if you stay in the Walkabout Guest House or if you are desperate for a shag at 8am.

Golden Sorya Mall Beer Garden (GSM) - G Pub
24/7 open-air bar, next door to Pontoon. Old prostitutes and not really safe. It's only OK to go there after hours when you are too drunk to move away from Street 51.

You can also go to Street 136 to Candy Bar, Butterfly and Corner Bar (see below) which are open 24 hours.

Best Hostess Bars in Phnom Penh
There must be at least 50 hostess bars in Phnom Penh, with most located on Street 136, 104, 51 and 130 (starting from the best). There are isolated ones too in Street 102, 108, 110, 118, 172 (and more!). It's fun to just walk around and hit them randomly. Most places open at 7pm and have happy hours until 9pm.

Unlike in Thailand, a girl you meet in a hostess bar in Phnom Penh may not go home with you, even if you bought her several lady drinks and offer her money. This can cause some frustration if you are not used to it. Naturally, young, friendly, polite and good-looking guys have a higher success rate. If you want certainty, it is better to go to the freelancer bars in Street 51, in Cyrcee or in Darlin' Darlin'.

The upside is that when a girl says yes, you can expect a nice girlfriend experience. Cambodian girls may not be as gorgeous as Thai or Vietnamese women, but they are fun and sweet. The fact that they come from poor background with little perspective can make soft-hearted guys melt.

The prices in all Western-oriented hostess bars in Phnom Penh are similar from one place to another. Beer: 2-3$. Hard liquor: 3-5$. Expect to pay between $20 and $30 for ST, 50$ for LT. Some places are more expensive (like Cyrcee). There is also a 10-15$ bar fine in most bars (a compensation you pay to the bar for taking one of their staff). Many girls are only interested with ladies drinks (3,5$ almost everywhere), on which they get a 1,5$ commission.

Many bars have games (Connect Four, cards), if not a pool table. So even if the girls don't speak English well, you have something to do with them. The music is often from a YouTube playlist and you can make requests as you wish as long as it's commercial and upbeat. On TV screens you'll have either sports or music video clips.

On weekdays,  it is not rare to be the only customer in a bar. While it gives you an ample choice of girls to choose from, it can be intimidating too. To avoid that, I recommend one of these popular ones:

Owned by a French man, it has girls that are prettier than average. It is special because most girls are straight to business and not really looking for ladies drinks. You can have a short time with them in a nearby room (5$) for 30-40$ + 10$ bar fine. Many will also accept to go home with you all night for 100$. Threesome possible.

Hostess Bars on Street 136
As I mentioned before, this is the most interesting street. In particular, you can go to Candy Bar, Butterfly and Corner Bar which are open 24/7 and have plenty of girls, including some freelancers. Corner Bar has sexy dancer shows on Fridays and Saturdays. This is the closest you'll get from a Gogo bar in Phnom penh.

Another nice bar is 69. Flora Bar has a discreet couch in the back if you want to fool around.

Hostess Bars on Street 104
The nicest one on this street is Rose. There are 30-40 girls in uniforms, but many are only interested with drinks.

Other recommended bars: Cheers, Soft Spot and Bunny (a bit kinky, you can take girls to the private billiard room, as in Bar 104 -One Zero Four)

Hostess Bars on Street 130
Loco and Angry Birds: Both are clean with good-looking girls who don't hustle clients.

More recommended hostess bars:
Street 110: Pretty Women (Japanese-run, clean, beautiful girls)
Street 102: Valhalla (ex Nay Nay Star: The bar has rooms for short time upstairs if you need fast and discreet action)
Street 172: BlackPearl

Massage Parlours and Spas in PP
Phnom Penh is not the best city for massage lovers. You either have cheap tourist massage parlours with quick handjob finishing, or larger brothels where girls have no massage skills.

One of the most famous venues is Soul Golden City, near the Sofitel Phnom Penh (exact location here), which features a fish tank on the 5th floor (for newcomers: it's an area where girls are standing behind a glass). You can take a Khmer or Vietnamese girl to the karaoke or to a room for 10$/20$. This is just for a regular massage. Full service is available if you tip the therapist directly. Prices range from 50$ to 150$.

A very similar place is Massa on Street 252. Fish tank with around 25 sexy Viet and Khmer girls. Room is 10$ with shower and AC. After negotiating, you should pay a tip between 25$ and 50$ for full service. If you only want a handjob, you can get it for 10$.

You can also go to the spa in Hotel Luxury World (Street 200) which is affordable (same as Massa) and has decent facilities. A cheaper one is on the second floor of the Mean Haur Hotel.

You can also try massage parlours aimed at tourists in the center and ask if they have a "private room". In that case you may have a chance to get something at the end. Rattanakiri Spa and Nu Spa offer such services.

There are local 24-hour massage parlours north of the Wat Phnom roundabout, next to Casa Club (France Street). Casa Boutique Hotel may have a massage parlour but I'm not sure. You have one as well in The Rock Entertainment Complex with sauna, jacuzzi and steam.
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11 Indonesian Islands You Never Heard Of

April 21, 2016, 6:31 am
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The next Bali or the next Lombok is listed below.
If you are a tourist considering going to Bali to enjoy a quiet beach holiday, just forget it. Bali is ridiculously overcrowded and it is starting to look no different than Jakarta: Clogged with traffic, disorganized and polluted, it is far from the paradise it pretends to be.

The good news is there are 17,000 more islands to explore in Indonesia, with far better beaches and scenery. Sure, they require a bit more effort to visit and you may not find 5-star honeymoon resorts so easily. But once tourism will develop and change the authenticity of these islands, you will probably regret not making the trip earlier.

I selected 11 beautiful secret Indonesian islands that few people know of. They are located off Papua, Maluku, Sulawesi, Sumatra, Sumba or Borneo. Note that some of them are in fact small archipelagoes.

In case you are curious, the cover photo is from the Banyak Islands which are mentioned below (Photo Source: Vagabundinnen).

Taka Bonerate Islands

Photo Source: Ramadian Bachtiar
The Taka Bonerate Marine Park has 21 small islands and possesses the third largest atoll in the world. It is a paradise for divers from all over the world who can explore its 500km2 of corals. Sea turtles, cuttlefish, crocodile fish, eels and manta ray can be seen at almost every dive.

Its main island, Tinabo, is less than 2km long. It can be reach on a long day trip from Makassar via Selasar by boat.

Banyak Islands

Photo Source: Vagabundinnen
Part of the Aceh province, the Banyak Islands consists of several small islands, including Tuangku (the largest), Bangkaru and Palambak (depicted on the photo above). It is an alternative for surfers to the more "crowded" Nias or Mentawai Islands. With endless yellow-sand beaches, they are also great for adventure couples looking for privacy.

Widi Island 

Photo Source: Henry Wicaksono
Widi Island (or Weda) recently made national headlines after foreign investors from PT Leadership Island Indonesia agreed to disburse IDR 600,000,000,000 for the right to manage it for 35 years.

Located south of Halmahera in Maluku, the island is expected to become a center for ecotourism and diving activities. With crystal clear water and preserved coral, it could become one Indonesia's best diving destinations.

Menui Island

Photo Source: Itsarbolo
Menui Island is part of Morowali district in Central Sulawesi. Its name comes from "manu" which means "chicken" in Bugis language. One of its attractions is the Kumapa cave, a sacred place for residents who use it as a place for meditation. The island is still under-developed and most of it is covered with tropical jungle.

Kei Islands

Photo Source: Dagmarita
The Kei (or Kai) Islands is a small archipelago in Southeast Maluk. Kei Kecil and Kei Besar are its two most famous islands, reputed for their long unspoiled beaches and beautiful sunsets.

A new airport on Kei Kecil is now connecting the islands to Ambon. It is very likely that tourism will grow significantly in the coming years.

Pulau Maratua

Photo Source: fajaradiartha
A few hundred kilometers away from Malaysia, the U-shaped Pulau Maratua is one of 92 outlying Indonesian islands. Most people visiting it go for diving or snorkeling and sleep in the Maratua Paradise Resort made of cottages and bungalows built on stilts.

An airport is set to be inaugurated within the next few months. It will also serve nearby Islands like Derawan, Kakaban and Sangalaki.

Wakatobi Islands

Photo Source: Kristanto Adibuyung
The Wakatobi Islands are part of a Marine National Park which is made of four islands: Wangi Wangi (translated as the Fragrant Island), Kaledupa, Tomea and Binongko. They are part of the larger Tukangbesi Islands group in South Sulawesi.

Most high-end visitors go to the Wakatobi Diving Eco Resort and Spa on the small island of Onemobaa, off Tomea.

Pulau Karimata

Photo from Beingindonesian.com
Pulau Karimata is the main island of a small archipelago located 60km off the coast of Borneo. It is known for having exceptional biodiversity due to to its mountainous relief. Stretching 18 kilometers from east to west and 13 from south to north, it has a large population of cave swiftlets, an endemic species of bird famous for its nests made out of saliva. The nests are hunted and exported, causing a drop in the bird's population.

Pulau Banda Besar

Photo Source: Vagabundinnen
Banda Besar is the largest of the Banda Islands, an archipelago of 10 volcanic islands in South Maluku. They have interested foreign nations for their spices (nutmeg and cloves) since 1512, when the Portuguese first visited them.

For this reason, Banda Besar has interesting historical and religious monuments. It is also possible to visit nutmeg plantations. Finally, following a short boat trip, you may enjoy a hike to the 666-meter high Gunung Api (volcano).

Numfor Island

Photo Source: Bowo MW
Noemfoor Island (or Numfor) is part of the Biak Islands, off the coast of Papua. It is actually famous among historians because it was the theater of a military battle between American and Japanese troops in 1944.

Today, Noemfoor has the potential of becoming a tourist hotspot with beautiful reef corals and some great white sand beaches (for instance Pakreki).

Halura Island

Photo Source: Ferdinand
Halura Island (also called Salura or Laharula) is a stunning island located off the Southern coast of Sumba. I spotted it several years ago and I believe it could become the next Gili Trawongan (Lombok).

The island is not inhabited, yet it is still absolutely virgin from tourism. It took me quite a long time to find an image and based on my research, it seems only two tourists have been there so far.

One of them is the travel blogger/adventurer Jalan Blog that I recommend you to follow if you speak Indonesian.

Salura Island has two smaller sister islands: Pulau Kotak and Pulau Mangkudu.

Conclusion
There are many more famous islands in Indonesia, particularly Nias, Belitung, Lombok, Flores, Komodo, Melawai, Bintan, Batam, Java or even the Raja Ampat, but I tried to focus on the lesser-known and the secret ones. 

Please share with me by commenting below if you think I should add a 12th island to this list.
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Station Top 10 Nightclub (Surabaya)

March 29, 2016, 5:08 am
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Station Top 10 is a nightclub located on the 6th floor of Tunjungan Plaza Mall in Surabaya. Also spelled "Stasiun", it belongs to the same group behind Top 10 Coyote Bar.

Station is a middle class venue that most people visit to take drugs. You will normally be offered ecstasy as soon as you enter (price around Rp350,000 for one). The music is fast-paced techno that you won't be able to enjoy unless you are high. The place is quite dark and it has an underground feel. Very few foreigners visit it so you will be an attraction there.

You have sexy dancers several times in the evening but they seem to keep their bras on at all time. Many freelance prostitutes available but it can be hard to see what they look like in the dark. Most girls will ask you for ecstasy which can be a bit annoying.

It closes around 4am. If you like Station you may also want to try Kowloon in Surabaya Plaza.

Station Top 10 Surabaya
Lantai 6, Tunjungan Plaza
Jalan Basuki Rahmat No.8-12,
Surabaya, East Java
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Flamming Spa (Naughty Massage in Kuta) and Level One KTV

April 18, 2016, 1:37 pm
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Flamming Spa is a massage parlour where sexual services are provided. It is located in Kuta Central Park, about 300 meters from Jalan Legian (Bali), on the 3rd floor of Giant.

It is in a complex where you can also find Level One Karaoke and the beer lounge LV. Each are filled with prostitutes. Sexy dancers occasionally perform as well.

Prices for massage depend on your expectations:

Massage + Handjob is Rp300,000
Massage + Blowjob is Rp350,000
Massage + Sex is Rp550,000
Massage by 2 girls + Sex with both (threesome) is Rp700,000
Body Massage is Rp750,000 (I reckon it's a Thai style soapy massage/Nuru)

Please share your experience in the comment section below, and especially how Flamming Spa compares with Riverview Spa!

Flamming Spa and Level One Karaoke
Jalan Patih Jelantik - Central Parkir Kuta
Phone number: 08 1353 996 810
Email: info@flammingspakuta.com

You can see the pictures of some of the therapists/working girls on their instagram: Flamming Spa

Check also:
Twitter: Level One KTV
Ofis Spa: http://www.ofisspa.com/ (also a hidden brothel)
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Reopening Red Square Jakarta (2016)

April 18, 2016, 11:49 pm
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The Red Square will open again on May 5th, 2016. It will be located in the Bank Panin tower on Jalan Sudirman.

While the brand stays the same, some members of the original team left to create Revolution in Lotte Mart.

As you can see on the pictures, the design of the new Red Square is rather different from the old one. The concept has also evolved and you now have a restaurant and private rooms.

I'll update this review in a few weeks after they open.

New Red Square Jakarta 2016
Bank Panin Tower LG
Jalan Sudirman, Central Jakarta

Phone number: +62 (0) 21 7278 96 07/08
Fax: +62 (0) 21 7278 9605

Instagram: RedSquare_JKT
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Kowloon Nightclub Surabaya (C-Bar)

March 8, 2016, 9:50 am
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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.

The nightclub is a typical Indonesian disco with drugs and prostitution easily available. Within 5 minutes I was there, I was offered ecstasy by the waiters and 2 girls came to my table asking me if I needed company. It is in the shape of a large rectangle, half the size of a football field, with barely any decoration. It is dark and the only thing you can see is the DJ on his podium and the giant TV screens.

The music was loud "happy" techno which can be quite boring if you are not at least drunk. The best part of my visit was the sexy dancers show that lasted about 15 minutes. The girls were really hot and the whole time I was wondering if they would do a striptease (they didn't and kept their bras on).
If I had come earlier, I could have enjoyed live music in C-Bar. Entrance fee was Rp30,000 with 1 free pack of LA cigarettes. The cheapest beer inside was a whopping Rp70,000.

Overall: If you want to take drugs and party hard until 7am, this is one of the best venues for it in Surabaya (the other one is Station Top 10).

Kowloon Palace
Plaza Surabaya 5th Floor
Jalan Pemuda No. 31-37, (near Genteng train station), Surabaya, East Java
Phone number: +62 (0) 31 531 5300

Instagram: Kowloon Palace
Facebook: Kowloon
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3 Best VPN to Bypass Internet Censorship in Indonesia

May 4, 2016, 4:00 am
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In this review I will explain you how to bypass Internet censorship in Indonesia by using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) service. I will also give you tips on how to watch Hulu and Netflix in Indonesia using a unique IP address.

Most porn and torrent websites are blocked in Indonesia. This includes all the most famous ones like XVideos, YouPorn, PornHub, XHamster, KickAss Torrents and The Pirate Bay. It is also not possible to visit some forums like Reddit or InternationalSexGuide.

Some regular websites have also been banned like Vimeo. Tumblr was shut down during 24 hours earlier this year as well.

Another problem internet users are facing in Indonesia is the 2008 Electronic Information and Transactions Act. This vague set of laws can make you the target of a defamation suit for exposing your views online. You are not allowed, for instance, of suggesting that someone might be corrupt.

Because of this law, posting a comment on Facebook, Twitter or Path in Indonesia can land you in jail. This is what happened to Alexander Aan or Florence Sihombing.

Since about a year ago, I decided to use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) in Indonesia. This allows me to visit any websites I want on the internet without anyone knowing about it. It is 100% legal, secure and safe. Actually, according to this 2015 study, Indonesia is the country with the most VPN users in the world: 23% of its Internet users are bypassing censorship by using a VPN.

The cost is cheap (less than 10$ per month) and it works great. If you travel a lot in Asia, it is also very useful in heavily-censored countries like Vietnam or China.

Since VPN companies usually give you a free trial for a few days, I tested several of them to make sure I was choosing the best. Here are my top 3 recommendations if you need one. 

Hide My Ass is the most expensive of the VPNs listed here because they have 700 servers in the world, including in Indonesia. This means your connection is fast and smooth everywhere. If you can afford the extra dollars to get full speed, HMA is an excellent choice.

Pricing:
6,55$ per month with 1 year plan
8,33$ per month with 6-month plan
11,52$ per month without plan

Ivacy is considered as one of the fastest VPNs in Indonesia. They also have a server in Jakarta and a strong presence in Asia (the headquarters are in Hong Kong). The support is excellent (ask any question and they will answer you within a few minutes). You can pay with bitcoins or PayPal and you can use up to 5 devices (smartphone, tablet, laptop, TV, etc).

Pricing:
1,83$ per month with 1 year plan
4,16$ per month with 6-month plan
9,95$ per month without plan

7 days free trial.

This is often considered the best VPN on the market as they have a great support team that will help you with any of your requests. If you are planning on using US Netflix, this is your an excellent choice too as they have not been banned yet. This means you can use NordVPN to watch Netflix if you position your IP in the US.

Pricing:
4$ per month with 1 year plan
5$ per month with 6-month plan
8$ per month without plan

30 days free trial

There are a lot of new players entering the market every month. If you are using a different VPN in Indonesia, please leave a comment below to share your experience!
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Jenja (Jakarta)

May 11, 2016, 4:50 am
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Jenja nightclub will open in Jakarta in Cilandak Town Square (CiToS), most likely after Lebaran 2016. 

It will be their second branch after Bali, where Jenja is currently one of the best nightclubs. On the island, it is popular with expats, particularly because of the music they play (German electro, see 12 DJs I Want To See in Jakarta). Their design is nice as well but it is not the main reason for their success.

I wish them success in Jakarta. If they can make it work here, it could encourage other nightclubs to play something else than non-stop commercial EDM/Rn'B.

I'm a bit skeptical about their location though. To be successful, they will need a trendy crowd that Cilandak may not have. You have expats and rich Indonesians, but mostly families. I wonder if the people who currently party in SCBD/Mega Kuningan will accept to drive 30 minutes to Cilandak. Or maybe I'm underestimating the clubbing crowd in South Jakarta?

We will know the answer soon. Please leave a comment if you have more information about their concept and opening date!

Jenja (Jakarta)
Town Square Cilandak (CiToS)
1 Jalan TB. Simatupang, Kav. 17
Jakarta, Indonesia 12430

Phone number: +62 811-3988-088
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Taphouse Beer Garden (Yogyakarta)

March 25, 2016, 9:35 pm
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Taphouse is a new beer garden in Yogyakarta (April 2016). It was almost an instant success and you should find it just as crowded as Sakapatat.

It is located in a house almost in ruins, in which the owners have added a few vintage objects and plants. They also renovated some of the areas while leaving others untouched. The final result is original and it seems to be popular with the younger crowd (students).

They have DJs on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Friday is hip hop night. The prices are cheap and you'll have a buy one get one free on most days (only during soft opening I presume). Some imported beers available are Paulaner, Hoegaarden, Leffe, Erdinger and Paulaner.

Opening Hours:
Monday to Thursday from 5pm to 2am
Friday and Saturday from 5pm to 2am

Taphouse Beer Garden Yogya
Jalan Jlagran 18, Yogyakarta (400 meters from Jalan Malioboro and near the train station)

Phone number: +62 812 2444 2225
Email: taphousejogja@gmail.com

Instagram: Taphouse Jogya
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Kila Kila by Akasya (Indonesian Restaurant)

May 9, 2016, 8:07 am
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Kila Kila is a brand new rooftop restaurant serving fine dining Indonesian cuisine. It is located not far from Pacific Place Mall and offers a beautiful view over SCBD.

It is managed by Akasya Catering, a famous company owned by Enny Latief. They provided the food for numerous VIP events such as the wedding of Edhie Baskoro, the son of SBY. If their food is good enough for the president of Indonesia, it should be good enough for you too.

You can get more information about their concept, menu, prices and design on their websites and social media accounts listed below.

Kila Kila by Akasya
SCBD Gedung Lot 4, 7th Floor 
Jalan Sudirman Kav. 52-53+62 21 514 014 84

Instagram: Kila Kila

Opening Hours:
Everyday from 11am to 11pm
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Solo Nightlife (Surakarta) - Bars, Clubs, KTVs, Spas

May 13, 2016, 11:13 pm
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Small in size but touristy, Solo (or Surakarta) is often considered the little sister of Yogyakarta. I was in the city to visit a French friend who lived there for 8 years. He showed me the nightlife on a Friday and a Saturday night.

Guest-Friendly Hotels in Solo
The city is home to plenty of hotels, but beware as many are conservative and may not accept if you stay with a girl you aren't married to. As a rule of thumb, avoid small family guest-houses and any hotel with the name "syariah" on it (obviously).

Most hotels and places of interest are located either on Jalan Adi Sucipto or Jalan Brigjen Slamet Riyadi. If you want to be near the nightlife, the best area is near the mall Solo Square. The newest part of town is called Solo Baru, in the South, but it is far from the main attractions (Best Western Solo Baru  is the best hotel there).

You can stay in excellent hotels in Solo for less than 50$ per night. The best one is the brand new Alila Solo, which is close from everything including the train station. It also has a nice open-air lounge with huge swimming pool called Largo, and a restaurant on its 29th floor called Agra.

Alternatively, the nearby Sunan Hotel is a good-value option. It is a 4-star property with the big advantage of having a popular nightclub inside, Musro.

A bit further, Aston Solo and Novotel Solo are also very central. The Royal Surakarta is an heritage hotel which can be nice if you come for a romantic weekend with your girlfriend.

Some hotels have decent rooftop bars like Amarelo Hotel and the new Alana (Aquamarine Pool and Bar).


Best Nightclubs in Solo

Social Kitchen and Social Lounge Solo
This small club is probably the most happening in Solo among young people and students. It is rather big, on two floors, with also a karaoke and an outdoor area. The attached restaurant is only ok for a snack or to hangout, don't expect great food. They have at least a weekly special event such as a guest DJ from Jakarta, sexy dancers or a live band.

There may be an entrance fee around Rp50,000 on busy days. Girls enter for free. Campus night on Monday.

Jalan Abdul Rachman Saleh No.1 Banjarsari
Phone number: +62 (0) 271 66 66 98
Pin BB: 597fbaec

SLS Executive Karaoke and Lounge
Located in the Best Western Premiere Solo Baru, SLS is the newest nightclub in Solo. It is busy but mostly for those who want to party with a bottle and lady companions. One of the best karaokes in Solo with many hot girls. Pricier than average.

Jalan Ir. Soekarno, Solo Baru
Phone number: +62 (0) 271 7880 907
Instagram: sls.karaoke

Twitter: SLS Solo
Facebook: SLS Executive Karaoke and Lounge and SLS

Musro Solo (Music Room)
Musro is the night club within the Sunan Hotel. It may belong to Tommy Winata considering he also owns Musro in Bali and Jakarta.

It is more male-oriented and older than Social Lounge. The place is small and does not really feel high class. They have first a local band, and then a DJ playing house/progressive music. If you are lucky you will see sexy dancers.

The entrance is usually free unless there is a special event. Ladies night on Wednesday. Open from 6pm to 2am from Monday to Saturday. 

Jalan Ahmad Yani No. 40
Phone number: +62 (0) 271 7 3131 2 or 08 57 91 07 93 33

You might also have heard about Hailai International Executive Club. It is now closed and replaced by the Adhiwangsa hotel.


Best Bars and Beer Gardens in Solo

11 12 Beer Garden
11 12 Beer garden is the biggest beer garden in Solo with regular live bands and cheap beer. It was really packed when we visited. I was surprised to see that even girls wearing the jilbab were among the guests. You can smoke shisha as well. Beware the music is loud and the place smokey. Open from 4pm to 2am.

Address: Jalan Adi Sucipto No 48
Phone number: 08 57 25 00 99 66
Twitter: 11 12 Solo

Am Pm Beer and Coffee
There are several AM-PM branches in Solo but I couldn't find the location for all. The one I visited was on Jalan Slamet Riyadi. It is central and, amazingly, open 24h. They have live music, cheap beer and shisha. Young and laid-back crowd. You can order Indonesian and Western food.

Jalan Honggowongso 27 (Pasar Kembang), Phone number: +62 (0) 271 65 3821
Jalan Slamet Riyadi 255 (Purwosari), Phone number: +62 (0) 271 72 8929
Jalan Adisucipto 180

Instagram: Am Pm Solo

House of Beer (HOB) by Stark
House of Beer is located in Park Mall in Solo Baru. It is more expensive and upmarket than the beer gardens listed above. In particular, you will see more Indochinese. Good live music including acoustic sessions and jazz. They also serve food (pizzas, pasta, snacks). Beer towers available.

The Park Mall, GF, Jalan Ir. Soekarno
Phone number: +62 (0) 271 789 1327
Twitter: HOB Solo

Score Bar and Grill
A bar and restaurant opened in 2014 in Park Mall, Score is a nice addition to Solo nightlife. It is part of a larger chain that has several locations in Indonesia. The one in Solo is the best I've visited. The design is modern with a large outdoor area and comfortable sofas. This is where rich kids hangout before going to Social Lounge for party. They serve American, Italian and Indonesian food.

Most people come with a group of friends. If you are alone, I would recommend one of the beer gardens above instead. No dress code but it's better to wear pants and shoes. Open from 11am to midnight (until 2am on weekends).

The Park Mall, GF, Jalan Ir. Soekarno
Phone number: +62 (0) 271 789 1322
Facebook: Score Solo Bar
Website: www.scorebarandgrillsolo.com

Agra Rooftop Bar (Alila Solo)
Solo City view from Agra (Alila Hotel)
On the 29th floor of the Alila Hotel, this new venue is the highest rooftop bar in Solo. It is not that sophisticated for Jakarta standard, but the view is worth going. They serve expensive cocktails and tapas.

Address: Jalan Slamet Riyadi No. 562
Phone number: +62 271 677 0888

Saraswati Bar and Lounge
Hotel bar of the Novotel Solo. They have regular live music but it wasn't very crowded when we visited. Maybe the business people are away during weekends. You can order food as well.

Jalan Brigjen Slamet Riyadi 272
Phone number: +62 (0) 271 724 555

Uncle Bear Beer Bar
One of the most recently opened beer bars in Solo. Clean and fun with live music and DJ in the evening. Open everyday from 5pm to 1am. American and Asian food.

Jalan Veteran 108C
Phone number: +62 (0) 8 12 26 00 97 79
Facebook: Uncle Bear Solo

Par Four Cafe
This is the closest thing from an expat pub in Solo. American-owned. Not a party place but nice for chilling with home-cooked American food and beer. Open from 4pm to midnight every night except Mondays.

Jalan Kebangkitan Nasional 31, Sriwedari Park (next to Sports Station) 
Phone number: +62 (0) 8 11 26 49 36
Facebook: Parfour Solo


Other Karaokes, KTVs and Girlie Bars

Apart from SLS and Musro, you can also try one of the following places:

Primadona Lounge and Karaoke
This is a very local karaoke located in Bengawan Sport Center. They have sexy dancers on Monday and Thursday night. Live music every night from 11pm to 2am. Reasonable prices and many lady companions.

Bengawan Sport Center, Jalan HOS Cokroaminoto 55
Phone number: 08 13212 55 813

Bima Karaoke
Bima is a more expensive karaoke in Solo Baru. Open until 2am, the price for rooms is Rp200,000 per hour with minimal 3 hours. Many girls available as well.

Jalan Ir Soekarno, Ruko HC 19
Phone number: +62 (0) 271 672 7327

I heard that the Lorin Hotel had a nightclub and karaoke but I didn't visited it. There is also Kafe Bola which might be closed already.


Spas, Massage Parlours and Salons

Amazon Spa
This spa is one of the best in the city and it is centrally-located. You can get a HJ with extra tip Rp50,000 to Rp100,000. More is possible as well depending on your negotiation skills. The price of the normal massage + room + facilities (sauna, jacuzzi, cold and hot pool) ranges from Rp200,000 to Rp300,000).

Jalan Adisucipto 48
Phone number: +62 (0) 271 7551308

La Fitto Spa
This is also a recommended plus plus spa in Solo, about 1 kilometer from Solo Square. It is cheaper than Amazon and you can normally get extra services more easily. You can expect to pay Rp150,000 for the room and a normal 2-hour massage. A handjob will cost you from Rp50,000 to Rp100,000 and a blowjob around Rp200,000-250,000. Add at least another Rp100,000 for more. Open from 10am to 10pm.

Jalan Ahmad Yani 296 D
Phone number: +62 271 2700 858
Twitter: Lafitto Spa
Website (with prices): La Fitto Spa Solo

From what I read on Kaskus forum, you have several small brothels (called salons or panti pijat) but they might be hard to find. You can look for Salon Jelita, Salon Mawar, Salon Jasmin, Salon Virgo, Salon Mona and Salon Victoria.

The following spas might be closed:
Refresh Spa, Jalan Kyai Gede Komplek Ruko Beteng Blok B-1, Phone number: +62 (0) 271 657 009
Pluto Spa & Shiatsu, Ruko Bisnis Square Blok JC No. 26, Phone number: +62 (0) 271 799 8568
Athena Spa, Jalan Raya Solo Baru Permai, Blok CA-55, Phone number: +62 (0) 271 623 655
Solo Spa, Jalan Raya Solo-Wonogiri Blok CA No.1, Phone number: +62 (0) 271 623 388
Niagara Spa, Niagara Spa, Jalan Tentara Pelajar No.3, Phone number: +62 (0) 271 789 1916
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Search

Top 35 Sexiest Indonesian Female DJs (FDJ)

May 14, 2016, 11:38 am
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There are hundreds of Indonesian Female DJs (shortened FDJ) playing in all kind of clubs in the country. Some are smart, educated girls with actual DJing skills while others are borderline prostitutes who get their gigs who knows how.

Sorry for being shallow but this review will not focus on the quality of the music played. Most Indonesians don't really care about it anyway, as long as it's loud and famous. I only paid attention to the physical traits of the girls to select the sexiest, prettiest and hottest ones.

I didn't include any Indonesian Topless DJs (TDJ). There are a few in Jakarta, usually in clubs like V2 and Oppai (B'Fashion Hotel). The most famous ones are TDJ Barbie Tyas, TDJ Terre, TDJ Nava, TDJ Fitri, TDJ Beiby Pricilia Maxwell, TDJ Lisa, TDJ Adelia and TDJ Diana. Sarah Ardelia, a softcore erotic model, can also be added.

Without any further delays, this is the list of Indonesia's Top 35 sexiest female DJs (with the girls' Instagram account):

Most popular and prettiest female DJ in Indonesia at the moment. She has a pretty strong following everywhere she goes. Her fans' motto is "No Joana, No Party".

She is a true beauty and one of my favorites on this list. She mixes mostly in Surabaya (Eclectic, Castello, G-Lounge, LCC, Kowloon, etc).

This model was already part of my Top 20 Hottest FHM Girls. She has started DJing recently, so far in Exodus and 999.

This beautiful girl is part of Spinach Records and as such, she regularly plays with DJ Riri Mestica.

A sexy Asian model who recently started her new career as a DJ and P.A. She sometimes forms an act with Putri Zairah and Delizious Devina.

This gorgeous model has been featured in several male magazine. She is an occasional DJ who played in Exodus, Nebula, Bunker and Foundry 8.

Cute and young DJ playing mostly in Central Java (Solo and Yogyakarta)

This bright student from Bandung can often be seen in the best bars and clubs of the city, particularly Southbank, Sobbers, Hollywood and Shelter.

One of the cutest FDJs in Indonesia, she is very popular at the moment, playing in the best clubs in the country (Empirica, Fable, Equinox, etc).

DJ Rineez Dewy
She is mostly mixing in nightclubs from East Java (Surabaya, Malang, Sidoarjo)

Mixed blood Indonesian, Chinese and German. She is a favorite of the Ismaya Group, playing regularly for Blowfish, Dragonfly and DWP. 

Not your typical female DJ, Ninda is almost too pretty to mix. She was a finalist of the Cover Girl 2004 competition and worked several years as a model.

This thin girl has played in dozens of nightclubs all over Indonesia. You can see her in both normal clubs and more controversial ones like Crown or B'Fashion.

DJ Lala Tila
The young and sexy DJ Lala is currently popular in Bandung. She can be seen in Sobbers, Revel, Hollywood Bar, Bunker, Fame Station, 9 Square, etc.... Lately she was also invited to do some gigs in Jakarta and Surabaya.

She mixes in both Australia and Indonesia. Ranked 21st DJ in Indonesia in 2015.

DJ Vio (Elsa Violin)
A petite Sundanese DJ usually mixing for student crowds in Bandung.

This beautiful doll might not even be the legal age to drink, yet she has played in all the most famous Indonesian clubs in cities like Jakarta, Bandung, Surabaya, Makassar, Lampung and Bali.

A fixture of Jakarta nightlife, she can be seen in the hottest bars and nightclubs of the capital every week. She is one of the top DJs from the label Spinach records and one of the few Indonesian DJs with an international experience.

She was a successful model for 15 years before becoming a DJ for the prestigious agency 1945FM (same as Delizious Devina). She is often accompanied by the Colombian DJ Claudia Jaramillo (on the picture, Chantal is the one facing the camera and smiling).

This girl holds a master degree in Psychology and she is a DJ on her free time. She is quite famous around Bandung.

A classy, tattooed DJ who specializes in mash-up, hip hop and top 40 remixes.

She started as a model for male magazine and TV ads. She also played in a few sitcoms and movies.

Rizuka won the FHM Girl's Next Door competition in 2014. Since that, she has started a successful singing and DJing career. Her single "Nobody Else" recently topped Indonesian music charts.

This pretty DJ made the headlines in 2013 after she complained to the police that the basketball player/actor Denny Sumargo had made her pregnant out of wedlock.

She is one of the most famous Indonesian models for male magazine, thanks to her two gigantic boobs. She is not a regular DJ, but she plays once in a while, like recently in Titanium Batam, Lips Bogor and Crown Samarinda.

She is part of a label called Bullbeat along with the CEO of Lamborghini Indonesia, Johnson Yaptonaga (under the name JYAP). Not much information about her but she had gigs in Colosseum, Empirica and Sobbers.

A truly hot DJ who knows how to warm-up a dancefloor. It is not rare to see her doing a sexy dance during her act. Based in Bogor.

DJ Achie is lucky not to play in France, where her name would mean "terrible DJ" (DJ à chier). She plays "progressive" house in clubs where drugs are easy to find. Also a sexy dancer.

DJ Zietha Vangelisca
One of the famous female DJs in Yogyakarta, this young student (just graduated actually) plays in clubs like Liquid, Boshe, Sugar and Terrace.

She is an upcoming DJ from Central Java

Self-proclaimed a lingerie DJ, she is one of the wildest female disc-jockeys in Indonesia, if not the most classy. She does some sexy dancing as well in which her two huge boobs are the main point of focus. She is not a nude DJ unfortunately.

One of those big boobs Indonesian DJs, she kind of look like a pornstar. You can usually see her in girlie clubs.

There are two main things that make her popular and you are looking at them right now. She was ranked in the top 10 sexiest Indonesian DJs in 2014 and made it to the 58th place of the Top 100 Djanes 2015.

Hot FDJ that you can see mostly in Borneo and in some nightclubs in Kota (Exotis, Diamond)

There are actually only 33 Indonesian DJ girls ranked so far. I will add two more soon. If you feel I missed an important one please leave a comment below!
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Titanium Nightclub (Batam)

March 16, 2016, 11:45 am
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Titanium is one of the largest and most luxurious nightclubs in Batam (Indonesia). It was opened in 2014 by the son of Jimmy Ho, one of the Island's main property developer. It is located on the second floor of Harbour Bay Mall, a 5 minutes ride from Nagoya and near the ferry terminal.

If you need a hotel walking distance from the club, I strongly recommend you book the Swiss Belhotel Harbour Bay (Click to view full reviews and special offers). 

Titanium is a Chinese-style disco, more modern and luxurious compared to its competitors like Newton, Planet, No Name and Pacific. By Chinese-style, I mean that there is not a real dancefloor and that most people stay around a table with their group of friends (and their lady companions). For this reason, it is best to order at least a bottle if you want to truly enjoy the place. The crowd is mostly Indochinese with also, I guess, Singaporeans, Malaysians and Koreans. Girls are pretty but few are "normal" or unaccompanied. Many are working in the Titanium KTV. Compared with other venues, drugs don't seem to be so common.

The music is always very loud, upbeat and commercial. They seem to love hiring sexy female DJs wearing short skirts and bikinis instead of talented DJs. Too bad because the sound and lighting system are definitely top notch. They have special events almost weekly, with sexy dancers, live band, fashion models and sometimes foreign DJs.

Overall: Titanium is recommended for a clean clubbing experience. If you are alone, it might not be so fun since people tend to stay between groups. Prices are high for Batam: The cheapest bottle costs about Rp1M, a cocktail Rp100,000 and a local beer Rp70,000.

Titanium Nightclub and Karaoke
Harbour Bay Mall, Floor 2
Jalan Duyung Sei Jodoh, Batam, Indonesia

Phone number: +62 812-6633-0000

Instagram: Titanium Club Batam
Facebook: TitaniumClubBatam
BB Pin: 59b69ecb
Line : Titanium club
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Social Club (Saigon)

April 13, 2016, 6:36 am
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Social Club and Rooftop Pool Bar is one of the most happening venues in Saigon. It is located on the 23rd and 24th floor of the luxurious MGallery Hotel Des Arts, which was officially opened at the end of 2015.  

Obviously, the main reason to visit Social Club is the view on Ho Chi Minh City. It is splendid, particularly at sunset with the swimming pool in the foreground. Unfortunately, you cannot swim in it as it is reserved for hotel guests and members.

Weekend nights have started to become busy, with both locals and expats. They have DJs on those nights. It is not a yet party atmosphere, but you can get a good warm-up and maybe meet pretty ladies. During the week, it can be more quiet, except at sunset time. If you need to take someone on a date, it's a recommended spot.

Prices for cocktails are above VND250,000 and for a beer VND100,000. On the rooftop area (24th floor), they have a daily Buy 2 Get 1 Free promotion from 5.30pm to 8pm. In the restaurant area (23rd floor), the promotion is even better: 50% off. This makes the whole place quite affordable.

The kitchen is headed by Frenchwoman Anne Cécile Degenne. The menu is small but appetizing, with mostly grilled meat and fish. Prices around VND200,000 for a small place and VND400,000 for a main course.

Opening Hours:
Everyday from 5:30pm to midnight for the restaurant, until 2am for the bar. Open for Sunday brunch.

Social Club Rooftop Lounge, Restaurant and Pool Club
MGallery Hotel Des Arts Saigon
23rd and 24th Floor, 76-78 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai,
District 3, Ho Chi Minh City

Phone number: 08 39 89 8888

Instagram: Social Club Saigon

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Malang Nightlife: Best Bars, Clubs and Spas

May 23, 2016, 10:57 am
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Malang is one of the nicest cities I've been to in Java. It is a mid-sized mountain town just 2 hours from Surabaya, relatively clean (for Indonesia standards) and with a pleasant weather.

As you would expect, Malang nightlife is not the most happening. The current hotspot is actually the brand-new Starbucks, in front of which you may surprisingly see a couple of Ferraris. If you want to party, you have a few good bars and nightclubs though, enough to keep you busy for a weekend.

Most bars are laid-back beer houses or live music cafés with a student crowd. They are not so sophisticated and their prices are as low as it can get.

Clubs are more diversified. The best ones are modern, with a rich crowd, sexy girls and decent entertainment (DJs, bands, dancers). On the other end of the spectrum, you also have more underground joints with prostitutes and drugs easily available.

I learned that alcohol is supposed to be prohibited in Malang, yet I didn't have any difficulties to buy any, including hard liquor.

Getting Around in Malang
One of the most annoying things about Malang is that it is difficult to get around. There are no Blue Birds, no Express, no Uber, no Grab, no Go-Jek. Taxis do not actively look for customers but wait to be called so you should save their phone number.

I used Citra taxis (WA 08813349145 ) most of the time. They are quite cheap, they always put the meter and it took them on average 10 minutes to pick me up. The trip from the city center to the airport with Citra is only around Rp60,000.

Walking in Malang is not too bad. The sidewalks are in fair conditions, distances are short and the weather is not too hot. For simple trips, you can also use "angkot", small public buses that can be found everywhere. The price is around Rp3,000 for a 2 kilometer trip. Ask locals for directions as there is no map of the service.

4 Best Girl-Friendly Hotels in Malang
I was staying in the Hotel Tugu near the train station and I believe it was a great choice. It is very central so you can walk to almost any attractions in the city. The hotel restaurant is one of the best in the city and if you want to try local dishes, you have several street food stalls 5 minutes away.

It is more expensive than average but still reasonable for Western standards. Prices are higher on weekends.

Hotel Kartika Graha
My main reason for recommending this hotel is that you have My Place nightclub inside (see below), the best in the city. The hotel itself is not spectacular but it is clean and comfortable. You also have a McDonald's around the corner and it is a short taxi ride from everywhere.

Hotel Aria Gajayana
This hotel is not as centrally located as the two above, but it is still very convenient. Within the same building you have a spa, a mall, a nightclub (Nashville), a karaoke and several restaurants. The value for money is excellent as you'll pay less than 50$ for 4-star facilities.

Best Western Malang
The Best Western is one of the few high-rise buildings in Malang. As such, you have a rooftop bar on top and you can ask for a room with a nice view on the city. It is modern and central, with prices very reasonable (less than 45$ per night). It also has a spa.

Best Nightclubs in Malang

My Place Pub, Karaoke and Nightlife
Located in Hotel Kartika Graha, My Place is the most popular nightclub in Malang at the time of writing. It is usually crowded even during the week. There are always several sexy girls, but don't get your hopes too high as some are working as GROs. It is also one of the few venues in Malang with expats.

The club has a 200-pax capacity, on two levels. The upstairs mezzanine is a VIP area with private sofas. There is also a luxury karaoke of 11 rooms. Prices for the karaoke start at Rp2,6M net with 2 lady companions (escorts), 3 hours in the room and a bottle of Jack Daniel's.

The entrance is Rp80,000 with one free beer. Live music every night (Top 40 songs), then a DJ performance (Rn'B, House, EDM). They also have fashion shows and sexy dancers occasionally. Ladies night is on Wednesdays (Free tequila and free entry for girls). Tuesday is beer night (Buy 1 Get 1 Draught Beer).
Address: Hotel Kartika Graha, Jalan Jaksa Agung Suprapto 17
Email: info@myplacemalang.com
Phone number: (0341) 352 209

Website: My Place Nightclub Malang
Instagram: My Place Malang

Hugo's Club Malang
Compared to My Place, Hugo's is smaller and more student-oriented. Located in the basement of the shopping center Cyber Mall (ex-Plaza Dieng, next to City Point), it is a modern nightclub with good music and friendly staff. The dance floor is tiny, which does not really matter as most clubbers stay around tables.

It is generally not as crowded as My Place, except maybe on their campus night on Mondays and their Ladies' night on Wednesdays. Since there are no prostitutes in Hugo's, I'll recommend it for those looking to meet a local girl.

Music is similar to My Place: EDM, Hip-Hop, House, Top 40. For more information about their events, you can check their twitter and instagram accounts below. Open until 3am except Sunday.
Address: Jalan Raya Langsep 2, Cyber Mall, Basement
Phone number: (0341) 586305

Website: hugosmalang.com
Instagram: Hugo's Club Malang
Twitter: Hugo's Malang

Smooth Club and KTV
Smooth Club and KTV is located just across the street from Hugo's. The waiters and security in the clubs were not foreigner friendly. They made jokes, tried to scam me and short-changed me. This rarely happened to me before in any nightclubs in Indonesia.

In spite of this negative experience, I will try to be fair in this review. Smooth is a small nightclub with all-night entertainment: DJs, live bands and sexy dancers take turns on stage while the crowd, mostly older guys, sits around tables in the dark. There are a lot of very pretty girls, all of which are lady companions and possibly prostitutes. Prices are high.
Address: Jalan Terusan Dieng 36
Phone number: (0341) 555 777


Nashville
Nashville is more like an event space. It is open daily but people usually visit it during special events, particularly live bands. It is the largest nightclub I've seen in Malang and it is open until 4am. If there are no bands, they will normally play house and progressive music. Sexy girls may do a short dance as well.

The place is starting to feel a bit old and the design is kind of kitsch (Egyptian or Safari style). It is not so easy to find within the Olympic Garden Mall Complex.

You also have a karaoke with lady companions. Entrance fee was Rp100,000 the day I visited (inclusive of one soft drink).
Address: Hotel Aria Gajayana, Jalan Kawi 24, Mall Olympic Garden Complex
Phone number: (0341) 336 262 or 08 123 578 94 88

Instagram: Nashville Club Malang
Facebook: Nashville Live Music Malang

Best Bars and Cafés in Malang

Levels Brewhouse
Levels Brewhouse was the first beer beer bar to open in Malang and it is still one of the most busy today. It is cozy, with air con and comfortable sofas, pretty much like a Starbucks actually. They have a selection of foreign beers, including Hoegaarden, Erdinger and Leffe. Live bands and DJs a few nights per week. Sports on TV.

Address: Jalan Terusan Borobudur 26
Phone number: (0341) 416 814
BBM : 2263FF8E
Email : levels_brewhouse@yahoo.com

Instagram: Levels Brewhouse
Facebook: Levels Malang

Houtenhand
This café and beer house can be considered as the main hipster spot in Malang. Located on 3 floors of a tiny house, it is an alternative space opened by Donny Hendrawan, a part-time folk band member. They regularly welcome local Indie bands, some of which are famous.

There is some charm to it, but don't expect too much from the service and food. The nicest area is the rooftop where you may meet a few backpackers.

Address: Jalan Basuki Rahmat 56A
Phone number: +62 8 133 4050 777

Facebook: Houtenhand House
Instagram: Houtenhand
Twitter: Houten Hand

Chow Sports Bar
With a beer tower (3,6L) of Bali Hai at Rp145,000 net, the small Chow Sports Bar is one of the most affordable beer bars in Malang. It is a clean, bright and laid-back hang-out spot, more Westernized than most of its competitors. For this reason, you may see more foreigners and more Indo-Chinese. As the name suggests, it is a good venue to watch any sports, particularly football.

Address: Jalan Puncak Mandala 4E
BBM: 5CCC1E64
Phone number: 0856 4982 6583

Instagram: Chow Sports Bar Malang

Vivace Music Café
Centrally located and cheap, Vivace is one of the best places in Malang to listen to live music. The bands start at 8pm and generally play indie rock songs. Depending on the evening, you may also have reggae, metal and pop nights. It's quite masculine. The only girls turned out to be the girlfriends of the band members. They serve some food as well (pizzas, pasta, rice).

Address: Jalan Padjajaran 14
Phone number: (0341) 363 777

Instagram: Vivace Cafe Malang

Lavos Lounge
Lavos is a pub located in MX Mall, next to Malang Town Square (MATOS). It is a simple bar that looks like a restaurant, with an indoor and an outdoor area. It is surrounded by universities and therefore quite popular with students. If you happen to be near, you can have a look. If you are far, I don't think it's worth it as it is not really different from other beer houses in Malang. People stay in groups so avoid it if you are alone. Prices are very cheap: A beer tower of Bali Hai costs just above Rp100,000.

Address: Jalan Veteran
Phone number: (0341) 550336

Instagram: Lavos Lounge

Spas and Massage Parlours
Malang is almost a dry place when it comes to massage parlours with plus plus. It seems that in such a small town, the high-end spas closed down one after the other once the word gets out. All you have are plenty of small bordellos where the girls do not know how to do a proper massage and go straight for sex.

The best clean spas available are Griya Bugar and OJ Spa in Best Western Malang. You'll pay about Rp150,000 for an hour.

If you need something more, you can Tribuana Spa and Dhogadho.

Other Places of Interest
After Me - BNS
There are a few more nightclubs in Malang but I don't think you will enjoy them as they really cater to a local audience. If you feel like exploring the city's nightlife though, you can try:

Gama Lounge or Gravity Lounge
This is a relatively new place which is not really happening yet. It is worth checking their Instagram in case they have special DJs. They specialize in progressive, trance and EDM. Sexy karaoke available.

Address: Gajah Mada Plaza, Basement, Jalan K.H. Agus Salim 18
Phone number: (0341) 340 860

Instagram: Gama Lounge and Karaoke

After Me (Batu Night Spectacular - BNS)
This club/lounge is not exactly located in Malang but 15 kilometers away in the Batu Night Spectacular complex. BNS is a sort of amusement park with family attractions, restaurants, cafés, etc. Many locals go there on weekends to enjoy the view and the cool temperatures.

Facebook: After Me Batu

Beer Station / Beat Station
This small pub is located near the train station. They have DJs regularly. Bintang beer tower is Rp176,000 Net. Not so crowded unless they have events.

Next to Beer station, you have several other cafés like Godhang (local music) and Siluet.

Address: Jalan Trunojoyo 26
Phone number: 08 22 30 20 18 85
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Where to Stay in Jakarta - Best Areas for Tourists

May 30, 2016, 9:38 am
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If you visit Jakarta as a tourist, you are probably wondering about the best areas to stay in the city.

Due to the horrible traffic and the lack of public transportation, I advise you to choose your location carefully. 1 kilometer in Jakarta is like 10 kilometer in normal cities. Just going to the opposite side of a street by car can sometimes take up to 30 minutes!

If you don't have time to readmy entire review, the following paragraph is a short summary:

The best place to stay in Jakarta, either you are a tourist or a businessman, is around Plaza Indonesia or Grand Indonesia, for instance: Kempinski, Grand Hyatt, Pullman, Mandarin Oriental. It is an expensive area though so if you are on a budget, you can stay near Sarinah Mall instead. You'll find backpacker hostels (Jalan Jaksa), 2 star hotels (Favehotel), 3-star hotels (Holiday Inn or Ibis Tamarin) and 4-star hotels (Morrissey or Akmani).

Need more addresses? See the following recommendations for Hotels near Grand Indonesia and Hotels near Sarinah.

If you have time to read my whole review, I will list below all the potential areas for you to stay in Jakarta, starting from the best.

I included a direct link to Agoda to help you book your hotel. I make a small commission on every booking but the price is the same for you. You can compare using HotelsCombined.com (excellent hotel comparator) or  Booking.com.

If you are interested to stay in Jakarta near the nightlife, please read my other hotel guides:

Contact me by email thibaud@jakarta100bars.com if you have any questions about where to stay in Jakarta (or just leave a comment below).



Hotel Indonesia (Plaza Indonesia / Grand Indonesia)

The iconic Hotel Indonesia roundabout (Bunderan HI in Indonesian) is one of the most famous landmarks in Jakarta. All around it are 5 luxury hotels (Kempinski, Grand Hyatt, Pullman, Mandarin Oriental, Keraton at the Plaza) and the two best malls in Jakarta (Grand Indonesia and Plaza Indonesia).

Both of these malls are great meeting points with lots of popular cafés, cinemas, restaurants, bars (Cloud, Social House, Skye) and nightclubs (Immigrant). It is a modern part of Jakarta ideal for lifestyle travelers who are interested with shopping, eating out and partying.

It is also central, so you can reach other parts of Jakarta fairly easily (for Jakarta standards). In particular, it is just a few minutes away from Tanah Abang (budget shopping), Jalan Sudirman (business district) and Menteng (government offices). Attractions like the Monas or the National Museum are only 15 minutes away. You can use public transportation to reach any of these (Transjakarta).
Summary:
Distance from airport:
Between 1h and 1h30m with normal traffic conditions.

Pros:
Central, easy to access, upmarket area
Good for nightlife, shopping, eating and drinking out

Cons:
Nothing touristic in the immediate area (no monuments, no historical buildings, no traditional markets)
Busy, crowded with a lot of traffic
Nowhere to walk around except inside malls
No street food
Expensive

Sarinah Mall (Jalan Jaksa, Wahid Hasyim, Sabang)
The Sarinah Shopping Center is only a kilometer north of the Hotel Indonesia roundabout (see above), but the feel is much different. It is a middle class area with affordable shopping and restaurants. You will also find great Indonesian street food 24/7. Most buildings are low-rise but this might change soon as several towers are being built.

There are many convenient businesses for travelers, some of which are open 24-hour: Money changers, travel agents, internet cafés, printing services, photography shops, etc. You also have several laundries (one of which is a coin laundry).

The mid-range hotels are along the streets Wahid Hasyim and Agus Salim (nicknamed Sabang).

If your budget is very tight, meaning under 10$ a night, you can get a room in Jalan Jaksa. Many of the cheaper guesthouses are not listed on internet so it's best to just walk around and look for "room for rent/kos" signs.

The location is just as strategic as the one in Hotel Indonesia (you can walk there in 15 minutes). If you are not interested in going to malls, it is probably even better.

East of Sarinah is the upscale area of Menteng-Cikini, where some of the richest Indonesian families live. It is central with many nice restaurants, a few museums, public parks and cultural attractions. Hotels tend to be either pricey or low-quality. 
Summary:
Distance from airport:
Between 1h and 1h30m with normal traffic conditions.

Pros:
Central, in-between modern Jakarta and old Jakarta
Many budget hotels with good value for money
Cheap shopping options
Travelers shops (Money changers, travel agents, etc)
Good street food
Very lively, even at night (many shops and restaurants are open 24-hour)
You can meet other travelers more easily (see Jalan Jaksa Nightlife)

Cons:
Not an upmarket location
Not walking distance from any tourist landmarks
It was the location of a terrorist attack in January 2016

Photo credit: https://www.instagram.com/kroenisme/

Golden Triangle
Mega Kuningan Streets
The Golden Triangle is the main business area of Jakarta and it is made from the following streets: Gatot Subroto, Rasuna Said and Sudirman. It comprises some famous neighborhoods such as Mega Kuningan, SCBD (Sudirman Central Business District) or Setiabudi. It extends in the South until Plaza Senayan and Senopati.

Mega Kuningan and SCBD are exclusive and modern areas with a Western city planning model. You'll find blocks, large streets and sidewalks, just like you would in an American city. It is the trendiest part of Jakarta and home to dozens of hip bars, clubs and restaurants. There are also several 5-star hotels (Ritz Carlton Mega Kuningan, Marriott) and luxury malls (Pacific Place). It is cleaner than the rest of Jakarta and you have less traffic jams. Some would say it's a ghetto for rich people that has nothing to do with the real Jakarta.

Many young, single expats choose to live there when they can afford it. If they don't have the budget, they may choose to stay in Setiabudi instead (see below).

Jalan Sudirman, Jalan Rasuna Said, Jalan Gatot Subroto are some of the busiest streets in Jakarta. They are packed with cars, messy and polluted. Still, choosing a hotel directly on one of these thoroughfares is a good idea to avoid unnecessary commuting time. Most are 4 and 5-star hotels though.

Summary:
Distance from airport:
Between 45 minutes and 1h30m with normal traffic conditions. Gatot Subroto is the closest and it is connected to the airport highway. Mega Kuningan is more difficult to access (traffic bottleneck).

Pros:
Modern, Westernized part of Jakarta
Easy access to nightclubs, malls, trendy restaurants
Central
Public transport options (Transjakarta)

Cons:
Expensive
Limited street food options
No traditional street life
Heavy traffic during peak hours

Setiabudi
Setiabudi is a residential and low-rise neighborhood in the northern part of the Golden Triangle. Its residents were originally low to middle income families, but this is starting to change as the land prices increase. Many houses have been transformed into boarding houses, small apartments or hotels which are popular with single office workers (both Indonesians and expats).

You can get a room there for an affordable price while being near from the Central Business District (more information: How to Rent a Cheap Room in Jakarta). It is a great area for street food as well.

Staying in Setiabudi would not be my first recommendation though if you are a tourist because it can be difficult to get there (traffic) and to find your hotel (small streets).

Summary:
Distance from airport:
Between 1h and 1h30m with normal traffic conditions.

Pros:
Very good location between Sudirman and Rasuna Said streets
Low-rise, middle class neighborhood
Near offices, malls, nightclubs, bars, restaurants
Street food
Convenient shops (laundry, photocopy, etc.)
Possibility to walk around

Cons:
More complicated to access when you are not familiar with Jakarta
More difficult to get public transport
Traffic Jams

Kota Tua
Street food near Jalan Kali Besar in Kota Tua
Strictly speaking, Kota Tua (Old Town in Indonesian) is the area around Taman Fatahillah Square in North Jakarta. In this review, I use it to describe a larger zone inclusive of Mangga Besar and Glodok.

Kota Tua is infamous for being a red-light district: This is where you will find the most expensive naughty massage parlours, strip clubs, nightclubs and gogo bars in Jakarta. Most hotels are used for short time and the streets are busy 24/7.

In spite of this, staying nearby has several advantages: Hotels are much cheaper than elsewhere and they are close from many tourist attractions (Chinese temples in Glodok, Museums, Sunda Kelapa). Some people, including myself, also enjoy the authentic street life. Jalan Mangga Besar in particular is one of the best places to eat street food in Jakarta.

From Kota Tua to the city center of Jakarta (Plaza Indonesia), it will take about 1 hour with normal traffic conditions (30 minutes at night). There is a very convenient Transjakarta line from Kota Tua down to Blok M that goes through Monas and the the National Museum.
Summary:
Distance from airport:
Between 45m and 1h15m with normal traffic conditions.

Pros:
Near most tourist attractions in Jakarta
Near nightclubs, bars, massage parlours and karaokes (naughty ones)
Cheaper area in Jakarta for sleeping and eating out
Great and colorful street life
Street food stalls open 24/7 - Excellent Chinese food
Busway line

Cons:
More dirty and dodgy than average
No modern malls and restaurants
Lots of prostitutes

Other possible areas for staying in Jakarta
Kemang
Kemang is a popular area with expats because it is near from the international schools. Many live in expansive villas with swimming pool and gardens. It has a vibe similar to the one in Seminyak.

As a tourist staying in Kemang, you will be near from many designer shops, good Western restaurants and several bars and clubs. On the negative side, there are no tourist sights and it is far from the city center.

Gajah Mada/Hayam Wuruk (+ Pasar Baru)
This area is strategically located as it is between Sudirman and Kota Tua. There are not so many things to do in the immediate vicinity apart from some famous strip clubs and massage parlours (Malioboro, V2, Emporium).

Recommended if you are planning to visit places in both South and North Jakarta. They have recently opened several brand new hotels such as Hotel Santika Premiere Hayam Wuruk, Novotel Gajah Mada and Ibis Harmoni.

Mangga Dua
In North Jakarta, Mangga Dua is a shopping area with several naughty nightlife venues. It can easily be reached from the airport by the toll road, and it is not too far from the city's tourist attractions like Kota Tua or Ancol. If you need to go to the South, it will take you about an hour.

If you only have one night in Jakarta, it can be a more fun option than staying near the airport. After two nights, you might get bored.

Slipi-Taman Anggrek
This area is in the vicinity of the malls Central Park and Taman Anggrek. You can stay there if you want to be closer from the airport as it is only 40 minutes away by car. Downtown Jakarta is about 30 minutes away.

Pluit and PIK (Pantai Indah Kapuk)
This is an upscale area where many Rich Indochinese families live. It is close from the airport (less than 40 minutes) and you have a growing nightlife scene (see my review Nightlife in PIK).

Kelapa Gading
There are not many reasons to stay in Kelapa Gading apart from shopping and nightlife.

For shopping, you have several malls including the gigantic Mall of Indonesia and Mal Kelapa Gading.

For nightlife, you'll find mostly massage parlours plus plus, brothels, strip clubs and beer houses (Sumo, Delta, King Cross, Level 5 and other prostitution joints).
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