Quantcast
Channel: Jakarta100bars - Nightlife & Party Guide - Best Bars & Nightclubs
Viewing all 1118 articles
Browse latest View live
↧

7th Joint Reggae Bar (Yangon)

January 19, 2017, 10:14 pm
$
0
0
I found the 7th Joint Bar in Yangon by accident. It was past midnight and I was walking back to my hotel when I heard some noise coming from a tiny alley.

I went to see what it was all about and discovered a small live music bar packed with foreigners (with also a few Burmese girls and guys). I would guess that most guests were expats, probably working in NGOs, embassies or schools. If you are new in the city and need to meet people, I would recommend you to go there.

It was an open-mic night (like every Tuesday) and the singers were quite talented. For once, it was nice to hear something else than Lady Gaga, ABBA and Adele. There was a bit of everything from indie-pop to blues.

The place is on two floors but it can hardly fit more than 100 people. They have a limited dining menu with some American snacks (around 2,000-3,000MMK each) and Jamaican specialties (jerk and curries for 5,000-9,000MMK).

The drink menu has all the usual, from draught beer (2,000MMK) to cocktails (6,000MMK).

Overall: A good address to try during the week (especially on Tuesdays). Friendly and relaxed atmosphere.

Note: Even though the bar is called 7th Joint Reggae Bar, nobody was smoking marijuana (and there was no reggae music).

Operating Hours:
Every day until 1.30AM.

7th Joint Reggae Bar (Yangon)
G-A10, Shwe Asia Building, 47th Street/Mahabandula Road, Yangon, Myanmar
Phone number: 09 260 600 552

To check their events: 7th Joint Facebook.
↧
Search

Chiang Mai Nightlife: Best Bars and Nightclubs (2017)

January 21, 2017, 6:28 am
$
0
0
I only spent 6 days in Chiang Mai but it was enough to get a quick overview of the city's nightlife. I managed to visit all the most famous bars and nightclubs, which is not so difficult considering there aren't that many.

I didn't really enjoy the party scene there. Chiang Mai is the 4th largest Thai city but it is provincial and conservative. The thing I hated the most was the curfew on bars at 1AM. Even on a Saturday night you'll struggle to find a decent venue open after 2AM. For a tourist and university town, that's really a shame.

Also, most nightclubs have live music instead of a DJ. This means the customers will rarely be dancing, but instead they'll stand around tables or sit in sofas watching the show. If you are going out alone, this isn't the best configuration to meet other people.

Finally, generally speaking foreigners and Thais don't mix. If you go to a tourist bar or club, there will be almost 100% foreigners (+ Thai bar girls) and inversely, Thai nightclubs are rarely welcoming towards foreigners (some will even charge a specific entrance fee for tourists).

Nightlife Areas in Chiang Mia
Chiang Mai Nightlife Areas
There are 3 main nightlife areas in Chiang Mai, each catering to a different crowd:

→ Nimmanhemin (or Nimmanheminda) Road - also shortened Nimman:
This the posh area of Chiang Mai and it attracts mostly young Thai students. You'll also occasionally see a few foreigners, usually under 30, who are long term residents in Chiang Mai. From the Old City, it takes about 10-15 minutes to reach using a taxi.

Almost all the nightlife in Nimman is located just south of the upmarket mall Maya. More specifically, the highest concentration of bars, restaurants, live music clubs and coffee shops is in the Soi 7 and soi 9. In 2017, the most crowded places are Mirror Café (a beer garden/sports bar with pool tables and a live music room), LISM, LVMC (Living Machine Chiang Mai), Rush Bar and Wanz Café.

These venues are quite similar to each other. They have Thai music (often from a live band), a Thai crowd, sports on flat screen TVs and a hipster design. They are generally inexpensive, with local beers costing between 60 and 80THB.

Outside from Soi 7 and 9, Nimman also has larger nightclubs with more professional live bands. They will normally have a 200THB entrance fee and the drink menu will be more expensive (a beer will cost up to 100THB for instance). You can go there later in the night as they close around 1AM. 3 are spread around a huge parking lot at the end of Soi 6, namely Infinity (the more upmarket), Loft (not to be confused with the gay club Loft Hero) and TaWanDang (it has working girls). You can also try Warm Up just a few blocks away.

→ Old City (and particularly Boon Yoo Market)
The nightlife within the old city is scattered in various locations but the best area is definitely in Boon Yoo Market (also called Soi Reggae). This is where all the backpackers and all the international students gather to party every night. You will be surprised by the number of foreign girls too. There are only a few Thai who are interested to meet foreigners (including some freelance prostitutes).

Zoe in Yellow is easily the most busy bar/club in Boon Yoo Market (and maybe in Chiang Mai). It is split in two venues including a pub and a semi outdoor beer garden. It has pop/electronic music that will get the drunk patrons dancing by 10PM. It is so full that the crowd spills to the streets and to the adjacent bars (like Roots Rock Reggae). It closes at 1AM.

In the old city, another busy place is the North Gate Jazz Coop. It is a semi-opened small bar on two floors with live Jazz/Reggae/Soul/Blues music every night. I went there a few times as I was staying nearby. It was always full with a mix of more mature expats and tourists. A local beer costs 80THB.

Finally, on Chaiyapoom Road, north of Tha Phae Gate (East Gate), there are some naughty venues with freelance prostitutes. The most popular, Spicy nightclub (same group as Spicy Bangkok) is a proper disco (with a DJ). It can be fun but it closes at 1AM. On the other side of the road, 500 meters in the south, Mandalay is a Thai-style live music club that closes at 2AM (200THB entrance). You can also try the gogo bar Spotlight.

If you are looking for an after-hour venue, there are two in the Old City:
- Living Room (closes at 6AM) is a billiard lounge hidden in Sithiwongse road, behind Miami Hotel. It has no sign at the entrance.
- Jack Wan is even more hidden and it does not have a sign as well. You'll find it 100 meters from Spicy, near Mad Cow Burger (closes at 5AM/6AM).

→  Loi Kroh Road
This area is within walking distance from the Old City and from the night market. There are no nightclubs there except the new Safe House (click to read my review).

If you walk around, you'll find plenty of beer bars that all look alike. The best area is within the Loi Kroh boxing stadium where you have around 40 of them. Each has about 8-10 hostesses that will try to grab you and force you to sit down as you walk by. They can accompany you for drinking, for playing pool or for sleeping if you pay (15$ bar fine + 30-50$ for the girl).

There are also more normal live music bars that don't have prostitutes. Among them I liked Interbar even though the band was awful. They all close at 1AM but depending on the number of customers, they may stay open an hour more with the curtains closed.

→  Other Areas
I've seen other bars on other parts of Chiang Mai but they often seem to be catering to locals only (they only have Thai signs).

If you feel like exploring, you may want to check the Santhitham student neighborhood where more bars can be found (including Differ Club). Another club I wasn't able to try but that seems interesting is Take It.

Chiang Mai Nightlife Map
This is a map I created to help me when I was going around the city.

Hotels Near the Nightlife
I don't know a lot of people who come to Chiang Mai specifically for the nightlife. I imagine you also want to be close from all the temples and the tourists attractions.

The best area to choose from is anywhere near the Tha Phae Gate. It is walking distance to the Old City and walking distance to the Night Market. Also, it is near a important road with fast access to Nimman or to the airport.

These are my recommendations:

4-Stars
Amora Tapae (60$): The best location in Chiang Mai. A bit old but good value or money.
Duangtawan (60$): It has the nightclub Safe House inside. Walking distance from the beer bars.

3-stars
Thapae Loft Hotel (65$): A brand new hotel near the Sunday market. 
P21 Hotel (40$): Modern and comfortable hotel. Good WIFI.

3-stars
Thapae Happy House (30$): Excellent value for money for this clean and new property

Meeting Girls in Chiang Mai
Compared with Pattaya, Bangkok, Phuket or Samui, it is relatively more easy to meet girls, foreign or local, in Chiang Mai.

I think the main reason for that is that there are less male tourists and much more female tourists than elsewhere in Thailand.

The bars and nightclubs I would recommend for meeting girls are Zoe in Yellow, Mandalay, Warm Up, TaWanDang, Spicy, Safe House and The North Gate Jazz Coop. Some of them have a high proportion of working girls.

In local clubs like Infinity (and those I listed in Nimman Soi 7/9), they will be a bit harder to approach. If you are not living in Chiang Mai they may lose interest quickly.

Online dating is a more easy way to find someone. Tinder does not work very well apart with foreign girls. Thai Cupid or Thai Friendly are much better options and they have the largest database of users in Thailand. The girls there are looking for serious relationships so you should start chatting with them a few weeks before your trip.
↧
↧

Clique Bar & Kitchen (Gading Serpong - Tangerang)

November 28, 2016, 12:21 am
$
0
0
Clique is a restaurant, bar and nightclub located in Gading Serpong, in the vicinity of Summarecon Mall.

It is open daily for lunch and dinner, serving moderately-priced Italian and International food. I haven't eaten there though as I visited at 2am on a Saturday night. Just before that, I was partying in Enigma which is just 3 minutes away by taxi (you could also walk there if you aren't too lazy).

The clubbing area of Clique is rather small and I don't think it could hold more than 200 people. You have a long bar on one side, the DJ booth in the back, a small dancefloor and a dozen high tables. There are some cool mural paintings of pop icons like John Lennon, Marilyn Monroe and Micheal Jackson.

I don't know if this is because of the alcohol, but I felt people were very friendly and I ended up chatting with several groups. The crowd was young, mostly Indonesian-Chinese in their early 20s, with a fair number of pretty girls. I was the only foreigner except for a guy who told me he was British (but actually looked Indonesian).

I didn't pay any entrance fee but you may be charged a First Drink Charge (FDC) during special events. Recent famous acts include Winky Wiryawan, DJ P. Joana and DJ Riri. They have mostly commercial EDM with several Rn'B and live music nights.

Prices: I only bought a beer: Rp43,000 net. The cocktails cost a bit more than Rp100,000 net.

Overall: If you stay in Tangerang/Serpong, it is a good idea to start a night out in Clique first, then later on head to Jakarta. I'm not sure if the place is busy during the week though.

Opening Hours:
Every day from 10am to 10pm for the restaurant
The club closes at 3am officially on weekends but there was still some music until 3.20

Clique Bar, Kitchen and Nightclub
Graha Sapphire Tower A No. 9,
Jalan Boulevard Gading Serpong Blok M5 No. 9A
South Tangerang, Indonesia

Phone number: +62 (0) 21 54 22 09 17/18

To check the current schedule of events:
Website (currently not working): www.clique-kitchenbar.com
↧

Inya Bar (Nightclub in Yangon - Myanmar)

January 22, 2017, 5:07 am
$
0
0
Inya Bar is an upmarket nightclub located within the Inya Lake Hotel Complex in the northern part of Yangon. It occupies a small, independent building next to DJ's Bar and Opera Restaurant.

If you are visiting from downtown Yangon, the taxi ride should last about 15 minutes and cost 4,000MMK. As long as you are in the area, you can also try Fuse club at the Myanmar Plaza Mall.

I made the mistake to arrive in Inya Bar way too early at 11.20PM. The place was deserted but the receptionist told me that it would eventually fill up after midnight. I waited and while a few groups came in, by 1AM there were only around 60 people.

Among them, I was the only foreigner. The rest of the crowd was made of Burmese in their late 20s, including a lot of girls. Some were probably prostitutes, but some looked normal. As often in Yangon nightclubs, they were all dancing with tremendous enthusiasm.

The club looks kind of new, but it is not that modern in design. It is a simple square-shaped room with 2 VIP areas on the side, around 30 high tables (with no chairs), and a dance floor. The DJ plays your usual Top 40 EDM remixes from an elevated podium.

The entrance fee is 10,000MMK and it includes one drink. Beers cost 3,000MMK for a Tuborg and 3,5000 for a Carlsberg. They don't seem to serve spirits by the glass as most people order bottles (starting at 40$).

Inya Bar
37 Inya Lake Hotel, Kaba Aye Pagoda Road, Yangon
Phone number: 09 25 88 35 885

Operating Hours:
Every day from 10PM to 4AM
↧

Clique Bar & Kitchen (Gading Serpong - Tangerang)

November 28, 2016, 12:21 am
$
0
0
Clique is a restaurant, bar and nightclub located in Gading Serpong, in the vicinity of Summarecon Mall.

It is open daily for lunch and dinner, serving moderately-priced Italian and International food. I haven't eaten there though as I visited at 2am on a Saturday night. Just before that, I was partying in Enigma which is just 3 minutes away by taxi (you could also walk there if you aren't too lazy).

The clubbing area of Clique is rather small and I don't think it could hold more than 200 people. You have a long bar on one side, the DJ booth in the back, a small dancefloor and a dozen high tables. There are some cool mural paintings of pop icons like John Lennon, Marilyn Monroe and Micheal Jackson.

I don't know if this is because of the alcohol, but I felt people were very friendly and I ended up chatting with several groups. The crowd was young, mostly Indonesian-Chinese in their early 20s, with a fair number of pretty girls. I was the only foreigner except for a guy who told me he was British (but actually looked Indonesian).

I didn't pay any entrance fee but you may be charged a First Drink Charge (FDC) during special events. Recent famous acts include Winky Wiryawan, DJ P. Joana and DJ Riri. They have mostly commercial EDM with several Rn'B and live music nights.

Prices: I only bought a beer: Rp43,000 net. The cocktails cost a bit more than Rp100,000 net.

Overall: If you stay in Tangerang/Serpong, it is a good idea to start a night out in Clique first, then later on head to Jakarta. I'm not sure if the place is busy during the week though.

Opening Hours:
Every day from 10am to 10pm for the restaurant
The club closes at 3am officially on weekends but there was still some music until 3.20

Clique Bar, Kitchen and Nightclub
Graha Sapphire Tower A No. 9,
Jalan Boulevard Gading Serpong Blok M5 No. 9A
South Tangerang, Indonesia

Phone number: +62 (0) 21 54 22 09 17/18

To check the current schedule of events:
Website (currently not working): www.clique-kitchenbar.com
↧
↧

Muse Nightclub (Yangon)

January 24, 2017, 5:02 am
$
0
0
Muse is a nightclub located in the Yangon International Hotel complex in Yangon. It is below the karaoke M-Box (Music Box) and only 1 minute walking distance from Pioneer.

I didn't have to pay an entrance fee to get in but I quickly understood the reason why: It was almost empty! I think there were only two girls, probably prostitutes, and a group of 5 guys dancing below the DJ. I only stayed 5 minutes to finish my beer (3,000MMK - pricey), then left. (Note: It was a Saturday night).

As I'm writing this review, I see from their photos (see above) on their Facebook page that they have more busy nights once in a while, especially when they welcome guest DJs. You may want to check if there is an event before you go.

On normal nights, the music is commercial dance music and Top 40 remixes. Nothing original.

I can't really talk about the crowd considering there weren't so many clubbers there. My impression is that they target medium to upper class Burmese, and that they also allow a few prostitutes inside (a waiter asked me if I wanted a lady). I don't think foreigners are aware that this place exists.

Overall: Muse was opened in January 2016 and it still looks relatively new. The design is not really impressive though, especially if you compare it to Fuse or The Clubhouse. As it is not busy, I cannot recommend it but you can't still have a look if you go to Pioneer.

Muse Nightclub
No.330 Alone Road, Yangon, Myanmar
Phone number: 09 730 90680

Operating Hours
Every day from 10pm to 2AM
↧

DJ's Bar (Nightclub in Yangon - Myanmar)

January 24, 2017, 5:21 am
$
0
0
DJ's Bar is a nightclub located next to Inya Bar in the Inya Lake Hotel complex (Yangon). It is quite far from the more touristic downtown area (15 minutes by taxi at night).

It has an entrance fee of 10,000MMK (with a beer or spirits) and it stays open from 10PM until 4AM every day. Its crowd is more international compared with Inya Bar, and there are also much more prostitutes (in fact, I'm not sure there are any normal girls who go there).

It is split in three different sections:
→ A small beer garden at the entrance with just a few tables and a giant screen (to watch sports).
→ A bar with a 40-pax capacity where most of the working girls are staying. They are not shy and they'll try to make eye contact as soon as you enter.
→ A medium-sized club, quite dark, and not so busy. The DJs play Top 40 remixes that you can also hear in the bar. The air-con was freezing so I didn't stay there for more than 5 minutes.

Overall: Before anything else, DJ's Bar is a pick up place for guys looking to meet freelance prostitutes. If this is not what you are after, I would still recommended you to give it a shot as it is one of the very few foreigner-friendly nightlife venues near Inya Lake.

Opening Hours:
Every day from 10PM to 4AM.

DJ's Bar Nightclub
37 Kabar Aye Pagoda Road, Yangon, Myanmar

Phone number: +95 9 40030 0005
↧

BME Entertainment Nightclub - BME 2 (Yangon)

January 24, 2017, 6:50 am
$
0
0
BME Entertainment (or BME 2) is a bottle nightclub located near Inya Lake, about 500 meters from the US and Korean embassies. It is just before Le Planteur, one of Yangon's most famous restaurants.

Be careful as some websites still indicate the old address at Summit Park Hotel. It has moved for several years already.

From the outside, BME 2 looks exactly like DJ's Bar (click to see the photo).

As you walk inside, there is a big sign "Members Only' but this is obviously just for the show as I was able to get in easily. The entrance fee is 15,000MMK with one beer but if you are with a group, it is better to buy a bottle starting 65,000MMK (Grey Goose Vodka for 80,000MMK) instead.

Considering it is one of the most expensive nightclubs in Yangon, I was disappointed at first to discover that there isn't anything really special inside. The music (commercial EDM) or the design (dark, mid-size room with a central dancefloor, high tables around it and VIP sofas in the corners) are the same as in almost every clubs I've been to in the city.

There were only about 40 people inside in BME, among which 30 guys, 10 girls, and only 2 foreigners. Some of the girls were probably hostesses or prostitutes, but not all of them.

I was about to leave, when one of the foreign guys started to buy shots to absolutely everyone. After that, a Burmese guy felt obliged to do the same, and soon I had four glasses on my table. This certainly broke the ice among everybody and I ended up staying 2 hours.

Overall: BME Entertainment is one of the best alternatives to Fuse for upmarket clubbing in Bahan (expat area in North Yangon). It is a bit more relaxed, less pretentious and it has an older crowd. Before visiting, you can check their Facebook page to know about their upcoming events: Club BME.

BME 2 Nightclub
No.88 A, University Avenue Road, Bahan District
Yangon, Myanmar

Phone number: 09 799 993179
Facebook: Club BME

Opening Hours:
Every day from 10PM to 4AM
↧
Search

Clique Bar & Kitchen (Gading Serpong - Tangerang)

November 28, 2016, 12:21 am
$
0
0
Clique is a restaurant, bar and nightclub located in Gading Serpong, in the vicinity of Summarecon Mall.

It is open daily for lunch and dinner, serving moderately-priced Italian and International food. I haven't eaten there though as I visited at 2am on a Saturday night. Just before that, I was partying in Enigma which is just 3 minutes away by taxi (you could also walk there if you aren't too lazy).

The clubbing area of Clique is rather small and I don't think it could hold more than 200 people. You have a long bar on one side, the DJ booth in the back, a small dancefloor and a dozen high tables. There are some cool mural paintings of pop icons like John Lennon, Marilyn Monroe and Micheal Jackson.

I don't know if this is because of the alcohol, but I felt people were very friendly and I ended up chatting with several groups. The crowd was young, mostly Indonesian-Chinese in their early 20s, with a fair number of pretty girls. I was the only foreigner except for a guy who told me he was British (but actually looked Indonesian).

I didn't pay any entrance fee but you may be charged a First Drink Charge (FDC) during special events. Recent famous acts include Winky Wiryawan, DJ P. Joana and DJ Riri. They have mostly commercial EDM with several Rn'B and live music nights.

Prices: I only bought a beer: Rp43,000 net. The cocktails cost a bit more than Rp100,000 net.

Overall: If you stay in Tangerang/Serpong, it is a good idea to start a night out in Clique first, then later on head to Jakarta. I'm not sure if the place is busy during the week though.

Opening Hours:
Every day from 10am to 10pm for the restaurant
The club closes at 3am officially on weekends but there was still some music until 3.20

Clique Bar, Kitchen and Nightclub
Graha Sapphire Tower A No. 9,
Jalan Boulevard Gading Serpong Blok M5 No. 9A
South Tangerang, Indonesia

Phone number: +62 (0) 21 54 22 09 17/18

To check the current schedule of events:
Website (currently not working): www.clique-kitchenbar.com
↧
↧

Enigma Nightclub (Gading Serpong - Tangerang)

November 28, 2016, 2:39 am
$
0
0
Enigma is a complex on several floors with a nightclub, a sports bar, a billiard room and a restaurant. It is located in Gading Serpong, an area of South Tangerang (1 hour from Jakarta by car). It is walking distance from Summarecon Mall, Clique Bar & Kitchen, Grand Royal Spa, Atria Hotel, Atria Residences, Ara Hotel and Ibis Hotel.

I visited Enigma once on a Saturday night. I didn't try the food and didn't play pool. I reached the place at 1AM, paid a Rp75,000 entrance fee (that included a beer) and went straight to the bar. The main room is quite large, with a low ceiling and a sort of underground feel. The crowd was young, not looking particularly fancy but definitely fun. The people I talked to were students living nearby, obviously from well-off families but with a limited budget. There were also a lot of ladies hanging around and some could have been hookers. At the end of the night, they all seemed to go home with guys they barely met. As far as I can tell, I was the only foreigner.

The DJ that night was playing commercial dance music, including some old songs. I remember hearing "I Like to Move it" and possibly "Baby One More Time" (my memory is blurred). Some clubbers were shaking their head so furiously that I suspect they were on some kind of drugs.

The prices are interesting, comparable to those in Kemang nightclubs. You can get a beer for less than Rp40,000 and a hard drink for under Rp80,000. There are promo on bottles before 12pm (2 Red Label for Rp1,1000,000). If you are a student, bring your ID card as you may get additional discount on food, shisha and pool.

It closed at 4am.

Overall: Enigma is much more laid-back than most nightclubs you'll go to in Jakarta. It is easy to meet people, the drinks are cheap and the atmosphere is fun. Probably the best place for partying in Tangerang/Serpong at the moment.

Enigma Restaurant, Sports Bar, Pool and Nightclub
Ruko Paramount Digital Arcade no. 12-18
Gading Serpong, Tangerang

Phone number: +62 0) 21 542 030 01 or 087808608381
BB Pin: 56FEFE20
Email: info@enigmaserpong.com

↧

New Year Eve 2017 - 31st December 2016 in Jakarta

November 28, 2016, 6:05 am
$
0
0
Spending your New Year's Eve 2017 in Jakarta is actually not a bad idea, especially if you compare it with the alternative of going to Bali.

Bali during New Year is crazy expensive (expect hotel prices to triple at least), overcrowded even by Jakarta standards, and worst of all: Rainy. I spent 2 NYE there in 2012 and 2014 and they were each disappointing. The only thing that I liked was the fireworks on the beach.

In 2016, I decided to stay in Jakarta for the holiday season, including Christmas. The city was much more livable than usual during the day (much less traffic) and there were great parties almost every night before and after New Year. The city also organizes several fireworks that you can watch from your hotel room, from the street or from a rooftop restaurant.

Where to Watch the Fireworks on New Year Eve?
Fireworks in Ancol on 31st December 2015
The official locations for the NYE fireworks are Ancol, Taman Mini, the Hotel Indonesia Roundabout (Bunderan HI), the Monas (National Monument) and Kota Tua (Taman Fatahillah).

Last year, I watched the one in Bunderan HI which is near Plaza Indonesia and Grand Indonesia. It is the most convenient location for those who plan on going to a nightclub afterwards. You should get there early though as the main roads are blocked starting 7pm.

The atmosphere was messy but it was fun. 99.99% of the people were Indonesians, many of them young and from a working class background. It was frightening at times because fireworks were shot from everywhere, sometimes just a couple meters from us. Avoid it if you are with kids and in any case, make sure you have a good travel insurance.

After the fireworks, our plan was to walk to the nightclub Immigrant (Plaza Indonesia Mall) which was literally 200 meters away. It turned out to be an impossible feat as the normal entrance of the mall was blocked and the crowd was too dense to be penetrated. We ended up stuck in Pullman Hotel for over an hour. My conclusion is that if you choose to watch the fireworks from the streets, you won't be able to go anywhere else until at least 2AM.

To avoid this problem, you can spend your evening in one of the restaurants and bars that have a nice view on the city. 

My first choice would be the rooftop lounge Cloud because it is in the same building as Immigrant club. The entrance fee for Cloud last year was Rp250,000 and Rp750,000 for the dinner. 

The other venues I would recommend for watching the fireworks are SKYE, Paulaner Brauhaus, Social House, Burgundy or MO Bar.

Where to Eat, Drink and Party in Jakarta for New Year's Eve 2017?
I will update this section as I receive the update program for the best clubs, bars and restaurants in Jakarta.

If you want to get an idea of what to expect in terms of events and prices, you can check my review of last year: 20 Best New Year Eve Parties in Jakarta 2016.

There will be several fun areas with a good atmosphere. Personally, I would recommend checking Basque, Loewy or the rooftops on Jalan Thamrin like Cloud and SKYE. For a more formal dinner, most 5-star hotel restaurants will have a special offer for a NYE dinner.

Here are my recommendations for the best places to spend NYE in Jakarta:

Cloud Rooftop Lounge and Restaurant
Starting 6pm, Rp350,000++ for access to the lounge and Rp500,000 for dining (3-course dinner with a glass of Moët & Chandon Champagne. More information: Cloud Jakarta.

Skye Rooftop
Rp300,000 net per pax for rooftop access starting 7PM.
Rp1,100,000++ for the gala dinner
More information: SKYE.

Basque Mega Kuningan
DJ Jeremy Jay starting 10pm.
More information: Basque Jakarta

Dragonfly and Blowfish
They have a special price: Rp400,000 for access to both nightclubs after 1AM. More information: Blowfish and Dragonfly.

Empirica
More information: Empirica

Loewy
Starting 9pm, DJ Florent Hugel (hip hop, EDM) from Paris. More information: Loewy.

Immigrant
Starting 10pm, Rp400,000 entrance.
Dining: Rp988,000++ for 2 pax (French chef Stephane Galibert) with free entrance to the club
More information: Immigrant

Jenja
DJ Darren Emerson. More information: Jenja

X2
DJ HOLL & RUSH from Holland (EDM). Starting at 9PM. Rp200,000 without drinks if you buy in advance on loket.com.

Colosseum
Rp200,000. EDM and Trance DJs (better to go there later in the night at 2-3AM. You can buy your tickets on locket.com as well.

Where to Sleep in Jakarta for New Year's Eve?
You have to realize that from 9pm to 2am on New Year, it will be difficult to circulate in the city center. Some major streets like Sudirman/Thamrin may be closed and smaller ones will be clogged by traffic jams. Read carefully my reviews Where to Stay in Jakarta and Jakarta Hotel Guide to make sure you are in the right neighborhood.

The best hotels for New Year's Eve in Jakarta are without any doubts the ones located around Bunderan HI. Hurry up to make your reservation as they will be quickly fully-booked. Most of them have a required minimum stay of 2 nights during the festive season. If you search for them on Agoda or Booking.com, they will not appear if you only select 1 night.

Here are the best deals I could find for luxury hotels that have a view on the Bunderan HI fireworks:

Price for a 3-night stay from 30 December to 2 January: Rp9,400,000 on HotelsCombined.com.

Price for a 3-night stay from 30 December to 2 January: Rp11,600,000 on HotelsCombined.com

Price for a 3-night stay from 30 December to 2 January: Rp13,000,000 on HotelsCombined.com

Price for a 3-night stay from 30 December to 2 January: Rp17,600,000 on HotelsCombined.com

Other Recommended Hotels
If your budget is more limited, there are still plenty of options but you should not wait the last minute to make your booking.

These are centrally-located hotels that will cost you between Rp500,000 and Rp1,500,000 per night (listed from cheapest to most expensive):

You can explore more hotels by searching for the following locations on Agoda: Hotels near Grand Indonesia and Hotels near Sarinah.
The Grand Hyatt offers one of the best views to enjoy the NYE fireworks
↧

Yangon Nightlife - Best Nightclubs and Bars

January 27, 2017, 1:41 am
$
0
0
I was in Yangon (Myanmar) in January 2017 for two weeks. It was more than enough time for me to go to almost all the nightclubs and bars in the city.

Yangon nightlife is better than what I expected, even though it will need a few more years before it becomes travel-worthy. For now, it is still a bit rough around the edges and somewhat repetitive. I counted over 15 nightclubs, but only 3-4 that I really enjoyed. The others are either too loud, too quiet or they simply have too many prostitutes. On the plus side, I was happy to find out that they are usually open every night of the week, sometimes until late, and that Burmese are enthusiastic party-goers.

Finding information was a challenge. Most of what you'll read online about bars and clubs is outdated, inaccurate or completely irrelevant. Hopefully this review will make it easier for you. You can help me keep it up-to-date by leaving a comment below.

Note: The Myanmar currency is the Kyat (MMK). At the time of writing: 1USD = 1,360MMK

Yangon Nightlife - Quick Summary
If you don't have time to read my whole review, below is a short summary:

Where to stay?
To be close from both the nightlife and the tourist sites, stay in the downtown area near the Sule Pagoda.

→ 5-star:
Shangri-La Hotel Sule: 200$/night - Find the cheapest price on HotelsCombined.

→ 4-star:
Best Western Chinatown Hotel (80$/night) - Check the best rate on HotelsCombined.

→ 3-star:
City Star Yangon (40$/night) - Find a lower price on HotelsCombined.

→ 2-star and dormitory
Backpacker Bed and Breakfast (10$-20$/night) - Compare rates on HotelsCombined.

→ Hotels With Nightclubs
Parkroyal (Music 5), Yangon International Hotel (Pioneer), Inya Lake Hotel (DJ's Bar, Inya Bar) and Kandawgyi Palace Hotel (The Clubhouse).

Where to party?
→ Backpackers: Go to 19th street to eat, drink beer and meet other travelers (especially Kosan bar). You can also try 7th Joint Bar. If you feel like clubbing, I recommend Channel V or Pioneer.

→ Expats living in the North: Go to Kanbawza Street for eating, to Kan Yeik Thar Street for drinking. If you are young, Fuse Club in Myanmar Plaza or BME 2 are the best. If you are older (and a guy), go to DJ's Bar.

→ Tourists/Expats with comfortable budget: Sunset at a rooftop (Atlas, Penthouse, Yangon Yangon), dinner in Shwe Sa Bwe, Opera, Alamanda or Le Planteur. More drinks in Union, The Envoy or 50th Street. For party, open a bottle in Clubhouse or listen to live music in Parkroyal (if you don't mind the prostitutes).

→ Single guys: If you are adventurous, go to Mingalar Mon Market (JJ). Less adventurous, try Pioneer. Even less, go to Music 5 (Park Royal) or DJ's Bar.

Where to meet normal girls?
→ Tinder: Very limited unless you want to meet tourists/expats
→ Asia Dating: Some English-speaking profiles, you can check who's online by making a free account here.
→ Badoo: Only 10 girls online
→ WeChat, BeeTalk, Line: Only if you speak Burmese
→ Best bars and nightclubs to meet Burmese girls: Fuse, Eclipse, Harry's, Channel V, The Vibe, Cuba, BME 2
→ Best bars and nightclubs to meet foreign girls: 7th Joint, Kosan, Double Happiness Bar, 50th Street
→ During day time: Myanmar Plaza Mall, Junction Mall, Sule Plaza, United Living Mall (middle class)

How to get around?
Unless you have a car, you can only walk or use taxis.

Taxis don't have a meter so you need to negotiate directly with the driver. Crossing Yangon from Chinatown to Inya Lake costs about 4,000MMK. Traffic jams are a big problem during the day (average speed: 10 kilometers/hour) but it gets better after 8pm.

Walking is fine for short distances, especially during the cooler months from December to February. Sidewalks are generally well-maintained. At night, it is not so safe as the streets are dark and filled with stray dogs. Burmese drive like crazy and they'd run over you just to avoid slowing down.

Travel Insurance
Dog bites, dengue fever, car accidents, food poisoning, etc... Your health is more at risk in Myanmar and the proper hospitals (International Clinic in Parami Hospital) are very expensive. Make sure you have a solid travel insurance that covers your whole trip. If you don't have one, I suggest WorldNomads. You can easily get a quotation in 1 minute: How Much Does Travel Insurance Costs? (click on "Get a Price").

Nightlife Areas in Yangon
Overview of nightlife areas in Yangon (for more details, see Bars and Nightclubs Map)
I created the map above to give you an idea about the different nightlife areas in Yangon. I also made a more detailed Google Maps that you can see here Yangon Nightlife Map.

The 6 major nightlife areas in Yangon are the following (ranked from North to South):

1) Inya Lake Hotel Compound
Within the Inya Lake Hotel compound, there are 2 upmarket nightclubs (DJ's Bar and Inya Bar). A few hundred meters away, in Kan Yeik Thar Street, there are some less expensive bars and restaurants targeting both expats and wealthy Burmese (Brave, The Vibe, Joe's Kitchen, Spy and Escape).

2) Myanmar Plaza and Bahan
One of the poshest neighborhoods in Yangon, it is also where you'll find the trendiest nightclubs and bars. They can be found in the brand new mall Myanmar Plaza (Fuse, Eclipse, Harry's), in Kabar Aye Road (Cask 81, The West) or in Kanbawza Street (Genki Kids, PorterHouse and a few more fine dining restaurants). BME 2 nightclub is also there.

3) Kandawgyi Lake and Shwedagon Pagoda
This is not exactly a nightlife area, but you have several rooftop bars and cafés targeting tourists and locals. You can have a drink there at sunset time. Vista and The Penthouse have a beautiful view on Shwedagon Pagoda.

At night, it becomes more sketchy. On the main road, you may encounter ladyboys looking for customers. There are also luxury KTVs such as VIP and The One.

4) Yangon International Hotel Compound
This popular complex next to the Summit Parkview Hotel and the Yangon International Hotel is home to Pioneer club, Muse, Mbox Karaoke and a few more bars.

5) Mingalar Mon Market
The dodgy Mingalar Mon Market is a red-light area with KTVs, massage parlors, freelance prostitutes, short time hotels and discos. Inside high-rise buildings, you'll find the famous JJ Entertainment (the  most popular among foreigners) and the more local Nasa, Channel V, 9 Floor and Asia Entertainment City.

6) Downtown Yangon, Chinatown (19th Street)
This is the older part of town where most tourists stay when they visit Yangon. The clubs, bars and restaurants are diverse and they are scattered around a large area. Some are popular with backpackers (part of 19th Street and particularly Kosan bar), some with Chinese visitors (Emperor KTV in City Central Plaza), some with NGO workers (7th Joint), some with Burmese (Cuba), some with businessmen (Club 5 in Parkroyal Hotel) and some with expats (50th Street Café, Union).

Best Nightclubs in Yangon
Yangon nightclubs are similar to each other, probably because they are owned and managed by just a few different individuals.

Below is a short description of each of them (you can click on the name to read my full review).

Note: Unless specified, the music is almost ALWAYS commercial EDM, especially fast-paced Top 40 remixes (old and new songs).

Fuse Nightclub (Myanmar Plaza)
Located on the rooftop of Yangon's newest mall, Fuse is easily the trendiest nightclub in the city at the moment. It has international standards, attracts a cosmopolitan crowd and welcomes guest DJs at least every two weeks. There isn't much space for dancing so it's better to book a table (and cheaper too).

→ Crowd: 85% rich Burmese (including celebrities and socialites), 15% young foreigners.
→ Prostitution: Not so obvious, but some girls are money-oriented (KTV girls who come after work).
→ Entrance fee: 20,000MMK for walk-in guests. 10,000MMK if you've already booked a table (and a bottle).
→ Open Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday until 3AM.

Channel V (Mingalar Mon Market)
One of my favorites in Yangon, it is perfect for those looking for a more local clubbing experience. Great atmosphere and cheap. Busy any night of the week.

→ Crowd: 99% Burmese, 1% random foreigners
→ Prostitution: Difficult to know, let's say 50% of the girls.
→ Entrance fee: 5,000MMK
→ Open every day until 2AM

Pioneer (Yangon International Hotel)
Maybe the most famous nightclub in Yangon. Crowded on most nights and not so expensive. Full of prostitutes. The DJs are better than average.

→ Crowd: 90% Burmese, 10% foreigners (tourists and expats, mostly guys)
→ Prostitution: 90% of the girls
→ Entrance fee: 10,000MMK with one beer
→ Open every day until 3AM

Club 5 (Downtown)
Live music bar and club of the 5-star Parkroyal Hotel. More expensive than average. Many freelance prostitutes.

→ Crowd: 20% rich Burmese, 80% foreigners from Europe, US, Australia and Asia (expats and businessmen)
→ Prostitution: 90% of the girls
→ Entrance fee: 12 US Dollars (16,200MMK) with a beer (free for hotel guests)
→ Open every day until 1AM

The Vibe and Brave Bar (Kan Yeik Thar Street)

Two popular hangout spots among young, upper-class Burmese. They'll normally be busy on Friday and Saturday. Hip Hop/Rn'B DJs start playing at 10PM in The Vibe. In Brave, the music is EDM. Reasonably priced.

→ Crowd: 85% Burmese, 15% foreigners
→ Prostitution: 10% or less
→ Entrance fee: Free (except when special events)
→ Open every day until 1AM (weekdays) or 3AM (weekends)

BME 2 (Bahan)
Upmarket bottle club near Inya Lake. Small but friendly crowd.

→ Crowd: 90% Burmese, 10% expats.
→ Prostitution: 20% + KTV girls/Hostesses.
→ Entrance fee: 15,000MMK with one beer.
→ Open every day until 4AM

The Club House (Kandawgyi Palace Hotel)
Modern club with international standards. Nice design. Good DJs. Unfortunately not so crowded when I visited.

→ Crowd: 80% rich Burmese, 20% foreigners.
→ Prostitution: None.
→ Entrance fee: I didn't pay any
→ Open Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday until 3AM (4AM on weekends)

DJ's Bar (Inya Lake Hotel)
Popular with foreigners (and prostitutes). It has 3 different areas: A beer garden with a large screen, a bar, and a small nightclub.

→ Crowd: 30% Burmese, 70% young foreigners.
→ Prostitution: At least 80% of the girls
→ Entrance fee: 10,000MMK with a beer or a glass of spirits
→ Open everyday until 4AM

Inya Bar (Inya Lake Hotel)
A nightclub walking distance from DJ's Bar. Rather small and quiet. Mid-to-upper class customers, including some working girls.

→ Crowd: 95% Burmese, 5% foreigners
→ Prostitution: I'm not sure but I would say more than 50% with some KTV girls.
→ Entrance fee: 10,000MMK with one beer
→ Open everyday until 4AM

JJ Entertainment (Mingalar Mon Market)
A very famous club among expats and tourists (looking for sex). The area is dodgy but the place in itself is luxurious by Myanmar standards. Early in the night, they will have a fashion show. Two floors above they have a spa with massage plus plus.

→ Crowd: 20% Burmese, 80% foreigners (Koreans, Chinese, Japanese mostly)
→ Prostitution: Close to 100%
→ Entrance fee: 5,000MMK for men and 3,000MMK for girls with a beer
→ Open every day until 2AM.

9-Floor (Mingalar Mon Market)
Also called 9-F, it is a large, local club with a very young crowd. Not very clean, a bit too dark, but friendly.

→ Crowd: 99% Burmese, 1% foreigners.
→ Prostitution: Hard to tell... Maybe 70%?
→ Entrance fee: 4,000MMK with 2 beers in a plastic cup.
→ Open every day until 2AM

Nasa Club and KTV (Mingalar Mon Market)
Maybe the most underground nightclub I've been to in Yangon. It is like a softer version of the ecstasy discos in North Jakarta. Busy on most nights, even during weekdays.

→ Crowd: 99% Burmese, 1% young foreigners (or less).
→ Prostitution: Probably more than 70%. There is a short-time hotel in the same building.
→ Entrance fee: 5,000MMK with 1 beer.
→ Open every day until 2AM

Muse (Yangon International Hotel)
A new club targeting wealthy Burmese, but not busy unless they have special events.

→ Crowd: 95% Burmese
→ Prostitution: There were very few girls, at least half were prostitutes.
→ Entrance fee: I didn't pay
→ Open every day until 3AM

Asia Entertainment City (Mingalar Mon Market)
The largest nightlife complex in Yangon, there is a spa, a KTV, a fashion show lounge and a disco. A bit old, mostly popular with Chinese.

→ Crowd: 40% Chinese, 35% Burmese, 20% Other Asians, 5% Westerners
→ Prostitution: Close to 100%
→ Entrance fee: 5,000MMK with a beer
→ Open every day until 2AM

Emperor KTV (Chinatown)
For mysterious reasons, this brothel is popular with tourists (even Western girls). Inside, you'll find a main room with mild "fashion" shows and several karaoke rooms.

→ Crowd: 80% Asian guys (Chinese, Koreans, Japanese, Burmese), 20% Western tourists
→ Prostitution: 100%
→ Entrance fee: 5,000MMK with one beer
→ Open every day from 7PM to 12AM

J-One (Kandawgyi Lake)
When I visited, it was really empty. I think it only gets busy on specific nights. In particular, they hold LGBT friendly events and Hip Hop nights.

→ Crowd: 95% Burmese
→ Prostitution: No girls when I visited.
→ Entrance fee: 5,000MMK with a beer
→ Open every day from 9PM to 12AM.

Recommended Bars and Pubs
You can't just walk around and expect to find bars in Yangon. The city is too big and the number of bars too small.

Here are some of the most famous, by neighborhood (for the exact location you can see my Yangon nightlife map):

Downtown Yangon
This large area (3.5 kilometers long and 1 kilometer large) has the highest number of bars in Yangon. Some of my favorites are:

As I mentioned before, 19th street is the busiest nightlife area in downtown Yangon. Many backpackers will hang out there every night. The best bars are Double Happiness and Kosan (both belong to the same people). Friendly and cheap (1,000MMK for mojito, 800MMK for draught beer).

Note: Avoid the overpriced street food in the whole 19th street. Go to 18th street instead.

50th Street
It used to be the place to be among expats but it is now much more quiet. Still a cosy place to drink, eat, watch sports and play pool/foosball.

7th Joint:
A small, Jamaican reggae bar with daily live music. Open mic nights on Tuesdays are very crowded. Full review: 7th Joint Yangon.

Union
Upmarket restaurant and bar, popular with expats. It was created by a group owned by an English guy who is also behind Parami Pizza and Tin Tin 118 (a tiny Mexican restaurant). Regular event such as Salsa and live music nights.

Gekko
Japanese/Korean bistro with some of the best cocktails in Yangon.

Blind Tiger
Speakeasy bar popular among expats. Serves Western and Asian food.

The Envoy
Restaurant with live Jazz every Saturday night. They have DJ events with techno, deep house and minimal every once in a while.

Fat Ox British Pub
Expat bar, they have decent pub food but the prices are high. Pool table in the back.

Cuba
Local bistro on two floors with a terrace. Very crowded at night with mostly middle class Burmese. The food portions are huge. One of my favorite places in Yangon for eating.

Hyper Pub
Similar to Cuba, it is a local bar with cheap beer and some local food.

Oriana 24
Another local pub with eclectic music, Western food and a few backpackers. In Chinatown.

Kan Yeik Thar Street
This is a good street to begin your nights out on Fridays and Saturdays (if you stay in the North). You can have dinner in Joe's Kitchen or Escape bar, then grab a beer in Brave (local crowd) and finish your night at The Vibe. The prices are reasonable.

Myanmar Plaza
The mall has several hangout spots but the best one is Harry's sports bar. You can also go to Eclipse rooftop (just next to Fuse) but it will be more expensive.

A Hard Rock Café will open there in 2017.

Kanbawza Street/Kabar Aye Road
On a 500-meter stretch of road, there are a few upmarket bars and gourmet restaurants. Expats tends to go to Genki Kids while very rich Burmese prefer the Whisky bar Cask 81.

Kandawgyi Lake
You need to pay to access the park around the lake (like 200MMK). Inside, there are several café, none of which really memorable. Two of the most busy when I visited were YGN Bus Café and Off the Beaten Track.

Yangon International Hotel Compound
There are several bars (P2, Alchemy Rooftop, The Cup Sports Café), coffee shops and restaurants. None are remarkable but they are interesting if you are planning to go to Pioneer later on.

Yangon Nightlife Map
I've listed all the venues mentioned in this review in the following map:

↧

Clique Bar & Kitchen (Gading Serpong - Tangerang)

November 28, 2016, 12:21 am
$
0
0
Clique is a restaurant, bar and nightclub located in Gading Serpong, in the vicinity of Summarecon Mall.

It is open daily for lunch and dinner, serving moderately-priced Italian and International food. I haven't eaten there though as I visited at 2am on a Saturday night. Just before that, I was partying in Enigma which is just 3 minutes away by taxi (you could also walk there if you aren't too lazy).

The clubbing area of Clique is rather small and I don't think it could hold more than 200 people. You have a long bar on one side, the DJ booth in the back, a small dancefloor and a dozen high tables. There are some cool mural paintings of pop icons like John Lennon, Marilyn Monroe and Micheal Jackson.

I don't know if this is because of the alcohol, but I felt people were very friendly and I ended up chatting with several groups. The crowd was young, mostly Indonesian-Chinese in their early 20s, with a fair number of pretty girls. I was the only foreigner except for a guy who told me he was British (but actually looked Indonesian).

I didn't pay any entrance fee but you may be charged a First Drink Charge (FDC) during special events. Recent famous acts include Winky Wiryawan, DJ P. Joana and DJ Riri. They have mostly commercial EDM with several Rn'B and live music nights.

Prices: I only bought a beer: Rp43,000 net. The cocktails cost a bit more than Rp100,000 net.

Overall: If you stay in Tangerang/Serpong, it is a good idea to start a night out in Clique first, then later on head to Jakarta. I'm not sure if the place is busy during the week though.

Opening Hours:
Every day from 10am to 10pm for the restaurant
The club closes at 3am officially on weekends but there was still some music until 3.20

Clique Bar, Kitchen and Nightclub
Graha Sapphire Tower A No. 9,
Jalan Boulevard Gading Serpong Blok M5 No. 9A
South Tangerang, Indonesia

Phone number: +62 (0) 21 54 22 09 17/18

To check the current schedule of events:
Website (currently not working): www.clique-kitchenbar.com
↧
↧

Pattaya Nightlife - Nightclubs, Bars, Gogos, Hotels

January 30, 2017, 6:55 am
$
0
0
2 hours from Bangkok, the resort town of Pattaya boasts one of the naughtiest and craziest nightlife in the world.

There are literally thousands of entertainment venues in the city, mostly beer bars, gogo bars, massage parlors and nightclubs. And they all have one thing in common: Prostitution.

The whole town is just one massive red-light district spanning over 10 kilometers where most of the human beings you'll meet are either paying for sex or making money from sex.

I say "most" because there is a cleaner side to Pattaya as well. Blending with sex tourists and hookers, some families and couples come to enjoy a normal holiday by the beach, seemingly unbothered by the surroundings. This is not the side of Pattaya I will write about here.

I only went to Pattaya for a total of 4 night, meaning I only scratched the surface of its nightlife. The idea of the article below is not to be as complete as possible, but simply to give you a quick summary of the best areas for party, the most famous gogo bars, the best nightclubs and the recommended places to stay.

Quick Tips About Pattaya Nightlife
Walking Street at night
Opening and closing hours
Beer bars / live music cafés are generally open in the afternoon at 1PM and close around 1AM.
Gogo bars usually stay open from 6PM until 2AM or 3AM.
Nightclubs will open between 10PM and 3AM or 4AM.

→ Note: If you are not familiar with the term "beer bars", all you need to know is that they are small, kind-of-shitty bars with a few seats, a TV and a pool table. They usually have 6 to 10 hostesses who sell sex, companionship and beers. Pattaya has thousands of them and they are the most popular joints among older expats on a budget (because the cost of prostitutes and bar fines is half what it is in gogo bars).

Average prices
Local beer: From 60THB in beer bars to 80THB in gogo bars and nightclubs
Entrance fee for clubs: Free for Walking Street clubs unless there is a special event - 200THB to 400THB with one or two drinks for Thai discos.

Meeting "normal" girls
If you are thinking about meeting a normal girl or finding a girlfriend in Pattaya, you should cancel your trip and go somewhere else.

Tourist clubs on Walking Street will have at least 95% of working girls, maybe slightly less in venues like Insomnia, 808 and Lucifer (see below). If you want to score with a non-professional, you'll need both some luck and some skills.

To make things easier, you can visit a local Thai disco such as Differ, Noir or Hollywood. Those places are known to have a lower proportion of prostitutes and not as many foreigners. If you speak a few words of Thai and dress sharp, you should at least be able to get a few phone numbers.

In my opinion, the most simple way to meet a Thai girls is to use online dating sites. ThaiFriendly or ThaiCupid are the two most popular in Thailand and they always have several thousands of girls online at anytime. Many among them are looking to marry a foreigner and they won't mind if you live outside Thailand. It's a great way to make a few contacts before landing.

I also tried Tinder and Badoo but it didn't work well as most profiles are either prostitutes or ladyboys.

Travel insurance:
Must-have - To know about the cost of a proper insurance for your trip, you can make a quick quotation here: WorldNomads.

Best hotels near the nightlife in Pattaya
→ Luxury
Wave Pattaya (180$/night): Recent beachfront property considered one of the best in Pattaya. Best location possible.
Baraquda by Sofitel (140$/night): Central, great swimming pool but starting to age.

→ Moderate
Blue Ocean Suite Pattaya (80$/night): Next to Central Festival Mall, 5 minutes from Walking Street and Soi LK. Best value for money.

→ Budget
Metro Apartment Pattaya (25$/night - next to a bar in Soi LK) or Nemos Guesthouse and Massage (25$/night - above a massage parlour in Soi Diana)

→ Love Inns
Naughty hotels (Love Inns) are girl-friendly hotels, often with short-time rates, that feature some sort of kinky features (mirrors, porn movies, see-through shower rooms, circle bed, discreet entrance). A famous one is Full Love Inn. Penthouse Hotel is another interesting property with thematic rooms (ideal for bachelor parties).

Best time to visit Pattaya
→ December to January: Cool weather, dry season, but more crowded and expensive.
→ June to September: Rainy every day in late afternoon, fewer tourists, cheaper and with a favorable girls/guys ratio.
→February, March, April, October, November: Very hot weather, occasional storms, quiet during weekdays.

Pattaya Nightlife Areas

There is some kind of nightlife everywhere in Pattaya. Wherever your position, you'll never be more than a few meters away from a bar.

Some areas have an even higher concentration of venues:

Walking Street
Walking Street during the day
This is the most famous and busiest nightlife street in Pattaya. It is about 500 meters long and filled with gogo bars, beer gardens, ping pong shows, live music pubs and nightclubs. On average, those venues are classier and more expensive than elsewhere in the city.

If you are a tourist, it's a fun walk and you'll even see some families and couples who are there just out of curiosity. You can enter any bar to have a look and leave it if you don't like. In general the staff won't mind.

Two things you should be careful with: Ping pong shows and Russian cabaret. Both will charge you inflated prices and I would advise to avoid them.

There are a few side streets off Walking Street that have more naughty gogo bars: Soi Diamond, Soi 15, Soi BJ or Soi Happy. As you progress towards Soi 16, you'll notice that the bars cater to a more Arab and Indian crowd.

The most famous venues in or near Walking Street are the following:

Baccara A Gogo
It is similar to Baccara Bangkok, with even prettier girls. Some are topless, some wear a bikini. Expats will tell you it is a tourist trap because the girls are only looking for ladies drink, but then it is the nicest tourist trap you'll ever fall into.

The same group also owns Peppermint Gogo and Happy A Gogo (the latter is the oldest gogo bar in Pattaya). Both are recommended as well.

Windmill A Gogo
If you are looking for the trashiest bar in Walking Street, look no further than Windmill. Built on two floors, it is a "hands on" bar meaning you are allowed to touch the girls as long as you buy them ladies drinks. Their ladies are rather average looking but they'll compensate by going completely wild. On the podium, they'll perform lesbians and sex shows. Within the bar, they'll let customers do pretty much anything in front of everyone. I was quite surprised with the scenes I saw, especially considering I had read a few days before the story of a Farang being arrested for performing oral sex on a bargirl. If the police came to Windmill on any nights they could round up a few more guys...

The owner of Windmill is also behind Sugarbaby A Gogo.

Insomnia Nightclub
Currently the best nightclub in Walking Street. Lots of young people and many gogo girls who come after work. Come early to secure a table as it gets really crowded after 1AM. EDM music.

Below Insomnia is I-Bar which is part of the same group. It is semi-open and slightly less crowded.

More information: Insomnia Pattaya.

Lucifer
My second favorite nightclub on Walking Street. It was renovated and reopened in December 2016. Great design and atmosphere but rather small (not more than 200-pax capacity). There is a large circular bar in the middle and a small dancefloor. Young and beautiful crowd.

Marine Nightclub
Hardcore music in a huge room with older Western clients and prostitutes. Pool tables in the back. Lots of ladyboys.

The Pier
Narrow nightclub on 2 floors next to Galaxy (Russian club). They have very pretty dancers but it isn't so busy. I saw more Thais customers than foreigners. EDM/hip hop music. You can smoke shisha.

More information: The Pier Pattaya

808 Nightclub
Hip hop and Rn'B nightclub. So packed you can barely move or dance. It has less prostitutes than elsewhere on Walking street. Many blacks and Arabs.

More information: 808 Pattaya

Mixx
This nightclub is at the end of Walking Street and more popular with Russians. 2 areas (hip hop and EDM). Strangely, Indians are not allowed yet they can be seen everywhere inside. Same owner as Mixx Bangkok (see my list 30 Best Nightclubs in Bangkok).

Soi LK Metro
Gogo bar in Soi LK Metro
This is a newer nightlife area, less touristy compared to Walking Street. You'll find around 15 gogo bars and some guest-friendly, short-time hotels. This is where the more hardcore sex tourists and long-term residents of Pattaya will hang-out. Most visitors are Europeans, Americans and Australians.

Many of the gogo bars aren't really different from one another. The most famous is probably Champagne, the first ever gogo to have opened on Soi LK.

Another famous spot is Devil's Den, the Pattaya equivalent to Eden Club in Bangkok. This is a brothel with older, yet particularly naughty girls known for their open-mindedness towards anal sex and threesome.

Other Streets
Soi 6 during the day
Soi 6, Soi 7, Soi 8 and Soi 13/1, Soi 13/2
Those streets are filled with mostly beer bars and massage parlors.

The customers are generally older Westerners who've retired to Pattaya. I find this scene extremely boring but if you are a sex tourist on a budget you should probably hit one of these streets. You can get a short time for just 1,000THB (compared with 2,000-3,000THB in gogo bars).

60% of the girls are not attractive, 20% are just OK, 10% are hot and the rest are ladyboys. There are often short-time rooms very nearby (sometimes directly above the beer bars like in Soi 6).

Jomtien
Jomtien is a more relaxed beach town about 15 minutes by taxi from South Pattaya. A friend had recommended I should take a look, but I hated it. It is more of a cemetery for old Westerners than a fun party zone. On average, the customers in the beer bars are at least 65 and the girls are not that young either. If you feel that this could be your scene, you'll find most venues on Jomtien Soi 3 and Soi 5.

Gay Nightlife
Pattaya is rumored to have the largest gay nightlife in Asia. The gay bars and clubs are conveniently located in a red-light district 5 minutes away from Walking Street. Soi 13/4 (or Boyzone) is the busiest and most colorful. Alternatively, you can try Soi Pattayaland 1 (Soi 13/4) and to a lesser extent Soi Pattayaland 2 (Soi 13/2 or Soi Post Office). 

Thai Discos
Thai discos are located a bit further away from the main tourist areas. They cater to a local crowd, but they are gaining popularity among foreigners who want to meet normal Thai girls.

My advice would be to bring a date from ThaiFriendly or ThaiCupid with you. They usually love these places because they can hear some live music (in Thai). You can buy a bottle for around 50-60$ and share it with her (most likely she'll bring friends along).

Some of the most famous Thai discos in Pattaya are:

A legendary nightclub with a mixed crowd Thai/foreigners (among which many Asians). 400THB entry with 2 drinks. Quite a lot of prostitutes.

Noir:
Upmarket EDM club in North Pattaya. 200THB entry for foreigners with a free beer. Many girls from Bangkok on holiday in Pattaya.

Differ:
Next to Hollywood, this is a live music club with Thai songs. Fun atmosphere, laid-back crowd, less stylish compared to Noir (which belongs to the same group).

Stardice
An old disco with a variety of shows from coyote dancers to live music.

Bone:
A brand-new luxury nightclub, I tried to visit it but it was closed. I'm not sure about the current status.

Indian/Arab Clubs
There are some nightclubs in Pattaya specifically targeting Indians and Middle-easterners. The only one I went to was Tony's on Walking Street (entrance fee 250THB with one drink). Inside, there was a very high proportion of guys (I remember that not even one girl was dancing) and a few average-looking prostitutes. The sound level was deafening and it took me three days to recover my hearing.

There are more venues that I didn't try such as Lima Lima and Nashaa. They have Bollywood/Arab music and sometimes belly dancers.
↧

Phoenix Club (Udon Thani)

January 30, 2017, 9:31 pm
$
0
0
Phoenix is the most modern nightclub in Udon Thani (Thailand) and also one of the most popular with younger clubbers.

My hotel (Centara - very recommended) was only 500 meters from the club so I spent 3 nights in a row there. The thing I liked the most about Phoenix is that it gets crowded even on weekdays, especially after midnight. It is much nicer that hanging out in the depressing farang bars of Samphan Thamit street.

There is no entrance fee and the price of drinks are moderate (100THB for a Chang beer, 1,500THB for a bottle). There is no dress code but if you plan on socializing and meet girls, you should really avoid looking like a tourist.

Inside, you have between 90% and 100% of Thai customers (depending on the night). I was surprised by how gorgeous some of the girls were, much better than any you would meet during day time in Udon Thani. Some girls (with huge fake boobs) are probably prostitutes. Many are just normal girls though who come to enjoy the music and have a good time with their friends. If you are not shy, it is easy to get a few phone numbers. For your own safety, make sure they are not with their boyfriends before approaching them.

The club in itself is not so big but it looks nice and original. You have a stage for live music bands (Thai songs) in one of the corners, and then about 30 tables on the dancefloor. On the ceiling, they've hanged a cool replica of a Star Wars spaceship.

When the live band is not playing, the DJs will mix mostly recent EDM songs.

Phoenix Nightclub
29-30 Adunyadet Road
Udon Thani, Thailand

For events and photos: Phoenix Udon Thani

Opening Hours:
Every day from 9PM to 2AM
↧
Search

Rhythm Nightclub (Udon Thani)

January 30, 2017, 10:13 pm
$
0
0
Rhythm is my favorite nightclub in Udon Thani. It is located about 4 kilometers from Central Plaza Mall in the basement of the Napalai Hotel.

I visited it only once, on a Sunday, and it was packed. If you expect Udon Thani nightlife to be boring you will be surprised.

Apart from me, the crowd was 100% Thais in their 20s and 30s. The ration guys/girls was about 3 to 1. We entered for free because we were part of a group but you may have to pay 200THB on weekends to get in.

Drinks are more expensive than elsewhere in Udon Thani (120THB for a Chang Beer) so it's better to buy a bottle (1600THB without mixers). It will also help you get a table.

The club is rather big, with a high ceiling and a perfect set-up to watch concerts. From anywhere you'll sit you should have a good view on the band.

The live music is Thai (pop, rock), but the DJs mix famous International EDM songs.

Rhythm Nightclub and Bar
572 Moo 5, Pracharaksa Road, Udon Thani 41000, Thailand

Phone number: 086-2120755
Facebook (more photos and the latest events): Rhythm Udon Thani

Opening Hours:
Every day from 7PM to 2AM.
↧

Udon Thani Nightlife - Best Nightclubs and Bars

February 1, 2017, 6:17 am
$
0
0
Udon Thani is located in the North of Thailand (Isaan Region), near the border with Laos. Even though it is the 4th most populous city in the country (150,000 people), it is very laid-back and provincial.

I was there for 5 days as a stopover before heading to Laos and I was not really expecting there would be any nightlife.

As it turns out, I was wrong. You can find bars and nightclubs that are open and busy every night, but for that you'll need to go outside of the tourist areas.

This short review will guide through the best venues I went to during my stay. If you think I forgot one, please leave me a note in the comment section below.

Best Hotels Near Udon Thani Nightlife
Hotels in Udon Thani are really cheap, even during high season. I was staying in the Centara, a 4-star property with a perfect location next to a large mall, and I was paying only 45$! You can click here to check the current price: Centara Hotel - Udon Thani.

If you want to be close from the red-light district, an excellent hotel is The Pannarai (4-star, 42$/night). You'll be only 20 meters from the first beer bars. A cheaper option nearby is the Prajaktra (20$/night).

You can check Agoda for more option, just remember to stay close from the Central Plaza Mall.

Nightlife Areas in Udon Thani
Party in Rhythm Club
The nightlife for foreigners in Udon Thani is very easy to find. Basically, you have two adjacent streets with a total of around 30 bars (some with ladies, some normal).

Note that the expats in Udon Thani are quite old on average and that they sleep early! You should go out before 10PM otherwise all bars will be empty. In fact many are already closed by midnight.

The first street you can try is Soi Samphan Thamit, just behind Central Plaza Mall. Most bars there are not very sophisticated and they only have the basics for you to enjoy a beer. A few bargirls will keep you company if you need. They aren't the prettiest girls you'll meet in Thailand but a few are cute.

The most popular places as of January 2017 were Sports Bar (the most crowded), Vikings Corner Bar, Zaaps, Tiffy, the Meeting Point, the Irish Clock (an Irish pub and hotel), Fun Bar (it had the prettiest girls) and Shadow. I also saw a bar/massage parlor with ladyboys. You can just go there directly, walk around for a few minutes and sit in the bar you like the most.

There is also a tiny beer bar complex called Day & Night, just next to the Pannarai Hotel.
The second street is Soi Prajak Sillapacom, at the end of Soi Samphan Thamit. The bars are a little bit nicer there, especially Sisters (but unfortunately it does not get so busy).

The main attraction in Prajak Sillapacom is a beer bar complex called Nutty Park, which is similar to Day and Night. You'll see quite a lot of old guys, especially in the restaurant/pub the Good Corner (it seems to be a hub for the expat community). You also have bar-girls/prostitutes but they are not too pushy.

Thai Nightclubs, Bars and Cafés
The bars mentioned above are just OK for a few beers (or to find a girl if that's your goal), but they are not really happening. By the time of your second day in Udon Thani you'll certainly be bored.

Thais nightclubs are a much better option. They have the advantage of staying open later (maximum 2AM) and to have a younger crowd (including some normal Thai girls).

My most recommended venues are the following:

Rhythm (in Napalai Hotel)
Rhythm was my favorite club even though it is located more than 4 kilometers from the city center (100-120THB with a tuk-tuk). It is made of one large room, quite modern, with a live stage where bands play Thai rock/pop. I went there on a Sunday and it was full, with many girls in their 20s. When the band is not playing, the DJs mix EDM songs.

Free entrance on weekdays (200THB on weekends if there is an event). Close at 2AM.

Full review: Rhythm Udon Thani or Facebook: Rhythm.

Phoenix
Phoenix is also a fun nightclub and it is walking distance from Central Plaza. It is the newest and hippest in the city, but smaller than Rhythm. They have great sound/lighting, an intimate atmosphere, an upmarket crowd and excellent rock bands. Some of the hottest girls I've seen in Udon Thani were customers of Phoenix (or prostitutes, I'm not 100% sure).

Free entrance every day of the week. Close at 2AM.

Full review: Phoenix Udon Thani or Facebook: Phoenix

Yellow Bird (in Charoen Hotel)
Located in Charoen Hotel, a 10-minute walk from Central Plaza. It is also a very popular nightclub but it is more old-style compared to the ones listed above. The bands will sometimes play Thai folk songs and the customers are over 30 years old. During breaks though, you'll get some loud EDM and sexy dancers. The best night is on Wednesday (ladies night).

Free entrance every day of the week. Close at 2AM.
Tawan Daeng
Tawan Daeng is an institution in Udon Thani. It is located 2 minutes from the tourist area of Soi Samphan Thamit (behind Central Plaza) and for this reason you'll see plenty of foreigners inside. They have live bands (playing folk/country songs from Isaan region) and also some more random shows (comedians, dancing, etc). You can go their early for dinner and try some Isaan food.

Website: Tawan Daeng Udon Thani

Kongsiam Café
This laid-back, cool café is located next to Phoenix Club. They have live music every night, with bands who sing in English or in Thai (mostly covers of famous songs). The design and set-up is really original. It is my most recommended venue for a date with a Thai girl.

Facebook: Kongsiam Udon Thani

Twenty Up (20UP)
20UP opened on January 10th, 2017 and it was already busy when I visited. It is a Thai-style beer garden with a whole bunch of sexy hostesses and live acoustic music. Young crowd. Open until 1AM.

It is just in front of Grand Naga Hotel & KTV where apparently you can can get a massage plus plus.

Facebook: 20UP Udon Thani

Bar'ista Brasserie
In front of UD Town Mall and the train station, this is a popular restaurant with an indoor and an outdoor area. It gets full almost every night with upper-class locals. They have Thai music, usually pop and mellow songs.

Facebook: Bar'ista Brasserie Udon Thani

Meeting Normal Thai Girls in Udon Thani
It is much easier to meet normal girls in Udon Thani compared with Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya or Chiang Mai.

The best way is to make a profile on online dating sites like ThaiFriendly or ThaiCupid. Both have thousands of girls who are eager to meet with foreigners. Ideally you can chat with them a few weeks before arriving in Thailand to build up the excitement. If you have a decent profile pic, you can get non-stop dates from morning to midnight.

Tinder works well also, but there are less profiles and most of the girls will not be interested to chat if you are not living in Udon Thani.

Meeting girls in nightclubs is also possible, especially in Phoenix, Yellow Bird and Rhythm. It will require more effort and a bit of luck though.

In the daytime, you can hang out and meet Thai girls either in UD Town shopping center (most recommended) or in Central Plaza Mall.

Udon Nightlife Map
↧
↧

Jakarta Nightlife Explained in Less Than 500 Words

January 17, 2017, 5:57 am
$
0
0
I've written dozens of articles about Jakarta nightlife, but some people don't have the time to read them. This is a summary of everything there is to know, in less than 500 words:

Even though Jakarta is the capital of a conservative and Muslim-majority country, it has a fun and diverse nightlife that comprises some of the best bars, nightclubs and spas in Southeast Asia.

As you can see on my Jakarta nightlife map, most of the trendy venues are located in the South of the city while "naughty" spots can be found in the North. For this reason, it is ideal to stay in the city center around Plaza Indonesia or Sarinah Mall (Where to Stay in Jakarta?). Budget hotels in this area cost around 40$ per night and 5-star properties around 200$.

The only way to get around at night in Jakarta is to use taxis or apps like Uber/Grab. A 30-minute midnight ride from the nightclub X2 in the South to Colosseum in the North will cost about Rp60,000 (5$). Taxis are cheap and safe as long as you use companies like Blue Bird or Express.

South Jakarta Nightlife

This area corresponds to the business district. If you decide to party there, you are more likely to meet normal girls (non-prostitutes), rich Indonesian-Chinese, expats and business travelers.

I recommend you to start around 8pm with a dinner in a bar/restaurant. Current hotspots include Basque, Loewy, E&O, Bluegrass, Social House, Cork&Screw, Union and Potato Head. They are very similar as they all belong to the same groups.

After eating, you can head to a bar for more drinks. My favorites are rooftop venues like Cloud or Skye. Young and trendy expats may prefer Safehouse, Lola or Bauhaus while rich Indonesians will hide in speakeasies like Hemingway, Monty's or Proof. If you are on a budget, Beer Garden is a good option. If you are looking for girls, try Jalan Falatehan, B.A.T.S or CJs.

Most nightclubs get busy at 1am and close after 4am. Dress codes are strictly implemented: Men should wear a shirt and women should wear high-heels. All the best nightclubs have a first-drink charge between Rp150,000 and Rp300,000 on weekends. You can avoid it if you reserve a table and order bottle service. Smoking is normally allowed inside. The best nightclubs in Jakarta are Immigrant, Dragonfly, Empirica, Blowfish, Domain, Fable and X2.

Kemang has cheaper nightclubs that are popular with a younger crowd (999, Nu China or Tipsy).

North Jakarta Nightlife
North of the Monas (National Monument), you will find large one-stop entertainment venues that have nightclubs, karaokes and spas in the same building. They are filled with prostitutes, freelance or not, and the clients are mostly locals.

The famous ones, from most expensive to cheapest are: Alexis, Malioboro, 1001, Illigals, Emporium, King Cross, Golden Crown, Classic. Each have striptease/sexy dancers. The spas are hidden brothels. If this is too hardcore for you, have a massage plus-plus instead in Delta or My Place.

Clubbers in North Jakarta often take drugs in karaoke rooms or inside after-hour clubs like Mille's. Punishment for drug use is harsh in Indonesia, it's best to abstain.

495 words. Still confused? Please leave a comment below and I'll do my best to answer.
↧

5 Best Sports Bars in Jakarta

January 24, 2017, 3:31 am
$
0
0
Indonesians are really crazy about sports, and particularly football and moto racing. Even in remote locations, you will meet taxi drivers and shop keepers who know about your favorite team more than you do.

Most of all, they love to cheer together or "nonton bareng" as they call it. This is why you will find at least a TV with sports in almost every bar in Jakarta (and even inside nightclubs sometimes). 

If you are interested in watching sports that are more popular among the expat crowd (Rugby, AFL, NFL, NBA, MLB, etc...), it is probably best to visit a proper sports bar. There are several in the city, many of which are located in the South (Kemang, Mega Kuningan).

My 5 favourite venues for watching sports in Jakarta are the following:

Masters Sports Bar (Bellagio Mall)
Opened in 2015, Masters is one of the newest sports bars in Jakarta. It is owned by a group of expats (and one Indonesian) that you are likely to meet at their bar on weekend nights. They have two giant projector screens, probably the largest in Jakarta, featuring sports and music videos. In the back, you'll also find 4 professional pool tables that you can use for free. Their prices are affordable considering the area (around Rp40,000 for a beer) and they serve good food.

See my complete review: Masters Bellagio - Mega Kuningan.

Eastern Promise (Kemang)
Eastern Promise, generally called EP, is one of the oldest expat bars in Jakarta. It has several rooms, including a restaurant and a beer garden (with live music). There is also a small sports bar with a few TVs and a large screen. It is often packed and popular with girls as well, particularly the "bule" hunting type.

See my complete review: Eastern Promise Jakarta

Aphrodite (Taman Rasuna)
A mix between a restaurant and a bar, Aphrodite has been a favourite of the expat crowd for more than 15 years. This is mainly because of its proximity with the Taman Rasuna tower complex and because they are known to offer good-value Western food. They have TVs all around the main room playing sports (usually football, rugby, cricket, moto GP, etc...). You can also play pool and darts. There are some unattached ladies as well.

See my complete review: Aphrodite Jakarta

Fez (Kemang)
Owned by the same group behind Aphrodite, Fez can get very busy whenever there is an important game (especially if it involves an Australian team). They have a rather cheap menu with some Indian specialties from the Kinara restaurant.

See my complete review: Fez By Aphrodite

Jimm's Sports Café (Bellagio Mall)
Just 100 meters from Masters, Jimm's Sports Café is a small venue with a clean look. The few times I've been there, the crowd was mostly Indonesian with only about 25% of expats. They could probably add a few more large screens, but I enjoy the cozy atmosphere.

See my complete review here: Jimm's Sports Café

Other Recommended Sports Bars in Jakarta
There are a lot more venues to watch sports all over Jakarta. The ones above are my favourite but you can also visit the following:

Central Jakarta

Kemang

Senayan

Mega Kuningan

Pondok Indah

Rasuna Said

Cilandak

North Jakarta

West Jakarta

Chains with multiple locaton in Jakarta:
↧

8 Best Bars in Mega Kuningan (Jakarta)

November 28, 2016, 7:05 am
$
0
0
Home to 5-star hotels (Ritz-Carlton, Raffles, Marriott), foreign embassies, luxury apartments and prestigious offices, Mega Kuningan is easily one of the most exclusive areas in Jakarta.

As it was recently built from scratch, it is very different from the rest of the city. There are no warungs, no street sellers, no poverty and barely any traffic jams. Instead, you will see large streets lined with palm trees and a dozen of skyscrapers (with a few more still under construction).

Though Mega Kuningan does not have a proper nightclub yet (apart from the gay club Apollo), it has a vibrant nightlife almost any day of the week. You can walk in any towers and you are almost guaranteed to find a restaurant, a lounge or a bar. While each of them is unique, they generally target the same clientele: Expats, upper class Indonesians and businessmen.

The following article will give you a quick overview of my 8 favorite bars in Mega Kuningan. They aren't far from each other and it's easy to walk around so don't hesitate to do some bar-hopping! If you think I forgot a bar worth mentioning, don't hesitate to leave a comment below.

Basque
Saturday night in Basque
Opened just last year, it hasn't taken long for Basque to become the most happening bar/restaurant in Mega Kuningan. A great spot for pre-party drinks if you plan on going clubbing later in the night.


Loewy
For almost 10 years, Loewy has been one of the favorite hangouts of younger expats in Jakarta. It serves French and International food from breakfast to dinner. The bar area is busy almost every night. DJs on Wednesdays and weekend nights.

More information: Loewy

J. Sparrows
On the ground floor of Noble House, the trendy J. Sparrows is halfway between Basque (in the same building) and Loewy (one block further). Its restaurant serves seafood dishes and the bar has a large choice of imported rums from all over Latin America. It is owned by the same people behind Bluegrass in Epicentrum.

More information: J. Sparrows

Masters Sports Bar
Expat-owned, this friendly bar inside Bellagio Mall is great for watching any sports on huge screens, drinking affordable beer and playing pool. A much cheaper alternative to any of the bars listed here.

More information: Masters Sports Bar

Flow
Flow is a new intimate lounge with daily music events (DJ or Live Bands). Ladies night on Wednesdays: Free cocktails for girls.

More information: Flow Jakarta

E&O
One of the most upmarket venues in Mega Kuningan (excluding the hotel bars), E&O is a fusion cuisine restaurant that also serves excellent cocktails. Ideal for those who are looking for quiet place for a date.

More information: E&O

Bauhaus
This small, hipster speakeasy bar gets crowded on Friday and Saturday night with trendy Indonesians and expats.

More information: Bauhaus

Cazbar
Part of the Bugil group (also behind Eastern Promise, De Hooi, Frank's, etc), Cazbar is a well-established watering hole that has good pub fare and friendly waitresses.

More information: Cazbar
↧
Viewing all 1118 articles
Browse latest View live
Search