This is a short overview of the nightlife in Tangerang and more precisely in Bumi Serpong Damai (BSD) and Gading Serpong.
Tangerang and South Tangerang are two separate suburban cities located about 20 kilometers from the center of Jakarta. You have probably been there without realizing it since the Jakarta airport (CGK) is actually in the northern part of Tangerang.
When I first arrived in Jakarta in 2004, Tangerang was a conservative, working-class area that was flirting with sharia law. Alcohol was prohibited even in hotels and the police were arresting women simply for walking in the street alone at night.
Since then, things have smoothed a bit, though not everywhere. The most visible transformation is happening in the privately-owned new cities that have emerged in recent years. I'm sure you are already familiar with a few of them such as:
→ Bumi Serpong Damai (BSD) owned by the Sinar Mas Group
→ Gading Serpong owned by Summarecon Agung Group
→ Lippo Karawaci owned partly by Lippo Group and Salim Group
→ Alam Sutra owned by the Argo Manunggal Group
These new cities are well-planned with modern roads, brand-new malls, offices towers, apartments, housing complexes, hotels, golf courses, hospitals and schools. They have attracted tens of thousands of middle and upper-class Indonesian families as well as several large companies. Judging by the number of new construction sites in Tangerang, this trend is likely to continue over the next decades.
This new demographic has led to a new demand for entertainment venues, starting with restaurants, coffee shops, bars, nightclubs and spas.
This new demographic has led to a new demand for entertainment venues, starting with restaurants, coffee shops, bars, nightclubs and spas.
Nightlife in Tangerang: Best Bars and Clubs
While the nightlife in the traditional neighborhoods of Tangerang is still limited, it is slowly starting to take off in BSD, Gading Serpong, Lippo Karawaci and Alam Sutra.
Almost all the places I'm writing about below didn't exist 10 years ago and I'm sure that in 5 years, there will be twice as many. Please do leave a comment below if you know about a new opening so I can check it out.
Almost all the places I'm writing about below didn't exist 10 years ago and I'm sure that in 5 years, there will be twice as many. Please do leave a comment below if you know about a new opening so I can check it out.
Here are the best clubs and bars in all Tangerang:
80 Proof Ultra (BSD)
Probably the best nightclub in Tangerang. Modern place with impressive lighting and sound system. Mostly a bottle club, popular with Indonesian-Chinese. About IDR1-1,5M for a table for 4 guests. Live band until midnight, then DJ until close.
Monkey King is just across the street from Summarecon Mall Serpong and it is one of the best nightlife options in Tangerang at the moment. During the week, it is a popular hangout for students. On weekends, the club normally gets full and happening until 4am. Once or twice a month, they'll have famous DJs.
Its crowd is mixed, including some really young people and older executives/professionals. There are normal girls, but also some semi-prostitutes/freelancers. The entrance fee is Rp100,000 on weekends with 1 drink.
Clique Spot (Gading Serpong)
Clique is close to Monkey King and you can reach it by foot if you're not too lazy. It is also built on several floors with a lounge and billiard room. I only visited the lounge, on a Saturday night. There was no entrance fee, the drinks were cheap and the small dance floor was packed.
The Breeze is a mix between a park and a lifestyle center. You'll find many restaurants there, including a few that serve alcohol. They are not party places but you can grab something to eat while having a few beers.
The best option is the sports bar/microbrewery chain Brewerkz. It is part of a Singaporean group that also owns a branch in Senayan City. They craft their own beer in Singapore and they import it in Indonesia. They have several pool tables as well.
Summarecon Mall Serpong (SMS)
There are a lot of restaurants within Summarecon Mall but the majority doesn't sell alcohol. Still, it can be a fun place to hang out on the weekends as it gets quite crowded and you'll often have a live band.
There are two recommended venues serving alcohol: The Barrels, a semi-open air café with various types of draft beer and some basic food, and the tiny but popular Poka Ribs, where you might meet a group of loyal expat customers (apparently because that's where they can buy the cheapest beer).
There are two recommended venues serving alcohol: The Barrels, a semi-open air café with various types of draft beer and some basic food, and the tiny but popular Poka Ribs, where you might meet a group of loyal expat customers (apparently because that's where they can buy the cheapest beer).
Backyard Café (BSD - Teras Kota)
Backyard is a laid-back café in Teras Kota, BSD. It is a nice place to watch sports, listen to live music or just to hang out. They serve cheap food (Rp60,000-Rp80,000 for a main course) and alcohol (beer tower Rp355,000++).