As promised on my Jakarta Nightlife 2015 review, I am updating the blog with my list of Jakarta's best venues in 2015.
For more recommendation about the best bars in the city, you can check my review about Jakarta's Best Beer Bars and Beer Garden. You may also want to read last year's ranking: Jakarta's Best Bars 2014.
More rankings coming in the next few days: Best Clubs, Best Spas, Best Live Music.
Regarding this year's best bars, I made the list based on my personal preferences only. If you are a Western expat in your 30s, you will probably find it relevant. If you think a bar should be included here, please drop me a comment and I will visit the place if I haven't done it already.
In this month of April 2015, my favorite bars in Jakarta are:
2) Safehouse
The newcomer Safehouse is small and not particularly pretty, but it may have the best music in Jakarta. Visit it if you are into electronic music (and expats).
3) Loewy
The ever popular Loewy is always happening, especially in the evenings around its main bar. Lots of expats and lot of expat hunters.
4) Potato Head Garage
Potato Head Garage is not always happening, but when it does it is usually for fun events with a great crowd. Visit it on weekends only.
Popular hangout for the cool kids in Jakarta.
6) SKYE
First rooftop bar in Jakarta, similar to Cloud with a slightly less impressive view. The service gets messy when they are busy.
7) BATS and CJs
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| Band in CJs |
Some people prefer BATS, some people prefer CJs. Both are quite similar if not identical: They are hotel bars with live music and a crowd of husbands having fun away from home.
Primarily a restaurant, their bar can be a great place to go for a drink on the right evening. They are serving among the best cocktails in Jakarta.
9) 365
Alternative bar with usually a good music selection and an interesting crowd.
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| Union in Plaza Senayan |
Those places have been around for half a decade now, which is an eternity in Jakarta. They are not exactly bars but they are still popular with upmarket Indonesians who want to drink and hangout.
Update May 2015:
Several friends criticized the fact that I didn't mention Bauhaus in my Top 10 of Jakarta's Best Bars 2015.
It is indeed a nice place that I unfortunately visited during Ramadan so it didn't give me the best impression.
According to my friends, Bauhaus is among the trendiest places in Jakarta for younger expats and rich Indonesians. You can read my review here: Bauhaus Jakarta.
Update May 2015:
Several friends criticized the fact that I didn't mention Bauhaus in my Top 10 of Jakarta's Best Bars 2015.
It is indeed a nice place that I unfortunately visited during Ramadan so it didn't give me the best impression.
According to my friends, Bauhaus is among the trendiest places in Jakarta for younger expats and rich Indonesians. You can read my review here: Bauhaus Jakarta.
As you may have noted, there are 14 bars listed above. Indeed, Jakarta's Top 14 Bars did not sound well to my ears. Photo Credit: I took the liberty of taking them from each venue's facebook page.