8 Best Bars in Mega Kuningan (Jakarta)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.