Morgan's, a great little watering hole in C. Jakarta<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): If you happen to be unlucky enough to be driving
\nthrough Pasar Senen at night (God forbid that you should get a
\npuncture), one thing you'll notice pretty quick is just how much
\nlike a battlefield the whole place is.<\/p>\n
That, accompanied by the recent bombing there, sent the
\nbeginnings of a little quiver down my spine. But never one to
\nrefuse an assignment (or look a gift horse in the mouth), I
\nresolved that it was time to do what I was told and find
\nsomewhere in the area where we could go out drinking, carousing
\nand reveling -- definitely a case of keeping the old upper lip
\nsuitably stiff, flying the flag, keeping the home fires burning,
\nand all that, don't you know!<\/p>\n
In the end, myself and the sidekick decided upon a nice, cozy
\nlittle boozing den called Morgan's, which also has live music to
\nkeep up spirits on the home front -- essential in times like
\nthese.<\/p>\n
Location: Aston Atrium Hotel, Jl. Senen Raya 135, Central
\nJakarta. If you want to reserve a table (good idea at weekends),
\ncall (021) 3442828.<\/p>\n
Hours: From 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday through Thursday. They
\nmanage to keep the wine flowing for another hour on Fridays and
\nSaturdays. These sort of opening hours are a pet hate of mine.
\nThey call themselves a pub (it's written over the bar), so why
\ndon't they operate pub hours? What about all those thirsty office
\nslaves who would kill for the mere smell of a potable after work?
\nCome on guys, show some consideration here!<\/p>\n
What's it got: The usual sort of stuff -- yes, you've guessed
\nit -- booze, booze and more booze, plus some food and soft
\ndrinks.<\/p>\n
Great selection of beers, including Asahi, Fosters, Budweiser,
\nCorona, Heineken, and Carlsberg (all going for Rp 47,500).
\nActually, got a bit carried away with the imbibing and, in an
\nunforgivable lapse, forgot to ask whether said beers came in cans
\nor bottles. Don't despair, however, as I'm pretty convinced it's
\ngot to be one or the other.<\/p>\n
As for the harder stuff, a Gordon's Gin or Smirnoff Vodka will
\nset you back Rp 46,000, while on the whisky front, Black Label
\nand Jack Daniels go for Rp 50,000, while Black Bush Irish is to
\nbe had for Rp 46,000 (all spirit prices include a mixer). As for
\nthe other stuff, soft drinks go for Rp 15,000 and fruit juices
\nfor Rp 20,000.<\/p>\n
There's also a limited but expensive menu that includes
\nbratwurst (very tasty), smoked salmon and sop buntut (Indonesian
\noxtail soup).<\/p>\n
Oh, by the way, woe of woe's, there's NO happy hour! What do
\nyou think of that? Bit tight-fisted, eh?<\/p>\n
Here's looking at you: Let's start with the bad points (not so
\nmany of them this time, actually). Morgan's nestles at the foot
\nof an appalling spiral staircase that takes some negotiating even
\nbefore the amber nectar has begun to kick in. By home time, when
\nthe amber-nectar process is well and truly underway, climbing the
\nsaid staircase could take on all the hallmarks of an assault on
\nthe east face of Everest (at least it did in the eyes of this
\ncritic).<\/p>\n
Having said all that, however, it was well worth making the
\ndescent into the bowels of the earth as Morgan's turned out to be
\na great little watering hole. Cozy, dark, intimate, it's just the
\nplace to snuggle up to a member of the opposite sex on one of the
\nsofas so thoughtfully provided.<\/p>\n
As you walk through the door, immediately to your right is the
\nlong and narrow bar section which is somewhat separated from the
\nmusic lounge by pillars, waist-high walls, and tables (you can
\nstill see the band and ogle the dancers, however). This was my
\nfavorite thing about the whole place.<\/p>\n
Low-ceilinged and with heavy wood paneling, framed pictures of
\nMorgan motor cars (after which the place is named) cluttering up
\nthe walls, astutely placed lamps and a long, enticing counter to
\nrest your elbows on, the place for all the world looked like the
\nbar in a British gentleman's club -- warm, comfortable and
\neminently safe.<\/p>\n
This was a place where you could settle yourself onto a soft
\nbarstool and while away hours in stimulating conversation with a
\nsoul-mate, leaving all thought of Jakarta's woes securely parked
\nup outside the door.<\/p>\n
Or alternatively, you could just get mind-bogglingly drunk
\nlike our new-found pair of Arab friends whose English I found
\ntotally incomprehensible but who, at least, were friendly.<\/p>\n
The relatively small music lounge in front of the bar area
\ncould probably hold about 40 or 50 people at a shove. The band,
\nwhom we discovered called themselves Kitie Gritie, certainly
\nthrew themselves into the nitty gritty.<\/p>\n
With seven members, two of whom were delectable young ladies
\nin rather revealing tops, and churning out hit after hit from the
\n70s, 80s and 90s, they put in a raunchy and raucous performance
\nthat had all ten of us in the establishment on our feet cheering
\nand whooping (well, once or twice anyway). They must have
\nsomething going for them if they can do that to an assortment of
\nIndonesian, Chinese, Japanese, Arab, Irish and English boozers.<\/p>\n
Oh, and yes, there were never any more than ten punters elbow-
\nbending during my two-hour stint in Morgan's. Drinking in
\nsomewhat empty pubs seems to have become a regular experience of
\nmine recently. Could it be that the present \"multidimensional
\ncrisis\" (as The Jakarta Post likes to call it) is biting hard, or
\nis it simply a case that I'm somewhat malodorous? All answers,
\nplease, on a postcard to the Post.<\/p>\n
However, fair's fair. It was a Wednesday night and there had
\nbeen a bomb in the area not too long ago. Our bubbly waitress
\ninformed us that if you wanted to see the joint heaving, Friday
\nand Saturday nights, as you'd expect, were the go.<\/p>\n
Odds and ends: If you're in any way shy, keep you're head down
\nbecause the delightful ladies from the band have a tendency to
\ntry and stick a microphone down your throat. Could this be
\nrevenge for something unfortunate they have experienced in their
\nlives? Who knows? Exhibitionists, though, will love all this of
\ncourse.<\/p>\n
Last call: Well, I must say, I really liked this little place.
\nDuring the week, at any rate, it's just the place to wind down,
\nhave a chat or get sloshed, whichever takes your fancy. Friendly
\nstaff, good music and a snug, feel-good atmosphere all warrant a
\nbig thumbs up for Morgan's. Would be an even bigger one, though,
\nif they had a happy hour! (Bill Blade)<\/p>",
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