Paprika Wine Lounge and Restaurant is red hot<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Word has spread through the city of a new
\nrestaurant and bar, or wine lounge if you will. According to the
\ntalk, the place is hip, stylish and attracts the in-crowd of
\nchic, good-looking and well-to-do Jakarta residents.<\/p>\n
So we decided to take a look at Paprika and see if all the
\ntalk was deserved, or just the wishful thinking of a city hungry
\nfor good bars and restaurants.<\/p>\n
Location: Paprika is found at Jl. Wahid Hasyim 55a, down the
\nstreet from Hazarah and not too far from Jl. Jaksa, for whatever
\nthat's worth. It's easy to spot the signage out front, but in
\ncase you are still a little lost, Paprika is the place that looks
\nlike a Mercedes showroom out front.<\/p>\n
You can reach them at 390-4703 or 390-4704, and you might want
\nto call ahead for a table if you are planning on having dinner.<\/p>\n
Hours: The restaurant is open every day from 11:30 a.m. to 3
\np.m. for lunch, and opens at 5:30 p.m. for dinner, with last
\norders at 11:30 p.m. The bar upstairs has the same hours for
\nlunch, and is then open from 5:30 p.m. to 12 a.m. or 1 a.m.<\/p>\n
What's it got: There is a restaurant downstairs and a bar
\nupstairs, which is the focus of this review. The bar, being
\nofficially referred to as a wine lounge, has a wide selection of
\nvintages. You can order by the bottle or the glass, with a
\nrolling selection offered. You will also find spirits, cocktails,
\nmixed drinks and beer.<\/p>\n
You can also order a bite up in the bar, with appetizers
\nincluding cheese, salami, mushrooms and other such nibbles.<\/p>\n
Bill, please: Wine is, generally speaking, more expensive than
\nyour average cocktail, so you can always expect to pay a little
\nmore at a wine lounge. Which is not say that you can't get some
\ngood wine at Paprika at reasonable prices. The price of the beer
\nand cocktails here are standard for your smarter bars in the
\ncity.<\/p>\n
We had two beers, Heinekens, and a glass of Chardonnay and the
\nbill came to Rp 128,260, including tax and service. Pretty
\nreasonable, particularly considering the stylish surroundings.<\/p>\n
Here's lookin' at you: The thing that has most people talking
\nabout Paprika is the look of the place. It is stark and
\nminimalist, all open spaces and sharp corners. Some may fell that
\nit's cold, both figuratively and literally, while others may look
\nat it as a chic work of modernism. Whatever your take, there is
\nno denying that is stands out from other establishments in the
\ncapital, offering something new that wouldn't be out of place in
\nthe trendier areas of New York and other cosmopolitan cities in
\nthe world.<\/p>\n
Paprika is one big open space, and one gets the feeling of
\nbeing exposed, which some might find discomfiting, looking for a
\ncorner to take shelter in. But shelter is hard to come by. A huge
\nmirror covers most of one very large wall, and it seems
\nimpossible to hide your reflection.<\/p>\n
When you make your way upstairs to the bar, there are a number
\nof tables looking directly down through the empty space onto the
\nrestaurant below. The chairs are boxy things with clean lines and
\nsharp corners, and one finds oneself constantly leaning forward
\nto speak across the space to your companion.<\/p>\n
The bar itself is a small affair with only a few stools and
\nvery little room to elbow up to for a drink. There are several
\ncouches in the space in front of the bar. If it is busy and you
\ncan't get a table, the bar offers scant refuge.<\/p>\n
So, what's your sign: Paprika attracts young, attractive
\nprofessionals who clearly have a little extra spending cash in
\ntheir pockets, but most people seem to come in groups of four or
\nfive. It makes for a livelier atmosphere; with loud conversation
\nand laughing, but more difficult if you harbor hopes of getting
\nsome phone numbers. In other words, Paprika is not a pick-up
\njoint.<\/p>\n
Last call: Paprika is a stylish restaurant and bar, and
\ndeserving of the buzz if for no other reason than it offers
\nsomething new and different from other bars and restaurants in
\nJakarta. Whether it is an anomaly or the start of a new trend in
\nthe city, time will tell. What is certain is that Paprika merits
\na visit. (Penn Dawson)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/paprika-wine-lounge-and-restaurant-is-red-hot-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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