Untitled Fun Pub lives up to name<\/p>\n
Bill Blade
\nContributor
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
Now that all the fuss about brooms, vacuum cleaners, sweeping,
\netc., has more or less died a welcome death, it's time once again
\nto buckle up on the Starship Jakarta and fly forth to other
\nproblems that we know not of (to mix up Captain Kirk and Will the
\nBard).<\/p>\n
But in the meantime, while awaiting the next disaster to rear
\nits ugly head, I decided to take myself and a companion down to
\nthe Untitled Fun Pub (yes, that's the name) in the new JW Marriot
\nHotel.<\/p>\n
As an up and coming young executive (bit long in the tooth for
\nthat -- Ed), it is of course quite incumbent upon me to hang out
\nin such salubrious establishments, even if they do tend to be a
\nbit on the dullsville side. Well, surprise, surprise, this
\nparticular salubrious establishment turned out to be one that
\nlived up to its name, and a ball was had by all.<\/p>\n
Bill, please: Bit of a dearth on the old beer front with only
\ntwo exemplars of the amber nectar holding the fort, namely
\nBintang (Rp 30,000 a glass) and Corona (at an out-of-this-world
\nRp 50,000 per bottle) -- staff claim more beers on the way when
\nthe suppliers get round to it.<\/p>\n
Better selection on the spirit front with all the usual on
\noffer. Johnny Walker Red and Jameson Irish both go for Rp 42,500,
\nwhile premium spirits such as Johnny Walker Black and Jack
\nDaniels kick in at Rp 65,000.<\/p>\n
For those who like a dainty parasol tickling their nostrils,
\nmost cocktails are priced at Rp 49,000.<\/p>\n
As you would expect of a joint with this sort of pedigree,
\nthere's also a fine selection of food and wine available.<\/p>\n
Happy Hour's a bit on the stingy side, buy one get one free
\nbut only for Bintang. Rats!<\/p>\n
Here's lookin' at you: Those would-be sniffers of addictive
\nsubstances out there are in for a treat as the Fun Pub, like its
\nmummy the Jakarta Marriot, is all of three weeks old and the
\ndelicious smells of fresh paint and the new, deep pile carpets
\nare everywhere to be, well, sniffed.<\/p>\n
But if you can drag your nose away from the floor for a while,
\nyou'll discover that this pub is about more than sniffin' and
\nboozin' and is, in fact, a pretty impressive piece of interior
\ndesign.<\/p>\n
Art deco is the dominant theme with soaring ceilings and
\nextravagant geometric and zigzag forms and fittings. What with
\nthe dim, yellow-orange light emanating from the massive flying
\nsaucer-like lamp shades and helped along by a couple of
\nencouragingly generous Black Labels, I was actually beginning to
\nimagine myself drifting back to the sophisticated world of 1920's
\nhigh society (disturbingly for my companion, somewhat like Jack
\nNicholson in The Shining), until suddenly brought back down to
\nearth as the dulcet tones of Village People warmed up the sound
\nsystem before the band came on.<\/p>\n
And what a band they turned out to be! None of your usual Bob
\nMarley rip-off merchants content to sleepwalk around the stage
\nfor a couple of hours while the audience slowly proceeds to the
\nterminal slumber stage. No indeed, the South African lead
\nvocalist, Californian lead guitarist, and Filipina and Surabaya
\nfemale vocalists gave a virtuoso performance of mostly '80s and
\nearly '90s' hits that kept the crowd on their toes. Even if
\nyou're into something a bit more techno, I'll go 10 to a penny
\nyou'll appreciate the vitality these guys exude.<\/p>\n
But then again, this was only their first or second outing.
\nWill they be so lively in a year's time, I ask myself? Hopefully
\nyes!<\/p>\n
As for the crowd, well quite a mixed bag, really. Lot's of
\nEuropean and Asian expats. Quite a few singles around also, so
\nshould be full steam ahead on the old SS Shagalot.<\/p>\n
Odds and ends: When we arrived at around 8 p.m., there was an
\ninordinate number of pretty waitresses milling around like lost
\nsouls. While this was a pleasant and stimulating sight on the one
\nhand, it was also a bit off-putting, and in some ways looked for
\nall the world like a union meeting was in progress. Was expecting
\nto hear cries of \"All Out\" any minute!<\/p>\n
Verdict: While the new kid has only been on the block for all
\nof three weeks, it seems to have made plenty of pals. For despite
\nprices that are definitely not for the faint-hearted (not so
\nsurprising really -- all of that art deco doesn't come cheap),
\nthe place was heaving by the time we were leaving at around
\nmidnight. And what's more, the crowd was mingling, giggling and
\ngenerally having a great time.<\/p>\n
So while it's a bit too early to give a definitive judgment on
\nthe Untitled Fun Pub, so far it's definitely looking good!
\n
\nBOX:
\nLocation: JW Marriot Hotel, Jl. Lingkar Mega Kuningan, Kav. E.1.2
\nNo. 1 & 2, Mega Kuningan, Jakarta 12950, Indonesia.
\nTelephone: 5798-88888 (ext. 3977).
\nHours: Sunday-Thursday, 5 p.m. to 2 a.m., Friday-Saturday, 5 p.m.
\nto 3 a.m.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/untitled-fun-pub-lives-up-to-name-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}