Year of ups and downs for Jakarta pub scene<\/p>\n
Bill Blade, Contributor, Jakarta<\/p>\n
There's no doubt about it, it's been one heck of a hard year,
\nwhat with glugging down copious quantities of the amber nectar,
\nendless elbow-bending, and trying to get reimbursed for my
\noutstanding efforts -- often far above and beyond the call of
\nduty -- by the denizens of The Jakarta Post's accounts department
\n(a notoriously stingy and tight-fisted crew!).<\/p>\n
But it's all been in a good cause which is ... er... oh yes,
\ninforming the public about the latest developments in the Jakarta
\npub scene, or something to that effect.<\/p>\n
And now, of course, the New Year is coming and the barflies
\nare getting even fatter as they recover from the Xmas booze-up,
\nand start readying themselves for the turn-of-the-year revels --
\nscenes of abject gluttony and self-flagellation that only the
\nmost hardened of tipplers emerge from unscathed.<\/p>\n
But before devoting ourselves entirely to the joyful pursuit
\nof the remaining bacchanalian pleasures that the season has in
\nstore, why don't we take time out to have a gander back at some
\nof the more noteworthy events and developments in the pub scene
\nover the past year?<\/p>\n
As we all know, this past year was marred by the ruthless and
\nheinous Bali bombings, acts of bloodthirsty insanity that could
\nso easily have brought the country to its knees. I'd like to take
\nthis opportunity to extend belated condolences to the families
\nand friends of all those who were forced to leave us in such an
\nuntimely manner by these acts of wanton barbarism.<\/p>\n
But while Bali's economy was virtually torpedoed by the
\nbombings, Jakarta's licentious nightlife scene continued, more or
\nless as if nothing had happened, which just serves to show what a
\nvast, ethnically and religiously diverse place we live in.
\nDifficult to imagine in any more homogeneous nation that the
\ncentral government couldn't even see its way to declaring a day
\nof national mourning. But, I suppose, to the powers that be in
\nJakarta, apart from the money it brings in, the island of Bali
\nmight as well be on another planet.<\/p>\n
The year 2002, however, also saw some positive developments.
\nAmong the most satisfying of these was the long-overdue demise of
\nthe brethren in white coats, a crew of self-righteous ignoramuses
\nof the most odious variety. Not content with wrecking harmless
\nwatering-holes, pool halls and putting the wind up some of our
\nmore timorous tipplers, this beastly band also had a curious
\nfixation with brushes and brooms, or so one would imagine from
\nall the yapping about \"sweeping\" that they used to come out with.<\/p>\n
But, for the time being at any rate, they appear to have
\ncrawled back into the dingy (probably cockroach-infested) holes
\nwhence they came, something that will be warmly applauded by all
\nright-minded people, tippler and non-tippler alike, here in the
\nbig smoke.<\/p>\n
While 2002 brought some pub closures, it also saw a whole
\nhost of new hostelries throw open their doors to a drooling, and
\nfrequently dribbling, army of punters. While many of these
\nnewcomers failed to make the grade in any meaningful way and
\nwill, no doubt, soon go the way of the white-robed brethren, some
\nof them are true gems that should be around for a long time to
\ncome.<\/p>\n
Among my favorite newies this year is Fez Lounge, holding the
\nfort (literally, for the exterior is all done up like an Indian
\nor Middle Eastern fortress, battlements included), at Jl. Kemang
\nRaya No. 78B, in the heart of Jakarta's relatively salubrious
\nexpat land -- not much sign of an economic crisis around these
\nparts!<\/p>\n
With an Indian restaurant upstairs to supply the sort of fiery
\nfuel that many a punter gets a craving for after the booze kicks
\nin, this is a truly relaxing, yet fun place where all sorts of
\nweird and wonderful people have a penchant for hanging out.<\/p>\n
Another new hostelry of note is burgundy (they're very
\ninsistent that it's spelled with a small \"b\" for some
\nunfathomable reason!), which you'll find tucked away
\ninconspicuously in the upper -- and exceedingly luxurious --
\nreaches of Grand Hyatt Jakarta on Jl. Thamrin.<\/p>\n
While the exterior of burgundy may be rather unimpressive,
\nwhat's inside is a real treat for anyone who appreciates a little
\nluxury while wetting his whistle. It's also a godsend for those
\nof a narcissistic bent (which seemed to be the majority of
\nburgundy punters on most of the nights I've been there), as
\nthey've got almost as many looking glasses and reflectors lining
\nthe walls as the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles.<\/p>\n
All these bright, shiny mirrors don't come cheap, however --
\nmake sure you bring along your platinum card or, if not, a Weimar
\nRepublic-style barrowful of cash. But, for all that, burgundy is
\ndefinitely the place to go and well worth the temporary financial
\nstress. A word of warning: if you want to secure a pew on which
\nto repose the posterior, make sure you get there early (before 9
\np.m.) as burgundy appears to be the in-place at the moment.<\/p>\n
On the raunchier Blok-M side, D's Place at Jl Palatehan I No.
\n1C (actually opened at the end of 2001), is just the ticket for
\nthose seeking a bit of nocturnal hanky-panky in reasonably
\ncivilized surrounds. With two floors of more or less everything
\nan overgrown schoolboy could ask for, great staff and reasonable
\nprices, it's no surprise that D's has established a loyal, if not
\ndownright slavish, clientele. But, that's only as it should be
\nfor what's probably the best beer joint in Blok M.<\/p>\n
And speaking of raunchy, poor old Jl. Jaksa has been
\ncontinuing its long and seemingly interminable slide, a process
\naided considerably by the mid-year closure of Q Bar, one of the
\nvery few semi-decent hostelries left on the drag, not to mention
\na half-hearted raid from the brethren in white coats. But like
\nmany a bad penny, Jaksa always has the potential to come up
\nshining. And with one new and highly prospective shebeen having
\nalready set up shop there (P's Place), and another one on the way
\nin the New Year, it looks like Jaksa is set to confound the
\nprophets of doom and gloom yet again. So its keeping the fingers
\ncrossed, and I'll tell you all about it in 2003.<\/p>\n
But before I go, I must also extend a warm welcome to
\nFlanagan's in Hotel Sari Pan Pacific on Jl. Thamrin, the first
\nIrish pub in Jakarta worthy of the name. OK, so its a bit of a
\npastiche, but with great food and booze, it's none the worse for
\nall that.<\/p>\n
Well, that's about it for this year, except to wish you the
\ncomplements of the season, etc. For all those with some serious
\nNew Year's partying in mind, don't neglect to lay in an
\nappropriate supply of Mylanta and aspirin. And when in doubt,
\njust keep telling yourself its all in the cause of national
\neconomic recovery.<\/p>\n
Cheers, and down the hatch!<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/year-of-ups-and-downs-for-jakarta-pub-scene-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }