Bale Air just the place to relax and take it easy

Bill Blade Contributor Jakarta

It's no fun being a pub reviewer, I'll have you know, but it certainly is worth my while.

And where better to set forth on such a voyage of discovery than the delightful and salubrious Bale Air Food Village, located conveniently at Jl. Gatot Subroto Kav. 18, South Jakarta, and reportedly a haven of good living and rectitude in this city of unmentionable sins.

But hark, is that a large Bintang sign I spyeth in yonder distance? And surely that's not a beer tap I see through the window? And what about all these cavorting couples and scantily clad ladies?

Oh dear, oh dear, it looks like its back on the chain gang again. Ah well, at least the editor will be pleased, I suppose.

For those of you who have never savored the delights of Bale Air, let me assure you that its one of the best little food villages you're ever likely to come across, with numerous attractive and well-designed traditional-style timber restaurants, some up to three stories in height, a great variety of food, and live music playing on the central square that provides the focus for the entire "village".

And neither is it another Kafe Tenda Semanggi, which is more than beginning to show its age and take on an aura of seediness and terminal decline.

On the contrary, Bale Air is as spick-and-span as you could wish for, and with all the exquisite landscaping and seductive, alluring restaurants, its backers obviously stuck their paws deep in their pockets.

It's also a great place for families, with plenty of space for the kids to play while you enjoy a breather and a well-earned drink!

The first watering hole you're likely to come across in Bale Air is the curiously named Banana Kafe (Tel. 5204442).

This is actually more of a restaurant for most of the week (and as you would imagine, they're big into bananas), but it comes deliciously alive on Fridays and Saturdays.

They also have a great offer on Thursdays up until March 28 when draft beers are to be had for Rp 10,000 (plus tax and a hefty 15.5 percent service charge).

During our visit on Saturday night, the upstairs bar was open (we were informed that it's only opened on Fridays and Saturdays), and very enticing it turned out to be, what with lots of comfy sofas, dim lighting and a friendly crowd.

There's also a great balcony where you can chill out and watch the goings on in the soft yellow lamp light down below. Bit of a shame the upstairs is closed off on weekdays -- a policy that's ripe for review, perhaps.

As for what they've got in the line of booze, well just about everything that you'd expect in any bar worth its salt -- local draft beer (Bintang) for Rp 16,000, imported bottled beers for Rp 37,000, house pouring for Rp 25,000 and JW Blacks or Jack Daniels for a fairly reasonable Rp 29,500.

They also do cocktails, with such concoctions as a Screwdriver coming in at Rp 32,000, Coco Loco at Rp 35,000 and Pina Colada at Rp 37,500.

Banana Kafe has only been open for about eight months (of the same vintage as Bale Air itself), and seems to have established a regular, feel-good clientele of young lovers (on weekends, at any rate). Must have been quite something on Valentine's Day.

But if you can't hack being surrounded by snuggling couples any more, take heart! Just take a gander from the balcony out across the big fountain to the other side of the Jakarta-mist- shrouded square. Do you see it? I thought you would! Lazo Lounge, sitting there expectantly, waiting to welcome all hardened punters with open arms.

This is actually an outdoor pub where you can drink alfresco and savor the (somewhat smoky) late evening Jakarta air -- no mosquitoes, amazingly. Perhaps if you were to scoff down enough beer, you could almost lull yourself into believing you were in some distant, exotic hideaway.

Apart that is from the sight of the large number of rather rotund punters, most of whom seem to be regulars, glugging back the beers in that slow but steady style that marks the hardened imbiber. All in marked contrast to the multitude of young couples (similar to the Banana Kafe) who seem to dominate the entire Bale Air complex, and for whom Kratingdaeng appears to be about as far as they're willing to venture into hard liquor territory.

Open from 5 p.m. until midnight Sunday through Thursday, and until 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, Lazo Lounge (Tel. 5203616) is as good a bar as you'll get anywhere, with great staff, booze and music (not once all night did they resort to Brother Bob Marley).

As for prices, draft Bintang for Rp 15,000, 330 ml bottles of Foster's, Corona or Budweiser for Rp 34,000 and premium spirits like JW Black or Jack Daniels for Rp 31,000. They've even got a bottle of Hennessy XO at Rp 86,000 a glass (amazingly for Jakarta, quoted prices actually include tax and service).

So if you're feeling at a loose end and want to go somewhere out of the ordinary in Jakarta for a tipple, get on down to Bale Air and release some of that pent-up tension. And don't be afraid to bring the kids along, either. They're likely to enjoy themselves just as much as you are!