Close encounters at hopping Mata Bar

Close encounters at hopping Mata Bar

By Irene Sugiharto

JAKARTA (JP): Young disco-goers who are getting bored with
their usual hang-outs have found a new latest hot spot to rock
the night away at Mata Bar & Cafe.

Mata (as it is call by regulars), located in Jl. Sudirman's
Wisma Metropolitan II building, is famous for its heavy crowds on
weekends, but the latest trends indicate this is what people
want. Even though there is a capacity limit, such rules seem to
be ignored, so that even moving your arm is often difficult.

Having existed for only about three months, it is hard to say
when this place will be just another page in history. The normal
run of events in Jakarta is that new hang-outs are always packed
at first with many entrance restrictions, but when a new
competitor arrives on the scene, the old ones die out.

With a cover charge of Rp 25,000, disco lovers can enjoy their
first sip from a choice of juice or coke and alcoholic drinks
such as whisky and cola, gin and tonic and a range of beers. This
is quite intriguing since other entertainment spots usually do
not include spirits in the first drink charge. However, some of
the drink prices are a bit more expensive than other places. For
example, you have to pay Rp 16,000 for a glass of coke and Rp
37,000 for a glass of Jack Daniels. A glass of Long Island iced
tea is Rp 59,000, while tequila is Rp 52,000.

Mata Bar & Cafe converts into a discotheque at around 10 p.m.
and rocks on until after 3 a.m. The later it gets during a
weekend night, the longer it takes you merely to get to level 16
where it is located. The queue might spill out of the lobby of
this high-rise building, and once you have reached the door, more
of your time is taken up purchasing the entrance ticket, queuing
up to get your first drink and finally arriving at the dance
floor.

If you hate the crowds, you should come during week, when the
dance floor is relatively empty.

A 21-year-old regular expressed his preference to go to Mata
on Saturdays as this is when the funkier tunes play, but of
course this depends on your own personal opinion.

Another young visitor seemed astonished that, even though
other entertainment sights offer more exhilarating performances,
"Mata somehow has some kind of magnet attracting us." This might
be, as she tried explaining, "... because visitors are usually
around our age. I prefer going to places where I can meet people
of my age."

It can be observed that there are more ABG's (Indonesian slang
term for adolescents) than adults.

Located strategically in the heart of the city, unlike other
places such as Jamz and Zanzibar, Mata offers Jakarta's youth a
refreshing and relaxing atmosphere. It is odd though that few
non-Indonesians attracted to this spot.

Even though many teenyboppers are found in Mata, a written
regulation stuck on the entrance says women must be at least 18
to enter and men 21. There is no ID check but you might be
stopped at the door by the security guard if you wear a T-shirt
and sandals, unless he categorizes you as an "honorary guest", a
"VIP" or if you have blonde hair and light skin.