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.