Fill your night with three floors of fun at The beat
Fill your night with three floors of fun at The beat
JAKARTA (JP): This week we've got The beat. It's brand new,
it's in Kemang and it bills itself as one-stop entertainment.
Does it pass muster, and can we expect The beat to make its mark
on the already crowded Kemang scene? Or will it just beat it?
Here's our thoughts on the matter.
Location: Jl. Kemang Raya No. 29, Kemang, South Jakarta. The
only difficulty you may have in finding The beat is that there
are so many cafes, restaurants and clubs in the area that you can
get to feeling a bit overwhelmed. Drive slowly and do not panic;
you will eventually find what you are looking for.
If you have any inquiries you can reach The beat at 718-2970,
or look them up on the Web at www.thebeatjakarta.com.
Hours: Open from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m., though the closing hour,
like everything else in life, can change. There is no Happy Hour,
management having done away with it after the soft opening.
What's it got: All the booze a body can drink. There is vino,
cerveza, spirits and everything else you would expect in a bar.
There is also food, from little munchies to complete meals.
Bill, please: Drink and food cost here what they cost in other
such establishments in the city. One glass of wine, one bottle of
beer and an Illusion set us back about Rp 110,000.
Here's looking at you: The one-stop entertainment of The beat
is contained on three floors. On the ground floor is the main
bar, the DJ, a dance floor and a little section with some comfy
couches and chairs. The bar is adequate, meaning it is long
enough to satisfy all the drinkers in the house who want to belly
up to the bar. The stuffed couches and chairs provide a nice
place to park your can, and the music is loud enough if you want
to shake your thing. The only problem is that when you put all
these things together people get confused. Is this a bar, a cafe,
a club?
The second floor on the night in question was not open. But
that was all right, because it meant we could get to the
fantastic third floor all the faster. It is here on the third
floor that The beat shows its class. The garden terrace, if you
will, has a small bar and a pool table inside, along with a few
TVs, and outside, under the stars, a number of tables are
arranged. With a fountain babbling pleasantly and low lighting
providing an intimate atmosphere, this is an ideal spot for
leisurely drinks and long conversations with friends and lovers.
So, what's your sign: The beat seems keen on putting on
fashion shows and having fashion dancers on the ground floor, so
you may be able to bag a model, if you have the right bait.
The clientele is a mixed bag. On the night we were there we
spotted one group that looked like they were from the Jakarta
International School (although they were not being obnoxious like
the kids who sometimes take over TGIF's on a Friday), and
everyone else appeared to be professionals out for a few drinks
to celebrate the end of another week of work.
The majority of the customers appeared to be couples, although
there were a few stray singles you could try and pick off (not
counting the kids from JIS).
Odds and ends: The beat is big on special programs, so you may
want to give them a call to find out what's on. They have music
every night, none of it live, and it ranges from disco to acid
jazz depending on the night.
Last call: The beat opened its doors on Jan. 10, so it may not
yet be fully formed, more of a work in progress. Be that as it
may, there is a lot to recommend the place. The garden terrace is
a fantastic spot for a drink or a game of pool, and one can see
it becoming a favorite meeting place.
While the rest of The beat may not yet live up to the garden
terrace, it has its positive points. And the management seems to
be working hard to make The beat a favored destination in Kemang.
(Penn Dawson)