Klub 45, a trendy bar without all the effort

JAKARTA (JP): It was Saturday night. I was restless, having the spent the greater part of the day at the hospital. I now had my antibiotics, so I was ready for fun.

My idea of fun? Not, as someone memorably coined it, the Holy Trinity of the Cinna Bar, Paprika and Manna. Something a little sleazier? Perhaps when I was younger and had more energy, and no one to account to but myself and my conscience. Jl. Jaksa in Central Jakarta is always good in a pinch, but I have found that is always a guarantee for a hangover.

Something new, then. True, this carries the risk of a spectacularly bad night, but also the promise of a brilliant discovery. So to Klub 45 to see how they could entertain me.

Location: Klub 45 is located at Jl. Mahakam 1 No. 17. It is across the street from Gran Mahakam Hotel, behind Blok M Plaza in South Jakarta. They can be reached at 720-8888.

Hours: Open from 11 a.m. to midnight, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. weekends.

What's it got: Beer, wine, spirits, cocktails, juice, coffee, sodas. The whole range of drinks can be found here, as they can at most bars. There is also an extensive menu at Klub 45, so don't fret about having to go home hungry.

Bill, please: Pretty standard for your nicer establishments. Anker beer is Rp 12,500, Corona Rp 37,500, spirits Rp 37,500 or Rp 52,500 for a double.

My bill looked like this: Manhattan Rp 29,500, Chivas Regal Rp 42,000, Bacardi Rp 37,500, mixer (Coke) Rp 2,000, melon juice Rp 13,500, Absolut martini Rp 29,500 and two red wines Rp 80,000, for a grand total, including tax and service charge, of Rp 275,418. Not bad, but your bill might be a little more if you're not drinking alone.

Here's looking at you: Klub 45 is a comfortable affair and user-friendly. Upon entering you are faced with the bar, which is large with stools on all four sides. The set-up helps promote the feeling of communal drinking and merriment. Instead of the traditional bar, where you sit facing the lines of bottles, you are always looking at other people, forcing you to acknowledge the presence of your fellow patrons. From acknowledgement it is a short step to interaction.

Set back behind the bar, away from the crowds, is a pool table. Past the bar, through an entrance framed by columns, is the dining area or, if you're not dining, another drinking area. There are a dozen or so tables here, most with straight-backed chairs, though there are several divans and a few deep, leather chairs.

Behind the tables is a small stage area with a piano, and in the back is a private room.

The lighting is a happy medium between too dark and too light, supplied by ceiling lamps. There are also fans up on the ceilings, but they seem to be just for show, spinning around too lazily to stir up much of a breeze.

Overall, Klub 45 projects a trendy image without being obnoxious about it, a delicate balance that has eluded some bars in the city.

Odds and ends: Klub 45 attracts a young and friendly crowd, and the atmosphere is reminiscent of a college bar, though quite a few of the patrons are several years away from the days of hitting the books. It's a fun bar, filled with the comfortable buzz of lively talk. At least that was the case on Saturday night, when the bar was full and nearly all the tables were occupied.

The staff remain pleasantly in the background; they are there when you need them, but when you don't need them they aren't down your neck. A trick not all waiters and bartenders, not to mention girlfriends, have mastered.

As mentioned there is a piano, and a piano player and singer. The piano proves to be a pleasant accompaniment to the proceedings, being subtle enough to entertain and occupy without overwhelming the room. Patrons can come up and do some karaoke, which is often enough to send me fleeing but somehow barely registered with me this night. Everything about the place just works, even the karaoke.

Last call: Klub 45 proved to be a surprisingly wonderful discovery. It boasts a fun, congenial atmosphere that is somehow so difficult to find in bars here. The design is stylish, but not overly so. The crowd is friendly. The drinks are good. If you haven't discovered Klub 45 for yourself, I urge you to do so. (Penn Dawson)