Lounging around at late-night Lava Lounge
Lounging around at late-night Lava Lounge
JAKARTA (JP): Hear the word lava, and if you don't immediately
think of volcanoes about to spew their contents in Central Java,
then images of those mainstays of 1960s' living rooms come to
mind.
The latter is, of course, if you are 30-something or over. But
some of those in the youngish crowd at Lava Lounge will probably
have to ask mom and dad about what those colorful lamps are all
about.
Location: The first floor of the East End Building at Kompleks
Taman Ria Senayan, Jl. Gerbang Pemuda No. 3. It is in the same
complex with other all-night places such as New York Cafe and
Gardu, a popular spot for billiards, so if you get bored with
this joint you can literally club hop to the next one just a two-
minute walk away.
It is pretty easy to find, too. Just be on the lookout for the
amusement area with a rather notorious name for getting
passengers stuck in the middle of the roller-coaster ride. Not to
worry, however, because after 11 p.m., which is prime clubbing
time, the amusement park is closed.
Hours: From 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. from Wednesday to Friday, while
on Saturday they close at 5 a.m. Sadly, if you are the type who
gets the Monday blues and would like to wash away your troubles
with some drinks at Lava, you will be disappointed because they
are closed on Mondays, along with Tuesdays and Sundays. If you
are "brave" enough to come at 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Wednesdays to
Fridays, they have a happy hour policy which will reward you with
50 percent off the regular price on house pouring drinks and
beer.
What's it got: A fully stocked bar offering a choice of your
favorite vodkas, whiskys, cognacs and other spirits, including a
range of wine brands and champagne. There are, of course, your
standard domestic and imported beers. The bartenders can also mix
up a variety of cocktails, including some house specials with
names like blue, red, white, and the latest, orange lava. They
are also not too stingy on the booze. Better come with a full
stomach, though, as the lounge only serves one kind of food, the
venerable hot dog.
Bill, please: The prices are not cheap, but also not eye-
wideningly high, about the normal range for bars and "lounges" in
Jakarta. A glass of Carlsberg draught beer costs Rp 25,000, while
other imported beers vary from Rp 30,000 to Rp 40,000. For what
it's worth, the bill says that your drinking will contribute to
the Lava foundation, a charity for orphans.
Here's looking at you: The most attractive decorative pieces
are probably the famous lava lamps (surprise, surprise!). Sadly
the blue, red, and yellow lamps are not groovy anymore, since no
volcanic action can be seen. It's due to guests' hyperactive
hands, so one of the waiters said.
Next there are a couple of round tables, three on each side to
be exact, colored in the three primary colors, red, blue, and
yellow. Set in an orange and red painted room, with a wooden
floor, a sorry excuse for a dance floor (approximately two by
three), the place, disregarding the bar, looks a little like a
playroom. It seems like they were trying to create a psychedelic
atmosphere but ended up failing miserably at it.
Disco divas who prefer to wear high or wooden heels may be
quite annoyed by the wooden floor. Especially if you want to walk
across the room from where the sofas are. Luckily, for those of
you who tend to get thirsty while dancing with all the other
clubbers, there is also a small bar by the side of the dance
floor.
Another standout feature is some kind of lighting next to the
DJ table, located at opposite the entrance, which emits
psychedelic effects. If you suddenly lose your appetite for
dancing or people-watching and want to look occupied, you can
sway you body to the beat while feasting you eyes on the TV
screen above the DJ table that plays MTV's competitor, channel V,
all night long.
So, what's your sign?: Even though during the peak hours the
place is great for people-watching, you would not want to try out
those expertly crafted pickup lines, unless you spot someone who
did not come seemingly bound to a colony of friends. Having a
sudden flashback from high school, are you?
Odds and Ends: Despite the name, it looks more like your
regular disco club than a lounge. This is also supported by the
fact that they do not have live music. Most of the time they do
not play music other than loud techno-ish DJ music which some
people like to call silky deep house, garage and also two step.
Fortunately, the DJs are pretty good with their mixing on the
turntables and what-have-you to make the otherwise pretty
monotonous music a bit variable. So, if you are an R 'n B or
hiphop fan, better come on Wednesdays when the DJ takes a short
break from all the deafening music.
Like a regular club they have a Rp 30,000 cover charge which
entitles you to a choice of juices, soft drinks and beer for your
first drink. For those of you who are interested in coming to one
of Lava's special events, then be prepared to pay a higher cover
charge, which can be up to Rp 50,000.
If you are here to party, better come after 1 a.m. Before that
the place with its overly loud and heart-thumping music is
certainly not a venue to enjoy a drink with friends, nor it is a
place to get down unless you want to be stared at by all the
other, (approximately 10), "clubbers". Even on a Saturday night
before the peak hours, the place seems just slow enough to enable
you to take a short snooze.
As for the guests, even though they have a 21-and-over door
policy it appears that a few teenyboppers are among the twenty
and thirty-something crowd. According to one of the blond-wigged
waitresses, most of their regular customers have been coming to
Lava from as long as two years ago when the lounge was still at
Hotel Mandarin.
Last call: If you are over the ages mentioned above, it would
probably be better to find somewhere else to go, as you will feel
like you are a chaperone at a school dance. Nevertheless this
place is at least worth a visit. And if things do not get
happening enough there are clubs a stroll away which may be more
to your taste. (Monique Natalia)