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)