The Best List

WEEKENDER   |  Fri, 10/23/2009 4:44 PM  |  Cover Story

After dealing with traffic, pollution and all the rest on a daily basis, Jakartans are sorely in need of a few decent places to hang out in. When it comes to restaurants, lounges and bar, our priorities differ somewhat from residents of other cities. While a good menu selection, great drinks and other standard criteria apply, things such as location and road conditions are just as influential in our choice of where to go for the night. When you have to sit in the car for at least an hour to enjoy a meal then it had better be worth it, or else there had better be plenty of liquid sustenance available to wash those frustrations away!

Number One Hotspot

Elbow Room
Jl. Kemang Raya No. 24A, Kemang
Tel: 719 4274

Our favorite venue of all. Elbow Room is one of those special finds that you almost don’t want to share with others for fear it will soon be taken over by the hip crowd in their rapacious hunt for the next “in” place. It is cozy and non-pretentious, reminiscent of your local pub in London, except the beer selection is way better than the £2 Guinness you get on tap. From James Squire to Chimay, and Timmerman’s fruit-flavored beers for the girly girls, the brews are best enjoyed with their thinly sliced, crispy yet soft “stick fries”. One of the greatest things about Elbow is their selection of music. There’s none of that generic chill-out electronic music; instead, listen to U2, John Denver and other rock classics and alternative music. Check out the live music sessions. The schedule changes so give them a call first. Definitely the top local haunt in Jakarta. But please, don’t come crowding up the place all at once!


Best Mall Hangout

Canteen
Pacific Place Mall Lvl 4 and Plaza Indonesia Extension Level 5 E02
Tel: 5797 3742 (PP), 315 6537 (PI)

Although we all love to hate overcrowded malls, sometimes convenience trumps other reservations. For those who need an escape from screaming children and rambunctious teenagers, Canteen offers the perfect cozy corner. It has good food, even though the portions seem to be allotted for the slim beautiful people who frequent the place, and a small yet delectable cocktails list, the Fresca being our number one pick. The Canteen in Plaza Indonesia also carries Storm beer, a local brew that can stand proudly alongside the Hoegardens and other imported beers. Another important highlight, Canteen has great service, which is a rare find in Jakarta. The servers take the time to remember you so the next time you come you feel right at home. Canteen is also attached to Aksara, which is a bonus since Aksara is like the cool kid of all bookstores.


Best Venue to Let Your Hair Down

Dragonfly and Blowfish
DF: Graha BIP, Jl Gatot Subroto 23 Ph: 5206789
BF: City Plaza at Wisma Mulia, Jl Jendral Gatot Subroto no. 42, Ph: 5297 1234

After one of those weeks when work and life are not just going your way, the only cure is to get down on the dance floor. Even if you are no Patrick Swayze or Jennifer Grey, there’s no reason to not let loose once in a while and have a bit of fun. And the Ismaya Group sure knows how to party.  Its babies, Dragonfly and Blowfish, share the top spot for the best venue to let your hair down, any day of the week.

Blowfish is aimed at the younger crowd with its movie themed and fantasy series parties where patrons can play dress-up while enjoying R ‘n’ B tunes. Once in a while they veer away from their usual attractions and bring such amazing guests as Cut Copy to Jakarta. Dragonfly targets the more mature crowd with its Wednesday Vintage nights playing music from the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s and predominantly house music on other nights of the week. Although Dragonfly used to be a bit more relaxed due to the separate restaurant and lounge areas, the recent revamp has modernized the place and made it into a more upbeat and hip venue.

Blowfish has a great dance floor, which is not too big and not too small, calling out to you to get moving as soon as you arrive. So when the sun sets, and, to borrow a phrase from Cut Copy, the lights and music are on your mind, head to Blowfish and Dragonfly and have a heck of a good time.


Best “It” Crowd Hotspot

Loewy
Oakwood Condominiums, Jl. Lingkar, Mega Kuningan E4. 2 No. 1, Jakarta
Tel: 2554 2378

Loewy is the hip place to be for the who’s who of Jakarta, who can be found sipping drinks pretty much at any time of the day. Yet don’t assume it is one of those pretentious trendy hangouts that will vanish from the scene once a newer hip joint opens. The reason it is so enduring is because it seamlessly provides a great balance between being a relaxed bistro and an upbeat modern lounge/bar. The venue is open air, which is a plus, but it is set back far enough from the road that revelers do not choke on fumes. The design is sleek yet neutral, meaning it never feels out of date. Although most go to Loewy for a drink, the food is not to be overlooked; in particular, the guava ice cream is a divine and refreshing must-try dessert. Be warned that it is often hard to get a table. But that’s not too much of a problem, because Loewy is a great place to hang by the bar and mingle with the crowd. Definitely the place to be when you’re feeling social.

Best Lazy Venue

Casa
Aksara Building 2nd Floor, Jl. Kemang Raya No. 8B, Kemang
Tel: 719 9289

Although Casa is usually packed with the younger crowd on weekends, it is still one of the best places to head to during off peak hours. As its name suggests, it is a quiet homey spot, feeling more like a friend’s living room than a café/lounge/bar. Casa is the original Canteen, perched on top of Aksara bookstore in Kemang; it’s the smaller, more chilled-out prototype, a place to go for some downtime during those random hours when you want to relax with friends while at the same time avoiding the crowds that can be found in those generic chain coffee shops. Casa is the antithesis of the “it” place. Roll out of bed, don those tattered flip-flops, pack your laptop and stay all afternoon. By the way, if you frequent the place enough you can even plug your iPod into their stereo and play your own music – just don’t tell them we told you that!


Best Sunday Afternoon Hangout

Birdcage
Jl. Wijaya 9 No 23, Kebayoran Baru
Tel: 739 2430

Birdcage’s brief buzz as the trendy venue about town – due to their temporary closure for a month, and also their out-of-the-way location – is a mixed blessing for those who want a quiet Sunday afternoon venue to relax in. Situated along a lush tree-lined street, Birdcage’s glass-covered enclosed balcony feels like a small greenhouse, with oversized daybeds for added comfort. A great place to laze around, Birdcage is a fantastic weekend getaway from the hustle and bustle of Jakarta, as the leafy greenery makes you feel like you are lounging in the middle of a park while being indoors at the same time. The interior part of Birdcage, with its unfinished brick walls and concrete beams, is quirky yet inviting. The rustic wooden furniture softens the raw feel of the place, making it a great spot to lounge for the afternoon. Try the pork belly or any dish with a side of mashed potatoes, all to die for. The upstairs space is also a great spot for a small private gathering, and not just for Sundays.


Best Sake Night Venue

Boci Boci
Ambai Building, Ground Floor, Jl. Melaway 8 No. 4, Jakarta
Tel: 7279 8463

Traditionally there is beer night, but here in Jakarta we also have sake night. Japanese food is best enjoyed with the potent rice wine, and a combination of good food and drinks always makes for a great night out. While Japanese food is available everywhere in Jakarta, most offer generic sushi and the usual tempura and teriyaki sauce dishes, which can get a little dull. For something more adventurous, head for Boci Boci where, in addition to the regular old sushi, they also serve interesting Japanese street food and even some Japanese interpretations of Chinese food. It is located in the rabbit warrens of Blok M, which can seem off the beaten track, but that’s exactly part of the fun. Step in and you’ll find that most of the clientele are Japanese expats living in Jakarta, so the food must be quite authentic. Try the grilled brie cheese, which doesn’t sound very Japanese, but is amazingly delicious. The Wagyu beef skewers are also a must. Add sake to all this and you have the ingredients for a good time.


Best Interior

Potato Head
Pacific Place Mall level G #51A, SCBD
Tel: 5797 3322

It might be a bit odd to put in a venue simply because it has great interior design, but the ingenuity with which Potato Head was put together deserves a special mention. From the Thomas the Tank Engine table lamps to the interesting use of wooden window shades as wall décor and its quirky futuristic mural, Potato Head is decidedly the most creatively designed space in the whole of Jakarta. Even the barstools deserve a mention. Potato Head is clearly the brainchild of someone who appreciates good design and a knack for reinventing used vintage pieces as attractive and functional items. Even their cocktail selection reflects the playful, inventive and fun atmosphere of the venue. If there were words to describe Potato Head, they would be “ingeniously quirky”.
 

Best Date Venue

Lan Na Thai
Jl. Dr Kusuma Atmaja No 85, Menteng
Tel: 3192 5037

Dim lighting and a comfortable cozy setting are the keys for a romantic date night. To put that extra oomph into the evening, head to Lan Na Thai, where the food is as sumptuous as the setting is romantic. This is a private, comfortable restaurant serving great Thai cuisine in the heart of Thamrin. Its quiet setting allows diners to have conversations without having to shout at the person across from them. The abundance of candles and dim lighting adds to the romantic atmosphere of the place. While the restaurant upstairs is private and secluded, the downstairs bar is a bit more happening while not being too loud and crazy. So you can prolong your evening without having to move to new venues, a great plus for traffic-congested Jakarta (you don’t want to spend half of your date sitting in the car). You can’t go wrong with the tried-and-true formula of dinner and drinks for a date, and you can’t go wrong with Lan Na Thai either.
 

Best Fun Eatery

Amigos
Kemang Club Villas, Jl Kemang Selatan I, Kemang
Tel: 7179 1665

Everyone has those silly days when the overwhelming desire is to head to a crazy and fun theme restaurant, with the sole intention of eating a ton of junk food and getting merry. America has Chucky Cheese and those castle-themed restaurants, and Jakarta has Amigos. With kitschy Mexican paraphernalia, which includes sombreros and cacti mounted as wall décor, it is not to be taken too seriously, which is exactly the point. The Tex Mex food is fantastic, with the fried burritos stuffed with rice the highlight. A pitcher of margaritas makes a perfect addition for a night of frivolity with friends. Amigos really hits the spot on those nights when tacos and tons of fun are what you crave.

+ Tessa Wijaya

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