TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Jakpost Nightlife: Asian-inspired bars
Change text size
Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone
Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!
Sake+ offers an extensive collection of the Japanese rice wine, including junmai daiginjo and sparkling sake. (JP/Wienda Parwitasari)
Jakarta’s vibrant nightlife has a lot to offer, varying from beer houses, Irish pubs to swanky bars.
Asian-inspired bars appear to be a new trend. In these places, which mostly are located on Jl. Senopati, South Jakarta, people can sample Japanese sake or soju (Korean vodka) while taking a break from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Those wanting to know more about these Asian-inspired bars may have a look at the list below.
Sake+
Specializing in sake, Sake+ offers an extensive collection of Japanese rice wine, including junmai daiginjo and sparkling sake.
The establishment occupies a two-story building, allowing guests to have either business lunches or an after-hours session with colleagues.
Where: Jl. Senopati No. 54, South Jakarta
Crowd: 25 to 40 years old.
Music: R&B and hip-hop.
On the house: First-timers are recommended to try sake flight. Priced at Rp 150,000 (US$11.25), the set comprises a different variant of sake, from dry to sweet sake.
Furthermore, Sake+ also offers various Sake-based cocktails, such as Yakuza and Kyuri.
As for the food, Sake+ offers authentic foods from the Land of the Rising Sun, including fresh sashimi and yakitori, as well as omakase dining
Wear: Smart casual.
Music: R&B and hip-hop.
Quirks: Sake+ general manager-slash- people development Jefrey Budi Mardianto told The Jakarta Post that Sake+ is not simply a dining place. On Wednesday until Saturday, the establishment also hosts DJ performances.
Spend: Rp 450,000 for food and sake.
Read also: Sparkling sake marks new era for Japan's traditional drink
Arasseo
Tucked inside Jl Senopati, Arasseo is a Korean-inspired restaurant-cum-bar.
Although the establishment has a relatively small capacity, Arasseo's blended soju (soju mixed with various fruits) and blended rice wines make the place worth a visit.
Where: Jl. Senopati No. 16, South Jakarta.
Crowd: Aged 25 and above. However, Arasseo marketing manager Christine Hasibuan told The Post that during the weekend the crowd tends to be younger.
Music: Mix genres.
On the house: Arasseo serves blended soju and blended rice wines, including soju Yakult and etc. Furthermore, the establishment is currently offering soju bomb (shots of soju that are dropped into beer cups).
Meanwhile: Kitchen offers Korean fusion dishes, such as Mr Chef Pasta (Korean bolognese spaghetti with mushroom, cream cheese and gochuchang sauce) and Kim Bop (Arasseo's kimchi fried rice).
Quirks: Every once in a while, Arasseo hosts a karaoke session called Arasseo Noraebam, allowing guests to sing their favorite K-pop tunes together.
Spend: Rp 500,000-600,000 for four people.
Pao Pao Liquor Bar and Dimsum Parlour
Located next to Arasseo, Paopao offers a Chinese house ambiance. Once guests step inside the restaurant-cum-bar, they will discover an interesting interior, featuring Chinese-style wall calendar and traditional Chinese herbal medicine cabinet.
Where: Jl. Senopati No. 16, South Jakarta
Crowd: On weekdays, the place is usually filled with people from the offices nearby for an after-hours drinking session. However, on weekend, the crowd is mostly aged 21 to 30.
Music: R&B.
Wear: Semi-formal attire is preferred. No shorts, sandals or flip-flops.
However, Biko Group marketing and guest relations Nadia Ayu Trigg said that the rules do not apply on weekdays.
On the house: Pao Pao focuses on Asian-inspired cocktails, such as Kinky Yuzu and Shanghai Star. The former uses tequila, sour rhubarb liqueur and yuzu jam, offering a refreshing taste. Meanwhile, Shanghai Star mixes vodka with star fruit, basil leaves, fresh lemon juice and passion fruit syrup.
On the food side, Pao Pao serves dim sum staples, including siu mai, har gau, prawn cheung fun and more.
Quirks: The dim sum. On Monday, Pao Pao offers special prices for selected dim sum.
Spend: On Thursday until Saturday, Pao Pao applies a minimum charge of Rp 500,000 for a table of four, starting from 10 p.m.
Read also: Jakpost guide to Jl. Benda
Fujin
Fujin is another restaurant-slash-bar under Biko Group. Although Fujin is recognized for its teppanyaki, Biko Group marketing and guest relations Tantiana Rani said that the establishment actually brings Japanese drinking culture to the capital, particularly in the technique, such as large ice cubes that similar to the one in Japanese bars, and serving style.
Where: Jl. Gunawarman No. 21, South Jakarta
Crowd: Fujin opens daily from 11.30 to 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 2 a.m.
During the day, the eatery is popular for business lunches. At night, starting from 7 p.m., most of the visitors are aged 25 to 35 years old.
Music: For lunch, Fujin plays Japanese classics. For the evening, the establishment plays R&B. Live DJ performances are available on Friday.
On the house: Those preferring sweet cocktails may try Jerato Matini and Shoga Sawa. The former is a mixture of vodka, hazelnut liqueur, black sesame gelato and fresh milk, giving a tasty creamy drink. Meanwhile, Shoga Sawa uses whisky, homemade ginger lime syrup, passion fruit syrup, fresh lemon juice and soda, making it suitable for those who want refreshing drink.
Fujin is known for its teppanyaki. However those wanting some snacks can customer’s favorite chicken nanban or the Japanese tapas, namely mentaiko potato cheese pizza and tuna tataki.
Quirks: Fujin offers all-you-can-drink sake. On Feb, the promotion would be available every Thursday, starting from 7 p.m. until 10 p.m.
Wear: Smart casual.
Spend: Rp 600,000-750,000 for two. (asw)
