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Jakpost Nightlife: Must-try beerhouses
Jakarta is home to a vibrant nightlife scene, especially for those who prefer to drink beer and hang out with their friends after work while waiting for traffic jams to end. To find the perfect brew, try out these beerhouses.
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Die Stube has two areas: a bar and a dining room. Many of its decorations were brought over from Germany. (JP/Wienda Parwitasari)
J
akarta is home to a vibrant nightlife scene, especially for those who prefer to drink beer and hang out with their friends after work while waiting for traffic jams to end.
Beerhouses featuring local, international and mixed beers can easily be found across the capital, especially in the south and central parts. Below are several of the beerhouses in town worth a visit:
Upon entering Die Stube, which literally means living room, visitors may immediately feel like they are in a bar somewhere in Germany. Founded by Patrick Widjaja, who was born and raised in Germany, it indeed maintains the classic atmosphere of the Deutschland.
The place has two areas: a bar and a dining room -- both decorated using accessories and items brought straight from Germany.
Where: Plaza Bisnis Kemang, Jl. Kemang Raya No. 2, Bangka, Mampang Prapatan, South Jakarta.
Crowd: Office workers and family (in dining area). The crowd will get larger during Oktoberfest and sports matches, especially Bundesliga games, the World Cup and the Super Bowl.
Wear: Casual.
Music: DJs occasionally perform in the bar area.
Taste: Erdinger – WeiBbier and Dunkel. For food, Die Stube is known for its homemade sausage, so it is recommended to taste its Bonanza Huge Sausage Selection with your choice of condiments.You may want to also try the Whole Roasted Pig Knuckle, which should be ordered three hours beforehand as it is freshly made, Roasted Beef or Pork Ribs and Scrambled Pancake with Raisins.
Quirks: Die Stube has the Sports Room, which is used to watch sports matches or for a private event. It is decorated with scarves and banners of different football teams in Germany. It also has one big poster of the German national team.
Spend: The price for beer starts at Rp 140,000 (US$10.26) for 500 mL.
Located in one of the busiest areas in Jakarta, Beer Garden SCBD offers a convenient place to hang out after work. Once entering the semi-outdoor establishment, you will immediately notice dim lighting and music at a reasonable volume, allowing people to cozily make conversations and relax.
This garden-concept establishment has two levels. Trees are scattered in several of the indoor spots and it also has a grass area in its backyard.
Where: Lot 8 SCBD, Jl. Jenderal Sudirman Kav. 52-53, Senayan, Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta.
Crowd: Office workers and young adults.
Wear: Casual.
Music: Live music is available every Tuesday and Thursday. DJs typically perform on Saturdays.
Taste: There are more than 30 beer brands from inside and outside the country, as well as craft beers and flavored beers. It also has crazy shooters with unique names. Do try to sample its Bourbon Legend, Lychee Basil and Peach Spritzer. As for food, Beer Garden offers Oxtail Soup, Chicken Steak and Pommes Poutine.
Quirks: Every Sunday, the place opens for customers who bring their dogs. But your furry friends should be at least six months old, healthy, vaccinated and neutered.
Spend: The price for the beer starts at Rp 45,000, while food starts at Rp 18,000 for roasted peanuts.
Having operated since 2007, De Hooi features two smoking levels: the first story usually caters to live music and dining, while the second floor holds a billiard table and a giant screen to watch sports matches. It also has a terrace at the back of the first floor.
Open from 10 a.m., the pub is known for having a friendly and social atmosphere.
Where: Jl. Metro Duta Raya Blok B4 No. 31, South Pondok Indah, Kebayoran Lama, South Jakarta.
Crowd: Office workers and young adults.
Wear: Casual.
Music: Reggae, alternative, 90s songs. The genres vary depending on the day, but the pub is full of music on a daily basis. They also have a tribute night every two weeks starting at 10 p.m.
Taste: De Hooi has different brands of cold beer, but it is recommended to try its famous Brainwash that consists of eight secret ingredients. Meanwhile, for snacks, De Hooi has a wide range of foods from Western and Indian to Mexican. Try their Chicken Tandoori, Naan and Bruschetta.
Quirks: “For me, the pub feels like home,” said Aries Suseno, the operational manager of De Hooi, adding that the employees were used to engaging with the customers.
Spend: The price for beer starts at Rp 50,000.
Read also: Jakpost Nightlife: Asian-inspired bars
Borneo Beerhouse
Those who want to enjoy some indie music can consider stopping by Borneo Beerhouse. Established in 2010, it has become a hangout spot for renowned local bands, such as /rif and Seringai, as well as DJs like Diskopantera.
Visitors are greeted with black-painted walls with a bar and a stage on the other side upon arrival. Borneo Beerhouse has a second floor that serves as an unofficial backstage for the performing bands.
Where: Kompleks Ruko Belle Point no. 5, Jl. Kemang Selatan VIII, Bangka, Mampang Prapatan, South Jakarta.
Crowd: Young adults.
Wear: Casual.
Music: Live music events are usually available on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. The music schedule can be found on its Twitter account.
Taste: Bir pletok, a drink that consists of 10 percent beer and liquors, while the recommended snack is the Appetizer Combo that consists of different snacks, such as a plate of calamari, French fries and chicken wings.
Quirks: Acts that have performed here include local bands Boomerang, Red Spider, PMR, Kelompok Penerbang Roket (KPR), Payung Teduh, Jason Ranti, and international bands Razors Edge of Japan and Ill Natured of Australia.
Spend: The price for beer starts at Rp 42,000.
Originating from Munich, Germany, Paulaner Bräuhaus offers the ambiance and cuisine that will make its visitors feel as if they are actually hanging out in the Deutschland. The place conveniently includes smoking and non-smoking areas.
The microbrewery restaurant prides itself on its homemade beers. “We buy the main materials directly from selected suppliers in Germany,” said Ananda Wondo, the public relations coordinator of Hotel Kempinski Jakarta, adding that all the materials are then processed at the restaurant.
Where: Grand Indonesia East Mall 2nd floor, Jl. M.H. Thamrin No. 1, Menteng, Central Jakarta.
Crowd: Office workers, young adults and family (usually during lunch time every weekend).
Wear: Casual. During the restaurant’s big event, Oktoberfest, many customers can be found wearing traditional dirndl dresses.
Music: Live music is available every day, except on Mondays, from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. The genre is typically easy listening, but it depends on the event. Once every three months, the restaurant holds special music events with different themes, such as Rock Night and The Beatles Night.
Taste: The restaurant’s renowned beers consist of Hell (lager), Dunkel (dark beer) and WeiBbier (wheat beer). Popular snacks include a sharing portion of Paulaner Platter, Pork Knuckle and the aromatic Currywurst.
Quirks: The restaurant’s Indonesian brewmaster, Arie Susanto. After studying beer engineering in Germany, Arie worked at Paulaner Bräuhaus in Munich before returning to his hometown to work at the restaurant’s branch here.
Spend: The price for drinks range from Rp 40,000 to Rp 169,000++, while the price for snacks range from Rp 100,000 to Rp 400,000. (kes)
