Nightlife · Jakarta · Indonesia
Jakarta nightlife
Where the evenings happen in Jakarta, from early drinks to late nights.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
Jakarta has one of Southeast Asia's biggest nightlife scenes, centred on rooftop bars and clubs in SCBD and Senopati, live music in Kemang and casual bars in Blok M. Venues open late, especially at weekends. The main areas are SCBD and Senopati, Kemang, Blok M and Thamrin.
Key facts
- Nightlife areas
- 4
- Stay near the action
- SCBD and Senopati
- Local drink
- Kopi susu gula aren
Where to go out
SCBD and Senopati
Cocktail bars, rooftop lounges and the city's best-known clubs.
Kemang
Live-music bars, pubs and relaxed restaurants popular with expats.
Blok M
Japanese-style izakaya and small bars in the Little Tokyo lanes, plus live music at M Bloc Space.
Thamrin
Hotel bars and lounges in the central hotels around Bundaran HI.
Nightlife tips
- Alcohol is expensive compared with food because of high import taxes.
- Book a Bluebird or ride-hailing car home; the MRT stops running around midnight.
- Some venues have dress codes; avoid shorts and flip-flops in upmarket bars.
Evening sights
Neighbourhood · Blok M
M Bloc Space
Come after dark, when the courtyard fills with young Jakartans and music venues open.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Food
- After dark
- Free
- Shopping
What to drink
- Kopi susu gula aren — Iced coffee with milk sweetened with palm sugar, popularised by Jakarta's many local coffee chains and now drunk across the country.
Evenings through the year
Sunset and the overnight low decide how long the outdoor part of a night lasts. August has the warmest evenings, with lows around 25°C (77°F).
| Month | Sunset (15th) | Overnight low | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | About 18:15 | 25°C (77°F) | 19 |
| April | About 17:52 | 25°C (77°F) | 12 |
| July | About 17:52 | 25°C (77°F) | 5 |
| October | About 17:45 | 25°C (77°F) | 8 |
Getting home late
- Metro — Pay with a contactless bank e-money card, which works on the MRT, TransJakarta and KRL.
- Bus — Some buses and carriages have women-only sections at the front.
- Ride-hailing — Grab and Gojek offer cars and motorbike taxis (ojek), which are often the quickest way through traffic for short trips.
- Taxi — Avoid unofficial drivers who approach you at the airport arrivals hall.
Late-night bites
- Kerak telor — Street vendors at Kota Tua, Setu Babakan, Monas and the annual Jakarta Fair.
- Ketoprak — Pushcarts in residential streets and outside offices, mainly at lunchtime.
- Satay — Evening satay stalls and specialist restaurants, including the satay vendors along Jalan Sabang.
- Martabak — Martabak carts that set up after dark on busy streets citywide; Pecenongan in Central Jakarta is a well-known cluster.
Staying safe at night
Jakarta is generally safe for visitors, but pickpocketing happens on crowded buses, trains and markets. Traffic is the main hazard: cross roads carefully. Use Bluebird taxis or ride-hailing apps rather than unmarked cars, and check for flooding warnings in the rainy season.
- Emergency number
- 112 general emergency, 110 police, 119 ambulance
Where to stay for nightlife
$$$$ · Best for nightlife, food lovers and luxury
SCBD and Senopati
The Sudirman Central Business District and neighbouring Senopati in Kebayoran Baru hold Jakarta's densest mix of upmarket restaurants, cafés, cocktail bars and clubs, plus the Pacific Place and Ashta malls. It is lively at night and well placed on the MRT's Senayan and Istora stations.
- Good
- Best dining and nightlife; Modern hotels; MRT access
- Watch out
- Expensive; Far from Kota Tua
- Nearby
- Pacific Place, Gelora Bung Karno, Senayan City, Blok M
Questions travellers ask
+Where is the best nightlife in Jakarta?
SCBD and Senopati, Kemang and Blok M. Cocktail bars, rooftop lounges and the city's best-known clubs.
+Which area of Jakarta is best for nightlife?
SCBD and Senopati: Skyscrapers, rooftop bars and the city's most fashionable restaurants.