Jakarta Entertainment

After dinner there is much to enjoy in Jakarta. The Kemang area in South Jakarta, dubbed the “expatriate village” has many discos, karaokes,  and entertainment haunts to while away the night. There is even the Salsa Café, where you can learn to dance the Salsa after a good meal. The Centro at Dharmawangsa Square City Walk at Jl. Dharmawangsa IX is today the place to be and to be seen. This place is frequented by Indonesian film, TV and music stars or anyone who calls himself or herself a celebrity.  

Others enjoy the atmosphere of Hard Rock Café at the EX Building of Plaza Indonesia, while the Cilandak Town Square, popularly known as CITOS is favoured among the young crowd, while the Music Room better known as MUSRO at Hotel Borobudur at Lapangan Banteng is also a favourite night entertainment spot.

Others enjoy the lively atmosphere of a number of entertainment and music centres behind Senayan Plaza. Most malls have a cinema complex attached near a host of restaurants to serve hungry cinema goers.  

If you are looking for nightclubs, these are found towards the Glodok and Mangga Dua area near China Town.
Just make sure that you do not hail a taxi from the kerb at these nightclubs when going home in the wee hours of the morning, as there may be thugs ready for action. Call a reliable taxi company, the most reliable are the Blue Bird and the Silver Bird taxis.

Tips

• If you decide to travel by taxi, make sure that the taxi uses the argometer. Also note the taxi number which you will find on the inside door. If possible, opt for Blue Bird and Silver Bird taxis. They're known for their reliability.

• Bring lightweight clothes unless you plan to stay indoor most of the time. Jakarta is quite hot.

• Learn a few necessary phrases in Indonesian. Not all Indonesians can speak English well.

• Check your bill before you leave, to avoid any mistakes. Tipping is not common if you buy food from street vendors or most fast food restaurants. It is polite to leave a tip in classy restaurants, though.