Are Jakarta's Cool Kids All Lining Up? I Checked Out This Listening Bar to See if It's a Trap.
qponx
2026-01-24
Curious about Houma, Jakarta's viral listening bar? This spot is drawing crowds with its cool 90s retro vibe, live music, and a unique listening corner where you can spin your own vinyl. While the atmosphere is a music lover's dream, the food can be pricey and underwhelming. This review breaks down the hits and misses, offering essential tips on booking, time limits, and parking to help you decide if this trendy hangout is worth the hype.
Have you been seeing this bar called Houma all over your feed lately? It's known as South Jakarta's most Chill"Listening Bar," with retro vinyl + live music, and the aesthetic photos are one more stunning than the next. Every trendy friend I have seems to have made a pact to check in there.
With all this hype, how could I not go check it out? Honestly, as a veteran Jaksel Nongkrong enthusiast, I'm always a bit skeptical about these kinds of viral spots...
The Vibe is Truly Mantap, a Music Lover's Dream
The moment you go up to the second floor, that 90s retro vibe just hits right! Dim yellow lighting, velvet sofas, the air filled with a mix of jazz and whispers—the atmosphere is undeniably great[1].
The best part is the"listening corner" by the window, which has several vinyl record players. You can ask the staff for a pair of headphones, pick a record yourself, and instantly get lost in your own world[2]. Their record collection has great taste, ranging from jazz to R&B. It's perfect for zoning out alone or just coming to chill with friends. Based on this alone, I think it's one of the more creative bars in Jakarta.
The Food... It's Complicated, and a Wallet Warning!
No matter how good the vibe is, you still gotta eat. I flipped through the menu, and the prices... very Jaksel. I ordered a few of the hyped dishes to test the waters:
To be honest, the quality of the food here doesn't quite justify the price. They dare to sell a plate of fried noodles for 100k IDR, and eating it gave me the illusion of a deluxe version of Indomie... Anjay![3] The portions are also generally on the small side. If you're coming just to get a full meal, you might be disappointed.
- Chicken Katsudon[4]: The first bite was pretty good, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. But for some reason, it started to taste a bit bland towards the end, lacking that finishing punch.
- Mocktail (Guava Sour)[5]: This was actually a pleasant surprise! The sweet and sour guava flavor is so refreshing. For friends who don't drink, just go for it, it's delicious!
- Coffee: My friend ordered a cup, and I had a sip... Hmm, all I can say is, you should probably just stick to alcohol here. The Americano was as weak as water[6].
【Tips to Avoid Disappointment】A Must-Read Before You Go!
Okay, complaints aside, for those of you who want to go for the vibe, take these sincere tips to heart. They'll make your experience so much better!
Overall, if you're a music lover looking for a stylish place to drink and listen to music, this is definitely a great choice. But if you're going for the food, or looking for great value for your money, then... you might want to think again. 🤷♀️
- 1. You must! Absolutely! Book in advance![7] Don't ask me how I know. Especially on weekends, if you just walk in, you'll most likely just be standing at the door listening to the sounds from inside.
- 2. There's a 2-hour time limit by default![8] Yes, you read that right. No matter how great your conversation is, when the time is up, the staff might politely ask you to move tables or pay the bill. If you're looking to hang out comfortably for a whole afternoon, you can cross this place off your list.
- 3. A heads-up for non-drinkers! After 7 PM, they might not offer the non-alcoholic drink menu anymore[9]. If you want to have a mocktail or coffee, remember to go earlier.
- 4. Parking is a mystical challenge. Everyone knows how tight parking is in the Gunawarman area. Their valet service is also often complained about[10], so I suggest just taking a ride-hailing service to save yourself the headache.
- South Jakarta's unique vinyl listening corner: pick a record, headphones on, get lost in music [1].
- Upstairs, a rich 90s retro vibe hits: dim lights, velvet sofas, jazz, whispers. Pure vibes [2].
- South Jakarta's cool crowd's go-to 'Listening Bar'. Retro vinyl, live music for your Chill check-ins [3][4].
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